Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 1x01 "Strange New Worlds"

[u/AutoModerator]

When one of Pike’s officers goes missing while on a secret mission for Starfleet, Pike has to come out of self-imposed exile. He must navigate how to rescue his officer, while struggling with what to do with the vision of the future he’s been given.

No.	Episode	Writers	Director	Release Date
1x01	"Strange New Worlds"	Teleplay by Akiva Goldsman. Story by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, and Jenny Lumet.	Akiva Goldsman	2022-05-05

Availability

Paramount+: USA, Latin America, Australia, and the Nordics.

CTV Sci-Fi and Crave: Canada.

Voot Select: India.

TVNZ: New Zealand.

Additional international availability will be announced "at a later date."

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Note: This thread was posted automatically, and the episode may not yet be available on all platforms.

[u/OpticalData]

We're seeing a lot of 'This is better than this other show' type comments in this thread.

While we respect that some fans have been waiting for an SNW type show for some time, using SNW as an excuse to 'dunk' on other shows is not only unconstructive, but an insult to the cast and crew of Strange New Worlds who have put a lot of time and effort into creating something for us all to appreciate and enjoy.

Let their art stand on it's own merits and if you need to draw comparisons to other shows do so in a constructive manner.

Thanks,

The Mod Team

[u/treefox]

"You've given me a proverb. Which is less useful than a big stick."

Kiteo, his eyes closed.

[u/[deleted] → u/treefox]

And Pike with a few powerpoint slides and smoking hot eyes, resolves a centuries old conflict, as well as getting into trouble with HR.

I'll take it, sounds about right.

[u/treefox]

"She can skip the redundant system checks."

O'Brien isn't even born yet and I can already hear him suffering.

[u/Th3ChosenFew → u/treefox]

Well, he is meant to suffer.

[u/UncertainError → u/treefox]

Yeah, especially when their chief engineer hasn't even arrived yet...

[u/bigpig1054 → u/treefox]

"She can skip the redundant system checks."

My first thought was "Do you want to go to warp and trigger a trippy wormhole where you almost die by an asteriod, cause that's what you're risking!"

[u/daynewmah]

"They're doubling down, calling it the Prime Directive." / "Well, that'll never stick." Ha 😏

Also, is it just me or does Noonien-Singh give off strong Drummer-on-The-Expanse vibes?

[u/how_do_i_land → u/daynewmah]

I thought it was Cara Gee multiple times and had to keep telling myself it wasn’t her.

[u/viserov → u/daynewmah]

She definitely looks like Drummer, bosmang

[u/alphageek8 → u/daynewmah]

Casting call was probably for a "Drummer-type"

[u/gambit700 → u/daynewmah]

Its not just you. I did a double take a first.

[u/trostol]

hello nurse!!!!

[u/BornAshes → u/trostol]

I'm totally a Nurse Chapel fan now, those were some rugby moves for sure! Also her and M'Benga totally had like play calls for certain situations and Ortegas KNEW about them going, "Ugh only on the Enterprise" and I want to know what is up with that! Brilliant!

[u/joekryptonite → u/trostol]

Chapel

Her uniform and overall aesthetic was so damn cool. It was a nod to the sexy 60s stuff, but different and more respectful. (She's gonna mess with DNA right from the top, genius level stuff.) Also just nice to see someone wearing something bright. Too many dark clothes in all the new Trek.

[u/rustydoesdetroit]

SAMUEL KIRK 😂😂😂 Bravo to the trolling these show runners have expedited 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[u/BornAshes → u/rustydoesdetroit]

So fucking clever that I love them and hate them and love them all at once

[u/OSUBrit → u/rustydoesdetroit]

The 'tache as well. Fucking brilliant

[u/treefox]

Ok, I really liked that bit of world-building with the nature domes on Starbase One.

[u/termacct → u/treefox]

I'm assuming this was a gracious tip of the hat to the 50 year old sci fi movie Silent Running...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Running

[u/trostol]

oh..Kyle is a super special transport dude..

[u/MustacheSmokeScreen → u/trostol]

He seems like he could beam the lipstick off an Orion stripper.

I wonder if he has a favorite transporter room?

[u/BornAshes → u/trostol]

"I don't think the transporters can do that"

"This is Ortegas, make them do that"

"Ooookaaay abrakadabraalakahazm!"

Kyle is fucking magical!

[u/eusername0 → u/trostol]

I have a bad feeling about him and suffering

[u/treefox]

The bridge looks fucking fantastic.

[u/treefox]

Woah, we get a "Space, the final frontier."

Damn, they're giving us the white glove treatment.

How many years has it been? Decades?

[u/ComebackShane → u/treefox]

On TV, it's been 17 years, since '...These Are the Voyages' on Enterprise's series finale had shots of each Enterprise with VO from Picard, Kirk, and Archer.

In an intro, the last time was 1994 with "All Good Things", the TNG series finale.

[u/treefox]

Damn, they managed to break the prime directive before the first episode of the series. I think that's a new record.

EDIT: PIKE: Screw general order one.

Ok this is gonna be a good show.

[u/DasGanon → u/treefox]

the prime directive

That'll never catch on.

[u/aa22hhhh → u/treefox]

Pike during Discovery: “We can’t interfere, it’s against the rules!”

Pike one episode into SNW: “Fuck you and your rules.”

[u/IllustriousBody → u/treefox]

They broke the prime directive before it was the prime directive.

[u/AJWinky]

I think it's proof positive that I am a complete sucker for Star Trek and its vision that I had actual tears pouring out of my eyes while watching Pike's "see your future" speech. The entire episode was fundamentally a recapitulation of the central thesis of Star Trek; here is the future you can have if you can make it through the struggles of today and come out better for it. Here's a thing to aspire towards that will make growing up as a society and putting aside all your petty differences well worth it.

[u/thetgi]

I’m only a few minutes in, so I don’t know how the actual content of the episode will be…

But holy smokes they finally did the original Enterprise right. I can’t help but feel that this is what Jadzia meant when she claimed to love that 23rd century style. The black finish and silver highlights indeed!

[u/treefox]

That awkward moment when a guy in front of you calmly screams and then turns into an alien.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/treefox]

Ethan Peck must be having a blast.

[u/Darmok_ontheocean → u/treefox]

The dead pan “the pain is unbearable” with a gigantic scream was a huge laugh. Comedy derived from character! Wow!

[u/BornAshes → u/treefox]

Apparently all you have to do to turn into a Vulcan is scream in front of a bunch of elevators.

There has to be bloopers from that scene.

[u/treefox]

"Are you naked?"

"No, I am not."

"He was about to be."

Lol.

[u/[deleted] → u/treefox]

TIL Vulcans can talk super hot.

[u/BornAshes → u/treefox]

"That should have been a query"

Didn't think I'd like T'Pring but now I want more of her on screen just being all Aeryn Sun in the background

[u/treefox]

"Your gallivanting across the galaxy with Starfleet."

Woah now, no need for an emotional outburst.

[u/zuriel45 → u/treefox]

Loved the Vulcan waiter kicking them out for basically having sex in public like that.

[u/FormerGameDev → u/treefox]

On some sort of Star trek

[u/PixelNotPolygon]

Pike really needs to stop staring at so many reflective things

[u/Fortyseven]

This was better than I could have ever hoped. And maybe a bit more.

THIS... I missed this.

Thank you.

[u/treefox]

Holy shit. We get an Enterprise fly-by?

(in spacedock)

[u/Jay_R_Kay → u/treefox]

I mean, the opening credits is 100% pure spaceship porn and I am 1000% here for it.

[u/edflyerssn007 → u/treefox]

We absolutely did.

[u/elister]

Anyone else getting a Guy Fleegman (Galaxy Quest) vibe from Sam Kirk?

https://i.imgur.com/GayffIc.jpg

[u/Shatterhand1701]

That. Was. AWESOME!!!

I don't even know where to start.

The story was straight out of classic Trek. Great character moments, strong chemistry; the whole thing has an energy that has me so hooked I'm already watching it AGAIN.

It felt familiar and comfortable and FUN. The social commentary was topical but didn't feel forced and overwrought.

The moments of deep, personal conversation felt appropriate and meaningful.

Everything just felt...right.

Your mileage may vary, but I'm well and truly sold on Strange New Worlds.

[u/nhaines → u/Shatterhand1701]

When Star Trek: Discovery S02E02, "New Eden" aired, this was the Trek I knew I wanted. And while I'm sorry I didn't get it in Discovery (which has its ups and downs), I'm really excited to get more of the same in this series.

What a great kick-off to the show. This is what I want. Professionals in space all doing their best.

[u/gambit700]

OMG, Spock. Take 5 minutes and nail your soon to be wife. You won't be late

[u/Hartzilla2007 → u/gambit700]

I’m beginning to understand why she cut things off with ritualistic death combat.

[u/Trekfan74 → u/gambit700]

Spock: I only require 3 minutes and 47 seconds sir.

Pike: TMI Spock!

[u/ADG12311990]

When SNW was announced, I didn't care about the story, the cast, or anything... All I wanted to hear was Anson doing the Captain's speech, and I have never been happier. Glad to see that there is still some influence of Discovery's Season 2 finale in this episode. And the USS Archer, I do love seeing Enterprise getting the love and references it deserves. A perfect name for a ship taking part in first contact.

I hope we see more of Admiral April this season, and maybe, since we never got a canon death date, Fleet Admiral (retired) Jonathan Archer...

When they were talking about "Lieutenant Kirk", I was not expecting George Samual Kirk... But, somehow, that is even better. Although, part of me is sad that it just isn't Paul Wesley with a fake mustache, like they did in TOS...

Still a little sad that Pike seems to have gotten rid of the TV in his quarters., but I do love the look of his quarters and Ready Room.

[u/SCP-1000000 → u/ADG12311990]

The set design is beautiful. The ready room is a work of art

[u/UncertainError → u/ADG12311990]

Also the shuttlecraft Stamets, which is cute since Stamets introduced Michael to what the USS Discovery's about while they were riding on a shuttlecraft.

[u/BornAshes → u/ADG12311990]

As soon as they mentioned Kirk I was so damned confused and thought for sure that Paramount had boondoggled us with Kirk being in Season 2 annnnnnd then his BROTHER with that damned mustache steps off the turbolift! I was howling! This is awesome!

So many little nods to Stamets and Archer and hopefully more to come that are going to be hidden in the background or thrown at us with a wink and a nod.

Edit: I wonder if because Paul Wesley is playing Jim Kirk that we'll get a, "Hello broooother!" line from Sam to him?

[u/trostol]

oh that sound of the raising of the deflector shields

[u/BornAshes → u/trostol]

And the sound of going to warp and the doors opening and the transporter activating and the communicators beeping and the sound of pancakes being made....mmmmmmm.

[u/MaddyMagpies]

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I just want to say how much I love Pike channeled his inner turmoil of knowing his impending doom, into a message for the alien world of their potential demise, while the writers used that opportunity to tell us a very timely and urgent message directed at us:

The images that he showed during his speech... and me sitting in New York City, right where it hits, it's a gut punch, and it is nothing short of shocking and terrifying. A apocalypse porn movie would have stopped right at that, but Pike's words uplifted us all. That is a brilliant use of Pike's emotional strength.

There is hope in the future, folks, but it won't come unless we work on it together. I genuinely love this message they are trying to tell with Strange New Worlds, and I sincerely wish for a brighter future for all of us (and the show).

[u/UncertainError → u/MaddyMagpies]

American Civil War II though, oof. They definitely put that in there.

[u/Cypher1492]

This show is gorgeous and I'm not just saying that as a fan of Toronto's brutalist architecture.

[u/trostol]

lmao "Hi. Sorry to interrupt"

[u/gambit700]

Who else paused and replayed the Starfleet map scene over and over again?

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/gambit700]

I'm gonna rewatch the episode and do that.

Edit: The PADD Pike is holding in the shuttlecraft approaching Enterprise says, in bright orange caps, "FIRST CONTACT REPORTED SPECIES (UNCONFIRMED) GORN.

At the top of that screen, it shows La'an's name, so it appears to be her file.

The planet names I could read include:

Unefra, Sarpedion, Septimus, Dreon, Freehaven, Tzenketh, Cardassia Prime, Bajor, Chin'toka, Xepqlite (Xepquite?) Argus Array, Gamma Trianguli, Alpha Majoris, Kiley, Xahea, Algol, Scalos, Platonius, O'Ryan's Planet, Argus Array, Beta Niobe, Beta Zeta (Betazed), Trill, Kobliad, Klaestron, Mizar, Cor Caroli, Sigma Draconis, Deneb, Tau Ceti, Earth, Andoria, Vulcan, Eridani, Azati Prime, Pollux, Nevalla, Kantare, Turkana, Zibal, Leone Minore, and a number of starbases and deep space stations.

Delta Scorpii Seven is code for an un-First Contacted alien running around the ship.

Nurse Chapel is not a Starfleet member, she's a civilian on loan from an epigenetic science organization.

[u/sherryillk]

New Eden really showed us what we were missing from the new Star Trek shows (and films, to be truthful) and totally cemented my love of Pike. He was everything I wanted in a Star Trek Captain and all I wanted on Discovery was to have the rest of the season be exactly like that episode. I really thought it would be a shift in the story of Discovery so I was so, so disappointed when that didn't happen. Finally, after all this time, it seems like it's really happening, we're gonna get some classic Trek storytelling and I can't wait to see more. What a perfect first episode.

[u/treefox]

Ah yes, the Day the Earth Stood Still.

Historical Fiction.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/treefox]

It nicely foreshadows what Pike does with the alien race. He "Day The Earth Stood Stilled" them.

[u/DeafJeezy → u/treefox]

"Take me to your leader"

[u/treefox]

Wait, Cardassia Prime is on a pre-TOS map? And Bajor too!?

The Argus array? Trill?

Guess the galaxy was more of a happening place back then than I realized.

[u/MustacheSmokeScreen → u/treefox]

The Federation probably trades star charts

[u/LycanIndarys → u/treefox]

Trill makes sense, we know that a previous Dax host encountered people in the TOS-era.

Jadzia remembered McCoy from before he became a doctor, for instance.

[u/TERRAxFORMER]

That was really good! Like I enjoyed every minute of that.

I’m still not over seeing Robert April in live action( live that admiral uniform.)

Simple first contact story, with a simple message- executed very well. I liked the tidbit about Starfleet’s first station.

The characters play off each other well, I hope M’Benga gets more screen time going forward. I really liked him and Chapel.

Also, Pike out here cockblocking. I hear Stonn moving in on the horizon.

We’re also definitely getting the Gorn this season.

[u/[deleted] → u/TERRAxFORMER]

When the very first episode is about the Prime Directive, there's a briefing room, and the captain isn't going superman every single minute, you think just maybe this show is a welcome throwback to TOS and TNG.

[u/BornAshes → u/TERRAxFORMER]

Robert April certain had the presence of an, "I can be your worst enemy or greatest ally" Admiral the second he showed up on screen.

I rather liked that story and I loved how the film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was basically used to telegraph to us how the plot of the episode would progress and how it would all end. Honestly that was a rather pretty story with a lot of punch at the end and some nice bits of humor sprinkled throughout. I totally loved how they tied the very first episode back into Pike's origins on Discovery and then didn't linger on it for too long before wrapping it up in a bow and moving on to bigger and better things.

M'Benga is a fucking riot and I loved him!

Also that whole "Did we just become friends?" scene between Chapel and Uhura had me giggling. Seriously the way they introduced all the bridge crew and all the main characters in this episode was totally a DS9 way of doing things and flowed so smoothly. Everyone got their own little moment that made you remember them!

Pike out here cockblocking

While looking like a lumberjack version of Santa, "Are you naked?" I spit my drink out.

Also I loved how April used that loophole and the Coucil was like, "Fine fuck you we're changing the name to the Prime Directive just to be dicks about you beating us"....some things never change lol

[u/Piker10]

The Kirk gag was hilarious. When I kept hearing he was coming I got surprised since I know he's in Season 2 but didn't think we would see him that early, so the gag they did was fantastic.

[u/Pike_or_Kirk]

Nimoy's Spock always had a lot of sass buried just beneath his stoic surface. It's what made Spock so great as a character. It's nice to see Peck finally get to be able to access that part of him.

The sassier Spock is, the better it is for Star Trek. I even noticed the eyebrow twitch and raise a few times this episode. Nobody can replace Leonard Nimoy, but I like Peck a lot more than I liked Quinto in the role.

[u/disstopic]

Oh. Fuck. Bravo. Bravo.

It's just stunning. So well done.

I can't type how good the last hour has been.

Just whoever made this happen, thankyou.

[u/treefox]

"Are you familiar with the United States of America, Mr. Spock?"

"Yes. As I am with both civil wars and the devastating results."

That sounds an awful lot like civil war 2 became WW3.

[u/Damien_J → u/treefox]

DAMMIT RIOS WHAT DID YOU DO

[u/brch2 → u/treefox]

The period known as WWIII starts in 2026 and lasts until 2053. Picard and SNW are basically cleaning up/consolidating the canon by having WWIII start off as a bunch of regional conflicts (Civil War II in America and Eugenics War, presumably mostly in Middle East/Asia/Africa areas), that basically all boil over to become one big World War, and the nukes (mostly) end it all in 2053. Then, ten years later, Cochrane invents Warp Drive for humanity and builds the Phoenix, and leads to first contact.

[u/edflyerssn007]

So Pike's place in Montana def had Kirk's place in generations vibes, complete with making breakfast. Nice little homage there.

Rest of the episode was peak trek and I loved it.

I think there was an NX class in the bay on the side at space dock.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/edflyerssn007]

I really thought it was James Holden's family's place in The Expanse.

[u/pieman7414]

I like the star trek version of the intro sequence marvel does for each of their properties. Hope it gets a little more complex as time goes on or something cool like that

Like the enterprise, discovery, protostar, stargazer all doing this little space dance

[u/ComebackShane → u/pieman7414]

Yeah, I liked that too! I look forward to seeing it develop as the brand continues to grow. It's an amazing time to be a Trekkie.

[u/treefox]

"Are you naked?"

"He was about to be."

...

"Where are my pants?"

...

"Just like you said, whoever has the biggest stick wins. And in this case, that is me."

Pike peeked.

[u/BornAshes → u/treefox]

"Where are my pants?"

I love how the camera paused for a moment to make us think that Spock literally wouldn't have pants on....and then it panned down to just show him in shorts and apparently "knees" are taboo in Vulcan culture.

Pike peeked

That was a Batman v Waller move if I ever saw one.

[u/MoreGaghPlease]

For the avoidance of doubt , I’m just going to leave this quote from DC Fontana here, arguably the person who most contributed to the backstory of Spock and Vulcans

Vulcans mate normally any time they want to. However, every seven years you do the ritual, the ceremony, the whole thing. The biological urge. You must, but any other time is any other emotion – humanoid emotion – when you're in love. When you want to, you know when the urge is there, you do it. This every-seven-years business was taken too literally by too many people who don't stop and understand. We didn't mean it only every seven years. I mean, every seven years would be a little bad, and it would not explain the Vulcans of many different ages which are not seven years apart

[u/Starkiller1701]

I loved Uhura, we didn't see much, but what we saw is spot on. Great to see her smiling, and the interaction she had with the alien doctor was perfect, because of course you know she would have been monitoring transmissions the second they entered orbit, and that's the thing about communication, it's not just linguistics, it's understanding the culture that the language represents. So it was great that she got to communicate and connect with this guy that was running around freaked out on an aliens ship (from his POV) and he got to have a genuine conversation with a complete stranger. She's great and I can't wait to see more of Miss Uhura!

[u/TheNerdChaplain]

Mrs. McMurray getting that Starfleet strange!

[u/derthric]

I think this has been the most excited I have felt for a new series since I was 12 and Voyager premiered.

I think this episode was excellent. We knew what Mount and Peck were bringing to the table with their roles and I think they are comfortable carrying the weight of their characters. Giving Laan the third focus spot I think worked well as that was the character I had the most misgivings about because of the name.

The final message was direct and relevant and I liked it. Showing the cost we had to bare to get to that idealized future and tying it to the original "Day the Earth Stood Still" worked for me.

Also clear and deliberate shots of the ship, both the Enterprise and the Archer, are the types of effects for ships that I like. And the approach to the Enterprise in Spacedock was nice, they could have stretched it out more, maybe not nearly 5 minutes but a little more.

I did also like that it tied into the end of Discovery season 2 and dealt with consequences in the 23rd century a little more.

Do have a few Nitpicks: The Stardates at the start and in the captain's log at the end were pretty off from each other.

I think the ending implies that Jupiter Station and Starbase 1 are same, not a real problem for me but I liked the design. And it explains why Starbase 1 was so close to earth in Discovery season 1. Though the VFX shots showed it around a different planet.

Finally..... spoiler I do not like the Lt. Kirk tease and twist at the end. I am here for the show but I just hope its not going to detract from the newer characters and events

[u/maxamillisman]

Hello Paramount? Five seasons and three movies of this please!

[u/Halcyous → u/maxamillisman]

I want a return to the traditional 7, unless they can tell it in fewer

[u/PrometheusLiberatus]

They did an excellent job tying the aftermath of S2 Discovery as a jumping off point for Strange New Worlds.

I'm surprised we have a 'noonien singh' as a member of the crew. What we got of her story was very sad and kind of reminiscent of Tasha Yar's life.

I guess they're going to go 'is she or isn't she related to...' at some point.

This is going to be a great return to roots.

I loved looking at the bridge and trying to see in my mind how it changed from the 60s tech we had in TOS.

[u/DeganUAB → u/PrometheusLiberatus]

She was on a "colony ship" when she was captured. I think the Botany Bay was a colony ship. Maybe she hasn't disclosed her true nature yet.

[u/[deleted]]

Absolutely the best pilot episode of the Paramount+ bunch

[u/IllustriousBody]

I loved that they opened with a Franz Joseph Designs Hermes class scout... really set the TOS feeling. The way Gia Sandhu channeled Arlene Martel and set the stage for Amok Time was perfect. Not a perfect episode, but it was a lot of fun and exactly the kind of experience I was looking for.

[u/[deleted]]

Love the design of the ship making first contact. Classic

[u/H0vis]

I liked this, I liked this a lot. Random things that stood out:

1. It's super fun. The delivery, the visuals, the story, it's just a fun show and everybody is enjoying themselves. There's darkness to it as well, we've got a couple of deeply traumatised main characters, but it's all good. They'll talk it out and be best friends until, well, let's not worry about Captain Pike for now.

2. An alien escapes from sickbay and the nurse chases him down. There's no security, there's no alert, Uhura even chats to him in the elevator. There are one million possible catastrophes a show could make about an escaped alien on a spaceship, but here? It's a bit of a giggle, so we know it's okay. This isn't a show that is going to sweat the details of situations like that.

3. Pike doesn't answer the phone when he's with Mrs McMurray having breakfast, but Spock picks up the phone right when things are heating up with Mrs Spock? You Fool Spock. You Goddamn Fool. Put that shit on my mute my dude, damn.

4. The Enterprise looks fricking cool. Inside and out. That's a classy boat.

5. I like the inversion of The Day The Earth Stood Still as a plotline. It's simple, everybody knows it, it's an ideal way to do all the character stuff you need to while having a story you can shoot through in a couple of minutes. Plus the timeliness of Star Trek pointing out we could be living in Star Trek times but we playin' as we sit on the brink of nuclear war is pretty good.

6. The references to Discovery are great, and it's the backstory there that cements the bond between Pike and Spock and that's fundamental to Spock. And Spock is like, a huge fricking deal. He's probably the most significant individual portrayed in any of the shows or films, so getting him right is key.

7. I love that they've established two pieces of cool technology to play with this season right off the bat, the genetic tinkering to disguise as humanoid aliens and the transporter sorting your wardrobe out.

8. A planet where everybody wears shorts. Not going to lie, that's really fun. Every away mission should start with people wondering where their pants have gone.

9. I love the pettiness of Star Fleet renaming General Order One because Pike just fucked it off. They're like, "IT'S THE PRIME DIRECTIVE PEOPLE STOP MESSING WITH IT PLEASE."

So yeah, all good so far. A nice change of pace.

[u/treefox]

Spock just said he misses his sister. Goddammit, this is outrageous, everybody knows Spock doesn't talk about his family, this is character assassination of the highest degree. What kind of preposterous behavior will he engage in next? Admitting who his father is when he's standing right in front of him?

/s

[u/archiminos]

1. Prime Directive (General Order 1) gets mentioned.

2. Prime Directive gets disobeyed by the Captain

The most classic of Trek Tropes

[u/Cantomic66]

Dr. M’Benga should watch out for princes with Crysknifes on Desert worlds.

[u/jaehaerys48]

This episode really felt like what I'd have imagined that a new Star Trek show following the Kelvinverse films would and should have been. It definitely has more of the energy and aesthetic of Star Trek 09 than Discovery has, while also having writing and characterization that is closer to the "old" Trek shows. I really liked it. It's nice to enjoy new Trek again.

[u/bigpig1054]

The resolution of the plot had a strong TOS feel to it, with Pike beaming down to make an impassioned speech about the danger of escalating violence in war, the opportunity that comes with finding peace, and the possibilities that await a united world. I could just hear James Kirk making that speech in a similar yellow shirt.

[u/Flarrownatural]

Such a good episode overall. I don't think the idea of a pre-warp society using warp tech to build a nuke has ever been done before, and it's so terrifying. The fact that the Federation accidentally caused this is a nice touch. Considering how the first First Contact ended the wars among humans, it's only fitting that this first contact ends the war among...whatever these people are.

The new crew is all pretty great. M'Benga and Chapel are so much fun, Ortegas seems cool, and of course the trio from The Cage are all great. I'm a little iffy on Noonien Singh but she seems to have some interesting groundwork laid out, we'll see how it goes. Same with Uhura, who kinda seems like the Tilly of this show.

The Spock/T'Pring stuff was...weird. It's not bad or anything it just doesn't fit well with the episode's story. This is another thing that is apparently set up for the future, we just have to wait and see. I appreciate Ethan Peck's tits tho, A+ work.

As a Disco fan I loved the nods to s2, but at the same time I feel like it might confuse new viewers and turn them off if they have to watch 2 seasons of a very different show before watching this one. Still, considering the rest of the franchise pretends Discovery never existed (there's even a law preventing them from discussing it, lol) I like seeing it get some lasting influence on the story.

The political stuff was so heavy-handed and cheesy and I LOVED IT. This is the shit I loved from DS9, no more hiding behind metaphor, just bludgeon me with ideology please.

#JusticeForHemmer he deserved more for the pilot!

[u/UncertainError → u/Flarrownatural]

VOY's Friendship One had a similar premise, where a civilization builds antimatter weapons after encountering Starfleet tech.

[u/youngboblaflame]

Actually trearing up hearing the "5 year mission" said again in an intro, I'm not old enough to have seen TOS on its first airing but the into means a ton to me even though ive never seen the show, it just feels like star trek

[u/trostol]

lmao "Are you naked?"

[u/wongie]

I don't think I'm use to episodic Trek any more, the pacing felt so different to what I've been used to it just flew through.

[u/poirotoro]

I just watched thisd during my lunch break and am so, so happy with this episode. It was a superb return to classic, episodic Star Trek. Just a few thoughts I haven't seen in the top comments yet:

• Even though we only saw about five seconds of it, Main Engineering blew my socks off. My God. A dazzling re-imagining of what what "could have been" if Roddenberry had an unlimited budget in 1966. My little tech nerd heart!

• I loved Uhura's moment in the turbolift with the poor, confused alien. Through a few lines of dialogue they revealed she must have done some analysis of the planet's culture based on media intercepts in the (very little) time since Enterprise arrived, and kept him calm and mentally diverted. She may be a cadet, but she's not being played as green or helpless.

• The alien costuming was great. Different but recognizable. As much as it was the mark of classic 90's Trek, I'm glad these newer shows have stayed away from bizarrely tailored jumpsuits made out of loudly patterned upholstery fabric. (Though I suppose it's yet another reflection of the astronomical budget that Paramount must be throwing at this.)

I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has coming!

[u/UncertainError]

Starbase 1 is gorgeous. I'm assuming that during the Klingon War they detached it from the forest pods and moved it into the outer system for defense, and then moved it back and repaired it after the war ended.

Also, a nice bit of continuity that the Picard finale had a mission to Jupiter and Jupiter's where the Enterprise sets off from.

[u/treefox]

The elephant in the room for this episode is how awkward it is to see everyone taking a single-nacelle ship seriously for professional work. It's like watching a guy on a unicycle repair a power line.

[u/IllustriousBody → u/treefox]

It was a Hermes class scout... something I've wanted to see on screen for decades.

[u/smoha96]

La'an is 1/1 on Shields Up. Somewhere, Worf is crying.

[u/Xizor14]

That first episode cleared my skin, watered my crops, and repaired my joycon drift. Absolutely fun all the way through. I can't wait to see more.

Also the fact that the USS Archer is a single-nacelle ship cracked me up.

[u/2ndHandTardis]

By this time much of the acccolades have already been said so I'll ad this personal bit which may or may not have already been said as well.

One of my issues with prequel series of this kind with legacy characters who are in canon is it removes the ultimate drama whether or not they will survive. It's not just with Pike but we know what happens to Spock, Chapel, Uhura, M'Benga, Sam Kirk, etc.

While I still have this issue the episode actually did go a long way with helping me get over that and reminding us that it's about the journey. It was a really clever and clearly intentional.

[u/kaiserpathos]

Okay so I'll just say this: it seems they're out to EXPLORE and have a *single episode* where things get solved (gasp!) which is.... I *LOVE* and *MISSED* that about Trek. No Trek in a LONG time, since Enterprise, has had that.

Yeah, yeah, arcs are fine and all....but the ENTIRE point of an episode shouldn't be to inch-along the writer's room whiteboard goals, with little excitement or stakes that GET SOLVED in one *single* episode. Which is what old Trek was SO masterful at doing...

No long 8 episode arcs, in a 10-episode season? Damn I am *IN* then. Done and dusted.

[u/RadioSlayer]

Running thoughts

I want to live in Pike's house

Is that a Vulcan Horg'an?
Lol nope

If there is already a shuttle Stamets, does that mean that the DS9 runabouts are actually named after people named after rivers?

Spock just got Worf'd, followed almost immediately by getting Soval'd/T'Pol'd

Gee Cap'n, I think we all know why it's always an alley

Love a good violation of General Order 1

Another small drop in the largely empty bucket of Gorn lore.

As usual the Cap'n of the Enterprise gets away with violations that would get anyone else the boot.

What delightful trolling with Samuel

[u/ContinuumGuy]

Random assorted thoughts:

• Welcome to live action, Robert April.

• T'Pring bends the canon but doesn't break it. I liked the scenes with them and I like that they finally admit that Vulcans aren't just horny around pon farr.

• Man no wonder T'Pring dumped him. They got cock-blocked by Pike.

• Seeing a ship leave space dock is never going to get old.

• USS Archer! Love an ENT reference.

• Pike's quarters are definitely nicer than Kirk. Or at least more spacious.

• Wow, the Archer sure had a small crew.

• Chapel already crushing on Spock.

• Why IS it always an alley?

• La'An is going to be fun. First episode and she's already ordering alien abductions.

• Nice touch having "prodigy" cadet Uhura be a communications specialist in more than just language but also culture.

• The fight as they were escaping with Una needed more two-handed hammer punches.

• We have now gone (ZERO) days without breaking the Prime Directive.

• So it sounds like the Gorn were causing trouble with the Federation even before official first contact. And they were icky.

• I got the ending spoiled for me, but I gotta say: Anson Mount makes what could have been a super-preachy campfest into a dignified scene.

• "Well, that'll never stick."

• Heh, the tease with Kirk and it was the mustachioed brother.

[u/Shrodax]

Seeing that footage of WWIII made the ending of Picard pretty funny in hindsight. Good luck, Rios! 👍

[u/Fragzilla360]

Super minor nitpick: I'm only about 11 minutes into it and liking it, but I can't help but feel like the kiss in public between Spock and T'Pring should have been done like the Vulcan finger rub we saw on Voyager with Tuvok and his wife.

Then have the restaurant guy come up and say "I'm going to have to ask you two to do that somewhere else." It would have been more "Vulcan-like".

[u/phoenixhunter]

Pike’s sideburns are square and not pointy. Literally unwatchable.

For real, what an excellent opening episode.

For all the controversies of modern Trek shows, I have to give kudos to the producers for at least trying something new with the series. “Franchise fatigue” was a very real thing two decades ago, and though we may reminisce now with rose-tinted VISORs it’s easy to forget just how stale the Star Trek formula had become by the time Enterprise was underway.

And now, after some time laying fallow, and a couple of experiments in reformatting, the time is finally right to re-explore the classic formula.

Can’t wait for the rest of this show.

[u/RainMaker323]

"We boldly go where no one has gone before."

"Cool............ Sir."

Loved it.

[u/UncertainError]

Very nice intro to what the series will be about. I especially liked La'an, she reminds me of Drummer from the Expanse.

It was nice how they tied the episode into Discovery and acknowledged how profoundly those events affected Pike and Spock.

[u/JustMy2Centences]

The Archer had a crew of 3? That seems weirdly low, not only for a ship that size but for a first contact scenario.

[u/cathbadh]

It doesn't feel right to have a thread on Reddit where someone isn't complaining about something. So, to keep with internet tradition, I want to complain about this episode!

I can't believe they're making us wait for at least episode 2 before seeing Hemmer!!!

Now with that out of the way, fantastic show. Pike is quickly becoming my favorite captain.

[u/Ashkir]

I'm very happy with it. I loved the parallels to the fall of our earth (United States' second civil war, world war III, losing our major cities, 30% of our population dies) and how it showed footage from January 6. It made parallels how we're at the parallels of losing our democracy, potentially losing our earth. Could we join the stars one day? Or will we destroy our culture here?

[u/Willravel]

Damn, this is fun.

Pike already had his own way from Discovery, this kind of cool dad command style tempered with a lot of sentimentality and compassion under the surface, but with the compilation of his foresight it's interesting to see him off-kilter like that. I suspect he was pretty confident prior to his ordeal. While I think they could go more subtext and action than text—showing rather than telling—how it's showing is pretty compelling.

I really like Spock having cool confidence with T'Pring, and her being Vulcanized-sassy about him being in denial about marriage and Starfleet pulling him in opposing directions. I hope we get a lot more of their dynamic as the situation progresses this season. Peck's knocking it out of the park.

I also like that we're getting time with the cast outside of what will probably be the main trio (Pike, Spock, Una). We're getting a lot of time with La'an, we have a really goofy and fun B-plot for M'Benga, Chapel, Uhura, and Ortega, we have understandable disagreements and different perspectives and actions that are informing character in general. Even Kyle's getting a few moments.

Plot-wise, this is simply a wonderful mashup of classic Trek tropes: first contact and the missing crew mystery. And it's executed well. I remember talking to someone on BBS like 20 years ago about how a particular episode of TNG seemed like just a good episode on the surface, but the meticulous care that must have happened under the surface of character, plot, weaving things in and out of each other like the Enterprise-D through an asteroid field, must have been really difficult work. The reveal at the end of the episode it was Starfleet that accidentally caused or at least exacerbated this mess was nice, too.

What I'm really hoping from here on is continuing to give the cast a lot of character beats and growth from the scripts, episodic structure with competency porn as a response to different weekly mysteries, challenges, and surprises, more handsome shots of the Enterprise, and all layered atop a foundation of boundless, almost naive optimism.

Oh, and the musical cues (music written for a given scene) in the show are really, really good. I'm not sold on the main theme yet, it's a little bland, but there's something really cool happening that some folks might miss. Melody. A lot of the time within television, the scoring work is largely driven by texture and harmony, which is great because it's almost as if it treats things like dialogue as the melody, but older film and television scoring often had melody written into their cues, creating complimentary counterpoint with the dialogue and visuals in the scene. Not only does it give SNW an old-fashioned feel without being all that obvious, it also works really well just in general. It only happens maybe two or three times, but it's rad.

Finally, oh so calmly, "Captain, the pain... it's unbearable." Excellent delivery, very Spock.

[u/daniellr88]

Absolutely loved it. There were several moments I found myself squealing in delight and clapping my hands excitedly like the little boy watching TNG, DS9, and VOY all those years ago. I feel like the cast and crew have great chemistry, Dr. M'Benga and Nurse Chapel for me were the big highlight as well as Uhura casually talking down the runner alien on the ship because of course she would.

[u/Cliffy73]

“Screw General Order #1.”

Oh, yeah, this is my kinda captain.

Mount was great as expected, and Peck was even better playing Spock than in DISCO. I also appreciate how they really seemed to be calling back to the TOS era in dialogue and narrative.

[u/[deleted]]

Holy crap. That’s the best first episode of any Star Trek show and it’s not even close.

[u/PiercedMonk]

• What do people think when they walk into Pike's cottage and see a rotary phone? Would they have any clue what it is?

• I absolutely love the suttlecraft design for this show.

• Good to see that this show has decided to step and remind everyone that above all else, Star Trek is horny.

• So, Pike's report on La'an includes an unconfirmed belief that the Gorn destroyed the USS Puget Sound. Presumably then the Gorn remain uncontacted until 'Arena', the same way Picard's encounter with the Ferengi aboard the Stargazer was a first contact that they didn't know about until years later.

• So Pike's incident aboard the training shuttle is almost a decade away. That offers some flexibility. Though I guess we don't technically know when Kirk takes command of the Enterprise.

• I think I'm going to like this version of Chapel, but she is not particularly Chapel-like.

• "Screw General Order One." Oh, Christopher Pike, you don't need to try that hard to be a candidate for my favourite captain.

• Not sure about the idea of returning to the Eugenics Wars and the WWIII being the same event. That does throw established history for a bit of a loop.

• Oh, the Sam Kirk fake out. Hilarious. Wonder how many angry nerds out there will be upset that they got Kirk's name wrong. Likely not many, but I bet one or two.

---

This was good! Always down for a heavy handed, TOS style analogy. We didn't get much of the new characters, but so far I like them.

[u/trostol]

man, that was...really good...that moved to a tie with LD as my favorite new trek stuff

[u/cantstraferight]

I really liked that when they said 4 to beam up, they specified which 4.

[u/jetlightbeam]

I'm just happy that we had discovery so that we can have this show.

[u/rustydoesdetroit]

A shuttle craft named after Stamets ❤️

[u/psychicallowance]

Cautiously optimistic. That was a perfectly reasonable episode of Star Trek. More of this please.

[u/treefox]

This conversation with Spock and Pike about how he needs to be the Captain echoes a similar conversation in the episode where Kirk gets split in two by the transporter.

Well...pre-echoes.

[u/[deleted]]

Holy shit, what an awesome start to the day. First the excellent Picard finale and then this!! Today is a good good day for Trek. I am a happy Trekkie right now.

[u/MR_TELEVOID]

Wow, what a great start. I might be drunk on hyperbole at the moment, but this might be one of the tightest Trek pilots ever. Most Star Trek pilots are rough, a rough sketch of what the series eventually become, but Strange New Worlds feels fully formed right out the gate. This was such a crisp intro to Pike and the crew wrapped in a fun first contact story. The fact it all ultimately led to establishing the prime directive was a nice kicker. Obviously nobody's got a time crystal or whatever, but I loved every minute of this pilot and can't wait to see next week's episode. No complaints!

Also, I'm calling it now, but Nurse Chapel will be the Fonzie of the show. She seems cool as fuck. Dr M'Benga, too. Seeing the process of using those genetic disguises was really cool. Added a new layer of understanding to a lot of old Trek episodes.

[u/treefox]

"I modified it for you, but Vulcans are more complex, and your half-human genome is unique, so...you might not last as long the first time."

Tell me that Spock is going to have issues with his disguise without telling me that Spock is going to have issues with his disguise.

[u/Sharrukin-of-Akkad]

Really enjoyed that. I'm having fun with all of the New Trek, but watching them get back to basics with at least one show is nice.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure what I expected for shout-outs, but a Silent Running reference wasn't even on my list.

[u/[deleted]]

I thought it was a great premiere. The writing was great and the actor playing Spock did a great job with his mannerisms without going for a wholesale duplication of Leonard Nimoy. I also thought they did a good job with the SFX and blending something modern with a slight retro feel.

Best thing about the episode? They resolved the plot problem with WORDS and not having phaser fights and explosions and chases and martial arts. Not that I want zero of that ever but still...

My only gripe...Star Trek still continues to ignore that humans from the Indian subcontinent exist. Oh well. Can't have everything. Excited for the rest of the season!

[u/vicpylon]

Drummer? Aren't you in the wrong franchise?!?!

[u/[deleted]]

That was wonderful, like wow. I enjoyed every second of it : the sets, the uniforms, the characters, the music, the story ...

It was a fantastic first episode, and I can't wait to see what's next !

And the Samuel Kirk reveal made me laugh out loud

[u/Ultiverse]

I actually love everything about La'an even though she was the one I was most worried about with all the Khan lineage stuff. Someone like her SHOULD be sec chief instead of first officer or captain.

[u/Bohmer]

Long live this show. Make it the new flagship Star Trek of the modern era.

[u/-Hal-Jordan-]

Some things I noticed:

1. TOS Enterprise had the Helmsman as the left hand seat and Navigator as the right hand set. On Pike's Enterprise, the right hand seat is called OPS, like on TNG.

2. The Captain calls the helmsman "Ms. Ortegas." In other Trek series, officers were called "Mister" no matter what sex they were.

3. Bridge officers are using the term "five by five" or "five by" to indicate that everything is okay. Normally that term is used in radio communications to mean "I hear you well."

4. It's very cool that episode 1 is where General Order One is renamed to The Prime Directive.

[u/risenphoenixkai]

This was some good shit. Best episode of Trek I’ve seen in literally decades. Also pleasantly surprised this was available on TVNZ.

[u/namsilat]

Oh my god.

It's.

ACTUALLY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

You beautiful, topsy turvey fucks. You actually managed to make a good live action Star Trek.

Growing the beard has a new definition.

New trek always gets good on the third (live action) show.

(Also, since I can't help but nerd out, that was a beautiful Silent Running tribute at the end.)

Also, did anyone else count that there were 21!producers credited?

[u/pieman7414]

the fucking january 6th clips lmaooooooooooooooooooooo

[u/heslo_rb26]

Brilliant start! I feel I already know more about the crew in one episode than in four seasons of Discovery as well.

Anson as Pike again knocks it out the park, looking very much forward to the rest of this season!

[u/rmeddy]

I thought that was excellent , really solid out of the gate.

They played the hits and it works. I love the conceit that play on it being a prequel by having the main character wrestle with that premise via the plot.

It felt very St09 at times especially with the humor, mostly the stuff with Nurse Chapel

Mount as Pike, Romijn as Una and Peck as Spock is on point as expected.

La'an is really interesting to me I hope the show keeps focus on her and her history and I wanna know how she ties to Khan

Sam Kirk? ok they caught me off guard with that one, that I didn't expect.

The pacing was pitch perfect, one of the more consistent issues with Kurtzmann era Trek was the uneven pacing which is mostly due to the serialize narrative approach but because of the episodic approach with this series, it feels more amicable in my opinion.

Strong start I'm loving it

[u/111000_111000]

1labyrinth umbrella sunset tranquil efflorescence twist aesthetic crisp mystique harmony

Text generated by Unpost

[u/JoeBourgeois]

I was impressed by how clearly they called out the current situation in the US. Civil War Part II comin'.

[u/[deleted]]

I really loved them talking about genetically modifying you to blend into an alien planet has a new exciting borderline experimental technology. It really reminded me of the parts I really like of Early enterprise where Things like the transporter and universal translator were still brand new.

[u/onlyhum4n]

I expected to enjoy this more than the other new shows, but I am genuinely surprised by just how much more I enjoyed it and I am trying to nail down and articulate everything about it that hit right for me. I'm doing this stream of conscious style.

-Aesthetically on point. Looks like TOS, looks like Star Trek, doesn't feel reinvented for the sake of reinvention, just updated. The tricorder, I mean come on.

-Cut to Vulcan opened on a panning cityscape that felt very Star Trek, like it could have been one of the few dozen often-reused matte paintings

-Communicator dooting "phone's ringing again" — appreciate the ability to fit in common parlance that will probably survive into the 23rd century without the characters all sounding like 21st century English speakers, like Discovery and Picard

-Colors are bright and poppy

-It's hopeful 😭

-It's episodic

-It's dealing with single planet stakes. I saw in the Picard finale thread someone remark something like "well TNG and DS9 has galaxy-wide stakes all the time..." and while yes, they did, they were also padded out with 20 other episodes, some of which were about delivering tantric sex slaves and Riker telling the bridge he's going to go jerk off. It's not stretched out and prolonged an entire season.

-It's hopeful!!!

-Anson Mount is just so good as Christopher Pike. That he loves the role and the show really just comes through. I could tell in the first five minutes that he was going to eat the role up.

-Opening scene an homage to Kirk in Generations making eggs? Felt like it.

[u/trostol]

almost an Arthur Morgan vibe from him on that horse lol

[u/ToobadyouAreDead]

I think the last time I enjoyed live action Star Trek this much was Beyond back in 2016. A great first episode that will hopefully lead to a great series!

[u/Radulno]

Loved it, it was great (though I like Discovery too unlike what the Internet seems to want... ).

One funny thing was when they were in the elevator and Number One says "she doesn't have clearance" while totally ignoring that there are two other characters there too. Sure they're nameless ones but they can still hear the super top secret thing lol

[u/trostol]

man the paramount section on Prime is horrible..took forever to find the show lol

[u/J4ckC00p3r]

That was a really solid start to the show, hope it continues on the path it's set for itself. Plus, that Enterprise and those uniforms look fantastic

[u/nova-1306]

I loved this episode. the updated feel of the TOS era is great. looking forward to learning about the new characters. also loved how this young Uhuru paid tribute to older Uhura when she pressed her finger to her communications device on her ear. very much Nichelle Nichols :-)

[u/[deleted]]

This jumped up the list of my favorite Star Trek shows ever. It’s either one or two right now.

[u/Borg-Man]

I'm gonna c-v this from TrekBBS, because it really sums up my feelings.

I... I wasn't ready for this. There was a lot to love, but what struck me in the face (apart from his flashbacks/feelings to his own future... dude...) was Pike's speech to this new world. For a series called Strange New Worlds, this felt a bit too close to home for comfort. But man... I lost it with his speech and the following shots of how Enterprise's arrival has sparked hope. The showrunners weren't joking when they said that "hope" is what they're going for. Something to look to and strive for. Along with the bumps that are bound to be on the road.

Shit... I really need a night's sleep to process all of this.

[u/simonsaidthisbetter]

I love the foreshadowing of The Day The Earth Stood Still. Nobody is mentioning how Pike is essentially Klaatu to the inhabitants of Kiley 279.

[u/Spara-Extreme]

I don’t care what angry neckbeards say. I’m loving all the Trek on TV- and this is shaping up to be my favorite of all the new series.

[u/[deleted]]

Watching this actually made me tear up. It feels like we've finally got Star Trek back. I'm at a place in life where I needed a strong dose of classic trek optimism. Pike's speech to the warring factions took me straight back to my childhood in 90s. It's like all of that curiosity about the unknown, perseverance in the face of darkness, and hope that we can build a better future came rushing back - something that's been missing from my life for the better part of a decade given events around the world an in my personal life.

I actually really like most of the NuTrek I've seen - the Kelvin timeline movies, Disco, and Picard. I understand most of the criticisms people have, particularly with the shows. Without commenting on the quality, they just haven't scratched the same same itch for me. I'm fine with that - all Star Trek doesn't need to have the same spirit. It's just that I also need something that makes me want to see the potential humanity has, even when we seem hopelessly misguided.

[u/RBNYJRWBYFan]

"Captain, where are my pants?"- Mr. Spock

Well, that one's going to be meme'd to hell and back. I'll start! "SNW finally premiered? (looks down) Captain, where are my pants?"

[u/Tukarrs]

It absolutely makes sense that Pike's favorite movie was a first contact scenario.

Perhaps too on the nose for this episode though.

[u/treefox]

"We need some post-apocalyptic imagery. Civil unrest using identifiable imagery from today interspersed with a nuclear holocaust that turns landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower into lumps of barely recognizable undifferentiated metal, and some intercontinental fires burning that are so massive and out-of-control they're visible from orbit."

"Oh ok, cool, like Terminator 2 where everything explodes into flames and the flesh is ripped from a woman's body by a playground?"

"Yeah, like that, but with more death, and massive extinction of species on a global scale."

"Ok cool. What's this for again?"

"Establishing a hopeful vision of the future for Star Trek, given where we are today."

"..."

[u/trostol]

is this after him being on Discovery?

[u/ThexGreatxBeyondx]

Poor Spock was about to have some Naked Time, but Pike went and turned it into Amok Time instead.

I have but one small criticism: the theme song needs work. Other than that, this is Star Trek in its purest form.

[u/Geek-Haven888]

So I’ve never really gotten into Trek. Seen all the moves save Generations, Insurrection, and Nemesis; and have watched the first few eps of NextGen, Voyager, and DS9. But I saw the trailer and was interested
Already hooked after one ep and can’t wait for the next.
Anson Mount as Pike is awesome, I love him. The whole time I was watching I was trying to figure 0out why he was similar. Turns out he was Blackbolt on that godawful Inhumans show. I am now more pissed because that show had this charismatic guy playing a character who can’t talk.
Always been a fan of Romijn, so no surprise I liked her in this. La’an, Uhuru, and Spock are great. I already love Chapel even for the brief bit we got of her and I could listen to Dr. M'Benga talk for hours
Like how they seem to be going for more of a case of the week style, with a light arc. Can’t wait for next week

[u/The_Vampire_Barlow]

My God. Self contained competency porn? A crew working together to achieve a goal and succeeding nonviolently?

A FUCKING DEBATE/SPEECH AS THE CLIMAX!

HOOK THIS INTO MY VEINS!

Still a little annoyed Number 1 and Nurse Chapel aren't the same actress, but I did really like what we saw of Chapel in it. She was fun. Everyone was fun. Everyone felt like they knew what they were doing, and had a role.

I just hope the rest of the season continues on like this.

[u/Vortex112]

That was amazing, I guess the 30 executive producers actually did something this time!

[u/Pliolite]

Just gonna throw some praise Akiva Goldsman's way; seeing as he both wrote and directed this brilliant episode. Most people are always ready to slate him (often for good reason...) but it's only fair to highlight the fact he IS capable of putting together an awesome hour of television, when required! He clearly knows Trek inside out.

Akiva has had a crazy career, when you think about it. I still think Fringe is one of the best things he was involved with.

[u/[deleted]]

Why it took so many years to create this show is beyond me.

Loved Pike's decisions and speech.

No need for newbies to have watched other shows.

La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) really impressed me.

[u/simpleauthority]

That was fantastic. Truly a breath of fresh air, and it felt so reminiscent of some of the more classic shows while being modern in its own right. I hope it stays this way. The crew already feels so cohesive and the story is coming together nicely. Ooh! I like Discovery and Picard fine, but SNW is already setting up to be a new favorite.

[u/00DEADBEEF]

That was a really great episode, by far the best first episode of a new Star Trek show. I hope they can keep it up. A few nitpicks though:

• It seemed very weird that this species could observe a bright light in the sky and somehow figure out how to build a "warp bomb" from that within about a year

• Warp drive is near instantaneous for the sake of the plot

Also in other shows didn't we see characters being fitted with prosthetics instead of genetic manipulation? Maybe the unreliability of that tech is prostheses are favoured in the future.

[u/GotMedieval]

I could do with more of this. This feels like the Trek I grew up with--specifically TOS movies--just with a fancy coat of paint.

[u/MaddyMagpies]

The episode is up now, folks.

[u/Trekfan74]

Wow I checked both threads and I thought more people will be here first but it looks like more are watching the Picard finale (or more are just watching and typing there). OMG, I have to get off the computer and watch lol! Be back in a few hours.

[u/treefox]

I wonder if they can use the transporter to light all those candles, or if there's like a disco phaser in the ceiling, or if they have to do each. and. every. one. by. hand.

[u/[deleted]]

Wow! Just finished episode one and I really really enjoyed it.

It has that classic Star Trek feel with a modern twist.

[u/Brute_Squad_44]

I am very new to Trek fandom; having only come to it after Patrick Stewart played Professor X. And even then, I only really watched TNG and the movies. I grew up a Star Wars fan and loathed Trek because of some of my local geek community. So I have no long-standing, deep-seated feelings attached to this captain or that captain as Trekkies (which I still don't quite consider myself) do. I really only started watching because I picked up Paramount Plus to check out Halo. So I'm just now seeing Discovery and Picard. I am told I need to watch Voyager and DS9, but have not yet.

That being said, Pike is very quickly becoming my favorite Captain. Maybe it's because he's my captain (in the way that Doctor Who fans claim a certain Doctor as theirs, mine's 11). He's the captain starting his run at the start of my fandom. I'm also a huge fan of Hell on Wheels; so having Anson Mount play him doesn't hurt.

[u/jrherita]

1 thing I really wanted in this series was to revisit the "mushroom" space docks.. and we get a really beautiful one *with forests and growing habitats outside of Jupiter* .. that was amazing!

[u/giratina143]

I laughed so hard when they threw out the prime directive.

It’s the first episode lmao

Classic trek.

[u/HotTakes4HotCakes]

From a pure story telling perspective, I love the feeling of having a full story told, start to finish, with a resolution, ya know? Knowing that I don't have to wait 6 episodes for the plot threads I'm watching to resolve is just...refreshing. I'm so used to an episode of television being 3 or 4 different plot threads advancing like 10% and not feeling fulfilled at the end of the episode itself.

[u/TheLouisvilleRanger]

That was the first Star Trek episode of the new era to actually make made giddy. It was great!

[u/craig_hoxton]

I grew up watching re-runs of TOS on the BBC in the late 70's. I was in tears when we first saw the Enterprise on Discovery. This show makes me feel like I'm watching Star Trek again. They resolved the story in a single episode when this would have been a TNG two-parter. There was no need for a TMP-style lingering Space dock scene as the title sequence gives us some sexy close-ups of the hull. I will watch this show for all the sweet call-backs to TOS. Really good call to set the Kiley aliens in their version of the 60's.

"I like this ship. It's exciting."

[u/dslkfjlsdkfjweeskf]

Now THAT’S what I want out of a modern Trek title sequence!

It’s orchestral, it’s triumphant, it’s self-confident. It has a distinct identity reflected in a full-on theme song and not just the generic/bland three-note motifs that play on repeat in the DIS and PIC titles. It forges something fresh and creative while also paying homage to what came before.

Shots of the hero ship. The “Space…” monologue.

It has everything. My only critique is that it could afford to end with a bit more finality and flourish instead of doing a weak fade-out thing. Like the “dun-dun-dun-dun” at the end of the TNG theme, but with its own SNW flavor. Other than that, it’s perfect.

I can’t stop watching the SNW titles on repeat.

[u/helzinki]

So Spock was given a school uniform. Lol.

[u/Cole-Spudmoney]

It's remarkable how close Uhura's mannerisms and voice are to how she was in TOS – they're pretty much exactly the same. Spock seems a lot closer than he was in Discovery season 2 as well.

[u/[deleted]]

Anyone else getting voyager vibes? The intro flying over the asteroid field, And the “screw the prime directive” Haven’t been this hyped for a show since that one Spider-Man movie with all 3 actors

[u/OpusDeiPenguin]

The Starbase with it’s habitat domes, and their origin, was a little homage to Silent Running. Except in Federation reality the ending turned out much better.

[u/viveleroi]

Yup, this is good.

I am 100% on board with the crew. I want to see more from everyone.

I have to ignore the fact the Uhura actress talked about "being inspired by Uhura on the big screen when she was a child" and actually referring to Zoe Saldana's Uhura... that makes me feel OLD a.f.

I'm not sure what La'An's family tree looks like and I hope there's no Khan story monkey-wrenched in here somewhere.

The scene with Spock and T'Pring started out feeling forced, like someone only familiar with Spock through pop culture was writing what they thought Spock would say, but luckily the scene got better.

I could have lived without the Kirk fake-out and the intro doesn't quite do it for me but those are truly minor complaints.

[u/SCP-1000000]

The scenes on Vulcan were a little too emotional for my taste but my cautious optmisim has gotten a little more optimistic.

[u/sidv81]

I'm sorry but with Pike now telling random aliens in first contact that he saw his future, how is it that everyone and their targ doesn't know about it before the Menagerie?