The Best of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds closed out a phenomenal second season with the season 2 finale, “Hegemony.” While there are varied opinions from Star Trek fans, new and old, this Trekkie thought season 2 was as strong as season 1. Sure, we didn’t explore as many “strange new worlds,” but season 2 delivers more character-driven stories and creatively pushes the genre envelope. We get to truly know the characters we first fell for in season 1, including other facets of well-established characters from The Original Series (TOS). 

In honor of this stellar show’s sophomore season, here’s what I consider to be the best of the best. Think of it as my season 2 highlight reel as we prepare for season 3.

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La’an Noonien-Singh’s Arc

Seldom have I met a character on TV who I relate to more than La’an Noonien-Singh. You might be asking, “But Melody, how can you relate to a character who spent her childhood on a Gorn ship where she lost her family and is tied to the infamous Khan Noonien Singh?” It’s not so much about the specifics of what we’ve respectively experienced, but how that trauma affects us moving forward. La’an struggles to reconcile with her grief and trauma and chooses to close herself off so she doesn’t have to deal with it. Her journey to healing in season 2 profoundly resonates with me. 

On top of that, my poor girl embarks on a time-traveling adventure with an alternate James T. Kirk, falls in love with him, loses him, and then must keep all of that a secret when she returns to her timeline. Oof. In her timeline, she eventually tells Kirk about her escapades with alt-Kirk and her feelings, which is a significant step in the right direction for her. When you’ve been a tightly closed book for so long, the very act of opening it is a marker of true courage. 

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“The most confounding thing; I appear to be singing…”

“Subspace Rhapsody,” Star Trek‘s first musical episode ever, undoubtedly ruffled some Trekkie feathers. It’s divisive, to be sure. I think it all boils down to whether you’re a musical fan. As for me, I trained in theater, and I started performing in musicals when I was a child. Perhaps that makes me biased, but as a film/TV critic, I try to approach everything from a place of objectivity. Folks, there are shockingly bad musicals that exist onstage and onscreen. “Subspace Rhapsody” is not one of them. 

It boasts toe-tapping tunes that push the plot forward. More specifically, it dives deep into our characters. La’an, as mentioned above, has some huge character moments in “Subspace Rhapsody” that serve as the perfect cap to her series arc. She goes from someone unwilling to take risks to declaring by the episode’s end that maybe she could try stepping out of her comfort zone more. That’s beautiful. Plus, Christina Chong has an incredible voice, as aptly displayed in “How Would That Feel.” 

Speaking of incredible voices, the other showstopper goes to Nyota Uhura, who belts out the 11 o’clock number, “Keep Us Connected.” Celia Rose Gooding is a Broadway vet, so I wasn’t surprised by how gorgeous their voice is, but the song itself struck a chord in me, and their performance contributed to that. The song also honors Uhura’s hefty contributions to the Star Trek franchise. 

While those are my favorites, other highlights from the episode include the closing number, “We Are One,” Spock’s solo song (complete with the requisite math references), “I’m the X,” and Nurse Chapel’s flirty, fun tune, “I’m Ready.” Oh, and how can one forget that Klingon dance break plucked straight from the boy band playbook? 

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“Those Old Scientists”

The highly anticipated crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks did not disappoint. Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome are so dialed into their characters that their live-action appearances as Boimler and Mariner made total sense. It all clicked for me. Plus, the inherently over-the-top nature of animation inexplicably translates well to the live-action format. It helps that Strange New Worlds leans into the comedy of it all, producing some particularly funny moments between our Beta Shifters and Number One. Having that outsider’s commentary from Mariner and Boimler is also fun. (Mariner remarking on young Spock’s hotness made me giggle because, girl, same.)

“Those Old Scientists” is a delightful outing from beginning to end that stays true to Star Trek‘s penchant for kookiness while incorporating plenty of Easter eggs for fans. Boimler’s touching speech to Captain Pike about embracing the present and leaving his future in the future is as touching as it is applicable to real life. 

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Spock and Nurse Chapel’s Relationship 

It’s been written in the stars since the first season. Spock and Nurse Chapel’s feelings for each other have always been evident. Strange New Worlds does a fantastic job of methodically constructing their bond, culminating in the explosive ending to the hilarious, Spock-centric “Charades.” Jess Bush brings a fun, flirty energy to Chapel laced with poignancy and vulnerability, while Ethan Peck’s interpretation of young Spock is pitch-perfect across the board. His struggle to reconcile his human side while presenting to the universe as Vulcan is met with Chapel’s gentle encouragement to explore that humanity. 

While “Hegemony” sees them potentially mending fences after they leave the wreckage of the Cayuga, even if season 3 doesn’t boast a full reconciliation, we’ll always have the back half of season 2. 

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“Hegemony”

The season 2 finale is a blast, both figuratively and literally. “Hegemony” raises the stakes considerably with high-octane scenes and dramatic character beats. It leaves the Enterprise crew divided and in a precarious position for season 3. Plus, all those dang cliffhangers! There’s Batel’s life hanging in the balance (Wynonna Earp better not die), the Gorn potentially starting a war, and various Enterprise crew members getting captured by the Gorn (M’Benga, La’an, and Ortegas). The thought of La’an becoming re-traumatized by being held captive on another Gorn ship breaks my heart. 

Easily one of the highlights of “Hegemony” is the official introduction of Lt. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott. Martin Quinn’s take on this legendary Trek character is perfect. Additionally, Scotty gels well with Pelia, and I have no doubt we’ll get some fun comedic moments from them in future episodes. 

In short, the wait for season 3 will be agonizing, and if I ever see “To Be Continued…” elsewhere, it’ll be too soon. 

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The Kirk of It All

Paul Wesley took me by surprise regarding his portrayal of young Kirk in that I didn’t expect to like it so much. He perfectly captures Kirk’s easygoing charm, wit, and adventurous nature while reminding us that this version of Kirk hasn’t captained the Enterprise yet. Giving him a more prominent role in season 2 allowed us to see him interact with important TOS (now canonically “Those Old Scientists”) characters such as Uhura and Spock. His scenes with Uhura in “Lost in Translation” are some of my favorites of the season. Too bad we didn’t have Kirk in the season finale with Scotty… 

I’d be remiss if I omitted Kirk’s innate, yet doomed, chemistry with La’an. “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” La’an and Kirk’s time travel episode, is a highlight of season 2. I hope we get more Kirk and La’an scenes in season 3, along with Kirk having adventures with his future Enterprise crew. Oh, and more Kirk brothers moments! 

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M’Benga Goes to War 

Babs Olusanmokun has blessed us with some of the most powerful, compelling character beats in Strange New Worlds. He’s a gifted performer. His season 1 arc with his daughter made me bawl like a baby, so I knew whatever season 2 had in store for him would evoke the same emotions. M’Benga contends with his PTSD from fighting in the Klingon War, and “Under the Cloak of War” brings it all to a head. We really get to the bottom of M’Benga’s wartime traumas and just how harrowing his time was on the front lines. 

Olusanmokun beautifully and heartbreakingly conveys the nuances of M’Benga’s pain and his struggle to conceal it. Of course, the Klingon ambassador’s arrival in episode 8 doesn’t help matters. And that bombshell reveal about M’Benga’s time on J’Gal? Jaw-dropping as it is gut-wrenching. It adds a new layer to him that might make for an interesting rewatch to view this fascinating character through a different lens. 

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The Delightful Pelia

Carol Kane is a national treasure, and her presence on any project makes it infinitely better. Strange New Worlds is no exception. Pelia is such a fun supporting character. The enigmatic Lanthanite, who always has a witty remark at the ready, replaced the late Hemmer (RIP) as the chief engineer aboard the Enterprise. We learn she used to teach Number One at Starfleet Academy, and the latter has always begrudged her for giving her less-than-stellar marks. Pelia and Number One’s scenes inject much-needed levity into sometimes serious episodic narratives. 

In fact, Pelia’s interactions with all the main characters are a blast. I hope she sticks around for season 3 and beyond. 

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“Ad Astra Per Aspera”

Rebecca Romijn gets an episode all to herself to showcase her versatile acting chops with the season’s second installment, “Ad Astra Per Aspera.” It’s a beautiful, character-driven outing that feels like an homage to those classic, black-and-white films that are light on the action and heavy on the in-depth monologues and dialogue. Number One’s struggle to conceal her Illyrian identity started in season 1 with “Ghosts of Illyria,” when she told Pike she was Illyrian and he refused to turn her into Starfleet. Of course, that decision returned to bite them both in the season 1 finale, “A Quality of Mercy,” when Captain Batel arrested Number One for hiding who she really is. 

Thankfully, with the help of Number One’s former BFF and Illyrian attorney, Neera Ketoul, Number One is acquitted of all charges and allowed to return as lieutenant commander of the Enterprise. 

“Ad Astra Per Aspera” tugs at the heartstrings while presenting a meditation on the importance of equality and condemnation of bigotry. Romijn and Yetide Badaki (Neera) create truly compelling work here. 

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Uhura Keeps Us Connected

Uhura is the heartbeat of this show. Tell me I’m wrong. Of course, there’s her strong tether to TOS, but Celia Rose Gooding’s grounded, nuanced performance draws us deeper into Uhura’s story. It also feels like an homage to the late, great Nichelle Nichols, which I thoroughly appreciate. From Uhura’s moving ballad in “Subspace Rhapsody” to her center-stage episode, “Lost in Translation,” her season 2 arc has been a thing of beauty. Like La’an, Uhura has had her own journey with grief as she grapples with her various losses — her family and Hemmer. 

Profound character moments like these only deepen our understanding of Uhura as we know her in TOS and beyond. Hats off to Celia Rose Gooding for delivering work on par with their predecessor. 

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What did you love most about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2? Join the conversation alongside other Star Trek fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Trekkie Sideshow!