This Star Trek: Strange New Worlds article contains spoilers.
The fact that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds features a character with the last name Noonien-Singh meant that we would eventually get an episode like “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” an hour that finally attempts to address the long-tail impact and trauma of growing up in the shadow of Khan’s bloody legacy. But, like so many other aspects of this show, the series found an unexpected way to explore this story—one that doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia to carry its plot but rather uses familiar elements to find something new to say about its characters and the larger world they inhabit.
To be fair, security officer La’an Noonien-Singh has absolutely been through it over the course of her life so far—heck, even just over the course of this series’ 13 episodes to date!—and it’s hard...
The fact that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds features a character with the last name Noonien-Singh meant that we would eventually get an episode like “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” an hour that finally attempts to address the long-tail impact and trauma of growing up in the shadow of Khan’s bloody legacy. But, like so many other aspects of this show, the series found an unexpected way to explore this story—one that doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia to carry its plot but rather uses familiar elements to find something new to say about its characters and the larger world they inhabit.
To be fair, security officer La’an Noonien-Singh has absolutely been through it over the course of her life so far—heck, even just over the course of this series’ 13 episodes to date!—and it’s hard...
- 7/5/2023
- by Lacy Baugher
- Den of Geek
This Star Trek: Strange New Worlds article contains spoilers.
Some of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all time take place in a courtroom. From the epic two-part Original Series classic “The Menagerie” to “The Measure of a Man” in The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine‘s “Inquisition” and even the memorable trials in the films The Voyage Home and The Undiscovered Country, putting Star Trek characters up against the outer space laws of the future tends to create memorable and moving storylines. In Strange New Worlds season 2’s “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” that tradition continues with the trial of Number One, aka Commander Una Chin-Riley. It’s a smart, moving episode that breaks some new philosophical ground for Trek, but also will remind longtime fans about what the franchise is all about: unpacking tricky ethical questions in a sci-fi setting.
But this episode is also deeply steeped in Trek lore and references.
Some of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all time take place in a courtroom. From the epic two-part Original Series classic “The Menagerie” to “The Measure of a Man” in The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine‘s “Inquisition” and even the memorable trials in the films The Voyage Home and The Undiscovered Country, putting Star Trek characters up against the outer space laws of the future tends to create memorable and moving storylines. In Strange New Worlds season 2’s “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” that tradition continues with the trial of Number One, aka Commander Una Chin-Riley. It’s a smart, moving episode that breaks some new philosophical ground for Trek, but also will remind longtime fans about what the franchise is all about: unpacking tricky ethical questions in a sci-fi setting.
But this episode is also deeply steeped in Trek lore and references.
- 6/22/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Trek: Strange New Worlds article contains spoilers.
It always comes back to Khan. Yes, even the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which finds Number One aka Commander Una Chin-Riley on trial for hiding her Illyrian heritage of genetic modification, and in the process violating the Federation’s restriction against augments. As made clear by Number One’s defense lawyer and fellow Illyrian Neera (Yetide Badaki), the ban seems to contradict the Federation’s central values, one that seeks (as the Vulcans put it) infinite diversity in infinite combinations.
In order to understand why the Federation restricts genetically modified individuals, one must take a look at one of the most infamous villains of the franchise: Khan Noonien Singh. Although Khan first appeared in the 1967 Original Series episode “Space Seed,” and then returned for the beloved 1982 movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, he has his roots in the 1990s.
It always comes back to Khan. Yes, even the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which finds Number One aka Commander Una Chin-Riley on trial for hiding her Illyrian heritage of genetic modification, and in the process violating the Federation’s restriction against augments. As made clear by Number One’s defense lawyer and fellow Illyrian Neera (Yetide Badaki), the ban seems to contradict the Federation’s central values, one that seeks (as the Vulcans put it) infinite diversity in infinite combinations.
In order to understand why the Federation restricts genetically modified individuals, one must take a look at one of the most infamous villains of the franchise: Khan Noonien Singh. Although Khan first appeared in the 1967 Original Series episode “Space Seed,” and then returned for the beloved 1982 movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, he has his roots in the 1990s.
- 6/22/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Many questioned Pike's relative absence from the premiere and why Una's situation wasn't addressed, but leaving that business to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 2 is a logical and sensible choice of pacing (and an elegant cover for Anson Mount's paternity leave).
While the premiere provided a high adventure rife with comedic moments and some delightful visual gags, Una's court martial trial and the history between her and her counsel is a deep and satisfying foray into the question of societal justice in the world of the Federation.
It holds up a mirror to the historical injustice, systemic discrimination, and fear-based legislation and procedure seen today. It challenges viewers to be better versions of themselves. But it's light on laughs and would've been heavy material to kick the season off with, in contrast to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 1.
The temporal overlap created by Pike...
While the premiere provided a high adventure rife with comedic moments and some delightful visual gags, Una's court martial trial and the history between her and her counsel is a deep and satisfying foray into the question of societal justice in the world of the Federation.
It holds up a mirror to the historical injustice, systemic discrimination, and fear-based legislation and procedure seen today. It challenges viewers to be better versions of themselves. But it's light on laughs and would've been heavy material to kick the season off with, in contrast to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 1.
The temporal overlap created by Pike...
- 6/22/2023
- by Diana Keng
- TVfanatic
[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 2 “Ad Astra per Aspera.”] Star Trek: Strange New Worlds resolves the major cliffhanger of Una’s (Rebecca Romijn) Season 1 finale arrest — Starfleet learned she’s Illyrian and arrested her for violations of the anti-genetic modification directive — in the latest episode. And in doing so, it reconnected Una with a childhood friend, Neera, and revealed who turned her in in the first place. Pike (Anson Mount) was the one to track down Neera, who, though reluctant, did take on Una as a client. Among those who took the stand in Una’s defense were: La’an (Christina Chong), Spock (Ethan Peck), and Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun). And when it came time for Una to testify, Neera had her share why she joined Starfleet, knowing she could end up where she did. Its motto, ad ...
- 6/22/2023
- TV Insider
This Star Trek: Strange New Worlds review contains spoilers.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 2
Though Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has technically only aired 12 episodes to date, it has the confidence of a much older series, deftly shifting between genres and subverting familiar storytelling tropes in unexpected ways. From bodyswap romantic comedies and children’s fairytale fantasies to creepy body horror and even a shot-for-shot remake of a classic The Original Series episode, this show seems to delight in finding new ways to tell familiar stories, and the franchise is all the better for it.
The second installment in Strange New Worlds season 2 circles back to the storyline most of us probably thought the premiere would handle, and what follows is basically a courtroom procedural, a Star Trek does Law & Order riff that sees Enterprise First Officer Una Chin Riley face the legal consequences of her decision to...
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Episode 2
Though Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has technically only aired 12 episodes to date, it has the confidence of a much older series, deftly shifting between genres and subverting familiar storytelling tropes in unexpected ways. From bodyswap romantic comedies and children’s fairytale fantasies to creepy body horror and even a shot-for-shot remake of a classic The Original Series episode, this show seems to delight in finding new ways to tell familiar stories, and the franchise is all the better for it.
The second installment in Strange New Worlds season 2 circles back to the storyline most of us probably thought the premiere would handle, and what follows is basically a courtroom procedural, a Star Trek does Law & Order riff that sees Enterprise First Officer Una Chin Riley face the legal consequences of her decision to...
- 6/22/2023
- by Lacy Baugher
- Den of Geek
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