TV Review: ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3 receives 8 out of 10 stars.

Arriving on Paramount+ on July 17th with the first two episodes (and eight more landing weekly), ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ launches its third season, once more starring Anson Mount (‘Non-Stop’) as Captain Christopher Pike, leading the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise on new adventures.

The cast also includes Ethan Peck (‘The Midnight Sky’), Christina Chong (‘Johnny English Reborn’), Melissa Navia (‘The Chosen’) and Rebecca Romijn (‘X-Men’).

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 2

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Jess Bush as Chapel and Ethan Peck as Spock in season 3 , Episode 1 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ has established its own particular style. Largely episodic (with some linked episodes and nods to ongoing storylines here and there, organically incorporated) it has also become known as the ‘Trek’ show that really, boldly goes where no one has gone before.

By that, we mean the show has displayed incredible narrative flexibility; one minute it’s a traditional space adventure, thrusting the crew into a desperate situation against dangerous aliens, the next it’s a musical. And while other series in the long canon of this venerable franchise have had their fun –– take ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’s occasional visits to the holodeck or the machinations of the mischievous, all-powerful Q –– ‘Strange New Worlds’ doesn’t usually need much of an excuse to break out of the usual format.

The most surprising thing? It almost always works, so the biggest challenge facing the creative team in the third season is keeping that balance intact.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Christina Chong as Laían and Ethan Peck as Spock in season 3 , Episode 4 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

Fortunately, we’re pleased to report that Season 3 maintains the same level of playfulness and drama that audiences have come to enjoy about the show. Showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers pick up the cliffhanger from last season’s finale ‘Hegemony’ with kidnapped crew members and the Enterprise under devastating attack from the devious, reptilian Gorn (a far cry from the man-in-rubber-suit combat as shown in the original ‘Star Trek’).

Kicking off with high drama, the initial episode offers all the twists and turns you might hope for, our valiant crew figuring out how to fight back against their violent enemies. And leaving at least one plot thread dangling through the season to be dealt with later. Again, this is handled in such smooth fashion that you’re happy to see them leaving some storylines to be dealt with down the line.

Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. MíBenga in season 3 , Episode 5 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

Other episodes, such as ‘Shuttle to Kenfori’ offer welcome digs into the pasts and private lives of characters including Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), while ‘A Space Adventure Hour,’ featuring the first appearance (in ‘Trek lore, at least) of a technology familiar to ‘Next Generation’ fans, is a familiar piece of format tinkering layered with loving nods to the 1960s wellspring.

Stylistically, the show continues to look great, cinematic and impressive, and welcoming back the likes of ‘Trek’ veteran Jonathan Frakes behind the camera, resulting in a healthy combination of cinematography and attention to the cast’s easy chemistry.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Dan Jeannotte as Sam Kirk, Carol Kane as Pelia and Martin Quinn as Scotty in season 3 , Episode 5 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

The bonhomie between this crew can’t be understated –– they’re a team that has really found its gear, and even with huge stakes surrounding them, there’s space for a lightness of touch and real humor.

Anson Mount continues to be the (usually) calm and steady presence as a leading man and ship’s captain, commanding his crew in a way that Kirk, Picard or even Sisko and Janeway could never dream of trying, but always there in a pinch.

Rebecca Romijn’s Number One doesn’t get as much of a showcase in the episodes provided to the press, but she’s still a welcome, dryly funny presence.

Ethan Peck’s Spock does enjoy some focus, particularly in a funny, whimsical episode early in the season (‘Wedding Bell Blues’) confronting his evolving feelings for a crewmate and potentially finding a new connection.

Jess Bush is still on great form as Nurse Christine Chapel, bringing something more to the character than the original series had time for.

Melissa Navia as Erica Ortegas in season 3 , Episode 7 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

If there’s a complaint to be made, it’s that there’s really enough from Carol Kane’s offbeat chief engineer Pelia, as she’s always entertaining when she’s on screen.

Around the main cast, there are some welcome new faces (including one guest star whose name and character we won’t spoil that has a deep cut link to an existing ‘Trek’ character) and recent recruit Martin Quinn as Lt. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, who gives a performance that honors James Doohan while also existing as its own creation.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Rebecca Romijn as Una and Anson Mount as Capt. Pike in season 3 , Episode 4 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+.

Taking the “if it ain’t broke” approach has worked for ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.’

Assuming the remaining five episodes of the new season don’t fall off a cliff creatively speaking, this new season is a welcome addition to one of the best shows in modern ‘Star Trek’ history.

“The frontier awaits.”

What’s the plot of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3?

In Season 3, when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike, they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn.

But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve…

Who stars in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 3?

Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike
Ethan Peck as Spock
Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh
Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas
Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley
Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel
Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura
Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M’Benga
Dan Jeannotte as Lieutenant George Samuel ‘Sam’ Kirk
Carol Kane as Pelia
Martin Quinn as Lieutenant Montgomery Scott

Carol Kane as Pelia in season 3 , Episode 6 of ‘Strange New Worlds’ streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Marni Grossman/Paramount+

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