Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season 4, ep. 6: Why Starfleet Officers are Masters of Disaster
By John Kirk
Rating: B+
For some reason, the best episodes in any incarnation of Trek are the disaster episodes. Remember that disaster episode in Star Trek: The Next Generation? What was it called? Oh yeah … “Disaster!”
This type of episode always shows up. Whether it was when the USS Defiant in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was without power. Or the DS9 episode titled “Civil Defense,” where a lethal Cardassian defence program was accidentally triggered on the station.
Every iteration of the franchise has its share of this type of story and it’s good to see that Strange New Worlds has one too.
Captain Pike (Anson Mount) tries to stay on top of a ship-destroying warp slipstream.
The story: due to a warp core programming accident, the ship accidentally enters into a slipstream warp-field, that as long time fans will remember, from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, will accelerate the ship beyond its warp speed limitations and break it apart. As this sort of accident has never been encountered, it’s a bit of a historical moment.
Of course, in TMP, the simple solution was to fire a photon torpedo, disrupt the warp field and move the ship out of the stream. In this episode, they’re writing the procedure as it happens and this is when prequel stories shine.
The episode is divided up into individual plotlines where pockets of the crew must work to solve individual challenges that eventually contribute to the solution. Like other disaster episodes, it’s a chance for the crew to work together while also showcasing their individual brilliance. I don’t think there’s one of these types of stories that I’ve ever disliked.
It’s the timing that really makes this episode pop. A chronometer readout is shown at the start of the of the episode keeping track of the amount of time elapsed before the Enterprise reaches the critical point. It’s intense and boosts the level of action.
There’s great chemistry between Chapel (Jess Bush) and M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) in this episode. When one suffers a critical injury and the other refuses to leave, it’s a testament to the nature of the relationship between the Alpha Shift members of the crew that fans want to see. However, this is also a transitionally important scene too as it again reveals the inevitable narrative progression towards the Kirk-era original series.
If we all remember the characters from the first episode of TOS “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, there’s an important appearance that happens in this episode, which is also something that will attract fans’ attentions. Again, the entire theme of this season seems to be that move towards a return to the original canon.
There’s also a great callback in this episode to another memorable TOS episode, “Court Martial.” Far be it from me to reveal it, but it’ll be apparent to all fans of the original series. Captain Pike has a similar decision that Kirk had to make and it’s a good comparison.
Los of injuries in this episode too – which also adds a bit of spice to the disaster. It isn’t just the Enterprise that’s suffering – it’s the crew too. This is the sort of shared danger that unites a crew and reinforces relationships, and it makes for a solid storytelling dynamic.
Though Carol Kane’s Chief Engineer Pelia seems to be the exception in this case. Sequestered in her perfectly intact cabin, she’s happy to play backseat driver to Scotty (Martin Quinn) as he actually deals with the catastrophe. If there’s an annoying character in this series, it’s Pelia. However, this is a part of Scotty’s education and though it is irritating, thankfully, it will pass.
Season Four – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Episode 406: “Off Hour” Director: Dan Liu. Cast: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Babs Olusanmokun, Celia Rose-Gooding, Melissa Navia, Rebecca Romijn, Martin Quinn, Carol Kane
Episode 406, “Off Hour” drops on August 27 on Paramount Plus and CTV’s Sci-Fi Channel.