STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS’ TOS Parody Episode Was Cosmically Cringe, and Has Us Worried

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As a die-hard fan here, I must confess that “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” truly resonates with me. Now, don’t get me wrong, other contemporary “Star Trek” series like “Discovery” and “Picard” each have their merits. But what sets “SNW” apart is its nostalgic appeal, harkening back to the optimistic narrative style of the 1960s, a quality that’s been missing for quite some time.

The ensemble cast, headed by Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck as Spock, has won over countless fans, including myself. Moreover, it harkened back to the standalone, week-to-week adventure format that seemed to fade with the arrival of streaming services. It’s no wonder it attracted a multitude of new fans and rekindled the interest of many lapsed Trekkers.

However, I must admit, “Strange New Worlds” seems to have faltered slightly in its third season. This misstep is particularly noticeable in the recent episode “A Space Adventure Hour.

As a devoted Star Trek fan, I’ve always appreciated the series for its unique blend of science fiction and comedy. One classic example that comes to mind is “The Trouble with Tribbles” from the original series (TOS), which feels more like a hilarious sitcom set in space than a traditional episode.

In the spirit of maintaining this comedic thread, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and even Enterprise continued to incorporate at least one humorous episode per season. These episodes often became fan favorites and are still cherished today. However, what sets Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (SNW) apart is its compressed format – only ten episodes per season compared to the 26 of previous series.

When a third of these limited episodes turn into goofy farces, it significantly alters the show’s overall tone and focus. It’s not that these comedic moments aren’t enjoyable; they just seem out of place within the confines of SNW’s shorter season structure. This shift in format fundamentally changes what we can expect from the series as a whole.

One of the most obvious examples was the recent “A Space Adventure Hour,” an adventure in the holodeck that simulated 1960s Hollywood. The security chief, La’an (played by Christina Chong), disguised herself as her favorite 20th-century detective to solve a murder mystery, which bears a striking resemblance to the “TNG” episode “Elementary, Dear Data,” where Data posed as Sherlock Holmes for a holodeck adventure. However, this version deliberately included numerous references to the “Star Trek” franchise itself, leading some to worry that “Strange New Worlds” may have gone too far and crossed the line, hence the phrase “jumped the Andorian shark.

A significant part of the episode takes jabs at the classic Star Trek series, particularly how it might appear if one focuses only on its low-budget sets and revealing costumes instead of its deeper messages. Indeed, the original series did have those elements, but it often used them as a backdrop to comment on real-world issues. Characters in SNW resemble notable figures from the classic show, with Paul Wesley playing Maxwell Saint who is akin to William Shatner, and Anson Mount portraying a TV producer reminiscent of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Notably, these portrayals are far from flattering for either person.

Rebecca Romijn portrays a Hollywood actress transitioning into producing, with her initial project being a science fiction series. This role is reminiscent of behind-the-scenes Star Trek history, as the legendary Lucille Ball’s Desilu Productions funded the original Star Trek pilot. Ball invested significant personal funds in starting the series, making it crucial to the franchise’s existence. Interestingly, she is depicted more favorably compared to the men, who are portrayed as having transformed their Roddenberry doppelganger into a lecherous character. Similarly, Paul Wesley’s Maxwell Saint resembles Captain Kirk (Shatner) but is also criticized for his acting skills. Ouch indeed!

Critics have long accused the individuals who inspired these character portrayals of questionable behavior for many years. While humorously depicted in several Saturday Night Live skits mocking Shatner’s acting style, it’s a different story when a franchise ridicules itself so harshly. The original Star Trek serves as the cornerstone of the entire franchise, including Strange New Worlds. Such portrayal seems insensitive and disrespectful. It wouldn’t surprise me if Paramount reached out to William Shatner for a return role in the franchise, and after such treatment, it’s possible he might decline their offer.

In essence, the current state of Strange New Worlds, particularly in season three, highlights a significant issue. This season, an excessive number of episodes – about one third – tend towards comedy. It appears that the writers this season are focusing more on utilizing the Star Trek format to produce comedic space operas. When it’s not comedic, it veers heavily into the realm of soap operas. Although elements of comedy and melodrama have their place in Trek, they were traditionally secondary to the main storyline in each episode. In season three, SNW seems to be delving deeper into these aspects than ever before. It seems that the science fiction exploration has taken a step back more than usual, making way for episodes with amusing gimmicks or “Who will Spock be romantically involved with this week?” The balance between action and humor feels off-kilter.

Above all, it seems as though the writers have a strong affection for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” that outweighs their love for “Star Trek.” This is evident from the musical episode last season and the upcoming puppet episode in season four, which showcases their influence from Joss Whedon. Given the enduring greatness of “Buffy,” this admiration is not surprising. However, what made “Buffy” successful doesn’t typically translate to “Star Trek.” In “Buffy,” the characters were teenagers, and their hormones often made their romantic relationships appear more significant than their heroic tasks. Conversely, in “Star Trek,” these are supposedly mature officers whose professional duties should take priority over any romantic distractions.

As a devoted cinephile, I must say that the final episodes of “Strange New World” have left a strong impression, hinting that there may still be hope for the series. However, it’s apparent that with the WGA strikes causing a rush in season three’s episode production, the cast hasn’t been given the quality they truly deserve this season.

The first two seasons of “Star Trek” were groundbreaking, but unfortunately, their third season saw a significant drop in quality. Like “TOS”, it never got a fourth season to regain its footing, with feature films being the means to revive it instead. With a fourth and fifth season of “Strange New Worlds” confirmed, I can only hope that they find their way back to the exceptional storytelling we saw in seasons one and two.

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2025-08-08 00:03