Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

I have to admit that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was so much better than I expected. This is the prequel to the original Star Trek and even has some familiar characters like Spock and Uhura. It's led by Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and has basically the same plot as the original in where they explore the galaxy. This is actually one of the most well received Star Trek shows ever by both the critics and fans, it currently has a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a new fresh feel while also honoring the original. This is a show that both new fans and longtime fans can both enjoy. This hooked me from the very first episode and didn't let go. I binged the entire first season over a weekend and I'm already looking forward for next season.

First episode, and we have an encapsulated story, with a beginning, middle and end, in which the dilemmas of modern society are explored in a self-reflective way, using an alien civilization as a parable.

The old classic trek formula with updated and impressive visuals.

And the same can be said of the cast, all charming and easily relatable. But keep in mind that some are remakes of familiar characters. Some people will not like that.

So far, this is the Kurtzman-era series that has positively impressed me the most. Let's see if the quality holds up.

Still. There are some creative choices that bother me a little.

Probably my favorite character from this new series, is La'an Noonien-Singh. One of the best officers onboard and a dashing beauty. But just the fact that she's a Noonien-Singh is going to unnecessarily stress many of the more purist fans.

So far this series is a significant improvement, it has everything many fans have long claimed. And still. They keep some of the tricks, which mess with the cannon, unnecessarily. For me is a minor complaint, but for some boomer fans it's sacrilege.

But clearly, in my opinion, it's the most enjoyable of all the recent Star Trek series. I really liked this episode. And I will look forward to the next.

After the rather drab, talky and alienating Alex Kurtzman soap operas of Picard and Discovery, Strange New Worlds returns us to the Roddenberry version of the show (ST, ST:NG, ST:Voyager, movies). Once again, we can imagine ourselves on the bridge, empathize with real characters and most of all, enjoy tightly-written scripts that don't insult the audience with dull backstory or gratuitous dialog.

It's not all perfect. There are no characters that immediately shine like a Data or a Seven, the bridge is a little too busy in its design. But the writing is the sharpest since Deep Space Nine, the actors better cast and most of all, while there's no acting on par with Stewart or Mulgrew, there's reason to celebrate this return to the Roddenberry version where disciplined writing and a well-lit Enterprise invite us in to experience adventures that include all of us. Hooray!

TOS morality tales and TNG science, updated for 2022 with an ensemble cast and one full story per episode.

I can even forgive the fact that the 2022 Enterprise looks two centuries ahead of the 1966 Enterprise, because they got the details right and we do have good cgi and sets these days.

A dream come true, this incarnation of Trek. Having watched the first three episodes, Thank you production team and writers!

Strange New Worlds is a fabulous Trekverse series in contrast to some recent offerings. Vintage stylistic choices from uniforms, through technology to sounds, together with opening credits and episodic stories make this a joy to watch for lovers of original Trek.

The stories are focussed, setting the tone, challenges and developing relationships between the crew members very well. The inclusion of younger versions of familiar characters, is a welcome and relatable anchoring to the series.

SNW comes with the familiar plot holes and humour blended nicely together with subtle references to earth's history and Kirk-like problem solving.

Mix all the above together with an excellent cast, this is a winner - I, for one, am very much looking forward to seeing more.