Summary
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds represents both the good and the bad from the Star Trek universe, yet it manages to rise above any of these criticisms with a superb cast of characters and a varied structure that provides something different for every viewer.
Here is our review of the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, which does not contain spoilers.
Boldly going where many TV shows have gone before, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns for an eagerly anticipated second season, continuing to expand upon the Star Trek universe and its complex lore even further.
This latest batch of instalments delves ever deeper into the lives of the USS Enterprise’s valiant crew members, which in turn helps to produce another stellar season.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Review and Plot Summary
Season two finds our lovable crew exploring strange new alien societies, preventing many intergalactic tragedies from taking place and, as always, tirelessly shielding developing societies from futuristic technologies. It’s the standard, stand-alone format from the series, where each story feels self-contained within its own episode.
Led by the courageous Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), the core cast of characters are all back for further adventures.
In this series, Pike tackles his own personal demons, whilst first officer Una Chin-Riley’s previous crimes are explored in more detail. From the first six installments screened in advance, most of the main players are given their own centric episodes.
We get more of Spock (Ethan Peck) and his eventful love life, with one specific episode finding a comical way to address his befuddled emotions. The series can be playful when it wants to be and the show peaks in this Spock-centric episode, titled “Charades.”
There’s plenty of humor to be enjoyed, but the romances are also surprisingly well-written as well.
Elsewhere, there’s romance on the cards for the usually reserved La’an (Christina Chong) and Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), who in contrast wears her heart on her sleeve. Not all of these romances end happily, but each individual storyline is handled with care and respect nonetheless.
The other crew members, Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), pilot Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and chief medical officer Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) are all interconnected within these central plots and all get their chance to shine too.
Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 good or bad?
The second season is just as impressively crafted as the first, employing a well-structured style of storytelling that hearkens back to that of the classic sixties’ original series. Something that fans have already come to appreciate from the first season of this latest Star Trek offshoot. Thankfully this format is used efficiently for a second time in a row.
The show depicts some truly phenomenal alien societies, using stunning special effects to capitalize on this essential world building. There’s action and drama to behold, with some genuinely moving romances to enjoy as well.
That characteristic classic Star Trek humor is back as well, although it is hit and miss on the whole, and there are still the odd corny and preachy moments to endure too. The show works best when it ditches these setbacks and its self-righteous tone to concentrate on good-old-fashioned Hollywood entertainment instead.
Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 worth watching?
Not every episode is to the same high standards as “Charades,” but they are all varied enough to appeal to all audiences. The series explores many different Star Trek sub-genres and styles of storytelling, making the most of its episodic format.
Yet it is the lovable cast that make this a highlight within the franchise, as viewers will happily follow this quirky gang of misfits to all the farthest reaches of the galaxy.
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