DISCLAIMER: This Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 review contains no spoilers. Proceed freely.
Full disclosure: I’ve always considered myself more of a casual Trekkie. Now, this is a judgment-free zone, so please remove your judgment goggles. I’ve watched multiple Star Trek iterations over the years but never considered myself a die-hard fan (that’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, though). Needless to say, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds took me by surprise in the most delightful way. From the charming cast and their full embodiment of their characters to the compelling stories, Strange New Worlds channels classic Trek in a way that feels like a warm hug.
I had the privilege of watching the first six episodes of Season 2. Folks, it gets, dare I say, bolder, bigger and better. Each episode feels like a mini-movie. It’s an immersive, nuanced experience, bursting at the seams with science fiction richness and steeped in Trek lore.
This season strikes the perfect balance between humor and heart, but it definitely leans into the silliness and comedic hijinks. Ethan Peck, in particular, shines in that arena. Peck’s versatility as an actor and his ability to deftly weave between comedy and drama are on display in Season 2. Yes, you can expect more Spock-centric hilarity.
The entire cast delivers some of their best work, but notable brilliant performances include Celia Rose Gooding, Christina Chong, Jess Bush, Peck and Rebecca Romijn. Bush’s natural onscreen presence never ceases to amaze me. She has some of the most expressive eyes I’ve ever seen. Her easygoing chemistry with Peck is a highlight as the series delves into Nurse Chapel’s and Spock’s intriguing will-they-won’t-they dynamic.
Chong knocks it out of the park in Season 2, infusing La’an with equal parts tenderness and poignancy. The writers craft an emotionally-charged arc for her that really comes full circle. La’an’s growth is beautiful to witness, and the series handles her healing journey with grace and aplomb. Gooding expertly works through Uhura’s grief regarding the loss of Hemmer while starting her Starfleet tenure. Gooding isn’t afraid to mine the depths of Uhura’s psyche, delivering a gut-wrenching performance toward the middle of the season.
Romijn’s work is understated and subtle but so effective. You can’t take your eyes off her whenever she’s onscreen. She exudes a calming, quietly self-assured aura befitting of a Number One. Anson Mount is the perfect performer to spearhead this talented ensemble. With his steady hand and dad-joke-loving presence, he guides this crew on the path to success. Babs Olusanmokun showcased his impeccable dramatic chops last season with M’Benga’s heart-wrenching storyline with Rukiya. Olusanmokun delivers a consistently layered, captivating performance in Season 2. We even pull back the curtain on his backstory.
RELATED: 8 Star Trek Episodes to Watch Before Strange New Worlds Season 2
Of course, I’d be remiss if I omitted everyone’s favorite pilot, Melissa Navia. We finally get more Ortegas (Mortegas?) this season as the writers ensure she’s a fully fleshed-out character beyond the wisecracking lieutenant who steers the Enterprise. Navia holds her own in that department. As for our supporting players, Carol Kane is a fun addition as Pelia. I mean, she’s Carol forking Kane; why wouldn’t she be? I’ll admit it — I was unsure about Paul Wesley as Kirk when I watched the Season 1 finale. However, he won me over in Season 2.
One thing that’s essential to remember is that he’s not the Kirk we know from the original series. He’s in the process of becoming that person, though. Wesley captures William Shatner‘s physical mannerisms and charisma. The season allows for that charm to take the wheel. Despite not being a carbon copy of Shatner, I can picture Wesley as a young Kirk now. He also boasts an intriguing dynamic with Chong.
Speaking of dynamics, this season is all about experimenting with character dynamics. The writers methodically deepen those relationships we saw blossom in Season 1 while pairing other characters to delightful results. As expected, they also plant the seeds for Kirk, Uhura and Spock’s inevitable working relationship in Star Trek: The Original Series.
RELATED: What to Remember About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Before Season 2 Starts
Season 2 showcases stunning visuals that wholly immerse you in its exciting narrative. The episodic stories maintain an insular feel while telling an overarching tale, with each outing depicting a profoundly human story rooted in dense Trek mythos. We tread familiar Trek ground and revisit certain things. It’s exciting and … that’s all I’ll say about that.
As mentioned above, we get a lot of enthralling character work this season. While Season 1 felt a little more plot-heavy, this go-round finds that balance between the plot and the characters. Season 2 successfully provides everything we love about Star Trek: it’s thought-provoking, action-packed (we get one particular scene that feels like it’s plucked from a blockbuster action pic), genre-bending, hilarious, heartfelt, engrossing, and, on occasion, goofy as hell. The stars (and those strange new worlds) become accessible to us with the Enterprise crew at the helm.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres on Thursday, June 15, 2023, only on Paramount+.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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