Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Season 3, Episodes 1-6
Notes:
I wasn't paying attention and missed the start of season three. Here are the episodes that have aired so far.
Collider isn't publishing recaps for this season, so the episode links are to StarTrek.com. Probably better anyway.
There are no links to The Ready Room because they seem to have stopped making it.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Season 3, Episodes 1-6
S3 E1 - Jul 17, 2025
Pike leads a risky rescue behind enemy lines as the landing party flees a deadly enemy.
S3 E2 - Jul 17, 2025
At a Federation celebration, an uninvited guest disrupts Spock and the crew's reflections.
S3 E3 - Jul 24, 2025
Pike and M'Benga enter Klingon space for Batel's cure as M'Benga's past returns on a deadly world.
S3 E4 - Jul 31, 2025
La'An tests a prototype holodeck with a fictional case only she can solve.
S3 E5 - Aug 7, 2025
Chapel and Korby's quest leads the Enterprise to ancient ruins hiding a dark secret.
S3 E6 - Aug 14, 2025
Kirk's first day as captain turns disastrous when a Scavenger Ship seizes the Enterprise.
Episode images and synopses from Paramount+
Linked episode recaps from StarTrek.com
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I enjoyed them all, but if I had to choose my least favorite so far it would be episode 2 and the rehash of Trelane from TOS. Also, I didn't care for what Chapel did to Spock.
I was worried about episode 4 trashing canon with the holodeck, but I suppose they ended in a way that preserves it – not enough energy or computing power for it to be safe on early ships, so the tech is presumably shelved until TNG.
I think I found episode 5 the most interesting. I hope they come back to that one later and explain why the Gorn DNA in Batel made her fight the alien presence in Gamble.
I can't remember if the Scavengers have ever been in a Trek show before, but I remember scavengers in the video game from a long time ago called Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force. In the game their ship was a mishmash of tech and pieces of ships from several species. I have no idea if there's a link between them, or if the Scavengers in episode 6 are supposed to be a completely different thing.
The Scavengers are basically the TOS era version of the Pakleds. Batel's Gorn DNA part might be triggering a Gorn instinct. At least, that would explain her actions. Episode 4 did not trash cannon. ST: TAS from the 70's featured the holodeck, although it was called the Recreation Room (Rec Room). Episode 4 establishes its origin on the Enterprise.
But they made it look a little more involved didn't they? It was as if they recognized each other and were continuing some long-running conflict.
Ah, okay. I've only seen a couple of those and usually don't think of TAS as canon. I thought it was only supposed to be the live action shows, but maybe not.
I can see how it would appear as if they had history, given Batel's. Immediate reaction. But even she questioned after the fact why she felt such hostility.
Both the TOS & Lower Decks are regarded as canon. The YouTube fan series, Star Trek Continues, while not technically canon, does have episodes which should be regarded as canon. For a fan made series, the production value and accurate style and adherence to TOS is amazing.
I'm not a fan of holodeck episodes in general, but I liked this one. I really enjoyed the way they turned the beginning of Star Trek into a murder mystery. And Paul Wesley finally sounds a bit like Kirk, even though it's done for comedic effect.
I'm left wondering, considering how badly it started, and how many issues they continued to have on multiple ships, why they didn't just scrap the holodeck. Would any organization willingly keep a device that keeps endangering the ship and crew, and occasionally trying to release criminals (Moriarty)? But I suppose they need the plot device.
Also, while I'm enjoying watching them dance, I'm not entirely sold on La'an and Spock as a couple. We just saw him punch Roger Korby in the jaw for having a relationship with Christine.
He did do a good job but could have watched Shatner in his Saturday Night Live skit where he was a guest at a science fiction convention and tore into his fans telling them to get a life. That was great.
I actually thought Chris Pine did a good Shatner/Kirk, although I dislike the JJverse in general.
I imagine the various producers would say that the entertainment quality is just too important for the mental health of crews on years-long missions. And what a training tool, it's about as good as you can possibly get for that.
I've been wondering why they think Spock having a love interest is worth spending so much time on. It does nothing for me.
With Christine, maybe, because of canon. Even though that was unrequited, on her part.
I prefer Spock to be Vulcan.
Okay, great. I totally missed the return of season 3. I will make a point to start watching it. I do like this version of Star Trek.
This has been a solid season so far. Episode 6 is arguably the best, as it brings some of the TOS characters for an extended period of time and gives a good look at pre-Capt. Kirk.
I'm kind of glad I wasn't the only one who missed the return, lol.
The only problem is the length of time waiting for new seasons to drop. I do kind of miss the old episodic formula of 24 episodes per season and often ending on a cliffhanger. On the other hand, fewer episodes and more time to develop them really makes them high quality. Quality over quantity as it were. But I wouldn't mind a little more quantity myself 😉
I would love to go back to the full 26 episode fall to spring format. Ten episodes is practically a mini-series, and because of the 2 year wait between seasons 2 and 3 I'd almost forgotten about the show.
I read somewhere that the producers want more episodes, too. There's a rumor about the next show being a redo of the Kirk era from TOS with this cast and ship. With the sets already built maybe they can have more episodes if that one gets a green light.
I don't know that I really want that. I want them to continue with Pike's story, especially since the revelation on Boreth.
To be honest, I don't get much of a Kirk vibe from Paul Wesley, so I wouldn't mind continuing with Pike either. Unfortunately, they recently stated that Strange New Worlds will end after 5 seasons, I guess using the 5-year mission as an excuse, with the final season being a short one for some reason. As if the seasons aren't short enough already.
Same.
I heard the same rumor too. It makes sense given how episode 6 brought many of the main cast members together, with a particular focus on Kirk and Spock.
I think the days of 24 Trek episode seasons are long past and streaming is to blame. Which 8-10 episode seasons look more polished and visually appealing, it doesn't allow for big story arcs like DS9 Dominion War or STE Xindi war arcs.
To be fair, no one can "Shatner" like Shatner. But Paul Wesely was at his Shatnerest in episode 4.
I started Season 3, Episode 2 a few nights ago, but it was late, and I kept dozing off, even though it was engaging. I'll give it another go tonight.
No spoilers, but that episode supports a long time fan theory. 😉
No mistaking that voice
But why do I think less "Trelane" and more "Gilderoy Lockhart"?
Haha, yeah. Now that you mention it.
I can see that. Maybe Gilderoy was actually Trelane? 😉
Trelane was more powerful and more competent than Lockhart.
I'm not sure which was more mature.
I'd say Lockhart was slightly more mature than Trelane. But their level of immaturity is close.