Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream now via Paramount+. Here in the UK new episodes stream Wednesdays through August.
Synopsis
It’s a comedy of manners when Spock has a personal visit in the middle of Spock and Captain Pike’s crucial negotiations with an unusual alien species.
Review
Merely a week after dropping its darkest episode yet, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds sets out in search of a new genre. One which is polar opposite to “Memento Mori”, instead providing some comedic relief.
The Enterprise has returned to Starbase One for repairs following the incident with the Gorn. Whilst the ship gets the once over from the finest engineers in the fleet, the crew are heading off for some much needed shore leave. For many that means relaxing or seeing family. For other that means playing a game of ”Enterprise Bingo”. The focus, however, is squarely on Spock (Ethan Peck) this week.
Spock is struggling with the idea of relaxation. After a Koon-ut-kal-if-fee nightmare, he’s on edge. Writers Henry Alonso Myers & Robin Wasserman are playing with the duality which exists within Spock’s DNA. The constant push-and-pull between his Vulcan and human sides. Bringing back T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) allows ”Spock Amok” to close the loop which began in episode one. With Spock once again called to Captain Pike’s (Anson Mount) side, this time to aid him in a diplomatic mission.
The first episode left little time for the fallout of Spock’s dedication to Pike’s mission. Here it forms the basis of both Spock and T’Pring’s experiences. The Federation are deep in negotiations with the R’Ongovian Protectorate. They offer Starfleet safe passage through the Beta Quadrant but are also on the verge of signing up with the Klingons. They’re a tough bunch and ONLY Spock can help.
Leaning on his human side, Spock struggles to show his dedication both to Starfleet and to his wife. But herein lies the comedy. Spock suggests that a soul sharing ritual will show how truly dedicated he is to T’Pring. Cue the body swap which takes the episode in its brilliantly jovial direction. It’s the classic spell-gone-wrong style of storytelling from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, only Star Trek tells the story in a much more mature manner.
As Strange New Worlds has proven through this season so far, its versatility is its strength. But that versatility would be nothing without the ability of its cast to adapt to the material at hand. Both Ethan Peck and Gia Sandhu do an excellent job of play each other’s roles. It’s funny but without ever losing its credibility. Likewise, the rest of the main cast are all able to put in a more lighthearted performance, never betraying any of the character development to date.
But five episodes in it is beginning to feel like Strange New Worlds isn’t sure what to do with Una (Rebecca Romjin). After putting in a stellar performance as her own story unfolded in “Ghosts of Ilyria”, she has really taken a back seat. I hope future episodes put Una back in the centre of the action.
Verdict
“Spock Amok” finds Strange New Worlds dipping its toe in to comedic waters. The body-swap premise mostly sticks the landing. But more importantly the episode is genuinely funny and a wonderful palate cleanser after last weeks thriller.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
