Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream now via Paramount+. Here in the UK new episodes stream Wednesdays through August.
Synopsis
While on a routine supply mission to a colony planet, the U.S.S. Enterprise comes under an attack from an unknown malevolent force. Pike brings all his heart and experience to bear in facing the crisis, but the security officer warns him that the enemy cannot be dealt with by conventional Starfleet means.
Review
We’re not even half way through the maiden voyage of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds but already the series has shown an incredibly versatility in its storytelling. With ”Memento Mori” we’re treated to en episode akin to an submarine movie. With the Enterprise disabled by an alien force (more on them later) the crew is forced to fend for themselves through dire circumstances.
Writers Davy Perez & Beau DeMayo pull off an incredible feat telling a story this fraught so early in the season. Despite very little time to build a bond with this crew I spent the entire episode on the edge of my seat. The flawless narrative builds such high stakes that I almost fell for the apparent death of a character destined to live a long an happy life through TOS and its accompanying movies.
There’s a lot more going on that meets the eye in ”Memento Mori” however. Viewers diving beneath the surface have a treasure trove to uncover as Strange New Worlds continues to slowly pull together its dangling plot threats. The episode starts out like any other, with the U.S.S. Enterprise on a routine mission to deliver an atmospheric processor to a Federation colony. But as act one hurtles to a dramatic conclusion, La’an (Christina Chong) lands squarely in the episode’s crosshairs. Yes, the Gorn have returned!
Perez & DeMayo’s story is tantalising. Only after the episode wrapped did I realise the villainous aliens never actually appeared on screen. Several of their ships did. But the lizard-like race remain a mystery, tying ”Memento Mori” back to the canonical idea that Gorn are rarely ever seen. Presumably Strange New Worlds is holding back a face-to-face confrontation until later in the season.
The production and set design of Strange New Worlds is award-worthy. I’ve commented before on how immersive and engaging the Enterprise sets are. Even those predominantly built virtually. So it’s no surprise that an episode like this, set almost entirely on the ship, never becomes stale. There’s plenty of explosions and gas leaks to make re-using corridors and other spaces serviceable. But even with Pike spending much of the episode of the bridge isn’t problematic when the world around him (and his incredible hair) are so easy on the eyes.
Verdict
With ”Memento Mori” the series has proven its incredible versatility. Delivering an tight narrative amidst an emotionally fraught scenario. Strange New Worlds is going from strength to strength.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
