Strange New Worlds has certainly lived up to Star Trek's promise to "boldly go where no one has gone before" this season. We've had a dinosaur dilemma, a horror-inspired outing, a noir, The Hangover-esque antics and now puppets. But at what point does the show's willingness to experiment become more about the gimmick than serving the story?
The show hasn’t been afraid to experiment with different formats and incorporate the high-concept sci-fi elements which the franchise has popularised over the years. We’ve had the Lower Decks crossover, a musical, a body-swap episode and even Q/Trelane hijinks.
What I admire about the franchise most is that - alongside the big philosophical and existential questions about humanity and beyond - it hasn’t been afraid to mix up the established televised format and experiment with various genres and concepts. Star Trek can and always has been silly (remember that Kirk vs Gorn showdown?!), and sometimes, that’s when it’s at its best.
Personally, some of my favourite Star Trek episodes have been the more wacky outings, particularly the TNG holodeck classics involving Data and La Forge as Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson (spinoff please!?).
And while Strange New Worlds's different theme of the week follows a similar suit to its predecessors, in some episodes it’s beginning to overshadow the story as a whole, with some fans feeling like it’s turned into a "gimmick of the week" show.
View Green Video on the source websiteA prime example is the excellent crossover with Lower Decks in season 2, episode 7 "Those Old Scientists". By utilising the classic sci-fi concept of a time portal, USS Cerritos crew Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler met their heroes - Captain Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise - in one of the most famous crossover episodes in modern Trek.
Another ‘gimmicky’ style episode that has proven popular with fans is the antics of season 1's "Spock Amok", which successfully used the franchise's awkward body-swap comedy to explore Spock and T’Pring’s relationship and Vulcan social customs, progressing Spock’s arc and bringing this classic concept to the show.
Crucially, the episode’s gimmicks are complementary to the story, as opposed to being the entire focus.
Individually, these are fun experiments which broaden the Star Trek horizon. However, when you’ve only got a short series, the cumulative effect becomes much more noticeable. There’s clearly a genuine opportunity cost to spending so much time on increasingly elaborate concepts. As a result, the puppet-centric episode may mark the tipping point for some fans.
The puppets look absolutely fantastic and the craftsmanship is undeniable - especially the recreation of Pelia’s iconic curly hair - but once the novelty wears off, the story doesn’t have enough substance, particularly as the "it was all a dream" ending removes the peril and consequences of the concept, making it all feel a little hollow. Ultimately, the ridiculous premise doesn’t do or lead to anything.
One of the major grievances with this shift in priorities is Strange New World’s short seasons, consisting of only 10 episodes. And while earlier shows such as TNG and Voyager featured 26 episodes, an experimental standalone or two felt like a fun detour/palette cleanser. However, when it comes to SNW, 4 or 5 fun genre-bending episodes can very quickly dominate.
One of Star Trek’s best strengths is its willingness to experiment, and Strange New Worlds is certainly carrying on that tradition. The exceptional "Off-Hour" proves that the show can take a big swing while still prioritising meaningful character development, story progression and those fundamental core Trek questions. That’s the balance Strange New Worlds needs to strike.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+. Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial.
Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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