Pike’s Peak is back and so is the rest of the crew as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns for its second season on Paramount+.

The studio sent the first six episodes of the season to press. Unfortunately, the Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover is later in the season. If the first six episodes are indication, this season has no shortage of thrills and entertainment. I know streaming offers a chance at driving in subscriptions but there’s still a missed opportunity in not broadcasting Star Trek on television. There’s something about streaming that makes a series feel like it has a bigger budget or something.

While taking us to strange new worlds, the first season introduced a new crew while U.S.S. Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) confronted his fate. It’s back to basics this season but first, there’s a matter to deal with regarding one of the crew members. I won’t get into the details but they’re not about to change up the status quo too quickly. Because the first season had the hard task of introducing us to many of the crew, the second season opens up the series to even more character development and increasing stakes. Some episodes are more dramatic while others give Strange New Worlds an opportunity to show off its lighter side. To say that lives are at stake at times would certainly not be an understatement but there is joy in watching things play out.

The chemistry is even better this season. It’s hard to get into this without spoiling but the series has a nice way of dealing with it. What I will say is that a few episodes really get into both character development and chemistry. I cannot stress it enough that AI could not write this series. There might be episodes where you think that you could do a better job but I think that’s true for many series. The thing is, writers matter. Everything that happens in this series started with a writer. Actors and the crews only help in bringing the visions to life. I don’t have any bone to pick with any of the first six episodes because they all bring something to the series in their own way.

Where Star Trek: Picard truly felt cinematic this past season, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a showcase for the classic episodic television that the franchise is known for. Every episode is different, whether it’s a planet or encounter with another species. It’s the classic Trek that fans have come to enjoy. I may have been a late-comer to the franchise in 2009 but I’ve been enjoying everything that New Trek has to offer.

CREATORS: Akiva Goldsman & Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet
SHOWRUNNERS: Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Jenny Lumet, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Heather Kadin, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth
CAST: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Babs Olusanmokun, Melissa Navia, and Rebecca Romijn
SPECIAL GUEST STAR: Paul Wesley
GUEST STAR: Carol Kane

Paramount+ will launch the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on June 15, 2023. New episodes will premiere weekly. Grade: 4/5

Please subscribe to Solzy at the Movies on Substack.