The recent episode 'Under the Cloak of War' of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds serves as a stark reminder of the series' unfortunate detour from the essence of Star Trek. The issues are manifold, but the focus on vigilante justice, insubordination, and anachronistic war depictions strike as especially egregious.
Dr. M'Benga's "dark" character arc, involving a premeditated murder with no consequential actions, leaves a bitter taste. Similarly, Captain Pike's surprisingly placid response to this blatant breach of ethics and Federation law seems out of place. The insubordination by the crew, spearheaded by 'Number One' and character Ortega, adds to the episode's disappointing trajectory.
The presentation of this episode also raises eyebrows. The shift from a previous cartoonish episode to a (yet to be seen) musical was a jarring transition, indicating a series in disarray, echoing problems that similarly befell Star Trek: Discovery. Perhaps the quality of the episodes might be attributed to the looming writers' strike, potentially rushing the creative process and marring the overall narrative.
The attempt to juxtapose ground warfare in an era of photon torpedos and transporters seems anachronistic, highlighting a disconnect in the writers' approach to this episode. It feels like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is heading towards an abyss of irrelevance, straying far from its Sci-Fi roots. This episode, although not the worst of this faltering second season, still underlines the deteriorating quality of the series.
The show's departure from the classic Star Trek principles may prompt die-hard fans to reconsider investing time in knitting or learning to line dance.
Unless future episodes bring about a dramatic turnaround, fans may be left to wonder whether the hopeful title 'Strange New Worlds' was a false promise.
Dr. M'Benga's "dark" character arc, involving a premeditated murder with no consequential actions, leaves a bitter taste. Similarly, Captain Pike's surprisingly placid response to this blatant breach of ethics and Federation law seems out of place. The insubordination by the crew, spearheaded by 'Number One' and character Ortega, adds to the episode's disappointing trajectory.
The presentation of this episode also raises eyebrows. The shift from a previous cartoonish episode to a (yet to be seen) musical was a jarring transition, indicating a series in disarray, echoing problems that similarly befell Star Trek: Discovery. Perhaps the quality of the episodes might be attributed to the looming writers' strike, potentially rushing the creative process and marring the overall narrative.
The attempt to juxtapose ground warfare in an era of photon torpedos and transporters seems anachronistic, highlighting a disconnect in the writers' approach to this episode. It feels like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is heading towards an abyss of irrelevance, straying far from its Sci-Fi roots. This episode, although not the worst of this faltering second season, still underlines the deteriorating quality of the series.
The show's departure from the classic Star Trek principles may prompt die-hard fans to reconsider investing time in knitting or learning to line dance.
Unless future episodes bring about a dramatic turnaround, fans may be left to wonder whether the hopeful title 'Strange New Worlds' was a false promise.