The Super Powered Fancast

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paramount Plus

Season 1 Episode 2

Children of the Comet

An ancient alien relic thwarts the Enterprise crew from re-routing a comet on track to strike an inhabited planet.

Cadet Uhura has been invited to the Captain’s table with other members of the crew while the Enterprise studies a comet moving through an inhabited star system. In the midst of dealing with hazing from her shipmates, Uhura and the audience is introduced to the new Chief Engineer. The opening scene gives some interesting insight into the character of Uhura and there is a great moment where Number One catches a moment that they discuss later. It’s a good scene that doesn’t linger on Pike’s fate and I hope doesn’t become a part of every episode.

After dinner, Pike is called to the bridge because the comet they are studying is going to impact a pre-warp planet and the inhabitants have no idea. Pike decides to find a way to help them and the crew begins a plan to move the comet out of range without destroying it. Unfortunately, they discover that there is something about the comet they didn’t expect. Something that will require an away team to investigate.

The episode does something interesting with the plotting. It focuses a lot of its story from the point of view of Uhura and it makes me curious if this will happen a lot during the season. Will there be a Number 1 centric episode etc. Lieutenant Kirk is injured on the mission doing something stupid while the away team is blocked from returning to the ship. Pike and the crew work to find a way to free their crew while Uhura tries to lighten the tension with Spock.

The Enterprise finds its attempts to rescue its crew hampered by another ship who warns them that any attack on the comet will be met with deadly force. The stakes are raised and the scene is filled with great tension and awesome dialogue. I like the personal struggle with Uhura as well and her connection to the force within the comet is classic Trek level deduction. It’s also cute seeing Uhura and Spock harmonize.

Unfortunately, their communications and escape lead to an attack from the aliens protecting the comet. It’s an awesome action sequence that is visually thrilling throughout. It also leads to a great conclusion that both allows for mystery and discovery both personal and external.

The second episode of Strange New Worlds is an interesting and entertaining episode that has a wonderful mixture of science fiction, philosophy, mystery and heart. It is a fun adventure with great action and an ending that is filled with wonder and possibility.