Deron Generally
Deron GenerallyStar Trek: Strange New Worlds
Paramount Plus
Season 1 Episode 3
Ghosts of Illyria
The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a contagion that ravages the ship. One by one, the entire crew is incapacitated except for Number One, Una Chin-Riley, who must confront a secret she’s been hiding as she races to find a cure.
The Enterprise is orbiting an abandoned alien colony that used genetic modification to alter themselves. Something that is forbidden in the Federation. Their investigation of the site is hampered by an incoming ion storm that is affecting communications and the transporter. Unfortunately, something infects a member of the away team and brings it on board. At the same time, Spock and Pike are trapped on the planet.
Crew members on the ship begin to act strangely as they crave bright light and will do anything they can to get it. As the infection spreads throughout the ship, Number One investigates why some crew members are infected and others are not. In the midst of her investigation, not only does she have to save the ship, but there is also a revelation about who and what she is. It’s a great reveal that hopefully gets explored more during the season. I also like that the reveal explains why she has a rapport and connection to La’an.
On the planet’s surface, Pike and Spock discover that there is something inside the ion storm. Beings that seem to be hostile as they attack the facility, but something changes when the storm threatens to kill both men. Something that adds a new layer to the mystery that is compelling.
Things get more intense when La’an leaves sick bay and attempts to flood the ship with radiation from the warp core. Number One has to intervene and their interaction leads to some more interesting revelations and relationship drama. It’s a well done moment that leads to some more interesting moments and potential conflict to come including another secret by another member of the crew.
The latest episode has a lot of personal reveals for the crew. It reveals a lot of personal conflicts that will no doubt play out over the course of the season. Those moments are handled really well and does an amazing job of giving the characters more depth and personal stories that are engaging. The episode was impressive for the personal scale of the conflict and how the characters shine through in the story.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S01XE03
