Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Hegemony Review

Now that is how you do a cliffhanger finale! Not since “Best of Both Worlds” have we gotten a finale that truly has real, complex stakes and characters we love in real danger. But, then again, what would you expect from the finest Star Trek series in decades? Once again, Strange New Worlds takes what could have been a rather run-of-the-mill situation and turns it on its head, using strong storytelling, character depth, and hints that our villain might just be more than what we original thought it to be to craft a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you wish that we had some inkling when we might get the next half of this storyline.*

*As of this writing, there has been no movement on the WGA and SAG/AFTRA strikes, which means that while Strange New Worlds had begun the initial production on season three – although no filming had apparently taken place, the writers’ room was up and running – it’s highly unlikely that we will see any new episodes until the later portion of 2024, at the earliest. And that’s a best-case scenario if the strikes were to end quickly. So, Trek fans, buckle up for a long wait on this resolution.

We all assumed Captain Batel was a goner, what with her “priority one mission” and telling Pike they would be able to plan that vacation when she got back – everyone knows once you start planning for a rosy future, you’re bound to come up against some sort of wrecking ball (in this case, a cold-blooded lizard army). But I love that the writers didn’t just up and make her death a foregone conclusion. If Chapel – since she’s flying solo without M’Benga at the moment – can manage to neutralize the Gorn eggs and save her life, that’s a massive step toward victory against the Gorn themselves (although RIP Hemmer, especially if there was a chance he could have been saved as well). It’s a great plot point – something that could save a character the audience loves (and if the outpouring of disappointment over social media when it looked like her death was coming last week is any indication, she’s got a host of fans out there), provide a defense against a dangerous enemy, and potentially be a turning point in making the Gorn less powerful – and it provides a sliver of hope in an episode that really needed it. While this encounter with the Gorn wasn’t nearly as bloody and horror-esque as season one’s, it was still a very dark, tense, and suspenseful episode.

Speaking of suspense, I had a sneaking suspicion, as soon as it was revealed that Chapel was in danger, that the episode was planning a bait and switch with Ortegas. Now, we’ve been woefully denied that Ortegas-centric episode of the series, but this was a nice mini-showcase for the character (and Melissa Navia continues to be an absolute delight in the role). So, why did I think a bait and switch was coming? Well, when you’re dealing with a series that is full of legacy characters encased in plot armor, there’s only so much you can do to put those characters in danger considering everyone knows they’re making it out in one piece so they can serve with Kirk on the Enterprise – or so they can get in a major accident and get trapped in a triangle hover craft. Which means that when it comes to putting principal cast members in true mortal danger, there are only a couple to work with in Strange New Worlds: Ortegas, La’an, and Pelia. And when two of those characters are on the away team . . . yeah, the math works itself out pretty easily. And the close relationship between Ortegas and Chapel makes this particular bait and switch work nicely – we get to see Ortegas worried about the fate of her friend, so that when the tables get turned in the season three premiere, there will be a lovely symmetry to Chapel’s own grief and worry. A great writing trick.

Now, Ortegas isn’t going to be alone on the Gorn ship, so I’m not writing her eulogy just yet (and Batel could still die, becoming our emotional beat in season three – but I’m fairly confident she’s going to make it out alive). Placing Ortegas, M’Benga, and La’an on the Gorn ship is another incredibly smart choice. You have a character who is out of her depth when it comes to fighting her way out of situations – but who will be absolutely crucial should they need to commandeer a ship at some point – in Ortegas. You have a doctor who also has ridiculous hand-to-hand combat abilities in M’Benga. And you have the resident Gorn expert of Starfleet in La’an. If any group of officers stand a chance against the Gorn, it’s these three. Do I think Ortegas or La’an won’t be coming back alive? Honestly, I could make arguments for why sacrificing one of the characters makes sense (and yes, the one that would make the most dramatic sense would be La’an), but I have no idea. And I don’t really want to dwell too much on that possibility now – when I write up my season three premiere review, I’ll be sure to steer back here and see if my worried prediction that La’an is in the most danger still holds water. But I fervently hope that our trio of officers manage to get their colonist crew back to Enterprise in one piece.

However, this episode wasn’t all just Alien inspired fight sequences and complex space rescues. No, there was another key introduction in the first appearance of Lt. Montgomery Scott, future Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. And what a delightful introduction it was. Whip-smart, fun, and slightly afraid of Pelia (who I definitely hope gets a lot of screen time with Scotty in season three, because Carole Kane and Martin Quinn – an actual Scotsman playing Scotty! – already have a great rapport), Scotty is a lovely addition to the story. Let’s face it, Engineering hasn’t been much of a key department this season and if Scotty sticks around for a bit it can help flesh out the crew and provide some more opportunities to get stories down into the heart of the ship. Pelia was a great addition, so throwing Scotty into the mix is sure to help things as well.

So, we’ve come to the end of season two of Strange New Worlds. Pike is at a crossroads: Follow orders or try to save his missing crew members. Chapel is faced with a massive ask: Save Batel before the Gorn eggs hatch and kill her and potentially infest the ship. Scotty and Pelia are trying to soup up the engines to outrun the Gorn. And La’an, M’Benga, and Ortegas are trapped on a Gorn ship with no rescue options in sight. Quite the predicament for all of them. I bet Ortegas is wishing she never asked to get on an away mission. But what a season – the best Trek season in decades – what a cast, what a story, and what a way to leave us, wanting so much more. It’s been so fun writing these reviews this summer. I can’t wait to come back for season three, to see just who manages to escape the clutches of the Gorn – and how Pike and the Federation manage to avoid a lengthy war with a devastating foe.