Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Review: A Triumphant Finale to an Era
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been a consistent critical and fan favorite since its 2022 premiere, and Season 4 cements its place as one of the best in the franchise. With the announcement that the fifth season will be the last, the showrunners have crafted a penultimate season that is not only the best in the series but also ranks amongst the best of any Star Trek show.
The fourth season picks up after the emotional sacrifice of Marie Batel, which sets the tone for the entire season. Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, throws himself into mission after mission, increasing tension amongst the crew. The showrunners have crafted a narrative that is both thrilling and emotional, with a focus on the inner demons of the characters and the external threats they face.
One of the standout aspects of Season 4 is the innovative use of genres and tones. The black-and-white episode, for example, is not just filmed in black and white but operates within an actual plot device that echoes a similar visual palette in Dune: Part Two. The showrunners have also played with the episodic structure, giving each episode a unique feel and tone, from dinosaurs to a black-and-white noir episode to the highly anticipated puppet episode.
The cast of Strange New Worlds shines in Season 4, with each character getting their due. La’An Noonien Singh, played by Christina Chong, deals with the fallout from being turned into a Vulcan last season, while Spock and Kirk grow closer as friends. Erica Ortegas and Scotty share a fun rivalry in the early episodes, while Christine Chapel leads a real-time episode that is one of the most intense of the season. The horror episode, which feels closer to Event Horizon, is particularly scary and intense.
My personal favorites of the season are the comedic caper on a resort planet and the puppet episode. The puppet episode, titled "Level Five Transporter Accident," is one of the funniest episodes of any Star Trek series. The use of recreations of the crew crafted by Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop is brilliant, and the episode builds the puppet element into the plot in a way that works better than I could have imagined.
The writing in Season 4 is a love letter to the franchise and all of its fans. The showrunners have crafted a narrative that pays homage to the original Star Trek series, with a focus on the fun and genre-breaking world of the 1966 classic. The special effects remain solid, with a few sequences in the premiere episode weaker than expected, but all subsequent chapters are incredibly realized.
In my opinion, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 is a triumph. It is a testament to the showrunners' skill and the cast's dedication. The season is a perfect blend of thrilling adventures, emotional storytelling, and innovative use of genres and tones. It is a fitting finale to an era of Star Trek, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the franchise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on July 23rd on Paramount+.
