IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STRANGE NEW WORLDS - EPISODE 1 (“Valles Marineris”) [Paramount+-S4]

"Strange New Worlds" comes out of the gate in season 4 with a fantastic episode that both has inherent relevance and functions very well as a stand-alone episode. “Valles Marineris” is deep in its mythology and functions in the best possible way despite being far fetched. But it is canon now and the practical explanation of what happens in its simple hour is nothing short of a really great episode of science fiction which nicely sets itself together. It is existential and yet grounded. To give away any more risks a certain breaking of its wall.

Needless to say it takes one very important call by Pike as he necessarily will be looking at his future in short order as we have only 20 or less episodes likely in this series but all already shot. They were able to use effects sparingly here but to great avail so it feels almost feature-like. Sometimes simple and effective is best...and this is a very good example. There is an episode of "Andromeda" that also functioned like this too...but this has better performances and special effects of course. Granted plot mechanizations have to happen as well but like another Spock secret, this one has to be kept as well. It makes Pike’s eventual journey even more heartbreaking. Saffron Burrows as Commander Cassell is also fantastic because she is smart, resilient, stubborn (and with one line to Pike on the bridge says everything without crossing the line). And her arch in the episode is Emmy worthy. Some Trek episodes are nearly seamless and this is one of them (suspension of belief aside). A

By Tim Wassberg