IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STRANGE NEW WORLDS - EPISODE 5 (“Level Five Transporter Accident”) [Paramount+-S4]

"Strange New Worlds" continues its genre flipping while still creating cool standalone episodes. Even though it does move away from certain concepts of Star Trek, others it is able to fully embrace. The concept of the story here with "Level Five Transporter Accident" whjch has Scott trying to transport an object farther than has been done before with a puppet shows that something is amiss. What the episode is able to do is in certain ways, like episode 3 on the shore leave planet, is change the perspective of what actually happened even if it doesn’t make as much logical sense in the moment. Spock as usual is the focal point in many ways and while it works in the concept of what happens, it is very silly but also right on point.

Having the characters essentially becomes Muppets (though because of copyright then can only be called puppets) because of transporter malfunction is very far flung on practical elements even in Star Trek. At least Tuvix had a basis. It does however make for some drama and a great Star Trek II reference when something happens to Pike. But it also leads to a joyful sequence in the wildlife outside the ship which is absolutely beautiful and conveys some of the wonder we saw in the Lower Decks crossover episode. The story also continues to bridge the T'Pring issue which still has to eventually bridge with what we see in Amok Time. Spock is really having some emotional ping pong moments now trying to control emotions between figuring out La’an but also a meeting of the minds which he didn’t realize he had with Jim Kirk a few episodes back. Ultimately like many Voyager episodes there is a ruse at play but the key is that you learn more about the characters which is what TOS was all about. 84%/B/B+

By Tim Wassberg