IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STRANGE NEW WORLDS - EPISODE 6 (“Off Hour”) [Paramount+-S4]

The continued progress of M’Benga in a way is an interesting play because the current stewards of the franchise want to try to connect the dots as much as possible since new changes always play with expectations of the fan base (and with a new regime coming in). Like Pike, we see M'Benga later but in a different space. With “Off Hour”, the narrative exists in a finite space where something happens and (even like the episode before) it changes certain perspectives on why certain characters act a certain way. Here the Enterprise ends up in a slipstream wormhole which is an odd but welcome homage to "Andromeda" which was also created by Gene Roddenberry and is not canon for this universe of course…but it is there. The Enterprise ends up in a tunnel that cuts all power to the ship (except certain systems) but still has them racing for a warp threshold which will tear the ship apart...in a hour...and the different decks can't communicate with each other. There are four spaces operating at the same time with the most human (but least crucial) being what happens in Sick Bay.

There was a discussion happening between M’Benga and Chapel before the anomaly happens but the aspect of what happens next is very brutal but also gives Jess Bush as Chapel a real moment to shine as she deals with a patient in a bad way. At the same time, Spock ends up needing to go out on the hull and again there are references to TMP and Wrath Of Khan here...both of which are ongoing metaphors. These are subtle details but ones that are exceptionally poignant...especially for Trek fans. It also raises the stakes of what happens to La’an. Again it is how the puzzle fits together. Scotty’s confidence is also getting better. But back to M’Benga since Dr. Boyce (who was on Enterprise in the first episode of TOS) arrives on board right before the anomaly. This shows that there is a certain play happening in terms of shuffle even if it is not made fully aware to the audience. That is what is interesting about SNW...even though its end is finite and there is nothing in play after it currently. It is about trying different stuff creatively and genre wise while still providing stakes and drama in a very specific way. It also still has those Easter eggs and deep cuts that matter to Star Trek fans. Whether it all washes out in the end is anybody’s guess but the show does work it…and is taking risks even in an episode like this which is a stand-alone per se. B+/87%

By Tim Wassberg