10 Best Episodes Of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Ranked

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With episodes that rank among the best in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds really captures the feel of the original series created by Gene Roddenberry. It skillfully balances fun, adventurous stories with deeper explorations of its characters, offering something for every fan.

If you enjoy the show, you’ll agree its strongest episodes are among the best in the entire Star Trek universe. With Season 4 currently being filmed and a fifth season planned, it’s a great time to rewatch the very best episodes from the first three seasons. This watchlist includes at least one standout episode from each season, making it perfect for a quick reminder of everything that makes Strange New Worlds so good.

10) “Spock Amok”

This episode features a fun shore leave adventure with a surprising twist: Spock and T’Pring swap bodies during a Vulcan meditation! Chaos follows as Spock, now in T’Pring’s body, attempts to navigate a diplomatic mission, and T’Pring tries to convincingly act like Spock around his crew. A heartwarming subplot involving Chapel and Ortegas adds to the story.

This episode strikes a great balance between fun and meaningful character growth. By the fifth episode, the characters truly come to life, and the actors are clearly comfortable in their roles, easily moving between dramatic and comedic moments. Gia Sandhu is particularly impressive as T’Pring – a difficult character to play, but she delivers a fantastic performance.

9) “Terrarium”

Season 3’s standout episode finally puts Lieutenant Erica Ortegas center stage. What starts as a standard planet survey quickly becomes a survival situation when Ortegas finds herself stranded, relying on her intelligence and determination. While the story itself isn’t groundbreaking, it builds to a deeply rewarding emotional conclusion, and Melissa Navia delivers a particularly strong performance.

Wow, this episode of Strange New Worlds really surprised me. It slows down and really focuses on the bridge crew – those characters we don’t always get to see in the spotlight – and it works. It’s a beautifully acted, tense, and surprisingly emotional episode – honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get so choked up! Both fans and critics seem to agree, it’s a real tearjerker and showcases everything that makes this show so special.

8) “Subspace Rhapsody”

This famously controversial episode starts when a bizarre energy field makes everyone on the Enterprise – and even the Klingons – suddenly start singing. It’s a full-blown musical with emotional songs from La’an and a jazzy performance by Spock. Regardless of whether you usually enjoy musicals, this episode is full of energy and imagination.

Star Trek has always had a playful side, and isn’t afraid to embrace silliness. This recent episode of Strange New Worlds feels like a return to the lighthearted spirit of the original Star Trek. Seeing characters sing creates a surprising emotional connection, making them feel more relatable. Even viewers who aren’t usually fans enjoyed the Klingon musical number. “Subspace Rhapsody” seems to be a direct response to feedback that the show had become too serious, and it’s a fantastic episode if you’re open to a bit of fun.

7) “Hegemony”

Wow, the Season 2 finale was a real nail-biter! That standoff with the Gorn was seriously intense, and honestly, it’s one of the best cliffhangers Star Trek has done in ages. It really put Pike in a tough spot – he had to decide between a super dangerous rescue attempt and protecting his crew, and the choice felt genuinely weighty. Plus, a bunch of stuff happened with the characters that I think is going to have a huge impact on Season 3. The whole episode just moved, keeping me on the edge of my seat, and they even threw in just enough creepy stuff to make the Gorn legitimately terrifying. I’m already counting down the days until the next season!

“Hegemony” is a fantastic Star Trek finale, delivering everything fans want: intense drama, complex political issues, significant character growth, and a truly satisfying conclusion. Viewers praised it for brilliantly combining the realistic edge of Deep Space Nine with the emotional depth of The Next Generation.

6) “Under the Cloak of War”

This episode delves into the emotional toll of war, focusing on the Klingon-Federation conflict through the experiences of Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel. It powerfully portrays the harsh realities and long-term impact of combat, with a standout performance from Babs Olusanmokun. The story bravely tackles difficult themes of violence and what justice truly means.

This episode echoes themes from past Deep Space Nine and Voyager installments, focusing on the lasting impact of war. Nurse Chapel and Dr. M’Benga have some of their best scenes yet, brought to life by powerful performances. It’s a thoughtful and serious episode that nicely balances out the sillier moments from earlier in Season 2, like the one in “Subspace Rhapsody.”

5) “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”

After a strange time warp sends La’an Noonien-Singh to a possible future, she finds herself working with a James T. Kirk from another reality. The resulting episode is a moving exploration of what could have been, with strong performances from Christina Chong and Paul Wesley that ground the fantastical story in relatable emotions.

Fans are calling this episode the most emotionally impactful in years, even comparing it to classic The Next Generation. The portrayal of Kirk by Wesley is being praised as the best in a long time, and Chong’s performance is incredibly moving. Many viewers are hoping for a spin-off series focusing on these two characters and their efforts to fix the universe.

4) “Memento Mori”

The first season episode, “Memento Mori,” is a standout for its dark and suspenseful atmosphere. The crew of the Enterprise finds themselves trapped in a dense fog, stalked by a hidden threat. The episode unfolds like a tense, underwater thriller, expertly building a feeling of intense claustrophobia. Meanwhile, La’an must confront painful memories from her past as she tries to save the ship.

Many viewers consider this episode the point where Strange New Worlds truly became the best of the new Star Trek series. It cleverly references a classic Original Series episode, “Balance of Terror,” and features excellent acting, especially from Christina Chong and Anson Mount. Even when the science gets a bit questionable – which often happens in Star Trek – the show remains emotionally honest and believable. Ultimately, it’s a brave and intense story that easily ranks among the best episodes of any Star Trek show.

3) “Those Old Scientists”

A fantastic crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks brings animated characters Boimler and Mariner to the live-action Enterprise, resulting in plenty of comedic mayhem. This episode is a standout for its humor, playfully referencing classic Star Trek tropes while also delivering a surprisingly heartwarming message.

With both Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks currently considered highlights of modern Star Trek, bringing them together in one episode was a brilliant move. The episode, skillfully directed with warmth and wit by Star Trek veteran Jonathan Frakes, resonated with viewers, making them laugh, cry, and even revisit scenes to find hidden details. Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome perfectly embody their characters in live-action, and Strange New Worlds demonstrates its versatility by seamlessly mixing different styles.

2) “Ad Astra Per Aspera”

As a lifelong Trek fan, this episode is an instant classic. It’s brilliant how they brought the show back to a courtroom setting – it really allowed for a gripping legal drama. But it’s more than just that; it felt like a powerful story about the systems we have in our own world, and what happens when someone tries to challenge them. Una’s trial for concealing her genetic modifications wasn’t just about her, it felt like a really thought-provoking allegory. If you’re looking for an episode that’s genuinely philosophical – and Star Trek at its best always is – this one delivers. It might just be one of the most interesting and insightful episodes in the entire franchise.

Rebecca Romijn is fantastic in this episode, and Yetide Badaki delivers a memorable performance as her lawyer. More than that, though, this episode truly captures what makes Star Trek special. It tackles important themes about identity, our aspirations, and how society deals with hidden prejudices, leaving viewers inspired to be their best selves.

1) “A Quality of Mercy”

The Season 1 finale, “A Quality of Mercy,” is widely considered one of the best Star Trek episodes ever made. It shows Captain Pike a disturbing vision of a future where he escapes his personal tragedy, but the galaxy suffers greatly as a result. The episode cleverly introduces Captain Kirk and weaves in elements from the classic TOS episode “Balance of Terror,” offering a beautiful and fresh take on the story. It manages to both expand upon the original narrative and create a sense of immediate danger that has been missing from recent Star Trek installments.

Everyone agrees this is a standout season in Star Trek history. It respectfully expands on existing stories without changing them, and everything – the production quality, acting, and writing – is excellent. Following a strong first season, Strange New Worlds concluded with fans enthusiastically celebrating Star Trek‘s impressive comeback.

What’s your favorite episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and what do you love about it? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-11 19:21