Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Has Been Missing 1 Important Thing From the Start

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When it first launched, the series felt like a warm welcome back for longtime fans. It’s structured like the classic episodes of the original show, but updated for modern television with stories that stand alone while still tackling thought-provoking themes – just as Gene Roddenberry intended. The show brings back beloved characters like Captain Pike, Spock, and Number One, offering a nostalgic connection for original fans. It also introduces new faces like La’an Noonien-Singh, Lieutenant Ortegas, and a young Cadet Uhura, allowing for stories about identity, diversity, and the impact of the past. The show looks fantastic, features strong performances, and balances nods to the past with thoughtful explorations of both human and alien challenges.

Despite its strengths, *Strange New Worlds* suffers from a key weakness: its seasons are too short. With only ten episodes, the show struggles to fully develop its storylines. *Star Trek* thrives on detailed world-building and the gradual development of complex themes and character connections over many episodes. Because the seasons are so brief, *Strange New Worlds* relies too much on appealing to existing fans with familiar references and cameos, rather than allowing its core stories to unfold naturally. This creates a show that’s exciting in the moment, but lacks lasting depth. Viewers get the enjoyment of recognizing familiar elements, but miss out on the satisfaction of truly exploring new ideas.

The Genre of Episodic Storytelling vs. Serialized Arcs

The show blends exciting, self-contained adventures with a larger, ongoing story. Each episode generally features a new mission, similar to the classic *Star Trek* format of visiting a ‘planet of the week.’ However, the writers also introduce longer storylines, like Captain Pike’s premonitions about his future, La’an’s struggle with Khan’s genetic history, Spock’s internal conflict as a half-Vulcan, and the looming danger of the Gorn. The problem is that the show tries to do both at once. With only ten episodes, it struggles to fully develop either the standalone adventures or the overarching plots. The individual episodes often feel rushed, and the larger storylines feel fragmented or underdeveloped.

As a long-time fan, I’ve noticed *Star Trek* is at its best when it can really take its time with storylines. Shows like *Next Generation* and *Deep Space Nine* weren’t afraid to let things unfold over an entire season, and *Deep Space Nine* really nailed it with the Dominion War – they built the tension so slowly and then delivered some incredibly powerful episodes. But lately, with shorter seasons, it feels like things are rushed. The show just doesn’t have enough episodes to develop a story gradually, so we get bursts of plot development instead of a natural build-up. It’s frustrating because you can tell there’s so much potential, but it doesn’t quite get fully realized.

Pike, Spock, and the Weight of Untapped Arcs

The story revolves around Pike’s knowledge of his tragic future – his paralysis, physical changes, and eventual need for life support. This should be the core of a powerful exploration of fate, free will, and leadership. However, the show’s short seasons prevent a fully developed story, leaving Pike’s premonitions feeling disconnected and underutilized. We don’t get to see how knowing his fate affects his relationships with his crew, why he takes risks, or how he finds joy while he still can. Likewise, Spock’s journey should be a grand, evolving story, encompassing his romantic struggles, his battle between logic and emotion, and his transformation into the iconic character fans know. Instead, these storylines are rushed or resolved too easily.

Spock’s emotional struggles with T’Pring often get lost amidst the show’s comedic moments and sudden plot twists. While entertaining, these storylines feel more like sketches than fully developed character arcs, lacking the depth that longer seasons would allow. Even supporting characters, like La’an Noonien-Singh, who carries the weight of her villainous family history, don’t get the attention they deserve. Her story has the potential to explore complex themes like fate versus choice and the impact of prejudice, but it’s frequently sidelined for lighter adventures and self-contained episodes. This means her internal conflict remains a secondary element, rather than the central philosophical question it could be. Ultimately, *Strange New Worlds* demonstrates it has compelling characters and ideas, but it’s constrained by its limited episode count.

Fan Service as a Substitute for Storytelling

Look, as a movie and TV fan, I get the thrill of seeing familiar faces and nods to past favorites. But lately, it feels like some shows are *only* about that. Instead of building a real story with compelling characters and arcs, they’re just throwing in cameos and alternate realities for a quick hit of excitement. It’s fun for a second to spot those references, that little ‘Oh, I remember that!’ feeling, but it doesn’t actually *mean* anything. It’s like empty calories – a momentary rush, but ultimately unsatisfying. A good story builds tension and makes you care, not just relies on surprise appearances and Easter eggs. Those things are cool, but they can’t carry a whole show on their own.

The musical episode, while fun, lively, and infectious, feels more like a standalone event than a crucial part of the show’s overall story. This is similar to the Lower Decks crossover episodes – enjoyable, but they take up time that could have been used to explore more deeply the emotional journeys of characters like Pike, Spock, and La’an. Fan service isn’t inherently bad, but it becomes a problem when it’s used to fill gaps in the story because the season is so short. With only ten episodes, there’s limited room for these detours without sacrificing important character development and depth, and unfortunately, that sacrifice often happens.

The Cost of Brevity in Modern Streaming Television

Today’s TV streaming landscape favors limited-run series, and platforms like Paramount+ prioritize high production quality and engaging stories. While ten episodes allow for bigger budgets and visually impressive shows, this format doesn’t quite fit *Star Trek*. The franchise has always been about complex ideas and detailed world-building, and it wasn’t designed for quick, binge-watching experiences. *Star Trek* has always encouraged viewers to thoughtfully consider its themes, and that takes more than a few episodes.

It’s ironic that *Strange New Worlds* feels so incomplete, despite its potential. The show hints at complex stories and character development, but rarely explores them fully. It raises interesting questions about life and morality, but doesn’t give those ideas room to breathe. Characters experience shifts, but these feel like quick snapshots rather than meaningful arcs. Even if viewers can’t quite pinpoint why, they sense a gap between the show’s impressive visuals and its lack of substance, between what *could* happen and what *does* happen. To recapture the spirit of *Star Trek*, the series needs more than just special effects and references to the past – it needs more episodes. Unless the show gets at least thirteen to fifteen episodes per season, it will continue to prioritize brevity over fully realized stories and characters.

From the very beginning, *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* delivers the hopeful exploration and moral questions that have always made *Star Trek* special. The show is beautifully made, with strong acting and impressive visuals, blending self-contained episodes with a continuing storyline. Its biggest weakness isn’t a lack of ideas, but the short season length. With only ten episodes, the writers don’t have enough space to fully develop the stories of interesting characters like Captain Pike, Spock, and La’an.

Ultimately, the show prioritizes pleasing fans over developing its characters. While it has moments of brilliance, it doesn’t quite live up to the high storytelling standards of the *Star Trek* franchise. If given the chance to continue for many seasons, *Strange New Worlds* could find the right balance between honoring the past and creating something new, offering both enjoyable standalone episodes and a compelling overall story. Currently, though, it feels like a ship that visits interesting worlds but doesn’t spend enough time exploring them, leaving viewers wanting more.

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2025-10-08 17:39