The USS Enterprise was as much a character in the Star Trek universe as any flesh-and-blood being. When Captain Kirk decided he had no choice but to destroy the venerable starship in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, my heart broke.
For nearly 60 years, the Trek universe has expanded in more than a dozen movies and almost that many TV series. I’m especially partial to the first three series — Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
I’ve reacted to most of the other Trek shows with relatively mild interest, but not the same must-see attitude of those early shows — until now. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is, in my humble opinion, the best Trek TV show in 30 years.
Anson Mount stars as Christopher Pike, the captain of the Enterprise before one James T. Kirk, in a show set about 10 years before Kirk took Pike’s chair. The prequel series began its third season last week; episodes, 10 in all, will be released every Thursday on Paramount+ — and I find myself looking forward to Thursdays.
In fact, Wednesday night I found myself revisiting Season 1, Episode 1 of Strange New Worlds. I must say it has been decades since I went back to watch an episode of Star Trek over again, but Mount and his ensemble cast are that good.
I am tickled to see the Enterprise — NCC-1701 — back in one piece and serving on a five-year mission to seek out new life and new civilizations again. The series is slowly introducing the crew members who will eventually serve with Captain Kirk, and it’s fun seeing their younger selves begin to grow into who we know and love.
Consider this a hearty recommendation for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
