Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 ended with serious cliffhangers, but audiences wouldn’t know it from Strange New Worlds‘ season 2 trailer. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise continue their five-year mission to explore the galaxy. Set to “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service, Strange New Worlds season 2’s dynamic trailer is an uplifting mission statement that the Enterprise will bring even more fun and adventure as the new flagship Star Trek show on Paramount+.
Strange New Worlds season 1 ended with a lot of upheaval aboard the Starship Enterprise. Starfleet arrested Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) upon learning she is secretly a genetically-engineered Illyrian. Prior to this, Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 9, “All Those Who Wander,” concluded with the tragic death of the Enterprise’s Chief Engineer, Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak), and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) confessing to Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) that he lost control of his Vulcan emotions. Further, Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) resigned her Starfleet commission and left the Enterprise to reunite a young victim of the Gorn with her family. Yet one is barely reminded of this by watching Strange New Worlds‘ season 2 trailer.
Why Strange New Worlds Season 2’s Trailer Ignores Season 1’s Cliffhangers
Strange New Worlds season 2’s trailer pays virtually no lip service to season 1’s cliffhangers in favor of reminding audiences that the Starship Enterprise is back for even more exciting outer space adventures. Indeed, Strange New Worlds season 2’s trailer shows Number One and La’an back in uniform as if nothing ever happened. Una slides right back into her post as First Officer in Strange New Worlds season 2 while her best friend La’an finds she has the hots for Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley). Spock drinking with Klingons and ordering the Enterprise to “go fast now!” is also hilarious. There is no hint of the tumult that closed out Strange New Worlds season 1.
This isn’t to say Strange New Worlds season 2 will gloss over the ramifications of Number One’s arrest, but the trailer leaves no doubt that it will be resolved with Una returning to the Enterprise. Strange New Worlds season 2’s resolution for Una’s arrest will surely be as satisfying and entertaining as season 1’s stories were, but the onus for season 2’s trailer is to assure audiences that Strange New Worlds will quickly get back on track and seek out new life and new civilizations. Strange New Worlds is an eclectic, genre-leaping episodic Star Trek series, and season 2 promises to warp beyond season 1’s grim cliffhangers to return to its mission of space exploration by the lovable crew of the Enterprise.
What To Expect From Strange New Worlds Season 2
It may be a little disappointing that Strange New Worlds season 2’s trailer treats season 1’s cliffhangers as fait accompli, but that’s because Strange New Worlds wants audiences to look ahead to season 2, not dwell on season 1. The reunited Enterprise crew welcomes new faces aboard, including Lt. James T. Kirk, who is set to recur in Strange New Worlds season 2. Kirk is not only likely to be tested and groomed by Captain Pike for his potential to inherit the Enterprise but Jim’s sparks with La’an hint at a complicated romance since she is the descendant of Kirk’s future foe, Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). Also, who knows how the new Chief Engineer, Lt. Pelia (Carol Kane), will fit in aboard the Enterprise?
Strange New Worlds season 2 will feature the return of the terrifying Gorn and the Klingons, who are back in their preferred Star Trek: The Next Generation-era look. Further, there’s the crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks on the way with Jack Quaid and Tawny Newsome playing Ensigns Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner in live-action. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 promises to take even “bolder swings” than season 1, and there is so much to look forward to, it’s understandable the season 2 trailer doesn’t dwell on season 1’s cliffhangers.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 15, on Paramount+.
