How Strange New Worlds Recreated Star Trek’s Greatest Episode

We’re all huge followers of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds right here at io9, whether or not we’re obsessed die-hards or simply dipping our toes again into the venerable franchise. And we have been all delighted to be taught, a method or one other, that final week’s SNW finale was a retelling of the Original Series’ “Balance of Terror,” arguably the biggest episode of any Star Trek sequence ever, simply with Pike (Anson Mount) sitting within the Enterprise’s captain’s chair as a substitute of Kirk. Now somebody has set the 2 episodes side-by-side in a video that reveals simply how nicely Strange New Worlds honored its supply materials.

You don’t must have watched SNW’s season one finale, “A Quality of Mercy,” or the Original Series’ “Balance of Terror” to understand this video from miksmart5, however when you’ve seen both or each, I’d name this a must-watch. For those that’ve missed out, right here’s why the 2 sequence are telling the identical story. Pike, who will get horrifically maimed by an accident and changed by Kirk earlier than TOS begins, sees an opportunity to keep away from his destiny. But then a future Pike visits the present Pike, and reveals him the disastrous penalties of what would occur if Pike nonetheless instructions the Enterprise when the occasions of “Balance of Terror” happen. And sure, that’s Captain Kirk—performed by Paul Wesley, and serving upon the Cerritos—who nonetheless manages to be current on the battle.

Short model of the outcomes: while Kirk attacked a lone Romulan ship and averted a warfare, Pike’s try and keep away from hostilities will get many individuals killed, together with Spock (Ethan Peck), that means the Vulcan isn’t round to save lots of the universe the numerous, many occasions he does throughout the occasions of the Original Series and varied motion pictures. Basically, issues get very, very unhealthy if Pike tries to keep away from his destiny, and so he finally ends up embracing it, regardless of the price to himself, as a result of he is aware of it’s for the better good.

As the man who has solely returned to Star Trek for Strange New Worlds’ traditional really feel and episodic storytelling, I’m nonetheless delighted by this homage. While I had the sense whereas watching it that the present was doing one thing extraordinarily fan service-y, the finale labored simply nice for me by itself. In truth, I didn’t know “Balance of Terror” existed till I learn io9 Fearless Leader and aforementioned obsessive Trek fan James Whitbrook’s recap, at which level I watched the traditional episode instantly, and retroactively loved “A Quality of Mercy” much more.

Alas, Strange New Worlds’ second season gained’t seem on the Paramount+ streaming app till subsequent yr. But I can’t wait to see what the present does subsequent.

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