In many ways,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsis the bestStar Trekshow on the air today.Strange New Worldshas a compelling mix of episodic and long-form narratives, as well as lighthearted and serious stories, and character and setting-based plotlines. Since its premiere in 2022,Strange New Worldshas proven it can follow in the footsteps ofStar Trekgiants likeStar Trek: The Original SeriesorStar Trek: The Next Generation.With season three ofStrange New Worldsset to release some time this year, the time is ripe to reflect on the episodes we already have.
Strange New Worldshas had some pretty iconic episodes. Season 2 alone boasted not only a hilarious crossover withStar Trek: Lower Decks, but alsoStrange New World’s musical episode “Subspace Rhapsody"that served as the perfect blend of classicStar Treknostalgia and modernStar Trekfilm quality. Despite the undeniable kooky charm of both of these episodes,Strange New Worldsseason 2is at its best and most fascinating in episodes where it tackles the complexities of life in Starfleet.
“Under The Cloak Of War” Is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2’s Most Fascinating Episode
It Has Everything: Plot, Acting, Writing, And Directing
Not only isStrange New Worldsseason 2, episode 8, “Under the Cloak of War,” the most fascinating outing in the series to date, it is also the most disturbing so far. It reveals Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and Nurse Christine Chapel’s (Jess Bush) experience of the Federation-Klingon War, where they served together on the ground in J’Gal.Dr. M’Benga in particular, has to directly confront traumatic memories of healing young Starfleet officers, only to see them die anyway, and, ultimately, brutally killing Klingons himself.
Strange New Worlds Explains Star Trek’s Klingon Killing Super Soldier Serum
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds introduced a super soldier serum Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel used in the Klingon War called Protocol 12.
Speaking generally, “Under the Cloak of War” explores dark themes and moral complexities with more care and nuance than a lot of other modernTrek. This compelling and careful portrayal shines through in both actors like Olusanmokun and Bush’s performances and through the episode’s writing and directing.Writer Davy Perez consistently highlighted what it means to be both a Starfleet officer and a soldierin a warzone, writing Dr. M’Benga’s most iconic line thus far:
We have to fight so the people we love can have a chance to live in peace.That’sStarfleet.
“Under the Cloak of War” also features multiple scenes of hand-to-hand combat, both on the surface of J’Gal and on the USS Enterprise itself. While in a lesser episode those scenes might have read as over the top or generic action, Director Jeff W. Byrd consistently framed those scenes so that they simultaneously highlighted the tragedy of war and undergirded the tension in the non-combat scenes in the episode.Watching “Under the Cloak of War” feels like watching a feature film, and the hard work of the creative team behindStrange New Worldsreally shines through.
“Under The Cloak Of War” Left Big Questions For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
Dr. M’Benga’s Future May Be Defined Next Season
The ending of “Under the Cloak of War,” is, in some ways, ambiguous. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) confronts Dr. M’Benga in Sick Bay, asking for the truth about his lethal confrontation with theKlingon General and Ambassador Dak’Rah (Robert Wisdom). While Dr. He tells his captain some things,M’Benga does not reveal the truth that he was the real “Butcher of J’Gal.“In the end, it is unclear just how much Captain Pike knows, and, in turn, how much Starfleet knows.
The pilot episode ofThe Original Seriesestablishes that there is, actually, another doctor between Dr. M’Benga and Bones: Dr. Mark Piper (Paul Fix). So, ifStrange New Worldswants to set up Dr. McCoy, they will have to deal with Dr. Piper first.
Dr. M’Benga’s future is already written by the events ofThe Original Series. We know that although he is currently the Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer,M’Benga will eventually be replaced by Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy(DeForest Kelley). The details of why Dr. M’Benga lost his rank are not yet established, but it is entirely possible that his checkered past during the Klingon War played a role. With these threads still up in the air, season three ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas a lot to unpack with Dr. M’Benga.
