by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

The U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew are back for more bold adventures in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two! “The Broken Circle”, written by Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman, and directed by Chris Fisher, will take our heroes to a new corner of the universe as they attempt to save a missing crew member. Spoiler Alert!

Picking up shortly after the surprising first season cliffhanger, “The Broken Circle” finds our heroes at a crossroads as they await the fate of their imprisoned shipmate, Una Chin-Riley. Captain Pike is determined to help get his First Officer back and will go to the far reaches of the universe to do so. With the Captain and First Officer indisposed, Spock and the crew will be put to the test when they receive a distress signal from Lt. Noonien-Singh. They must act fast as the signal was emanating from a disputed region of space, currently being shared with the Klingons. Despite warnings from Admiral April, the crew decide to take matters into their own hands and steal the Enterprise. With some help from a surprising new addition to the team, they embark towards their friend. When the truth about La’An’s situation is revealed, will they be able to stop another interstellar war before it’s too late?

With Pike and Una off dealing with the fallout of the previous episode, the premiere allows Spock, La’An, Uhura, Ortegas, Chappel, and M’Benga time in the spotlight, adding even more depth to their stellar performances. The highlight of the episode is the dynamic duo of Chapel and M’Benga, as their interesting backstory gets revealed during an away mission gone astray. The intensity and emotion invoked by these two was impressive to say the least, and I can’t wait to see more of their shared history explored this season. Spock also receives some entertaining moments, especially when dealing with an impending threat from the Klingons. Lastly, the episode also introduces us to Carol Kane’s Pelia, who will be re-occuring throughout the season. I will admit that I struggled a bit with this character at the start of the episode, but she did grow on me as the story progressed. I’m definitely interested to see how her role evolves and how she will interact with the rest of the crew. 

The visuals in “The Broken Circle” are truly breathtaking at times. From the opening title sequence to the credits, the attention to detail for this season feels like a whole new level. Director Chris Fisher and the creative team brought their A-Game for the premiere, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. 

Official Synopsis: SNW Episode 201: “The Broken Circle”

A distress call from Lt. Noonien-Singh compels Spock to disobey orders and take the U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew into disputed space, risking renewed hostilities with the Klingons in a bid to aid their shipmate.

Overall
The level of thought, empathy, & enthusiasm displayed in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is simply astounding. Although the series continues with its episodic nature, the underlying arc of the season seems extremely promising. The show already kicked off with a memorable first season, and it feels like they are taking everything to the next level with this new round of adventures.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – “The Broken Circle” – 5/5 command catchphrases. 

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