Each Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Main Character’s Masterpiece Episode (So Far)

In its 3 seasons so far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has spotlighted every main character with an episode that can be considered a masterpiece. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds will run for 5 seasons and a total of 46 episodes on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds brought back Star Trek’s classic episodic format. Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) USS Enterprise is crewed by a mix of legacy characters, such as Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), and new faces created for Strange New Worlds, like Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong).

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 became more experimental. Strange New Worlds‘ acclaimed comedic crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek‘s first musical episode opened new horizons. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 bet even harder on ‘big swings,’ although the show’s bold deep dives into TV genres divided audiences.

With insightful writing and directing showcasing its infinitely talented cast, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has allowed every character to shine. Here is each Starship Enterprise crew member’s best episode (so far):

Captain Christopher Pike – “A Quality of Mercy”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 10

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1’s finale was Captain Christopher Pike’s finest hour. A reboot of Star Trek: The Original Series‘ classic, “Balance of Terror,” “A Quality of Mercy” saw Admiral Pike from a dark alternate future send Captain Pike into his reality to encounter the resurgent Romulans.

“A Quality of Mercy” allowed Captain Pike to reconcile his unavoidable fate where he will be horribly disfigured in a tragic accident. Pike accepted his future and chose to make the most of the time he has left. Strange New Worlds season 1’s ender underscored Captain Pike’s nobility, compassion, and undaunting heroism.

Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley – “Ad Astra Per Aspera”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2

Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley is the centerpiece of “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” an instant classic and one of the best Star Trek courtroom episodes ever. Placed on trial for lying about being a genetically engineered Illyrian, Number One is defended by her estranged childhood friend, attorney Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki).

Poignant and thought-provoking, “Ad Astra Per Aspera” features resonant performances by Rebecca Romijn and Yetide Badaki, as Una and Neera broach years of estrangement to powerfully question the United Federation of Planets’ Draconian stance on genetic engineering. “Ad Astra Per Aspera” restored Number One’s agency by proudly living her truth.

Lt. Spock – “Charades”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 5

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ mission for Lieutenant Spock is to allow him to explore his human side in his younger years, setting up how he becomes the stoic Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek: The Original Series. The genuinely funny “Charades” turns Spock fully human in a Vulcan comedy of manners, and allows Ethan Peck to play the Vulcan Science Officer like never before.

Forced to meet the family of his fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu), the human Spock displays his love for his mother, Amanda Grayson (Mia Kirshner), and succumbs to his passionate attraction to Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). With grace, humor, and insight, “Charades” shows new sides of Spock in arguably the best of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ annual Vulcan comedy episodes.

Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh – “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 3

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds plunged Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh into a time travel romance that ends in heartbreak for the USS Enterprise’s Security Chief. Tasked with restoring Star Trek‘s altered Prime timeline, La’an falls in love with an alternate reality Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) during their mission in 21st century Toronto.

La’an also saves the life of the younger version of her ancestor, Khan Noonien-Singh (Desmond Sivan), in 21st century Toronto.

“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” is powered by the blazing chemistry between Christina Chong and Paul Wesley. La’an’s experience falling for and losing Kirk while saving time itself launched her character’s growth to “change her paradigm.” Genuinely touching, funny, and poignant, La’an’s time travel love story is one of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ best episodes.

Nurse Christine Chapel – “Through the Lens of Time”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 5

As Nurse Christine Chapel, Jess Bush is consistently a scene-stealing standout in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. “Through the Lens of Time,” while not specifically about Chapel, still hinges on Christine’s courage when she and her Starship Enterprise landing party are trapped in a dimensional prison on Vadia Nine.

“Though the Lens of Time” underscores Chapel’s dedication to her friends and duty, especially in the face of her boyfriend, Dr. Roger Korby‘s (Cillian O’Sullivan) relentless pursuit of archeological discovery. Many Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episodes display Chapel’s medical skills and romantic desires, but “Through the Lens of Time” truly hinges on Christine’s strength of character.

Ensign Nyota Uhura – “Subspace Rhapsody”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 9

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gave Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) more backstory and motivation than Nichelle Nichols’ Lt. Uhura ever got in Star Trek: The Original Series. Every building block for Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds brilliantly came together in “Subspace Rhapsody.”

Star Trek‘s first-ever musical episode defined Uhura’s importance as the USS Enterprise’s Communications Officer, and Nyota’s singular ability to connect to her fellow crewmates. “Subspace Rhapsody” was also a showcase for Grammy winner Celia Rose Gooding’s unmatched singing voice. “Subspace Rhapsody” is Uhura’s true coming out party.

Lt. Erica Ortegas – “Terrarrium”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 9

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds fans spent years clamoring for Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) to get an episode spotlighting the Starship Enterprise’s hotshot pilot. “Terrarrum,” one of the best episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, delivered on all counts, as Ortegas is stranded on a planetoid with her worst nightmare, a Gorn.

“Terrarrium” is a master class of acting by Melissa Navia, who carried her episode as, essentially, a one-woman show. Ortegas’ ingenuity, will to survive, and capacity to forgive and see the best in her Gorn counterpart, who Erica befriends, shows not just the best of Erica, but is a model of what a Starfleet Officer is meant to be.

Dr. Joseph M’Benga – “Under the Cloak of War”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 8

Possibly the darkest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Under the Cloak of War” is an unforgettable exploration of Dr. Joseph M’Benga’s (Babs Olusanmokun) trauma from the Klingon War, and the price he continues to pay for his secret past as Starfleet’s most deadly assassin. Babs Olusanmokun digs into the depths of M’Benga’s damaged soul.

Confronted with a literal ghost from his past, Klingon Ambassador Dak’Rah (Robert Wisdom), Dr. M’Benga violates his highest principles and succumbs to his bloodlust for his mortal enemy. M’Benga murdering Dak’Rah and covering it up is a stark ending to an episode that wades in the muck of Joseph’s darkest deeds, and provocatively leaves the audience with no easy answers.

Commander Pelia – “Hegemony, Part 2”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 1

Introduced in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2’s premiere, Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) has been a reliable source of offbeat comic relief for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Pelia is a perpetual scene stealer, but her best moments are part of “Hegemony, Part 2,” arguably the finest Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season opener.

Commander Pelia largely put their witty repartee aside to, instead, focus on helping Lieutenant Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn) overcome his fears and insecurities. Pelia not only pushes Scotty to be his best, but she leads by example to teach the young engineer what it means to be a “miracle worker,” proving that the Lanthanite Chief Engineer is at her best as an inspiration.

Lt. Montgomery Scott – “A Space Adventure Hour”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 4

The newest addition to the Starship Enterprise’s crew, Lieutenant Montgomery Scott is gradually evolving towards his destiny as Chief Engineer. This younger Scotty has yet to receive his own Star Trek: Strange New Worlds spotlight episode, but the young engineer’s best appearance so far is in the holodeck murder mystery, “A Space Adventure Hour.”

Left alone in Engineering to monitor the power surges of the USS Enterprise’s experimental holodeck, Scotty is hilariously desperate in a crisis as he realizes the starship could be destroyed. Watching Martin Quinn’s endearing performance as Scotty, who amusingly recruits Uhura’s help, manages a potential catastrophe is one of the most entertaining parts of “A Space Adventure Hour.”

Lt. Commander James T. Kirk – “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 6

The best episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 is also the finest hour for Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), who gets his first taste of starship command in “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail.” Confronted by the overwhelming might of a cadre of galactic Scavengers, Kirk must overcome a crisis of confidence to lead the rescue of the Starship Enterprise.

“The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail” is a milestone that charts the clear trajectory of how Paul Wesley’s Lt. Commander Kirk will eventually become William Shatner’s Captain Kirk. Winning over his doubting future USS Enterprise crew, Kirk proves his mettle as a Captain, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s finest hour deftly builds the foundation of Kirk’s friendship with Spock.