Review of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 4 - 'A Space Hour Adventure'

      Chris Connor reviews the fourth episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds…

      While the third season of Strange New Worlds has primarily centered around the Gorn and ongoing plotlines, the fourth episode titled ‘A Space Hour Adventure’ presents a delightful detour into the realm of murder mystery. Although the holodeck features prominently in later Star Trek series like The Next Generation, this earlier installment in the timeline shows that such technology is still not widely adopted. As a result, La’An and Scotty are assigned to test this new tech.

      Coincidentally, La’An is an enthusiast of classic detective fiction, particularly the Amelia Moon stories. This allows her to engage in a mystery of her own, set in the late 1960s Hollywood. The narrative includes characters from the Enterprise who serve as characters in the fictional show Last Frontier, which is a clear parody of the original 1960s Star Trek. All these characters, portrayed by their respective actors, become suspects in Amelia’s investigation.

      Christina Chong shines in her dual role as La’An, both testing the problematic technology and embodying the private investigator as she explores jealousy and rivalries on set. The episode acts as a heartfelt tribute to the original series while providing an enjoyable whodunnit. It certainly evokes elements of Agatha Christie, as well as references to Knives Out and other works. Ultimately, it embodies all the qualities a good whodunnit should possess: enjoyment and intrigue, leaving viewers craving more Amelia Moon mysteries.

      Despite being primarily self-contained, the episode progresses storylines developed throughout this season, especially La’An’s relationship with Spock and Scotty’s role within the Enterprise crew. The show's ongoing dedication to presenting genre-themed episodes, alongside showcasing various crew members, effectively engages the audience and ensures the entire cast feels integral to the overarching narrative. The challenge with an episode like this is that it could come off as inconsequential, but that is far from the reality here.

      ‘A Space Hour Adventure’ serves as a delightful diversion that functions as both an engaging whodunnit and an homage to the original cast and crew, with characters clearly channeling the likes of William Shatner and Gene Roddenberry. As the season approaches its midpoint, it remains a remarkable Star Trek show, with the third season building on the momentum of the previous two.

      SEE ALSO: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 to boldly venture where no Trek has ventured before with a puppet-themed episode.

      Chris Connor