Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Redefines Boundaries with Bold Episode

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds recently delivered a distinctive "Days of Our Lives"-themed episode titled "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass" on Paramount+. This particular installment featured a guest appearance from soap opera icon Deidre Hall and transformed the sci-fi series into a real-life soap opera, complete with exaggerated acting, soft lighting, and even an evil twin storyline.

Behind the scenes, achieving this daytime TV aesthetic was a significant undertaking, as revealed by stars Christina Chong and Ethan Peck during a panel at Tampa Bay Comic Con. The episode's narrative revolved around the god-like entity Trelane, portrayed by Rhys Darby, who manipulated the USS Enterprise crew into confronting emotional catharsis through these soap opera-style scenarios. This included Commander Spock's half-brother Sybok, also played by Ethan Peck, adding to the dramatic flair.

Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, uniquely experienced immunity to Trelane's influence, allowing him to perceive the absurdity of the unfolding events. Despite this, he still processed profound personal traumas from the imagined decades of life he experienced in the previous season's finale, a poignant gift from his lover, Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano).

For Christina Chong, who portrays La'an Noonien-Singh, the primary challenge lay in adapting her performance to mimic the specific acting style common in soap operas—characterized by heightened emotions and expressive gestures, often less refined than traditional dramatic acting. Chong described the difficulty of finding the precise balance between being a "bad actor" in character and a "good actor" in execution, especially in moments requiring dramatic stares into the distance.

Ethan Peck, who plays Spock, discussed the episode's technical complexities. He highlighted the unique camera setups, which differed significantly from standard television drama production. A specialized director of photography, experienced in soap opera television, was brought in to perfectly capture the desired visual style. This involved using multiple cameras—four, and even up to six, in a single take—which was a stark contrast to the usual two or three cameras employed for other episodes. The cameras were positioned farther away and slowly moved in during filming, a process entirely new to the cast.

Despite the departure from their typical filming routine, both actors expressed enjoyment for the change of pace. Chong likened the experience to theater, while Peck noted the difficulty in maintaining composure during intense scenes, recalling one instance where Chong laughed hysterically during his attempt at a "smoky and smoldery" performance.

Looking ahead, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has two episodes remaining in its fourth season, concluding with "Tomorrow's Enterprise" on September 24. The show's five-year mission will then enter its final phase with a fifth and final season, scheduled to premiere next year. This truncated final season will introduce Star Trek mainstays Leonard "Bones" McCoy, portrayed by Thomas Jane, and Hikaru Sulu, played by Kai Murakami. Additionally, a sequel series focusing on the further adventures of the Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk, with Paul Wesley in the role, has been pitched to Paramount, though it has not yet received a green light.