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How Many Strange New Worlds Did Season 1 Really Explore?
Seeking out new life and new civilizations is Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' mission, and here are how many unexplored planets Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise visited in season 1. Strange New Worlds is set a year after Star Trek: Discovery season 2 and about 6-7 years before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) takes command of the Starship Enterprise. Pike mounts a new five-year mission of galactic exploration in Strange New Worlds where his show lives up to its name.
Strange New Worlds has been lauded by fans old and new for restoring the original spirit of Star Trek. Pike's Starship Enterprise travels to a different planet every episode, encountering new aliens or a problem to solve. Further, Strange New Worlds has proven that it's adept at switching genres, from sci-fi, to drama, and even to comedy. Strange New Worlds' serializes its characters' arcs and journeys while embracing the episodic style of Star Trek: The Original Series so that the audience never knows where the Enterprise will go and who they will encounter in every episode.
Every New Planet Strange New Worlds Explored In Season 1
Strange New Worlds' mandate is to introduce new planets and aliens to Star Trek canon, and not repeat what the other series have already done (with one big exception). Indeed, in Strange New Worlds season 1's 10 episodes, the Starship Enterprise visited 9 new planets. Strange New Worlds' premiered with a mission to Kiley 279 to rescue Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn). The Enterprise encountered a life-giving comet called M'hanit that gave water to Persephone III in episode 2, and the ship was then hit by an Illyrian contagion from the planet Hetemit XI. The Enterprise faced the Gorn near Finibus III, and then returned to Starbase 1 in Strange New Worlds episode 5, "Spock Amok."
Once back in space, the Enterprise visited the strangest new world yet, Majalis, an advanced technological society outside the Federation that sacrifices and murders young children. Strange New Worlds episode 7 took place on the pirate ship the Serene Squall but introduced the Vulcans' Ankeshtan K'til Retreat on the third moon of Omicron Lyrae where Spock's (Ethan Peck) brother Sybok is held. Next, the Enterprise passed through the Jonisian Neubula, and encountered the Gorn on the L-class world of Valeo Beta V. Strange New Worlds' finale took place near the Romulan Neutral Zone in an alternate future version of TOS' "Balance of Terror."
Where Strange New Worlds Will Go In Season 2
Details on Strange New Worlds' season 2 voyages are classified for Starfleet's Eyes Only, but a clip unveiled at Star Trek Day 2022 reveals that the Starship Enterprise will travel to Rigel VII. In Star Trek's original pilot, "The Cage," Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) spoke about his violent encounter on Rigel VII, and he revisited it through the illusions projected by the Talosians. While Rigel VII is the only confirmed planet for Strange New Worlds season 2 so far, the Enterprise will have perhaps its weirdest encounter ever when it crosses over with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Somehow, Ensigns Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) from the 24th-century USS Cerritos will come aboard Pike's 23rd-century Enterprise. There's also expected to be an animated section to the crossover as well, so that Pike, Spock, and his crew will become Lower Decks-style cartoons. The Gorn are also returning; could Strange New Worlds finally show the Gorn homeworld? Overall, it's safe to expect Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 to potentially double the number of new planets the Starship Enterprise's crew saw in season 1.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.
