Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 5 - "Charades"Despite being a Spock-centric episode, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' latest Vulcan comedy showcases the range of talents in modern Star Trek's best ensemble cast. Co-written by Star Trek: Lower Decks' Kathryn Lyn, "Charades" is a hilarious Star Trek spin on the sitcom trope of dinner with the in-laws, as Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) has his Vulcan DNA removed ahead of a hugely important pre-wedding meal. As with all good sitcoms, Lower Decks included, the comedy in "Charades" is reliant on Spock being ed by his ensemble, who help to sell the comedic situation to the audience.
From Spock's fake Vulcan ears to Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) being demoted to playing the role of put-upon waiter, there are lots of laughs to be had in "Charades". Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5 also puts the focus squarely on Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). Chapel's attraction to Spock was a running joke during Star Trek: The Original Series, but in "Charades" it's treated more sensitively by her fellow crew mates. "Charades" gives everyone in the Strange New Worlds cast something to do as they help the humanized Spock for a Vulcan, and help Chapel to accept her romantic feelings.
Strange New Worlds' Spock Comedy Shows Off The Ensemble Cast
Everybody gets something to do in "Charades", whether it's Number One (Rebecca Romijn) and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) teaching Spock how to talk like a Vulcan, or Captain Pike's well-meaning attempts at Vulcan cookery. Anson Mount is particularly good in the latest of Star Trek's comedy episodes, providing a hugely entertaining comic presence during the Vulcan V'Shal ritual. From the minute that T'Pril walks into Pike's quarters, Mount proves himself to be a master of the comedy reaction shot. For example, the glimpse of Pike necking scotch after T'Pril (Ellora Patnaik) calls Spock a disappointment is a masterful display of comic timing.
Meanwhile, Chapel's attempts to put Spock back together are aided by Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), who are both brilliant. The scene where Chapel asks them both for help in flying to the Vulcan moon Kerkhovia without being able to vocalize her feelings for Spock is a touching moment. Uhura and Erica's mutual glances of recognition are wryly funny, but it becomes properly hilarious when Chapel still refuses to it her love for Spock when his Vulcan DNA is reliant on it. Their exasperated pleas to Chapel to it it to the Kerkhovians may as well be telegraphing the thoughts of the audience watching at home.
Strange New Worlds Re That Star Trek Is Best As An Ensemble
Star Trek's animated series have been flying the flag for the importance of an ensemble cast, but live-action Trek had been strangely lacking before Strange New Worlds season 1. Unsurprisingly, Star Trek: Picard primarily focused on the character of iral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), and never took the time to let the audience get to know its new characters. The return of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast, and a well-realized character like Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) fixed this for Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Meanwhile, Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end in 2024, and it's still hard to any of the crew besides Captains Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Saru (Doug Jones), and Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). Especially after Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) left to teach at Starfleet Academy. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds re that Star Trek was never just about the starship Captain and his closest advisors, it was about the rich cast of characters that surrounded them, allowing each Trek show to explore a diverse range of stories, from hard-hitting drama to farcical comedy.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.