The first batch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds early reactions have landed, hinting at a major shift in direction for the franchise. Strange New Worlds will be the latest Star Trek series to hit screens when it makes its debut on May 5. The series will act as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, which kicked off the galaxy-spanning franchise in 1966, while also being a follow-up to Star Trek: Discovery season 2.
Discovery introduced audiences to Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Rebecca Romijn’s versions of Captain Pike, Spock, and Number One, respectively, and Strange New Worlds was then commissioned off the back of the overwhelmingly positive response to the new iterations of the classic characters. In their new series, that returning trio will be accompanied by a collection of actors new to the franchise, some of whom are taking on established roles, such as Celia Rose Gooding's Uhura. Trailers for the series have highlighted the chemistry between the new cast, as well as the series’ brighter tone and visual palette.
Now, early reactions to Strange New Worlds season 1 have been released on social media. The series is receiving near-universal praise for capitalizing on the charisma of the cast, and combining them with stunning visuals. The reactions have also emphasized that Strange New Worlds will return to the primarily episodic format of earlier Star Trek series, which has mostly been abandoned in recent years. Check out a selection of the reactions below:
The Strange New Worlds early reactions will encourage anticipation for the series, which is already sky high among Star Trek fans. Partly, this is a response to the show's creative team promising that Strange New Worlds will mark a return to the franchise's roots with its style of storytelling, as well as the optimistic values more in line with the original vision of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. By making good on this promise, Strange New Worlds will differentiate itself from the other ongoing live-action series, Discovery and Star Trek: Picard, which have defined themselves by their darker, serialized takes on the Star Trek universe.
If Strange New Worlds manages to impress general audiences as convincingly as it’s impressed critics, the series could mark a turning point for the franchise in general. The series will be the fifth ongoing Star Trek series, and though the franchise shows no signs of slowing down, Strange New Worlds could breathe new life into the classic format once again, setting a precedent for future shows to follow. Either way, audiences won't have long to wait before they get their chance to enjoy the adventures of Captain Pike and his crew in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Source: Twitter, various (see links above)