Strange New Worlds Episode 202 Review, Comparison & Breakdown
By The Nerd Social on July 6, 2023
Nathan does a review, spoiler breakdown, and Trek Canon comparison of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2, “Ad Astra per Aspera,”; written by Dana Horgan and directed by Valerie Weiss.
00:00 Introduction Support OpenWise Learning STEM Program: https://bit.ly/3N82zNW 00:48 Logline 01:06 Trek Canon Similarities 01:07 -- TOS "The Menagerie, Part II” (S01E12) 01:11 -- TOS "Court Martial" (S01E20) 01:23 -- TOS "Space Seed" (S01E22) 01:28 -- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) 01:38 -- TNG "The Measure of a Man" (S02E09) 01:40 -- TNG "The Drumhead" (S04E21) 01:43 -- VOY "Author, Author" (S07E20) 01:48 -- DS9 "Tribunal" (S02E25) 01:52 -- DS9 "Rules of Engagement" (S04E17) 02:01 -- DS9 "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" (S05E16) 02:26 -- ENT "Judgment" (S02E19) 02:31 -- ENT "Borderland" (S04E04) 02:34 -- ENT "Cold Station 12" (S04E05) 02:37 -- ENT "The Augments" (S04E06) 02:42 -- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) 02:54 -- LD "Veritas" (S0108) 02:58 Nathan's Take / Comparison 03:02 -- TNG "The Measure of a Man" (S02E09) 03:39 -- TNG "The Measure of a Man" (S02E09) - Picard / Guinan 05:09 Nathan's Rating 05:32 Spoiler Breakdown 05:47 Teaser 07:38 Act I 07:49 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Discussion of April 08:38 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Uhura on the Regs 08:45 Act II 09:04 -- TOS "Space Seed" (S01E22) 09:47 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Unjust Laws 10:59 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Amends 11:05 Act III 11:29 -- SNW “Ghosts of Illyria” (S01E03) 11:42 -- ST “Q&A” (S02E01) 13:31 -- TNG "The Measure of a Man" (S02E09) 14:38 Act IV 15:03 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Asylum Granted 16:00 -- SNW “Ad Astra per Aspera” (S02E02): Pike Hugs
Spoiler-Free Summary (Logline): Commander Una faces court-martial along with possible imprisonment and dishonorable dismissal from Starfleet, and her defense is in the hands of a lawyer who’s also a childhood friend with whom she had a terrible falling out.
Our Rating System: 1 "Dumpster fire.”
- A waste of time that might make you so depressed you don't want to talk to anyone. 2 "Drunk Watch."
- A film only suitable for inebriated viewing with friends. 3 "Hate Watch."
- A film that annoys you so much you must complain on a group chat to friends. 4 "Couch Co-op."
- A film that's perfect for a casual lazy night on the couch with your best friend. 5 "Game Night."
- A film that's perfect for a fun night in with a group of friends if you have other activities planned. 6 "Date Night."
- A film that won’t ruin a special evening with your significant other but you won’t revisit. 7 "Dinner Party."
- A film worth watching and dissecting with friends at home over good food and good wine. 8 "Road Trip."
- A film that's so good that it's worth a road trip with friends to the theaters to enjoy. 9 "Movie Marathon."
- A film that's so exceptional friends will theater-hop with you to see it multiple times. 10 "Theater Rental."
- Invite the neighborhood! A film that transcends its medium and becomes a must-see event.
Cast & Crew
Created by
- Akiva Goldsman
- Alex Kurtzman
- Jenny Lumet
Written by
- Dana Horgan
Directed by
- Valerie Weiss *Cast
- Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike
- Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock
- Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel
- Christina Chong as La'an Noonien-Singh
- Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura
- Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas
- Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M'Benga And
- Rebecca Romijn as Number One (Una Chin-Riley)
Guest-starring
Yetide Badaki as Neera Ketoul
Adrian Holmes as Robert April
Melanie Scrofano as Batel
Co-starring
Jim Annan as Una's Father
Anna Claire Beitel as Young Girl/Young Una
Catherine Black as Una's Mother
Eugene Clark as Vulcan Judge
Nicky Guadagni as Admiral Javas
Beth Hornby as Guard
Alex Kapp as USS Enterprise Computer
Graeme Somerville as Vice Admiral Pasalk
Iain Stewart as Jag Defender
David Benjamin Tomlinson as Tellarite Judge
Kimberly-Ann Truong as Illyrian Assistant