Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is back with its second season and it starts with The Broken Circle.
The first episode is titled The Broken Circle. In this episode we have a fun addition to the show, Carol Kane, who I know from Seinfeld as Corrine.
Episode 201: “The Broken Circle” – Available to stream Thursday, June 15
Season premiere. A distress call from Lt. Noonien-Singh compels Spock to disobey orders and take the U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew into disputed space, risking renewed hostilities with the Klingons in a bid to aid their shipmate.
Written by Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman
Directed by Chris Fisher
Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 1
“The Broken Circle” – The Plot
There Are Two Major Plot Points In The Broken Circle Episode
- Spock steals the Enterprise to check out La’an’s distress call.
- Christine “Nurse” Chapel and Dr. M’Benga might die during this adventure.
At the beginning of the episode, Captain Pike speaks to Una Chin-Riley/Number One and decides to be there for their trial. Number one lied on their Starfleet application, and the Starfleet judicial system has put her on trial. Before leaving the ship, Captain Pike played by Anson Mount leaves Spock in charge of the Enterprise until he returns.
Nyota Uhura played by Celia Rose Gooding discovers a distress call that is being sent from La’an Noonien-Singh played by Christina Chong, a member that requested leave last season. Uhura brings this information to our temporary leader, Spock.
Spock following protocol explains the situation to Admiral Robert April while expecting his blessing to pursue the distress call. Of course, Admiral Robert April says no, but then Spock decides to do the most unvulcan thing. He decides to steal the ship to save his co-worker La’an anyway.
The best part of this scene is Pelia played by Carol Kane, who is there to conduct an inspection. She knows exactly what they are doing, and tells them how they’re doing it wrong, and how to do it right. Ha! She wanted to be a part of this adventure to break up her boring work routine. Don’t we all?
They find La’an and she is fine, however, she shares with the team that a new group made up of ex-Klingons and ex-Federation soldiers wants to start the war again because peace isn’t profitable. The group is doing everything to get their hands on as much federation tech as possible. During the pow wow we find out that they don’t have as much medical attention as they would desire.
Nurse Chapel and Dr. M’Benga head over to camp to assist but are quickly rerouted when an ex-Klingon says she needs their attention elsewhere. Upon arrival, they see a federation ship that they believe the new group has put together themselves. Nurse Chapel and Dr. M’Benga come to the conclusion that they crafted a federation ship because they are allowed to attack the Klingons which is what the new group wants to do anyway.
M’Benga and Chapel, take a super soldier serum in an effort to fight their way out of this new location, but the serum has time limitations and forces the duo into hiding while figuring out what to do next. M’Benga ends up sending a message to the Enterprise via the transporter.
The message – “Destroy this ship.” Everyone is concerned about destroying the ship because that means Nurse Chapel and M’Benga could die, but while they are thinking about that we switch to Dr. M’Benga and Nurse Chapel discussing their possible death.
Spoiler — They don’t die. They make it safely back to the ship and all is well.
Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 1
“The Broken Circle” – The Review
Despite everything happening in the first episode, it was a rather weak start for a season return.
My highlights from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 1 “The Broken Circle”
- Pelia, played by Carol Kane — She’s funny without being over the top and exudes a warm presence. I believe she is like all of us that have a boring job and can’t stand boredom. I loved the ending where she says she might stick around because the Academy is so boring. Plus, when Pelia says “You sweet unvulcan vulcan” it made me cackle. I felt it was a bit shady.
- Dr. M’Benga & Nurse Chapel’s fight scene — loved it even though some of it was funny. It was also cool to find out that Dr. M’Benga, who is Babs Olusanmokun in real life is an actual black belt. I feel like they gave us a Blade scene without even knowing it.
My lowlights from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 1 “The Broken Circle”
- Nothing happened — Yeah, they did something, but really it felt like whatever.
Spock played by Ethan Peck hijacking the Enterprise to investigate this distress call sounds exciting, but adding in the possible deaths of two major characters is a thrill. However, it ended up being a dud.
They arrive at the scene without any problems. La’an is fine. Nurse Chapel and Dr. M’Benga risk their lives to end the possibility of another war and it is brushed over. Everyone makes it back to the ship safely. Admiral Robert April does nothing despite Spock disobeying orders.
I felt nothing during this episode. Not a single drop of danger. There wasn’t a single scene that made me believe they were in grave danger or the possibility of them really dying.
It was far too tidy and clean to take these threats seriously. Everything lined up perfectly, the desired outcomes happened, and no one was injured. The audience received a beautiful Disney-esque ending.
Did You Watch “The Broken Circle” Episode 1, Season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
What did you think? Did you really think any of them would die? Why do you think this episode was titled The Broken Circle?
Let me know in the comments below or tag us on Twitter/Instagram.
The next episode is titled “Ad Astra per Aspera” and I cannot wait to see it!
Check out my previous article on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 by clicking here.
The Broken Circle — Photo Stills From The Episode, Photo Gallery
