Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Episode 3 — Ghosts of Illyria — A Review

30th September, 2022.

Is it just me … ?

Or does is it bad out?

It’s bad out: it’s raining.

Not heavily raining: but raining, none the less.

Frankly?   That’s encouraging me to do what I’ve always done: catch another episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds’ first series: then finishing off my written and video reviews, tomorrow night.

I’ll see you then!

~≈🖖≈~

1st October, 2022.

Episode 3 — Ghosts of Illyria — opens with a summary of previous episodes.

Then shifts: giving us a log entry from First Officer Una Chin-Riley (Number One: Rebecca Romijn) that tells us the USS Enterprise is heading to an abandoned Illyrian colony called Hetemit 9.

The Illyrians are a species the Federation refuses to accept as members, as they practice genetic engineering: something the Federation long since banned.

Despite this?

The Enterprise is in orbit: as the Federation wants to know why the Illyrians abandoned the place, and if they can help any survivors.

Much like Number One, herself?   The Federation doesn’t like loose ends.

However?

The landing party has very little time to search Hetemit 9: as it has to get off planet, before an ion oncoming storm blocks the transporters.

The party is in something of a rush.

Unfortunately?

Number One’s section of the team make it back to the ship: but Captain Pike and Mr Spock (Anson Mount and Ethan Peck) don’t.

That?

Is only the start of everyone’s problems.

Once back at the ship, something starts affect the crew.

All of them — bar Number One — start being very attracted to the lights.

Whilst, back on Hetemit 9?   Pike and Spock … realise there’s something out in the storm …

~≈🖖≈~

Now … what did I make of this episode?

Good, bad, or just plain ugly?

First things first: and in the awareness I have mentioned it, already …

Have I told you about Strange New Worlds’ theme tune?

Yes I did: in my write up of Children of the Comet.

But I’m rather impressed with both it, the nods it makes to the original series theme, and to Anson Mount’s version of the Strange New Worlds monologue.

You are possibly going to get sick of me mentioning it … but it is rather good.

Let’s move on, shall we?

I have to make a vague confession: and admit I found Ghosts of Illyria’s basic idea — the crew suddenly dealing with an illness — reminded me of both classic episode The Naked Time, and The Next Generation’s The Naked Now.

But with enough differences to make it distinct from both.

The Naked Time’s McGuffin is a complex molecule accidentally touched by a crew member, The Naked Now has a collapsing star, and Ghosts of Illyria has a virus: one that causes an apparent addiction to light.

Additionally?

Ghosts of Illyria has two distinct plotlines;

• A main A line that focuses on Number One, on Una, trying to deal with the disease-ridden ship, whilst trying to help Dr M’Benga find a cure.
• And a secondary B line that shows Pike and Spock working out what’s happened to the Illyrian colonists.

That’s something I don’t recall seeing in The Naked Time, and The Naked Now: although it’s been a while since I’ve seen either.

It’s a difference: and a welcome one.

As is — and it has to be said, I think — the message.

Yes: Ghosts of Illyria has a message.

It reminds us of a bit of Federation back story.   In Earth’s (future) past, there was an event known as the Eugenics Wars: a series of wars fought by and against a set of genetically engineered supermen that include major Star Trek villain, Khan Noonien Singh.

The net effect?   Was that the Federation, and Starfleet are left with distinct laws against genetic modification: including ones that discriminate against genetically augmented individuals.

It’s a prejudice that sees Dr Bashir — in a Deep Space Nine episode called Dr Bashir, I Presume?  — almost forced out of the service.

And it’s a prejudice that sees Number One handing in her resignation to Captain* Pike.

Only to have it refused!

Because, as Pike puts it?

“… you’re best first officer in the fleet.”

Yes, there’s a message.

Yes: even if it’s just as superficial as ‘prejudice is bad,’ it’s still something that Star Trek Strange New Worlds — or, at least, this episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds — seems to handle very well.

And in a less heavy handed way than Star Trek Discovery.

Ghost of Illyria is a very good episode: and one I thoroughly enjoyed: because — in part — its message is there to be seen, but not shoved into my face.

Frankly?   I’m going to be watching more Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

I’ll be watching the next episode — Memento Mori† — on Friday, 14th October: the week after watching Hellraiser‡.

I’ll telling you what I thought about the episode on Saturday 15th October.

I’ll see you one Friday.

Ghosts of Illyria.

★★★☆

*        Thank God I caught that: I almost spelt the word as Catping … 

†        That link will go live by midnight on 15th October, 2022.

‡        7th October saw the release of the Hulu version of Hellraiser: you can read my written review, here.   Or watch the video version on YouTube.   It’s rather good.