Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Series 3 - Episode 3 — “Shuttle to Kenfori” — A Review

24th July, 2025: “Shuttle to Kenfori” — The Intro. 

As I speak … ?

It’s Thursday: and, wrestler, Hulk Hogan has died.

I’m saddened by that: although I was never a fan of US wrestling’s style.

Hogan wasn’t my favourite sportsman: but seemed a good representative of his sport.

My thoughts go to his family, friends and fans … 

But life moves on.

~≈🖖≈~

Life moves on, though.

I’ll be thoughtfully having dinner … then catching another episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

The first two episodes … ?

Are really rather good.

Hopefully, the third will live up to the openers.

~≈🖖≈~

Part One: the Summary.

Episode 3 — “Shuttle to Kenfori” — opens with a summary of the show so far.

It reminds us that:

• Lieutenant Ortegas (Melissa Navia) is still troubled by her dealings with the Gorn.
• That Captains Pike and Batel (Anson Mount and Melanie Scrofano) are dealing with their own issues.
• And that Dr M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) has history with the Klingons.

The scene shifts.

To show us Captain Pike dictating his personal log: and telling us he’s enjoying spending with his partner, Captain Batel.

Only — when he arrives at their shared quarters — to find her on the floor of the cabin.

In Sickbay?

In Sickbay, Dr M’Benga informs the Captains that although he and Nurse Chapel had thought Captain Batel free of any Gorn tissue, they were sadly mistaken.

Some is still present: and slowly affecting their patient.

There is only one hope.

Rare chemical compounds from the Chimera flower should — should — heal Marie.

There’s only one small problem.

The plant, and the Federation researchers studying it, can only be found on the planet Kenfori.

Kenfori … ?

Is a no-fly zone for both the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

Doctor M’Benga and Spock had planned an off-the-book mission to get samples of the flower from the abandoned base.

Until Captain Pike orders Spock to stay behind.

If anyone is going to start a war by violating a no-fly zone?

Captain Pike doesn’t want it to be his science officer … 

~≈🖖≈~

25th July, 2025.

Part Two: A Broad Church.

So … what did I make of “Shuttle to Kenfori”?

The first thing I have to do is ask you a question.

Have you heard the phrase, “a broad church”?

And no, I’m not talking about the David Tennant series, here.

It’s the idea that the Church of England has room for a lot of different opinions, practises and styles.

You can pretty much apply the phrase to a lot of different things.

Including series within the Star Trek franchise, and episodes in each series.

Including — you’ve got me — episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Thus far?

“Hegemony” and “Hegemony, Pt 2” have been horror tinged action films, “Wedding Bell Blues” was a romantic comedy, “Ad Astra per Aspera”, a legal drama.

We’ve even had a musical: in the shape of “Subspace Rhapsody”!

“Shuttle to Kenfori” is different.

It’s a Zombie movie!

Or, at least, it’s a science-fiction zombie movie: there’s a faux scientific reason for hordes of walking dead wandering around, trying to eat Captain Pike and Doctor M’Benga.

It turns out the flower the pair are after has absorbed a moss specific to the planet, transferred it to the  scientists who’d been on the planet, and given them a taste for brains.

All those zombies … ?

All those zombies are woven into a second story thread: a Klingon force has arrived at the planet.

One led a a Klingon woman called Bytha, a woman who seeks to restore her family’s honour by challenging her father’s killer to a duel to the death.

Her father?   Was General Dak’Rah.

His killer?

Was Doctor M’Benga.

“Shuttle to Kenfori” is a revenge story, as well as a zombie movie.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Three: Aspects.

There’s other aspects to “Shuttle to Kenfori”.

Towards the end of “Wedding Bell Blues”, we’re shown that Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) is having mental health issues: working out her frustrations on a punchbag in one of the ship’s gymnasia, whilst having a flashback of an encounter with a monstrous Gorn.

Those results carry over into “Shuttle to Kenfori”: as we see Erica proposing an especially risky plan to rescue Pike and M’Benga, then forcing Commander Chin-Riley* (Rebecca Romijn) into following it … against Number One’s express orders.

The confrontation between the two: both on the Bridge, and in a later staff meeting?

Are beautifully done.

And as beautifully performed as the scene between Commander Chin-Riley and Lieutenant La’An Noonien-Singh: as the pair talk about Erica.

They are both aware that the ship’s star pilot is having issues: issue worse that her famed bluntness.

There’s a linked scene in Sickbay.

We see Spock offering to help Captain Batel: by performing a Vulcan mind meld with her.

He feels it may help alleviate some of her pain.

It works: to an extent.

But leaves Spock screaming: and both he, and Captain Batel, with visions of a very large Gorn … 

~≈🖖≈~

Part Four: Other Aspects.

There’s other things to talk about, here.

Have you heard of the Bechdel Test?

It’s been floating around for a while: and is designed to ask if a given piece is promoting gender equality.

Or, at least, making an attempt to.

A given story passes the test, if it shows two women having a conversation about something other than a man … 

So … ?

I saw Number One and Lieutenant Noonien-Singh having a conversation about Erica Ortegas: and thinking that it wouldn’t pass the test, if the pair had been talking about Eric Ortegas.

But, in a later scene, we see Number One and Lieutenant Ortegas talking.

And talking about how Erica has disobeyed orders, and the punishment she will receive as a result.

It’s beautifully played by Navia and Romijn: and focuses on Ortegas’ behaviour, rather than any male characters.

I’d say this scene passes the Test: but you tell me.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Five: Thoughts.

So … what did I think of “Shuttle to Kenfori”?

Was it good, bad or indifferent?

I thoroughly enjoyed “Shuttle to Kenfori”!

It’s a zombie revenge drama, with built in character arcs!

Granted, of the three episodes we’ve seen, so far, I preferred “Wedding Bell Blues”.

The episode’s lighter touch — and surprise cameo from John de Lancie — was much more my thing!

But … ?

As an overall piece, “Shuttle to Kenfori” works very well: the cast, as an ensemble, have worked very well.

Melissa Navia, in particular, caught and kept my attention, showing us the damage a life in Star Fleet can do.

Anson Mount and Babs Olusanmokun both did well: showing us friends and co-workers solving problems together, and learning more about each other.

I have to say: the fact this episode shows us more of the Doctor, went down well with me.

The real star of the episode?

Was Rebecca Romijn.

I don’t know if the post Number One occupies — First Officer on a Starfleet vessel — is analogous to the First Officer’s post on a real-world military organisation.

But I’ve always had the impression the original Star Trek’s producers, back in the 1960s, had served in the US military: so would have possibly modelled the role on its real-world equivalent.

Either way … ?

Rebecca Romijn carries the role off, very well: showing us that Una Chin-Riley is a very capable battlefield commander, a strict disciplinarian, very good at running the Enterprise: and very good at her job.

And someone who is more sympathetic than her crew-mates suspect.

We know that, by the look on her face at the end of one scene: it’s the face of an officer who’s done a very unpleasant job and grateful it’s over.

As I’ve said: of the episodes to date, “Wedding Bell Blues” is my favourite.

But?

“Shuttle to Kenfori” is very good, indeed.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Six: Last Words.

That?

Is where I’m going to leave things

Before I finish this piece, I’m going to ask you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and maybe drop a few pence in my Tip Jar.

The only other thing I should add … ?

Is simply this: that I’m going to watch the next episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Thursday, 31st July, and publishing my written and video reviews by the following Saturday.

I’ll see you then.

*        In the Star Trek franchise, a Star Fleet ship’s First Officer — Una Chin-Riley, in this case — is in charge of personnel on a ship: they’d be what we’d now call the head of Human Resources.   More importantly?   They would take command of the ship, if and when the Captain is absent or incapacitated.