4th September, 2025: “Terrarium”.The Introduction.
Right, then.
It’s just coming up for half past four in the afternoon: and it’s almost time to start dinner.
What I’ll have … ?
Is not something I’ve made my mind up about, as yet.
I’m not necessarily in the mood for red meat: but not necessarily in the mood for chicken.
Or anything with gravy.
Or … well … anything fried … !
I suspect I’ll make my mind up … when I eventually open the ’fridge and see what’s there.
It might just have to be sausages … again … !
~≈🍽️≈~
At any rate … ?
You’ve possibly noticed the date at the top of the post, haven’t you … ?
It’s the fourth of September, 2025: and a Thursday.
Which means I’ll be watching “Terrarium”, the next episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, tonight.
And … ?
I’ll have my written, and video, review of the thing up by Sunday, 7th September.
Hopefully?
You’ll be impressed enough to leave me a comment …
4th September, 2025: “Terrarium”.Part One: The Summary.
Episode 9 — “Terrarium” — opens with a montage of scenes: ones that focus on Helm officer, Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia).
Then shift … to show us Erica recording her personal log: to tell us the USS Enterprise has been assigned to map an area of uncharted space.
An uncharted area that’s famous for strange phenomena: things usually investigated by something Erica calls Division 12.
Right now, however?
She will be investigating the area: and reporting her findings to Spock (Ethan Peck), via Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) in Communications.
Who both warn her to be careful: the gravimetric waves in the area are going to make things tricky.
Things prove trickier than expected, when Erica finally gets to the Archimedes shuttle craft.
The launch goes smoothly enough: as does launching the buoy that will monitor the area for the Federation.
There’s only one small problem.
The sudden appearance of a wormhole thats grabs the shuttle, forces it who knows where … and sees the Enterprise lose communication with the Archimedes.
Leaving Number One (Rebecca Romijn) to tell the Bridge one thing …
“We’ve lost her … …”
~≈🖖≈~
5th September, 2025.Part Two: Thoughts.
Now … what DID I make of “Terrarium”?
For a start, the title seems very appropriate.
As — much like the plants in the real-world versions tanks — both Erica, and her companion, are trapped in a small area … separated from a dangerous outside world by a thin sheet of metaphorical glass.
You wondering why I say ‘companion’, there, aren’t you … ?
You’ve heard of a film called Enemy Mine, haven’t you … ?
The Dennis Quaid/Louis Gossett Jr film tells a tale of the war between humans and Dracs, and how — when a human pilot played by Dennis Quaid crash-lands on an abandoned planet — he finds himself sharing the uninhabited world with a stranded Drac.
The pair have to work together, in order to survive: and get off the planet.
That … ?
Is a plot I recognised in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Enemy”: and in “Terrarium”.
The episodes are Star Trek takes on a very old idea: one that goes back to Enemy Mine, The Defiant Ones and Hell in the Pacific.
Two enemies, forced to have to work together: and becoming friends in the process.
But where, in “The Enemy”, Geordi LaForge is trapped with a Romulan, and in “Enemy Mine”, Dennis Quaid is trapped with Louis Gossett Jr … ?
Erica Ortegas is trapped with a Gorn …
~≈🖖≈~
Part Three: More Thoughts.
There are plenty of other things we can look at, in “Terrarium”.
One thing that caught my eye … ?
Was that this episode focused on a familiar plot — enemies working together — and on an underused character.
Erica Ortegas.
Over the course of this third series, we’ve seen how Erica has suffered as a result of being captured by the Gorn in “Hegemony Pts One and Two”, and how this has affected her behaviour in other episodes.
Generally?
We’ve seen more of Erica in this third season of Strange New Worlds, than we’ve seen of her in earlier series.
The Enterprise’s helm officer has seen some much needed development and seen a resolution to the PTSD storyline that’s was threaded through the opening episodes.
The other thing that leaps out at you?
Is something that certainly leapt out at me.
The Gorn were originally introduced in an episode of the original series, called “Arena”.
In the story, Captain Kirk and a Gorn are through together, and have to fight each other.
In a fight that’s forced on them by the Metrons: god-like energy beings who are curious to see if two such savage races can co-operate.
“Arena” was — to the best of my knowledge — the only appearance of the Metrons … until “Terrarium”.
And yes: it’s they who’ve set up this first meeting of Gorn and Human.
As in “Arena”, they’re curious to see what the two races would do.
~≈🖖≈~
Part Four: Other Things.
Were there other things in the pot … ?
There’s is possibly a lot.
For one thing … ?
The cast have been superb, as ever.
Celia Rose Gooding, as Uhura, in particular.
There was also an audio effect, as well.
The Metron in this episode was played by a male actor.
But the character’s voice was dubbed? overdubbed?
I’m not sure of the correct term.
But think I should say the actor’s voice was removed: and the spoken lines replaced with a mix of male and female voices speaking the dialogue, instead.
It’s very well done, it’s wonderful to listen to, and … ?
Had me paying attention.
Even if I couldn’t quote you anything the character said, the fluctuations, the changes from male to female, and back, again, was very interesting.
There’s a problem, there: but … ?
The Metron was wonderfully done.
~≈🖖≈~
Part Five: Finally …
So … what did I make of “Terrarium”?
Of an episode whose roots are showing … but is very good?
It has to be said, this series of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is very good: “Terrarium”, no less than any other episode.
Celia Rose Gooding puts in a superb job as Uhura, as an Uhura deeply concerned both for a friend’s wellbeing.
Mount, Romijn and Peck, as Captain Pike, Number One and Spock, were all sympathetic, and foreboding, kindly and cautionary.
The star of the episode?
Was Melissa Navia as Lieutenant Erica Ortegas.
In both this episode, and “What Is Starfleet”, we get to see more of a key member of the crew.
That, and the fact we see some resolution for her, is welcome.
Another thing … ?
In the cold opening, we see Erica recording her log.
And mentioning the mysterious ‘Division 12’: a group who apparently investigates odd goings-on, and strange phenomena.
Who are Division 12?
I have no idea: I’ve never heard them mentioned in any other Star Trek episode I’ve seen.
Or — more appropriately — the X-files unit from The X-Files: Mulder and Scully’s unit is supposed to investigate the weird phenomena the rest of the FBI won’t touch.
I know as much as you, at the moment.
But I suspect we’ll get an answer in the next episode at the earliest: and suspect — on very little evidence — there’s a potential spin off, there.
As a last point?
I can see downsides in “Terrarium”: it’s the oh-so-hypnotic appearance of the Metrons.
One downside is minor: a simple philosophical point.
Do we really need a reappearance of god-like beings, interfering with humanity?
I think the original series did it a few too many times for my comfort.
Another issue?
Yes: as a fan, I’m pleased to have seen the Metrons.
But I don’t think they served a purpose in the story.
The one Metron we get, pops up, says “Hello, we’ve been fiddling with Humans and Gorn, and you’re going to forget I told you this … ”, and then vanishes in a puff of logic.
As well done as the Metron scenes were?
They served no purpose.
Yes: “Terrarium” is superbly made, and an episode I’ll be watching, again … but it does have a flaw.
~≈🖖≈~
Part Six: Until Next Time!
That, once again, is where I’m going to leave things.
I hope you’ve enjoyed both my review and the episode: Melissa Navia puts in a wonderful performance.
Before I go, I’m going to ask you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and put a few pence in my Tip Jar: it all helps keep a channel, and this blog, going.
Finally?
I’ll be watching the last episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — “New Life and New Civilizations” — on Thursday 11th September: and posting my written and video reviews of it by Saturday, 13th September.
I’ll see you then!
“Terrarium”★★★☆
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