Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Series 4 Episode 2 — “The Griffin Incident” — A Review

16th October, 2026: “The Griffin Incident”.

The Introduction.

OK: this is a written review, and I’m starting it on Friday, 16th October, 2026.

There’s two, trivial things I should highlight.

One?

I’m having fish and chips.

It’s Friday, after all.

Why are we supposed to fish and chips — or, at least, fish — on a Friday?

I wish I knew.

Either way, fish is in the oven, and chips are going to get made, and eaten!

Secondly?

I posted today’s Daily Teaser quiz, this morning.

Complete with a joke, by way of introduction.

About cows hooves … 

What’s sadder than the joke … 

Is the fact it’s have a lot of likes.

And has had me wondering around the flat, all day, making ‘mooooo’ noises.

Roll on the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds … !

~≈🖖≈~

Part One: The Summary.

Episode 2 — “The Griffin Incident"” — opens with a recap of earlier episodes: highlighting the story of Security Chief La’An Noonien Singh (Christina Chong), and her relationship with both James Kirk (Paul Wesley), and Spock (Ethan Peck).

The scene shifts.

And shows us that Kirk is travelling back from the ‘Future Federation Leaders Retreat’, with Spock and La’An.

And finding the situation slightly awkward.

Partly, because he feels he’s in the wrong place.

But also because the three have detected the wreck of the USS Griffin: a Starfleet vessel that went missing nine years earlier.

The three manage to do a sensor sweep from the shuttle: and confirm there’s nothing alive on the apparently abandoned ship.

There’s one thing for it: they’re going to have to board the ship, and see what they can see … 

Post credits?

Post credits, the three confirm three things.

One?

There’s really is no life on the USS Griffin.

Two?

There’s only enough power on the ship to them alive for an hour.

Three?

They’re going to have to be fast, if they want to find out what happened … 

~≈🖖≈~

18th October, 2026.

Part Two: What IS this?

So … what did I make of “The Griffin Incident”?

What did I make of the plot?

The cast?

More to the point … what did I make of the genre?

Let’s be honest, here: “The Griffin Incident” is not your run-of-the-mill Star Trek Strange New Worlds story.

Nope.

It’s something of a rarity for the series: “The Griffin Incident” is an outright horror story.

The USS Griffin is a Mary Celeste style abandoned ship, has an especially cruel ghost — in the shape of Chief of Security Rose Harper (Sorika Wolf) —, tormenting our heroes in tortuous ways … 

Including with a certain amount of body horror: something I don’t remember seeing in an episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

At least, not in “Hegemony” Pts One or Two: the other episodes I’d call horror stories.

Now I think of it, we don’t see much of it in the Classic era episode, “Wolf in the Fold”: for all the latter is Star Trek’s take on a supernatural version of Jack the Ripper.

The latter is — by today’s standards — comparatively tame: although it does have its moments.

The seance scene, in particular.

Does “The Griffin Incident” being a horror episode, bother me?

No: it’s a very watchable episode, one that’s scary, and has a good balance of psychological horror, and gore.

But?

The body horror elements — Spock’s ear’s being cut off, Number One (Rebecca Romijn) disemboweling herself, Pike chopping off his fingers with a kitchen knife — will be something some may find hard to see in an episode of Star Trek.

As will Sam Kirk’s death: that scene pulls no punches.

Yes: “The Griffin Incident” is watchable.

But?

I feel these bloody elements would see the episode come with a content warning: were it to be broadcast on terrestrial TV.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Three: To Repeat Myself … 

I’ll repeat myself, here.

Were “The Griffin Incident” to be broadcast on terrestrial TV, I feel it should come with a content warning: something to let viewers know the episode has scenes of a violent nature.

Has gore, in other words.

But?

“The Griffin Incident” has psychological horror, as well.

Throughout the episode, we see the main characters — La’An, Spock and Kirk — subjected to hallucinations.

Audio in Kirk’s case: hearing his baby son crying, where La’An and Spock can’t.

Spock, when trapped in the Griffin’s Sickbay?

Sees a covered corpse sitting up: and revealed to be T’Pring, his estranged former fiancée: who is not the cool woman we know from earlier episodes.

And La’an … ?

Ends up with Security Chief Harper’s logs: logs that, at times, address La’An by name … 

All that?

Is before the landing party are joined by Pike, Number One, Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and Jim Kirk’s brother, Sam (Dan Jeanotte).

At least, joined by beings that resemble Pike and company.

The tension in “The Griffin Incident” has been enough that — when apparent help arrives — we immediately doubt our own eyes.

As we so should … 

~≈🖖≈~

Part Four: More Thoughts.

I’ve told you this episode is a horror-themed one, haven’t I?

It’s a horror episode: if you hadn’t worked that out!

Sometimes, horror can work if it has comedic moments: and sometimes?

It doesn’t need them.

“The Griffin Incident” is one of the latter: it’s an incredibly dark episode, and one that works perfectly well without funny lines.

At least, without the sort of comedy that featured in “Valles Marineris”: there’s no arguments between Ortegas and Scotty, there’s nothing of Cadet A’Sha Vulcan bluntness.

Instead?

We have a few dryly funny opening words between Spock, La’An and Kirk, as they are travelling back from the conference.

And some humour between La’An and Kirk: when the pair head for the Bridge.

But “The Griffin Incident” is not “Valles Marineris”: despite both episodes having dark hearts.

The latter is funny, to contrast and lighten its dark themes.   The former is dry, adding to the terror by doing so.

~≈🖖≈~

19th October, 2026.

Part Five: In the Background.

There’s background details I should highlight, as well.

The obvious one?

Is the USS Griffin, itself.

I don’t think it’s mentioned in the dialogue, but I’m assuming the USS Griffin is a Constitution-class ship: like the USS Enterprise, itself.

The external model is identical: as are the interior sets.

Partly?

This is done as part of the show’s world building: having another Constitution-class ship doing the proverbial rounds, show us that the Enterprise truly is part of a fleet.

And that the Star Trek universe has an internal history, has back stories.

And it reminds us that Star Fleet is a fleet.

But the sets are are reused because “The Griffin Incident” is what’s called a bottle episode: an episode made using already standing sets, and as small a cast as possible, so that money can saved and spent elsewhere.

In other words, using the Enterprise sets for the Griffin, means the episode is cheap to make.

And the actors who aren’t in this episode can film another.

Effectively, the producers can make two episodes for the price of one.

The other thing about “The Griffin Incident”?

Is that the mysterious Division 12, last mentioned in season three’s “Terrarium”, gets a second outing: as the Griffin is towed to Division 12’s base at the end of the episode.

From what we’re told about the Division?

It’s Star Fleet’s equivalent to the X-Files in The X-Files: the X-Files are the FBI section that investigates cases that are paranormal, extraterrestrial, or just downright odd.

As well as provide a home to agents like Fox Mulder: embarrassing agents the FBI would rather hide, but can’t sack.

Hmmmm … I think I have a question … 

~≈🖖≈~

Part Six: A Question.

OK, I’ll admit it: “The Griffin Incident” is only the second time Division 12 has been mentioned.

But it’s the only time I’ve seen characters explain what it is: as, near the end of the episode, Pike tells Dr M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) that he’s handed six cases to the Division … but only had explanations for four of them.

To me … ?

It sounds like Division 12 is … storied.

And, frankly?

I’m wondering if there’s any chance of a spin-off?

It sounds like a great idea for a series.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Seven: Finally.

So, with all of that said?

What did I make of this episode, of “The Griffin Incident”?

I have got to admit: this is a great episode.

On the production side, it turns the already standing interior sets from the reassuringly familiar to claustrophobically fearsome.

And makes very good use of the three main characters: La’An, Kirk And Spock.

On the story front?

The episode is taut, tense and riveting to watch: keeping me glued to the thing for every last minute.

Granted: there’s little levity in “The Griffin Incident”.

And granted, this would have come with gore-related trigger warnings, had this aired on British terrestrial TV.

But?

 “The Griffin Incident” is a ghost story, rather than a comedy: a tension-filled horror story, not a laugh-fest like “Those Old Scientists”.

One the Disney episodes of Dr Who could possibly have learnt from.

I can hear you from here: I can hear you asking if, scares aside, if “The Griffin Incident” is worth watching.

Yes: it is.

It’s frightening, scary … and, if it doesn’t keep you glued to your seat, I’ll be very surprised.

“The Griffin Incident”

★★★★

~≈🖖≈~

Part Eight: Last Words.

That?

Is where I’m going to leave things: until this Friday.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review and the episode: “The Griffin Incident” is a rivetingly watchable!

Before I go, I’d like to ask a favour or two.

I’d like to ask you to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and put a few pence in my Tip Jar: it keeps a channel, and a blog, going.

Finally?

I’ll be watching the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds — “Human Best Friend” — on Friday, 23rd October: and posting my written and video reviews of it by Tuesday, 27th October.

Hopefully?

I’ll see you then!