Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Series 4 Episode 4 — “A Case of Chiaroscuro” — A Review

30 October, 2026: “A Case of Chiaoscuro”.

The Introduction.

Yes: it’s officially Friday.

And, frankly, I’ve got enough money in my account to buy a takeaway.

Why haven’t I … ?

First?   I’ve got fish cooking in the oven, as I write.

I’d hate to waste that.

Next?

I really don’t fancy going out!

Lastly … ?

I have to save the money I do have, for tomorrow.

Yes, it’s that time of year, again: it’s eye test time.

I need money … for new spectacles!

~≈🤓≈~

Moving on … ?

Yes: it’s still Friday.

Which means dinner’s on the go, as ever.

But I’m also going to be watching “A Case of Chiaoscuro”, the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

Yes, I know, I know: I could be watching an old episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

But?

The next episode of Strange New Worlds still seems a good way to honour the late Sir Patrick Stewart.

~≈🖖≈~

 

Part One.

The Summary.

Episode 4 — “A Case of Chiaroscuro” — opens with the usual summary of earlier events.

Then shifts, to show us the newly promoted Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) leading a shuttlecraft mission: a mission whose team consist of her, Ensign Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Dr M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), a team who have to retrieve a Star Fleet probe that’s gone astray in Klingon space, around the occupied planet, Mat’aar.

Something that Uhura finds an unnerving prospect: as she is left disoriented by the loss of colour perception.   The effect, according to M’Benga, is due to the local star’s ‘infrared black body spectra’: and is something that will pass, when they leave the Mat’aar system.

Despite the disorientation?

The team manage to reclaim the probe and beam it back to the USS Enterprise: but are detected in the process.

Not being able to get back to the Enterprise?   Means just one thing.

The three have to hid … on Mat’aar, itself.

That … ?

Is just about where their problems start.

Mat’aar … ?

Is being occupied … 

~≈🖖≈~

1st November, 2026.

Part Two.

Thoughts … 

So … what did I think of “A Case of Chiaroscuro”, of this fourth episode?

Of an episode that is one of the few in the show’s history in black and white?!

Well, that had me taken by surprise … 

Yes: “A Case of Chiaroscuro” is in black and white, rather than in colour.

Something that had me frantically checking my TV’s settings, and rewinding the episode, to make sure everything was ok.

Yes: it was near enough entirely in black and white!

Something that Ensign Uhura finds equally as disorienting: but that Dr M’Benga is able to explain.

Apparently?

Mat’aar’s sun emits “infrared black body spectra”, which makes everything look monochrome.

“Infrared black body spectra”, eh?

You have to give the writers credit for coming up a big piece of bafflegab.

And just as much to Babs Olusanmokun for saying the phrase with a straight face!

It’s twaddle.

Even given it’s twaddle, it’s a nice bit of dialogue that tells why we’re seeing what we’re seeing.

It’s not the complete reason: at least, I don’t think it’s the complete reason.

No.

I think the episode’s writers decided to tale in black and white: because colour would ruin the story.

~≈🖖≈~

Part Three.

What’s the Story … ?

So … what type of story were writers, Skylar Ojeda and Dana Horgan trying to tell?

Last week’s episode, “Human Best Friend”, has been compared — by some — to 2009’s The Hangover.

That’s not a comparison I can make: as I’ve never seen The Hangover.

But I have seen Alien and Aliens: which struck me as having influenced Hegemony, parts one and two.

So … ?

I immediacy realised Ojeda and Horgan have been influenced by the World War 2 classic, Casablanca: and trying to write its Star Trek equivalent.

Something that was equivalent: in terms of tone, if nothing else.

After all, we find that Mat’aar is under occupation from a cruel enemy, that the Mat’aaran resistance, and Mat’aaran collaborators, are everywhere, that Number One resembles a now dead collaborator … 

And that the paranoia in the atmosphere is more common than the oxygen.

We can also, possibly, argue one scene is a direct lift.

At one point, Klingon forces enter the café-bar that’s one of the main settings, singing a Klingon drinking song: 

And yes: I immediately thought of one of the scenes from Casablanca.

One where, in defiance of the Nazi troopers in Rick’s Café, the French patrons immediately sing a rousing version of “La Marseillaise”.

I think the writers behind the episode knew their stuff!

~≈🖖≈~

Part Four.

There’s Something Else.

There’s something else: the sets … 

I am very aware I could point at the bar the bulk of the episode takes place in, and tell you all sorts of things.

I could tell you the set looks very Art Nouveau: more Art Nouveau than Art Deco

Floral and curly, rather than straight and pointy.

I could … but suspect that would be doing both movements down, given I’m no art historian.

None-the-less?

That bar looked distinctly, and beautifully, Nouveau.

Then … ?

There’s some of the external sets: shots of the Mat’aaran city’s back streets … 

Which are beautifully done … but still, just — just! — city streets.

The shots that caught my eye?

Where of the Mat’aaran city: from both about, and from the distance.

My gods, they looked gorgeous: and reminded me of Fritz Lang classic, Metropolis.

Go look the thing up: you’ll soon see the resemblance.

And hopefully agree, that the episode’s designers were inspired by the right thing … 

~≈🖖≈~

Part Five.

Performances.

Did I mention performances, yet?

I didn’t?

I should’ve done.

I’ve said this a few times, now: the Star Trek franchise — and Strange New Worlds in particular — have very good ensemble casts.

And are usually written so that each episode can focus on one or two characters, at a time.

“A Case of Chiaroscuro” does exactly that: focuses on Number One, M’Benga, and Uhura, with time given to Demore Barnes as Commander Kor, head of the occupying Klingon forces.

And, of the four?

I would have to hand the proverbial prize to Rebecca Romijn.

There’s a scene where she and M’Benga are talking about the ethics of interfering with a developing planet, even one that’s occupied by the Klingons: a scene that sees Number One arguing that they can’t leave, can’t not help, because she — the by-the-book First Officer of one of the Fleet’s best ships — knows the Federation’s non-interference rules aren’t perfect.

And that she can’t not help, just because the rules say she’s wrong.

There’s another scene: where Number One, in the guise of Nevette, confronts Kor.

And, in defending her ‘new recruit’ to a Klingon who comes to realise the woman he’s facing is very aware of his plans … and every bit a match for him … 

The two scenes are gorgeous and show us quite how good Rebecca Romijn is at her job.

And the latter?

Well, if you ever wanted to see tigers in humanoid form, sizing each other up for a duel … that scene shows us exactly that!

~≈🖖≈~

Part Six.

Klingons on the Starboard Bow.

There’s one more performance I should mention, here.

Demore Barnes, as the recurring Klingon character, Commander Kor, originally played by John Colicos in “Errand of Mercy”.

The character reappeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: again played by Colicos.

I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoy Klingon episodes: the way Klingon culture, individual backstories, history, and sheer personality has developed has been beautiful to watch.

But there are times Klingons can be a touch too theatrical.

Robert O’Reilly’s performance as Gowron?

As is Colicos’, in later years.

So?

For me, it’s nice to see restrained Klingons.

Michael Dorn’s performance as Worf, is a good example.

As was Colicos, himself, in that original episode, in “Errand of Mercy”.

As is Barnes’, in “A Case of Chiaroscuro”.

Barnes’ interpretation?

Was restrained, understated … and possibly the most menacing Klingon I’ve seen since Colicos’s original.

There are times when a villain is far more threatening … when they’re quiet … 

~≈🖖≈~

Part Seven.

Lore.

What else can I tell you … ?

There’s possibly a lot: outside the set design, high contrast black and white film, performances, the wine, roads and aqueducts.

But there was one little bit of detail in the episode: a small thing that caught my attention.

A little bit of world-building.

At one point, a strange, high-pitched alarm goes of off in the cafe-bar that provides the main setting for the episode: something Dr M’Benga describes as ‘sonic vigilance’, as an alarm in a pitch the Klingons can’t hear.

It’s backstory for M’Benga: as it’s something he learnt about in his war-torn past.

Whether it’ll get mentioned again … ?

Or go the way of other bits of Star Trek lore, and never see daylight again?

I don’t know.

But it’s a fascinating piece of backstory …

~≈🖖≈~

Part Eight.

Finally?

So, finally … what did I think of this episode: of “A Case of Chiaroscuro”?

Usually, I prefer a story that’s a little faster paced: “Human Best Friends” jogs along at a nice speed, for example.

And, whilst “The Griffin Incident” is a little slower, it, and “Valles Marineris”, travel along at equally good speeds.

“A Case of Chiaroscuro”?

By contrast, “A Case of Chiaroscuro” is something I found moved slowly in it’s first half: but then picked up.

That didn’t grab me, at first … but?

With a little patience, I found myself enjoying a good piece of TV: one with a beautiful look to it, and one with a sterling performance from Rebecca Romijn.

One I can — as I have with earlier episodes — only recommend you watch.

You won’t regret it.

“A Case of Chiaroscuro”

★★★★

~≈🖖≈~

Part Nine.

Last Words.

That?

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

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review, and the episode: “A Case of Chiaroscuro” is a masterclass in restrained performances.

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

I’d like to ask you to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Or 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 — the extremely silly-looking “Level-Five Transporter Accident” — on Friday, 7th November: and posting my written and video reviews of it by Tuesday, 10th November.

Hopefully?

I’ll see you then!