Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ 3 Vulcan Comedy Episodes Ranked, Worst To Best Spock wearing Starfleet Hat

By John Orquiola Published 32 minutes ago John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 4,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

So far, all three seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have featured a Vulcan comedy episode centering on Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is known for its high concept "big swings" into various genres, and Vulcan comedy is one of the prequel's earliest forays into comedy.

Lieutenant Spock is one of the primary characters of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The Vulcan Science Officer's development and his exploration of his human side, which will eventually lead him to become the Spock played by Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek: The Original Series, is one of Strange New Worlds' ongoing stories.

Two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Vulcan comedies were directed by Jordan Canning, who established herself as one of the show's consistently visionary directors. Canning's deft touch for comedy and drama, and keen eye for character development, helped hone Star Trek: Strange New Worlds into the show it is today.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' co-showrunner Henry Alonso Myers also co-wrote every Vulcan comedy. While not all of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Vulcan humor hours have been entirely successful, they have, all in all, become a welcome and signature aspect of the voyages of Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) Starship Enterprise.

3 "Four-And-A-Half-Vulcans"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 8

"Four-and-a-Half Vulcans" may prove to be the most divisive episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is a side effect as inadvertent as Captain Pike, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) being tuned into Vulcans and deciding to stick with their pointy ears.

As the only "half-Vulcan" aboard the Starship Enterprise, Spock's insecurities come to light, but the Science Officer soon finds himself meeting with Doug (Patton Oswalt), Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley's (Rebecca Romijn) Vulcan former lover, to cure their Vulcanized crewmates. Meanwhile, Pike, La'an, Uhura, and Chapel cause different kinds of chaos as Vulcans.

Dana Horgan and Henry Alonso Myers' screenplay, and Jordan Canning's indulgent direction, push "Four-and-a-Half Vulcans" beyond comedy into pure farce, which is not everyone's cup of Vulcan spice tea. Segments of Star Trek fans rejected this Vulcan comedy, raising issues about insensitivity, racism, and grooming that the episode glosses over in its bid to entertain.

2 "Spock Amok"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 5

"Spock Amok" was a revelation, and the earliest indicator that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could be a show that can deftly incorporate comedy that is character-driven and endearing. When Spock and his Vulcan fiancée, T'Pring (Gia Sandhu), swap bodies, chaos ensues.

Spock's deep-seated insecurities about his human side make him doubt whether he's good enough for T'Pring, and this is exacerbated by Spock and T'Pring literally walking miles in each other's shoes. "Spock Amok" also begins the love story between Spock and Nurse Chapel that would span the succeeding seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Meanwhile, Henry Alonso Myers and Robin Wasserman's script, along with Rachel Leiterman's playful direction, elevate "Spock Amok" by bouncing through amusing vignettes of the rest of the Starship Enterprise's crew during shore leave. "Spock Amok" is great fun, and Ethan Peck and Gia Sandhu are tremendous playing each other's Vulcans.

1 "Charades"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 5

"Charades" is not only Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' best Vulcan comedy episode (so far), but it also may be the finest overall example of comedy in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Spock is accidentally turned fully human at the worst possible time, when T'Pring and her parents are visiting the Starship Enterprise.

Ethan Peck splendidly hits all the comedy beats of a human Spock, from overindulging in eating bacon to acting on his simmering dislike of Lt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). Meanwhile, Nurse Chapel feels guilty about causing Spock's accident and tries to find a cure, which leads to Spock and Christine acting on their romantic feelings for each other.

Kathryn Lyn and Henry Alonso Myers' delightful screenplay, and Jordan Canning's insightful direction, bring all of "Charades'" comedy and heart to bear. Spock defending his mother, Amanda Grayson (Mia Kirshner), is one of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' most heartwarming moments, and makes "Charades" the show's gold standard of Vulcan comedies.

369 9.3/10

9/10

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Action Adventure Sci-Fi Release Date May 5, 2022 Network Paramount+ Showrunner Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman Directors Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman Writers Onitra Johnson

8 Images

Captain Pike looking stoic in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Christina Chong & Rebecca Romijn in Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 3

Captain Kirk with his hands folded in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Pike looking through the Enterprise viewscreen at two stars and lots of Gorn ships in Star Trek Strange New Worlds Hegemony Part II

Uhura laughing with a drink in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3

Pelia speaking in Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 3

Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) and Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) face each other from opposite sides of Pike's kitchen counter in Star Trek Strange New Worlds Ad Astra Per Aspera

The Enterprise Crew Vulcans are sent on a mission in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3.Image via Paramount+Close

Cast

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Anson Mount Captain Christopher Pike
Ethan Peck Spock

Franchise(s) Star Trek Genres Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Creator(s) Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet Powered by

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
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