Star Trek sets off on a new voyage once again

The second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a captivating spin-off within the Star Trek universe, has commenced airing. This series, often hailed as a modern interpretation of the “American founding myth,” explores the themes of venturing into uncharted territories and celebrating diversity. Serving as a prequel to the original Star Trek series, it offers a perfect entry point for devoted fans and newcomers, providing a comprehensive understanding of its intricate universe and showcasing the adventures of the USS Enterprise. An episode is unveiled every week starting from June 16, with a total of 10 episodes being released at the Paramount Plus Brand Hall on TVING.

This season follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Vice Captain Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romain), and their crew aboard the USS Enterprise as they explore various planets and encounter intriguing alien species. Season one, comprising 10 episodes, premiered last year.

“Playing Captain Pike allows me to learn about leadership every day,” Mount said in a video interview with The Dong-A Ilbo on Thursday. “Captain Pike is someone who shares a very similar sensibility and sense of humor with me. It's my responsibility to embody a leading role both on and off-screen, and I genuinely enjoy portraying a Pike who resonates with my own personality.” Captain Pike holds a special place in the hearts of Star Trek fans, known as Trekkies, for his endearing leadership style. He instills trust in his crew and leads with a compassionate and nurturing approach, earning him the affectionate nickname “Captain Daddy.”

“What sets Star Trek apart from other science fiction (SF) films is its approach of curiosity and embracing rather than fearfully battling aliens,” said Rebecca Romijn, who is renowned for her portrayal of Mystique in the X-Men movie series.


Ji-Sun Choi aurinko@donga.com