After seizing control of the Enterprise for an unplanned and unsanctioned mission, Spock utters, "I would like the ship to go," his voice steady and resolute. A fleeting moment of silence ensues, accompanied by the faintest arch of Ethan Peck's eyebrow, before he appends, "Now," with an air of finality. Spurred on by Uhura, Jenna Mitchell (Rong Fu), and Ortegas (Melissa Navia), who urge him to adopt a catchphrase to commence their journey—one that would rival Pike's iconic "Hit it!"—Spock alights upon the most quintessentially Spockian option. His choice, a straightforward (and undeniably logical) proclamation of their impending departure, is imbued with a touch of dry humor, hinting at his awareness of its amusement to others.
This exchange in "The Broken Circle" stands as one of many testaments to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' seamless transition from its acclaimed first season to this sophomore voyage with Pike's Enterprise crew. Whether it can maintain this momentum remains to be witnessed, and the challenge is formidable indeed. The inaugural season of Strange New Worlds had to enchant audiences with fresh interpretations of beloved characters (some, like Spock and Anson Mount's Pike, introduced in Discovery) while introducing new faces and matching the cinematic production values of Discovery and Picard. Simultaneously, it had to revert to the classic Star Trek's weekly adventure format while juggling several ongoing narratives. For the most part, season one made this seem effortless. Yet, this does not imply it was so, nor will it become any simpler.
Several ongoing storylines concluded by season's end, such as M’Benga’s daughter’s fate, Uhura’s mentorship under Hemmer (RIP), and the decision to remain with Starfleet. Others, however, remain very much alive, like the budding romance between Spock and Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) and Number One’s (Rebecca Romijn) recently unveiled past as an Illyrian. It is the latter that dominates the opening scenes of "The Broken Circle." With the Enterprise docked at Starbase One for repairs, inspections, and downtime, Pike senses tension and a palpable undercurrent among Starfleet's brass. Yet, this is not his primary concern; it is Number One, poised to accept a plea deal for her deception despite Pike's objections. To address this, he decides to personally board a shuttle, leaving Spock in charge of a skeleton crew aboard the Enterprise.
And thus, Pike exits the episode, a surprising twist that, ironically, unlocks numerous possibilities for the Enterprise's crew, with Spock at the forefront. However, it is not as if Spock is devoid of pressing matters, even sans command of the ship. A visit to Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) reveals signs of a human condition known as "stress," seemingly triggered by Spock's allowed himself to go into a non-Vulcan rampage to save the Enterprise last season. To alleviate this stress, M’Benga presents him with a familiar-looking stringed instrument, which Spock takes to instinctively and which instantly soothes him. But upon Chapel's entrance, the stress resurges. When Spock departs, Chapel reveals plans for an extended separation: a two-month fellowship in "archeological medicine"—on Vulcan. Whatever is transpiring between them is far from over.
Meanwhile, the bridge crew finds itself entangled with a meddlesome contingency of inspectors, seemingly bent on disrupting their established routines. In the midst of this turmoil, Uhura stumbles upon an even more perplexing interruption: a message emanating from Cajitar 4, a dilithium mining planet perched on the fragile border between the Klingons and the Federation. This communication ties into a lingering narrative thread left hanging at the conclusion of the first season, involving La’an Noonien-Singh's (played by Christina Chong) mission to reunite Orianna (portrayed by Emma Ho), the girl they rescued from the Gorn, with her family. That mission has encountered roadblocks, prompting Singh to seek assistance from the Enterprise.
When Admiral April (Adrian Holmes) arrives at an unanticipated yet logical conclusion, he confides in the core crew, "We must appropriate the Enterprise." And thus, echoing the daring escapades of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, they embark on precisely that endeavor. To their astonishment, the task proves remarkably straightforward, necessitating only the feigning of a coolant leak—a maneuver that dupes nearly everyone aboard. That is, everyone except Commander Pelia (Carol Kane, newly joined in a recurring capacity). She lingers behind and swiftly detects their deceit, yet she harbors no objections. Trusting Vulcans instinctively to make prudent decisions, she further boasts of a personal connection to Spock’s mother. More crucially, she yearns for a spark of excitement to rekindle her life.
Pelia, as it soon transpires, is a Lanthanite. As for the mysteries surrounding these beings, our understanding remains hazy—confined solely to the revelations of this episode. What little we know is that they possess distinctive accents, enjoy centuries-long lifespans, and seemingly resided undetected on Earth until the advent of the 22nd century, perhaps even preceding humanity's first contact with the cosmos at large. "It's a long story," she muses enigmatically. Undoubtedly, more will unfold in due course, but for now, the veil remains partially drawn.
When reminiscing about the throwbacks to Star Trek III, we encounter an intriguing scenario on Cajitar 4, where familiar-faced Klingons await us—not the ones seen on Discovery, but those introduced in the legendary Star Trek film series. Among them stands Singh, who impressively demonstrates her prowess not only in a Bloodwine drinking contest but also in negotiating with the Klingons. As she reunites with the rogue members of the Enterprise crew, she unravels the pressing crisis at hand.
The easing of hostilities has led to a decline in the demand for dilithium mined on Cajitar 4. Consequently, a group comprising Klingons and ex-Federation members have united for a seemingly noble cause, but in reality, they form a syndicate of pirates aiming to reignite the war for their own financial gain. This is, undoubtedly, unacceptable, even though our heroes are initially unaware of the plan's specifics. However, they soon uncover the truth.
While Singh engages in negotiations with Klingons seeking black market Federation weapons, M’Benga and Chapel find themselves involuntarily recruited by the pirates, who seek to exploit their expertise. The medical duo is the first to decipher the pirates' ingenious yet sinister plot. The pirates have constructed a Federation starship within a cave, intending to use it in a false flag attack to provoke the Klingons into resuming warfare.
Wasting no time, they administer a "juice" (as Chapel puts it) that sends them into a berserk rage, a tactic apparently leftover from the Klingon war. This proves remarkably effective, enabling them to eliminate numerous pirates and uncover more details about the plan. Despite its power, this potion doesn't prevent them from being trapped aboard the ship as it takes off.
Stopping the pirates now falls to the remaining skeleton crew of the Enterprise. Hiding within the rings surrounding Cajitar 4, they intercept a signal from M’Benga and Chapel, revealing the unfolding drama. After successfully disabling the false Federation ship in plain sight of the Klingons, they confront two challenges: rescuing M’Benga and Chapel, who jumped ship before the attack, and calming the Klingons without inadvertently igniting a war themselves.
They achieve their objectives, albeit amidst a swirl of drama. Spock, visibly disturbed with tears welling up in his eyes, manages to revive Chapel, who attempts to diffuse the tense atmosphere with a playful, albeit flirtatious remark, "Why do you have to be so rough?" Spock bears the burden of explaining the sequence of events, elucidating how they thwarted the attack on the Klingons while also granting them the dignity to recount their own narrative, thereby preserving their honor. The remedy, as is often the case, involves copious amounts of Bloodwine. The Klingon captain remarks to Spock, "You're no ordinary Vulcan." To which Spock responds, "Indeed, it appears I am not."
After a night of heavy drinking, harmony is restored. Moreover, they gain a new member in Pelia, an engineer who eagerly joins them in their interstellar voyage, fed up with the monotony of teaching and yearning for adventure. One adventure concludes, but a postscript reveals a hint of what lies ahead as a hungover Spock confides in April, granting him a reprieve with a warning. As the Enterprise steers back to its base, an emotionally charged Spock picks up his lute, and we are enlightened about the "something in the air" that Pike sensed: the approach of Gorn towards Federation space, casting a shadow of impending conflict.
