After the intense climax of "Hegemony, Part II," it comes as no surprise that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds opts to recalibrate its tone, swinging gracefully towards a lighter vein with the second episode of its third season. However, has it truly succeeded in this endeavor? Let's be frank; "Wedding Bell Blues" is a delightful gem, masterfully intertwining comedy with a spot-on guest star casting and a clever final twist destined to enchant loyal Star Trek aficionados. Yet, this episode also witnesses one of our heroes enduring repeated heartaches, while another faces constant challenges to her newfound bliss from an ex whom she still holds dear. Amidst all this, it appears another Enterprise crew member grapples with Gorn-induced PTSD? Indeed, "Wedding Bell Blues" is a breezy episode, yet it thrives in part due to its anchor in substantial emotional depths, preventing it from drifting aimlessly.
As the episode unfolds, Spock's narration introduces a subtle three-month time leap. This period is long enough for him to reflect on his bond with Christine, albeit perhaps not adequately so, and, as we soon discover, for several crew members to sport chic new hairstyles. (Spock, however, sticks to his timeless classic look.) As the Enterprise gears up for its return to active duty, Pike decides to host a grand gala commemorating the Federation's centennial. This celebration happens to coincide with Christine's return from her archaeological studies abroad under the aegis of fellowship director Dr. Roger Korby. His moniker suggests a stuffy, old-fashioned professor, doesn't it? Surely, Christine's time away has helped her gain clarity about their relationship. The outlook for Spock seems promising. It seems the perfect moment to pick up dancing lessons.
Enter La’An. She offers Spock dancing tutorials in anticipation of Christine's return, and it swiftly becomes evident that she is an exceptional dancer. Spock can't help but commend her enthusiasm for dance, considering her traumatic upbringing. "There was a time when I aspired to be a prima ballerina," she confides in him. Spock remarks that he assumes the Gorn changed that, and La’An handles this tactless statement with elegance, but when Spock mentions planning a grand romantic gesture for Christine's return, she inquisitively probes further. (Subtext: Do you really know what you're doing?) Spock then playfully pretends not to grasp La’An's allusion to the saying, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." He's joking. He's in high spirits. But this joy is fleeting.
Indeed, it fades almost instantly. Rushing to the transporter room upon hearing of Christine's impending arrival, he's astounded to find La’An accompanying him, so distracted that he overlooks the "bit o' strangeness" Scotty believes he detected on the scanner. This distraction intensifies upon Christine's arrival with Dr. Roger Korby (played by Cillian O’Sullivan), who is far from being a stuffy professor. La’An instantaneously senses what's brewing—Christine has brought back a new beau—but it takes a moment for Spock to catch on. It's only when La’An pressures him about whether Korby will require quarters that ignoring the situation becomes impossible.
Korby is not the sole newcomer aboard the Enterprise. Since our last visit months ago, Erica's younger brother, Beto (played by Mynor Luken), a documentary filmmaker by trade, has temporarily joined the crew's ranks. Erica has transformed him into her sparring partner, yet Beto's interests broaden throughout the episode. The arrival of Uhura, bearing news of Christine's appearance with a companion, leaves him visibly smitten. Elsewhere, Nurse Gamble (portrayed by Chris Myers), a charming nurse who believed himself to be merely filling in for Christine, steals the spotlight. However, it transpires that Gamble has been such a hit that Dr. M'Benga has requested his permanent presence aboard the Enterprise, news that Gamble warmly embraces. Additionally, there's some promising news regarding Captain Batel: Una's Illyrian heritage appears to have achieved the desired effect, rendering her free from the Gorn threat. Perhaps this qualifies as good news, yet it necessitates Batel bidding farewell to Pike after they've settled into a blissful, companionable existence—a lifestyle neither ever believed possible due to their demanding careers as starship captains. It's a bittersweet scenario, yet they seem determined to cherish every remaining moment together, given Pike's awareness of his finite future.
When Spock finally secures some private time with Christine, he embarks on the arduous task of understanding what transpires between them. Christine had earlier expressed her desire to remain unattached. Now, however, she seems quite attached to Dr. Korby. The irony is, Christine herself is unclear about the situation. She evidently still cares for Spock, yet desires no romantic entanglement with him. Instead, she hopes Spock will join the crew for cocktails and relaxation later that evening.
He does attend. Perhaps it was a misstep. Upon Spock's arrival, Dr. Korby regales a crowd of awestruck crew members eager to learn about his endeavors, including a "romantic" mountain climbing expedition he's about to embark on. The timing couldn't be more awkward. Yet, Spock, who admits he has "recently become a student of romance," insists on hearing all about it.
The narrative weaves through Christine's poignant last wish, etched in her dying hope—a wish her daughter would discover "the sun, the moon, and the stars," a revelation Spock already possesses and hastily confirms, interrupting Christine mid-sentence. Dr. Korby, in a bid to fulfill her aspirations, has bestowed upon her all these celestial wonders embodied in tangible form, alongside a unique bracelet as testament. The silent exchange between Christine and Korby prompts Spock to seek solace in a beverage, guided by a bartender whose Vulcan-like demeanor (and unmistakable resemblance to Rhys Darby for viewers) entices him to try something novel. Obliging, Spock indulges, only to awaken the next morning to find Christine nestled beside him in his quarters, exuberant with excitement for their impending wedding day.
Yet, this is no ordinary wedding day; a twist unfurls as if caught in an endless loop, revisiting La'An teaching Spock to dance, albeit with a sprightlier and more agile Spock. His preparations extend beyond dance lessons, enlisting the expertise of a wedding planner who, to all eyes but ours, appears Andorian, yet unmistakably resembles Rhys Darby once more. This shape-shifting enigma remains to be unveiled, but for the meantime, he presents as a jovial, energetic, and impeccably organized professional bent on ensuring Spock and Christine's special day progresses flawlessly, commencing with a seamless rehearsal. The key participants are assembled: Pike, Una, Dr. M'Benga, and Christine's tardily arriving best man, Korby, whom the planner regards with a curious indifference.
The reason for this disdain soon surfaces: Korby, sensing something amiss, breaks into Spock's quarters to uncover the truth (having earlier attempted to mar the occasion with a subpar cake and wilted flowers). Caught in the act, Korby blurts out, "This wedding is not meant to be." Unlike the oblivious guests, Korby recognizes the distortion in their reality. He recalls arriving on the Enterprise with Christine the previous day to celebrate Federation Day. Whatever Spock recollects—a proposal to Christine three months prior—exists only in a skewed memory. In truth, it was Korby who won Christine's heart with his kindness and a Pablo Neruda poem. This account enrages the usually stoic Spock, driving him to strike Korby, a blow that inadvertently confirms Korby's truthfulness.
Upon regaining consciousness, Korby is astounded to find himself (1) sharing a bed with Spock and (2) confronting a contrite Spock, fully aligned with Korby's perception of reality. This unexpected camaraderie forges an unlikely alliance between them, determined to unravel the mystery. The most plausible explanation, as Spock articulates, involves "an advanced intelligent life form possessing reality-altering capabilities," a description that is bound to ignite speculation among seasoned Star Trek enthusiasts, hinting at the 17th letter of the alphabet—a nod to the iconic Q.
Their investigation had scarcely commenced when the wedding planner attempted to intervene, his efforts initially proving only momentarily effective. Soon, unwitting accomplices took up his mantle as Spock and Korby grappled with devising a strategy to disabuse everyone else of their false notions. Sam arrived, armed with an assortment of wines, and dismissed both Spock's truthful revelations and his baits with a hearty laugh. A similar scenario unfolded at Spock's bachelor party in Pike's quarters, where, having narrowed down the suspects to the wedding planner – or, as Spock coined him, "the entity" – Spock and Korby politely declined the karaoke invitation.
Unmasked, the wedding planner responded with venom. Upon awakening, Spock found himself sharing the bed with none other than the wedding planner, who issued dire threats of annihilation, compelling Spock to proceed with what he knew to be a farcical wedding. Korby, attempting to protest, was magically transformed into a bulldog adorned with a charming cummerbund. Ultimately, only Spock possessed the power to break the spell, utilizing the same poetic tool that had earlier enchanted Christine into falling for Korby: the verses of Pablo Neruda, accompanied by a comprehensive enumeration of why he was unsuitable for her, culminating in a phraseology echoing her fondest aspirations of moon, stars, and sun.
This maneuver proved successful, prompting the wedding planner to vow a "carnival of destruction," a massacre that the musical score assured us was meant in jest. Indeed, the music spoke volumes. As the wedding planner departed, a luminous, orb-like entity arrived, whom the planner addressed as "Dad." The familiar voice of John De Lancie confirmed what many viewers of this episode had already suspected: the wedding planner was a member of the Q continuum, none other than the son of the most renowned Q of all. With a cheerful "Tally ho! You've all been a delight!" Q Jr. took his leave, and reality resumed its normal course for those left behind.
Of course, there was an aftermath. "That was odd," Pike remarked to the gathered crowd before segueing into a variant of the speech he had prepared for Federation Day, ultimately abandoning it to declare the bar open. This opportune moment introduced Kelzing (played by Kira Guloien), a three-armed bartender whom Pike and Una swiftly sought to recruit for the Enterprise. A positive development indeed. Christine and Korby seemed to be faring well too. And it appeared that Beto might be joining the Enterprise to continue his documentary and his romantic teasings with Uhura.
Yet, despite La’An's earnest attempts to lift his spirits by enticing him onto the dance floor to the rhythmic beats of a timeless 20th-century Wham! tune, Spock's melancholy remains palpable. Moreover, Erica's disquiet extends beyond the awkwardness of witnessing her younger brother flirt with one of her dearest friends. As the episode draws to a close, she vents her frustration on a punching bag, only to find that her punches lack the force needed to erase the haunting image of the Gorn from her mind.
The season premiere barely left room for doubt, but "Wedding Bell Blues" underscores that Strange New Worlds has maintained its stride seamlessly across the seasonal hiatus. In the mold of its previous comic episodes, it manages to be amusing without veering into triviality, while advancing the narratives of several characters. Spock's arrival at Christine's cocktail gathering is marked by a poignant edge as he strives to be a supportive friend to his former flame, now moved on. And while Li’l Q's antics may seem silly and ultimately benign, they expose Spock and Korby as genuine individuals who genuinely desire the best for Christine, even if her happiness does not align with their own. It would be tempting to portray Korby as the villain in this scenario, but such simplicity is denied us. To Spock's credit, he swiftly recognizes the complexities at play.
