Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology launched the idea of the holodeck as a method for the crew to chill out in a simulated atmosphere whereas additionally offering a method for the present’s writers and forged to alter issues up. It allowed the present to flee the confines of the ship’s set and Starfleet uniforms, entering into plots impressed by Sherlock Holmes and The Maltese Falcon or simply enjoyable by going horseback using or swimming.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is about a century earlier than the occasions of TNG, nicely earlier than holodeck know-how grew to become commonplace for Starfleet. However that didn’t cease showrunners Henry Alonso Myers and Akiva Goldsman from utilizing the versatile plot device.
“There’s precedent for this,” Goldsman advised Polygon over Zoom. “There’s basically a holodeck in [Star Trek:] The Animated Collection on Kirk’s Enterprise, so we then form of figured, nicely, if that is the case, then there will need to have been some experimentation with that know-how earlier. And in the event that they have been going to place it on a ship, why would not or not it’s the flagship?”
[Edit. note: This article contains some spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 4]
In “A House Journey Hour,” streaming now on Paramount Plus, Enterprise safety officer La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) is tasked with testing the know-how. It follows within the footsteps of traditional TNG holodeck episodes “Elementary, Dear Data” and “The Big Goodbye,” wherein Enterprise crew members attempt to have enjoyable entering into interval mysteries however wind up caught within the story. “A House Journey Hour” has Noonien-Singh tackle the function of a detective making an attempt to resolve a homicide on the gathering of the forged and crew of “The Final Frontier,” a Nineteen Sixties science fiction present based mostly on Star Trek: The Unique Collection.
“We have been making an attempt to cross over between what’s the enjoyable that they’ve accomplished with the holodeck sooner or later/previous episodes that we are able to use,” Myers advised Polygon in the identical interview. “The opposite factor we actually wished to do was to attempt to inform one thing essential concerning the story of Star Trek”
The result’s one thing like a fusion of Knives Out and Galaxy Quest. It’s a comfortable thriller set in a studio head’s Hollywood mansion, with Noonien-Singh taking over the function of the fabulously dressed detective Amelia Moon. With The Final Frontier about to be canceled, everyone seems to be blaming one another for each the homicide and the present’s failure, mocking one another’s egos, performances, and writing.
Noonien-Singh relishes in uncovering the hidden motives of The Final Frontier’s forged and crew. Her suspects embody James T. Kirk actor Paul Wesley (extra carefully imitating William Shatner in his portrayal of Maxwell Saint), Anson Mount enjoying TK Bellows, a model of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and Rebecca Romijn portraying producer Sunny Lupino who relies on Lucille Ball (the legendary star of I Love Lucy who additionally helped get Star Trek’s pilot produced).
(Writers Dana Horgan and Kathryn Lyn got here up with a intelligent in-universe excuse to have the remainder of the present’s important forged play characters in Noonien-Singh’s simulation: the info from their transporter scans is one of the best ways to generate reasonable AIs. It’s definitely a extra moral model of how TNG’s Lieutenant Reginald Barclay used his coworkers to play out his virtual fantasies.)
“The enjoyable was enjoying in opposition to all these completely different characters and having the ability to do the American accent,” Chong mentioned in a separate interview. “Actually leaning into the noir style was unimaginable.”
Directed by TNG star Jonathan Frakes, the episode opens and closes with scenes from the fictional model of Star Trek that poke enjoyable at its skimpy outfits, dated particular results, and over-the-top plots. Whereas the center of the story is an earnest monologue delivered by Nyota Uhura actor Celia Rose Gooding concerning the energy of the collection to encourage generations, “A House Journey Hour” additionally makes loads of references to the challenges the present confronted — from the backlash to having a female first officer that led to the character being reduce after the pilot, to the truth that the set’s automated doorways repeatedly acquired caught. The showrunners simply hope it’s clear that the teasing comes from a spot of affection.
“Our normal method to comedy is we don’t like making enjoyable of individuals straight,” Myers mentioned. “We wish them to be truthful and enjoyable as characters, however nonetheless resonant and actual.”
Whereas the holodeck know-how proves too harmful and unpredictable for normal use on Pike’s Enterprise, Noonien-Singh’s work with Spock (Ethan Peck) through the experiment makes her understand she has emotions for him. It’s a romance that’s been constructing ever since Noonien-Singh taught Spock dance strikes that have been meant to woo back his ex within the season 3 premiere.
“Ethan is a good dancer, I realized, and an ideal dance accomplice,” Chong mentioned. “I hadn’t accomplished any Latin or ballroom dancing earlier than or a lot accomplice work, so having a forged member to do that with, who I might belief bodily was nice and helped me to unlock and be capable to do my factor. [As] an ex-pro dancer […], having the ability to showcase that aspect of myself was nice.”
Goldsman mentioned he and Myers are followers of the pairing, which presents an opportunity for Noonien-Singh to additional discover romance after her transient fling in season 2 with a model of Kirk in an alternate timeline.
“[We’re hoping] there are a whole lot of different people who find themselves delighted by the identical factor,” Goldsman mentioned. “We take a look at actor chemistry and as you’re employed with a bunch of individuals, you form of go, ‘Oh, nicely, boy they sparkle collectively in a scene. Let’s strive that.”
The primary 4 episodes of season 3 of Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds can be found to stream now on Paramount Plus. New episodes launch on Thursdays.
