Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Ranking The Vulcan Comedy Episodes

Each of the first three seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has included a funny episode focused on Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck). The show is known for boldly exploring different genres, and these comedic episodes featuring Spock were among the first examples of its willingness to try something new and different.

As a huge Trek fan, I’m really loving Spock’s journey in Strange New Worlds. They’re doing a fantastic job showing us how he becomes the Spock we all know and love from The Original Series, played by Leonard Nimoy. It’s fascinating to watch him grow and explore that inner conflict between his Vulcan logic and his human emotions – it’s really setting the stage for everything that comes later.

Jordan Canning directed two humorous episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and quickly became known as one of the show’s most creative directors. Her skill with both comedy and serious moments, along with her ability to develop compelling characters, played a key role in making Star Trek: Strange New Worlds the successful show it is.

Henry Alonso Myers, a co-showrunner on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, also wrote all of the show’s comedic scenes featuring Vulcans. While not every attempt at Vulcan humor has landed perfectly, these moments have become a recognizable and appreciated part of Captain Pike’s (Anson Mount) adventures aboard the Enterprise.

3. “Four-And-A-Half-Vulcans”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 8

Wow, “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” is definitely the most talked-about episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds so far! It’s a bit of a wild ride, honestly, and it all stems from this accidental transformation where Captain Pike, La’an, Uhura, and Chapel temporarily become Vulcan – complete with the ears! It’s unexpected, but it’s sparking a lot of conversation, and I think that’s a good thing.

Spock, being half-Vulcan, struggles with personal doubts. He teams up with Doug (Patton Oswalt), the former lover of Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), to help crewmates experiencing Vulcan-related issues. At the same time, Captain Pike, La’an, Uhura, and Chapel all create their own brand of trouble while temporarily exhibiting Vulcan traits.

The screenplay by Dana Horgan and Henry Alonso Myers, combined with Jordan Canning’s over-the-top directing style, turns “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” into a wild, exaggerated comedy that won’t appeal to all viewers. Some Star Trek fans found the episode problematic, criticizing it for being insensitive, racist, and dealing with inappropriate themes, issues the episode doesn’t fully address in its pursuit of humor.

2. “Spock Amok”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 5

The episode “Spock Amok” was a fantastic surprise and showed that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could skillfully blend humor with heartfelt character moments. The story kicks off with a wild situation: Spock and his fiancé, T’Pring (played by Gia Sandhu), unexpectedly switch bodies, leading to a lot of funny and chaotic events.

Spock struggles with feeling inadequate for T’Pring because of his human heritage, and this is highlighted when they symbolically try to understand each other’s perspectives. The episode also marks the beginning of a long-running romantic storyline between Spock and Nurse Chapel throughout Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

The script by Henry Alonso Myers and Robin Wasserman, combined with Rachel Leiterman’s lively direction, makes “Spock Amok” really enjoyable. The episode features funny little scenes of the Enterprise crew enjoying their time off-ship. Ethan Peck and Gia Sandhu are fantastic as the two Vulcans in the story, making it a particularly fun watch.

1. “Charades”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 5

Okay, let me tell you, ‘Charades’ is a standout episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It’s easily the funniest episode featuring Spock we’ve seen so far, and honestly, it might just be the best comedy the whole show has delivered. The timing is perfect – Spock happens to lose his Vulcan stoicism and become fully human right when his future mother-in-law and her parents are paying a visit to the Enterprise. It’s a recipe for hilarious disaster, and the episode absolutely delivers!

Ethan Peck perfectly captures the humor of Spock, showcasing everything from his enthusiastic enjoyment of bacon to his barely-hidden annoyance with Lieutenant Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). At the same time, Nurse Chapel feels bad about the accident that injured Spock and works to heal him, leading to a blossoming romance between Spock and Christine.

The episode “Charades” perfectly captures the humor and emotional depth of the series, thanks to a wonderful script by Kathryn Lyn and Henry Alonso Myers, and skillful direction by Jordan Canning. A particularly touching scene – Spock coming to the defense of his mother, Amanda Grayson (played by Mia Kirshner) – makes “Charades” a standout and sets the bar high for comedic episodes featuring Vulcans in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

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2025-11-26 21:10