Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season-Finale Recap: Marriage Story

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Throughout much of the season, it appeared that Marie’s tale might not conclude on a positive note. However, upon its conclusion, labeling it an unhappy ending seems too simplistic. The finale of “New Life and New Civilizations,” the third season of Strange New Worlds, carries a subtle bittersweetness right from the start. In the initial scene, the Enterprise prepares to bid farewell to Marie, who is soon to take up a position as Starfleet’s top JAG official. Unsurprisingly, no one feels her departure more deeply than Pike, who greets her in the transporter room after a week apart. Marie’s health issues have given them the opportunity to develop a comfortable domestic bond that has only strengthened their affection for each other. With this chapter about to close-and with it any certainty regarding her relationship with Pike, despite their intentions to maintain it at a distance-Marie, weary from the impending change, yearns to retreat to Pike’s quarters and cherish the remaining moments. However, she instead receives a farewell celebration.

At the event, everyone is smartly dressed except for Scotty who arrives in his full dress uniform, including his kilt. Everyone feels sad about Marie leaving but excited to attend her promotion ceremony and spend some time on Earth while the ship gets repaired. It does sound pleasant, though unfortunately it doesn’t happen as planned.

The initial warning arises through Christine, who is anticipating a call from Korby. Korby has been pursuing a clue prompted by a phrase whispered to Marie by the Vezda, which led him to the distant planet Skygowan, home to a city sharing a name similar to that phrase. There, he informs Christine, he discovered an enchanting, lively city believing the Vezda are divine entities, when in reality, as Pelia pointed out earlier, they are malevolent beings. Korby has managed to gain the confidence of the local clerics, but remains uncertain about what they might disclose. However, what he uncovers is far from expected. Similar suspicions also arise on the Enterprise, where Scotty has detected some “anomalies” – a concerning term. As Christine and Scotty deduce these anomalies trace back to Ensign Gamble, who we last saw under control of a Vezda spirit, it’s Gamble himself who appears before Korby in the guise of the high priest. In essence, it’s the Vezda occupying Gamble’s form.

When the show resumes after the credits, the Starship Enterprise finds itself in the midst of a full-blown crisis, as Korby has stopped responding following the transmission of an emergency signal. The crew believes this isn’t mere coincidence and decides to travel to Skygowan. Among those embarking on this journey is Marie, who feels her mysterious link with the Vezda compels her to join. Pike inquires about her instincts, but Marie can’t articulate it fully. When Pike suggests the notion of destiny, she hesitates to agree wholeheartedly. It appears that Pike has become less skeptical about destiny. While he doesn’t explicitly mention the impending accident he foresees (possibly), he says, “The past few years have altered my perception of what life could be.” This change in outlook largely stems from Marie.

As Skygowan hosts a pre-warp civilization, the Enterprise’s exploration team must disguise themselves while seeking Korby. During their mission, they discover a society strikingly reminiscent of Vadia IX, a world where they initially encountered the Vezda danger in “Through the Lens of Time.” Initially distracting and then incapacitating Skygowan guards using a technique similar to the Vulcan nerve pinch that La’an has learned from Spock, they pass through a portal resembling the one on Vadia IX. Warning signs continue to accumulate.

How did Gamble manage to end up there? On the Starship Enterprise, Sam floats the idea of ley lines, an unconventional hypothesis that catches Spock’s skepticism but finds support from Scotty, who proposes they may serve as a sort of “route for interdimensional travel between dimensions.” In fact, one of these ley lines leads straight from Vadia IX to Skygowan, causing Pelia to exclaim, “Oh, it seems things have taken a turn for the worse.” This revelation suggests that numerous Vezda might have escaped and could now be possessing everything around them. Oh, indeed, things look grim. The situation on Skygowan doesn’t appear much better. After locating Korby, the landing party receives an update about the state of affairs. Vezda Gamble (Gamble from Vadia IX or perhaps Vamble?) has attracted a fervent following who are determined to restore Skygowan to its former glory, even if it means mutilating their own eyes to resemble their leader. Once again: oh, things seem dire.

Couldn’t James T. Kirk potentially lend a hand? After all, Kirk informs the Enterprise that the Farragut is en route to offer assistance. However, help arriving doesn’t immediately resolve their pressing issue. What next? Upon investigating a mysterious monolith inscribed with script from various galaxies, Korby and the landing party come across a Swahili passage detailing M’Benga’s origin story, particularly his first self-defense kill that led to the Vezda targeting Ensign Gamble. The doctor muses, still burdened by his part in this, “Is fate at play here?” Before anyone can respond, the monolith unexpectedly opens, and Gamble coerces M’Benga inside. It transpires that this was part of Gamble’s scheme to eliminate the Behloder statue, which prevents his fellow Vezda from teleporting across the universe into Skygowans’ bodies. For Gamble, everything seems to be falling into place. “Thank you,” he says gratefully.

It appears that Marie might complicate matters unexpectedly, although Gamble isn’t aware of this. While Gamble prepares to demolish the Beholder, Marie develops a severe headache followed by strange alterations. Intriguingly, her eyes transform into a celestial light display. As the phenomenon subsides, Christine uncovers a startling truth: Marie isn’t just linked to the Beholder statue; she actually embodies it.

Marie has an intriguing hypothesis. Could it be that the Vezda are not merely evil entities but represent evil itself? If so, her medical treatments might have combined defensive technologies developed by various races over the years who have fought against such entities. While this idea seems quite unlikely, Marie and her team have presented a somewhat scientific case for it. As Spock put it, if the Vezda predate all known races, it’s plausible that later races might possess some genetic memory of how to combat them. Now, Marie appears to have become a repository of sorts for Vezda repellants. And there’s an interesting twist: the Beholder seems to be ancient, yet somehow also connected to Marie. Recall the incident on Vadia IX where cause and effect were reversed? It seems we might be facing something similar here. Maybe destiny does indeed exist, and this is Marie’s to fulfill.

Initially, Marie can’t deal with Gamble without Pike’s assistance, as he insists on joining her. Upon reaching Skygowan, they discover the portal is sealed, and neither M’Benga nor Gamble are around. This necessitates devising an alternative plan to force the portal open, a task that requires substantial energy. An amount of power equivalent to Earth’s sun, as estimated by Pelia, would be needed. However, two starships might suffice, though it will be challenging. As Kirk joins them, Erica and Spock present this strategy. It calls for two pilots working harmoniously in unison.

In a conversation regarding the Vulcan mind meld, I found myself hesitating, expressing that I’m more comfortable keeping my thoughts to myself rather than sharing them all so openly. However, as Spock elucidated his proposal, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Initially resistant, I found myself agreeing to this unusual bond. The synchronization between us was astounding, leaving everyone in awe. With that extraordinary connection, Kirk and Spock managed to breach the portal.

Within Vadia IX, Pike and Maire encounter M’Begna, whom they’re delighted to meet, along with Gamble, who they don’t particularly enjoy. It’s Gamble who initiates hostility towards Maire through the Beholder statue, while Pike faces him via a conventional approach. In response, Maire takes up a confrontation against Gamble. Her hands begin to emit a radiant glow. Suddenly, she receives a heartfelt “Happy Anniversary” greeting from Pike in their cozy Earth home that they cherish. Overjoyed and relieved, they exchange a tender kiss, muttering, “We made it.”

Upon reaching Vadia IX, Maire and Pike meet M’Begna, who they’re glad to see, as well as the disliked Gamble. It is Gamble who instigates aggression towards Maire through a Beholder statue, while Pike faces him in a more straightforward manner. In response, Maire stands her ground against Gamble. Her hands begin to shine brightly. Then, she finds herself being wished a happy anniversary by Pike amidst their lovely Earth home. Excited and victorious, they share a loving kiss, exclaiming, “We did it.

As they face Gamble, what transpires seems both peculiar yet familiar. In the aftermath of their encounter, Pike and Marie embark on a journey together that mirrors an entire lifetime. Pike, having been down this path before, albeit less agreeably, is reminded of the season one finale where he lived a future shaped by his efforts to prevent an accident that would injure him severely.

Yet, what ensues also evokes “The Inner Light,” a highly regarded episode from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as The Last Temptation of Christ. It’s evident that there are numerous predecessors to this storyline as well.

Despite the familiarity, nothing lessens its impact. From the outset, it’s clear we’re observing a life that Pike and Marie will never experience as a married couple, which makes their union all the more heartrending before the story even reaches its conclusion. “This is a life worth sacrificing everything for,” Marie says, and it’s difficult not to concur. Yet, the feeling that fate will eventually tear them apart lingers nearby. Pike cannot evade his commitment to train cadets at the Academy. “I have to do what I must,” Pike tells Marie, who reminds him of their pledge to cherish whatever time they have together, no matter how brief.

Despite what appears to be an unavoidable destiny, they still choose to take in a puppy or have a child. If somehow Pike manages to dodge the predicted accident, they continue on their journey. Their daughter eventually marries Admiral April’s son, and they both grow old together. Marie becomes ill, and as she weakens, she tells Pike that their shared lifetime was a blessing. “Now we both understand it’s time,” she says. Each transition to a new period in their lives has been preceded by a knock at the door. However, they can’t disregard this final knock. When Pike opens the door, Gamble is standing there, and with a sudden shift, they find themselves back on Vadia IX. Initially, it seems as if they’ve arrived too late. But Marie, who has always known she’d have to make a sacrifice, steps up and transforms into the Beholder.

As the episode winds down, Christine and Korby bid farewell, with Skygowan’s rich history proving irresistible for them despite their shared feelings. Meanwhile, in the lounge, Kirk and Spock engage in a game of chess, with Spock expressing a firm resolve about their friendship – although “vow” might not be the ideal term. Instead, Spock states it as a fact, knowing it to be true. When Spock hints at the possibility that they may one day serve on the same ship again, there’s a touch of optimism in his tone. However, a sense of tension arises when La’an enters to ask Spock to join her for dance rehearsal. Her feelings for Kirk, stemming from their past encounters, are still present – or at least, they were for the Kirk she previously knew. Now, thanks to the mind meld, this Kirk is privy to intimate details about her life that he may find awkward. (It seems the series wants to keep the semi-love triangle fresh ahead of the upcoming season.)

From my perspective as a movie enthusiast, let me express it like this: Pike isn’t prepared to delve into the past events, not even with Una. However, he can subtly touch upon it through a voiceover overlaying images of the Enterprise crew bonding. “Perhaps memories are as tangible as the here and now, and those we’ve cherished never truly disappear,” Pike reflects, a sentiment that resonates deeply given our current circumstances. All we can do is move ahead. Upon assuming command, the crew welcomes him with updates on Korby’s gift of a map to uncharted territories and Erica’s targeting of a promising M-class planet. “Is this a ‘Go for it’ scenario?” Una inquires, signaling our departure into the unknown.

As the curtain falls on another exciting season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”, so too concludes a significant narrative arc. Since its inception, Marie has been an integral part of Captain Pike’s life, both on screen and off. She was instrumental in drawing him back into the vastness of space exploration. Despite some distance-induced ups and downs in their relationship throughout the seasons, they have been solid this season, and for much of season two as well. The question of what Captain Pike might be like without Marie remains a mystery after the finale, but it’s safe to say his character will likely undergo some changes.

1. The complex relationship dynamics among La’an/Spock/Kirk are unresolved.
2. La’an’s issues with Christine, Spock, and Korby continue to intertwine.
3. Erica, overcoming her Gorn-related PTSD, has an uncertain relationship with the Gorn she met.
4. Doug is waiting for his reunion with Una somewhere out there.
5. The status of Uhura and Beto’s relationship remains ambiguous.
6. As Enterprise explores new regions in space, previous relationships and storylines may change.
7. With the return of Strange New Worlds for its fourth season and a shortened fifth season, more insights may be revealed.
8. Until then, exercise caution when mind-melding with others and be wary of overly helpful wedding planners.

Hit It!

In these summaries, the phrase “Hit It!” has been the title for random comments since the beginning, but recently, it seemed out of place. Interestingly, Pike didn’t utter “Hit it!” in season three and he doesn’t say it here either, but at least the term is discussed this time around.

Ley lines are a recent addition to the Star Trek universe and typically refer to supposedly significant links between archaeological sites on Earth, a theory not widely accepted as scientific fact. This episode uses this concept to venture into space, which feels somewhat out of the ordinary for Star Trek. However, it manages to make it seem plausible if you don’t delve too deeply into it. The Vezda storyline also appears to stray from the usual scientific themes that Star Trek often explores.

In this episode, the writing duties were handled by first-time collaborators Dana Horgan and Davy Perez, both known for their work on the series, while direction was taken care of by Maja Vrvilo. Notably, Vrvilo had previously directed “Hegemony,” which wrapped up the second season.

As a cinephile, I must admit that the chemistry between La’an and Christine on-screen is undeniably captivating, making their presence a delightful spectacle in most scenes. However, a hint of intrigue was introduced when Christine showed signs of envy towards La’an’s mastery of the Vulcan nerve pinch. This unexpected display of emotion added an entertaining twist to their relationship, elevating it beyond mere camaraderie.

In this episode, the most striking visual might not be the graphic eye-gouging scene, but rather the casual hairstyle of the older character Pike.

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2025-09-11 15:59