Rebecca Romijn on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' third season is currently streaming exclusively on Paramount+. After a two-year hiatus between seasons, I couldn't miss it, so I resubscribed!

Our friends at JustWatch recently talked to Rebecca Romijn (X-Men) about the enduring appeal of the Star Trek franchise.

Rebecca Romijn on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Enjoy This Optimistic Entry Point into the Alien Worlds of Star Trek”

JustWatch spoke with Rebecca Romijn, who plays Number One in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, about the show's unique appeal to both new and longtime fans of the franchise. As part of our Why to Watch campaign—spotlighting exclusive cast insights to help viewers discover meaningful stories—Romijn shared why Strange New Worlds stands out as a must-watch.

Rebecca Romijn on Why Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a Must-Watch

“I think that Star Trek is an important show for anyone to watch, in terms of the way that it promotes a sense of hopefulness and optimism for the future.

If you’re not familiar with Star Trek, Strange New Worlds is the perfect gateway series to start with—except maybe the original series. It’s a mission-of-the-week show, and you don’t need much background on Star Trek to watch it. It’s a great starting point that appeals to many generations, a great show for kids to watch with parents and grandparents.”

About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Set in the decade before Captain Kirk’s command, Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike and his crew—including Romijn’s Number One—as they explore new planets aboard the USS Enterprise. With a return to the franchise’s episodic roots and emphasis on moral storytelling, the series has earned critical praise for being both refreshing and faithful to Star Trek’s core themes.

About Rebecca Romijn

Rebecca Romijn is a longtime fan-favourite with a diverse career in both film and television. She rose to prominence as Mystique in the original X-Men trilogy and has starred in Ugly Betty, The Librarians, and Femme Fatale. In Strange New Worlds, she brings gravitas and wit to the role of Number One—originally played by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett.

Find where to stream new, popular & upcoming entertainment with JustWatch.

Are you watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Let me know in the comments below.

Transformers One rolls out on Paramount+

Transformers One was released in cinemas last September to celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary. The acclaimed fully CG-animated movie, featuring an all-star cast, comes home on Paramount+ today!

Read the official synopsis:

"TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever."

In 1986, Transformers: The Movie traumatised a generation of fans (myself included) with the death of Optimus Prime. All because Hasbro wanted to sell more toys. Like many fans, I missed Transformers One at the cinema, but I am looking forward to watching the best Transformers movie since Bumblebee.

Are you looking forward to watching Transformers One on Paramount+? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock returns to cinemas

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Paramount Pictures is rereleasing the movie in cinemas on 14th June.

The third instalment in the Star Trek film franchise directly follows on from the tragic events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - one of the greatest sequels ever made. Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) death left an indelible impression on a generation of fans (myself included).

Read the official synopsis:

"Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock’s body."

40 years ago, I vividly remember seeing The Search for Spock with my parents at the ABC Cinema. So many memorable moments, from the Klingon Bird of Prey and Space Dock to the USS Excelsior and stealing the USS Enterprise. All underscored by composer James Horner's soundtrack building on his leitmotifs from The Wrath of Khan. This was Horner's last hurrah for the franchise, but he pulled out all the stops as evidenced by Nick Smith's review courtesy of the fine folks at Intrada.

Pre-order Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (affiliate link) on 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.

Will you be watching Star Trek III: The Search for Spock on the big screen? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Trek: Section 31 first look

Ahead of the final season of Star Trek: Discovery, Paramount+ has teased Section 31, following a Starfleet black ops organisation, in Variety.

Originally announced in 2019, the Star Trek spin-off series starring Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) has been adapted into a feature-length straight-to-streaming movie. Yeoh reprises the duplicitous Philippa Georgiou from the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek: Section 31 is expected to stream later this year exclusively on Paramount+.

Are you looking forward to Star Trek: Section 31? Let me know in the comments below.

To boldly go with Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro is launched today in the US, and Star Trek fans (myself included) will soon be able to explore Gene Roddenberry's beloved sci-fi franchise with an exclusive spatial app.

In conjunction with OTOY Paramount Game Studios, the Roddenberry Archive spans the entire franchise.

"Through our multi-decade collaboration with OTOY, we have been working to push the frontiers of immersive technology to fulfill my father's legacy, creative intent, and ideas," Rod Roddenberry, President of Roddenberry Entertainment, said in a statement to Deadline, "in ways that can be experienced today and by generations yet to come."

"This release also fulfills one of my mother's greatest wishes," he said. "She recorded her phenoms in 2008 before her passing, to have her voice live on in posterity."

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry recorded the voice of the ship's computer in Star Trek, foreshadowing Alexa and Siri voice assistants.

"It is deeply moving for me to be able to have her voice now narrate portions of the archive," he continued.

Stay tuned for Nick Smith's hands-on with Apple Vision Pro, the Cupertino-based tech titan's spatial computing platform, at his local Apple Store.

Which Star Trek series or movie would you like to explore? Let me know in the comments below.

Halo The Series teases fall of Reach

Paramount+ has dropped a final trailer for the second season of Halo The Series.



Read the official synopsis:

"In season two, Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) leads his team of elite Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. In the wake of a shocking event on a desolate planet, John cannot shake the feeling that his war is about to change and risks everything to prove what no one else will believe – that the Covenant is preparing to attack humanity’s greatest stronghold.

With the galaxy on the brink, John embarks on a journey to find the key to humankind’s salvation, or its extinction: the Halo."

The first season of Halo The Series fell somewhat short of expectations surrounding a Steven Spielberg-produced live-action series based on the successful Xbox video game franchise. There were many meme-worthy mistakes. However, Cortana (voiced by Jen Taylor) and Dr Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone) were great.

After watching the spectacular final trailer, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next to Master Chief, Cortana and the Spartans in their epic battle with the Covenant exclusively on Paramount+.

The second season of Halo The Series begins with a two-episode premiere on 8th February on Paramount+.

What did you think of the trailer? Are you looking forward to the second season of Halo The Series on Paramount+? Let me know in the comments below.

Lower Decks crossover on Strange New Worlds

Paramount+ has dropped the hotly-anticipated Star Trek: Strange New Worlds live-action crossover with the animated adult spin-off series Star Trek: Lower Decks episode early following a screening at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

Read the official synopsis for Those Old Scientists:

"An accident while investigating a time portal sends Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid, Lower Decks) through time from the 24th Century, and Captain Pike (Anson Mount, Strange New Worlds) and his crew must get him back where he belongs before he can somehow alter the timeline."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ second season on Paramount+ came in hot after the stellar conclusion to Star Trek: Picard. And, you know something, it’s some of the best Trek I’ve ever seen.

In related news. Star Trek: Lower Decks' fourth season premieres on 7th September on Paramount+.

Have you watched the animated/live-action crossover on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Lower Decks live-action in Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Picard's third and final season stuck the landing on Amazon Prime and Paramount+. Excitement for further adventures in the final frontier is fever pitch.

Paramount+ dropped an official trailer for the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds featuring a live-action crossover with the animated adult spin-off series Star Trek: Lower Decks.



Read the official series synopsis:

"In series two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, confronts increasingly dangerous stakes, explores uncharted territories, and encounters new life and civilisations. The crew will also embark on personal journeys that will continue to test their resolve and redefine their destinies."

I have a confession to make. I've never watched Star Trek: Lower Decks but will be streaming the animated series on Paramount+ ahead of the new series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' second season premieres exclusively on Paramount+ on 15th June.

Are you looking forward to the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Trek: The Last Generation

In 2017, I wrote about how Star Trek: The Next Generation filled an endless void vacated by Doctor Who in 1989.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was a seminal series foreshadowing technology many of us use daily. From touchscreens to voice assistants... “Alexa, play Star Trek!”, words my younger self never imagined saying for real as I avidly read Marvel UK’s official magazine.

Soon I had a teenage crush on Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) who vied for poster space with actresses Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth) and Winona Ryder (Heathers).

For seven seasons (across BBC 2 and Sky 1), I followed the crew of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D as I navigated further education. There are too many favourite episodes to list here, but Q Who?, Yesterday’s Enterprise, Cause & Effect and The Best of Both Worlds Part 1 deserve special mention.

Star Trek would spawn further spin-off series including Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise. However, none of them would capture my imagination the way The Next Generation did!

When Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) announced Star Trek: Picard, I was hoping to see the old gang reunited for one last epic adventure worthy of Gene Roddenberry’s beloved allegorical wagon train in space.

Instead, we had two mixed seasons of a sci-fi series that didn’t know what it wanted to be - aside from driving subscriptions to the nascent streaming service in an overcrowded market dominated by Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ (buoyed by iPhone sales) - featuring a cast of characters mostly unknown to fans (myself included).

This wasn’t Star Trek’s The Mandalorian.

So, when the final season of Star Trek: Picard was announced, I was apathetic! After a promising start, I bailed on season two and was done with most of the Star Trek spin-offs (aside from Strange New Worlds). However, something unexpected happened. I started seeing more and more rave reviews for season three and felt it incumbent on me to at least watch the premiere on Amazon Prime (affiliate link).

“Computer, play Star Trek: Picard!” And my Alexa-enabled Sony BRAVIA XR TV obliged.

I’d grown up on terrestrial television reruns of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek movies on the big screen. Star Trek: Picard opens with a knowing nod to the franchise’s zenith: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan…

To boldly go in search of Easter eggs.

All the callbacks. All the feels. I was transported back to a time when the franchise was fun, filled with optimism and hope writ large in widescreen. Hearing the iconic music of Alexander Courage, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner (arguably underused until now) and Cliff Eidelman heralding the return of childhood heroes left me misty-eyed as the USS Titan left Spacedock in a spectacular homage to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

In the words of Admiral Kirk: “To absent friends...”

A touching tribute to actress Annie Wersching tipped me over the edge, and I was an ugly mess as the end credits rolled! Wersching had played the Borg Queen in season two and was the best thing about it. She passed away from cancer in January aged 45.

Afterwards, I hopped onto social media to encourage friends to watch the best Star Trek spin-off series in decades.

Trust no one.

Amid the homages to the movie and television franchises, there are echoes of the McCarthy era, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Invaders and The X-Files. Oh, there's also a narrative nod to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. And I’m here for it.

The return of Ro Laren was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Even though it was spoiled by Paramount’s official social media channels. Apologies if you’re only finding out now.

Forbes was excellent as Ensign Ro, who pushed back against Starfleet exceptionalism before defecting to the Maquis, in Star Trek: The Next Generation and later played the nihilistic Admiral Cain in the acclaimed Battlestar Galactica reboot of the early noughties.

Ro is now a Commander, tasked with bringing Admiral Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain Riker (Jonathan Frakes) back to Starfleet Command to stand trial for treason in an episode that packs an emotional punch, which I refuse to spoil.

Between the earned fan service and hopes for Star Trek: Legacy from series showrunner Terry Matalas, Star Trek: Picard is a salient reminder of the passage of time and that all things are temporary (alas, as are we). Sir Patrick Stewart and my father are octogenarians, which deeply resonated.

The third time’s the charm for this found family!

Ultimately, Star Trek: Picard sticks the landing with Galaxy-class finesse (carpets included) in a way unimaginable (by this fan) before the third season’s triumphant nostalgia-laden premiere in The Next Generation. Yes, I cried tears of joy (and relief). It was everything.

Engage!

Have you seen Star Trek: Picard? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Paramount+ home of all things Star Trek

Star Trek: Picard beams onto Paramount+ internationally outside of Canada, making the streaming service the home of all things Star Trek.

“The third and final season of Star Trek: Picard will premiere day and date with the U.S. in Latin America on Feb. 16 and on Feb. 17 in the U.K., Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with South Korea to premiere at a later date,” Paramount said in a press release on Wednesday. “Previous seasons of Star Trek: Picard will also be available in English-speaking regions starting this February. All seasons of Star Trek: Lower Decks are currently available to stream on Paramount+ in Latin America and will be available later this year across all Paramount+ markets outside Canada.”

It concluded: “Paramount+ is now the home to every series and every episode of the full catalog of Star Trek. This includes all seasons of the Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy, and the newest addition Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.”

I'll watch the final season of Star Trek: Picard on Amazon Prime (affiliate link) as the Paramount+ app for Sony BRAVIA televisions doesn't support surround sound or 4K UHD.

Are you subscribing to Paramount+? Are you still aggrieved about the fallout from Star Trek: Discovery being pulled from Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

Titanic returns to the big screen in 4K 3D

As Avatar: The Way of Water continues to dominate the box office, James Cameron’s Titanic is returning to cinemas this February to celebrate its 25th anniversary.



In the years before its release, I avidly followed reports of Titanic's troubled production, which suggested Twentieth Century Fox had a box office disaster comparable to Cleopatra. As the budget ballooned, Paramount Pictures stepped in to distribute the movie in the US.

At the time of Titanic’s original release in the UK, I wrote that the film had transcended my (admittedly) low expectations in the wake of a preview screening on my birthday.

In a sold-out Odeon Exeter Screen 1, I got swept away by this sepia-toned ghost story based on an infamous real-life tragedy. Nothing could've prepared the audience for the audacious spectacle and sheer grandeur that leapt from the great expanse of widescreen before us.

Cameron is indeed a master magician of montage and emotion. His craft would be further honed for Avatar.

The self-proclaimed king of the world had come of age with his Oscar-winning epic romance, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, underscored by composer James Horner’s haunting orchestrations - filled with Easter Eggs from an illustrious career cut too soon. Incidentally, I owned the original soundtrack on CD and MiniDisc. Now I can stream alternate versions on Apple Music, how times and technology have changed.

Ultimately, Titanic conquered the box office and was the first film to reach a billion dollars. The moral of the story is to never bet against Cameron.

Like Avatar, Titanic has been remastered in 4K 3D. However, I'll wait to see it on Disney+. It will be available on Paramount+ in the US.

What are your memories of watching Titanic? Let me know in the comments below.

Sky Stream spells the end for satellite TV

In 2000, I signed up for Sky satellite television and was one of the first customers to try Sky+ - I'd previously owned a TiVo digital recorder. Then, in 2008 I cancelled Sky and moved over to Freesat. This coincided with the financial crash and echoes the current cost of living crisis.

I was contacted, via this blog, to preview GO!VIEW on PlayStation Portable (PSP)! A joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and BSkyB. Allowing PSP owners to access television, movies and sports on-demand and on the move. I panned GO!VIEW as being half-baked and for failing to be platform agnostic in my review as a Mac User in 2009.

When NOW (formerly NOW TV) was launched in 2012, I didn't hesitate to subscribe as broadband had come of age coupled with the advent of nascent streaming services led by Netflix.

For several years, I was a beta tester for NOW (including the company's badged Roku products and the Apple TV app). I could see the future potential for the NOW streaming service even though Sky remained focused on its primary satellite subscription business to its detriment.

With the streaming wars reaching their zenith in 2022, Sky (a division of Comcast) has announced Sky Stream, which is an internet-connected box that offers Sky Glass to customers who don't want or need a new television.

Stephen van Rooyen, Executive Vice President & CEO, UK & Europe, “Sky’s always reinvented the TV experience and offered the best content – but it’s not always been accessible to everyone. There couldn’t be a better time to launch our latest innovation using the Sky Glass Platform – whether you want to stream House of the Dragon, Gangs of London or Stranger Things, Sky Stream has it all. It’s the most affordable and easiest way to get Sky TV and Netflix together, offering consumers the value they are seeking right now.”

The Sky Stream device is available for existing and new Sky Glass customers now. It will also be available as a standalone device from 18th October. The 18-month contract costs £26 per month with a £20 initial setup fee. The 31-day rolling plan starts at £29 per month with a £39.95 setup fee.

Sky Stream offers all the usual add-ons, such as BT Sport, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema (includes Paramount+), 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos. Sky's subscription model still skews to tiered paywalls when many competitors offer 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos at no extra cost.

Like other streaming boxes or dongles from NOW, Sky Stream doesn't require installation, so you can easily set it up yourself.

As a chord-cutter a decade ago, I'm tempted to subscribe to Sky Stream as it bundles Netflix and apps for Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, YouTube, All4, Paramount+ and many more. This is timely, as app support for my Samsung JS9000 is coming to an end after 7 years. Currently, I have a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series S connected to it.

What do you think of Sky Stream? Are you tempted to subscribe? Does it spell the end of satellite television? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Trek Day on Paramount+

It's Star Trek Day and fans (myself included) can celebrate the 56th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry's long-running sci-fi franchise with an exciting live event featuring surprise announcements, back-to-back conversations with Star Trek casts and an unforgettable tribute to the late legend Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), on Paramount+.



In related news. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a critical and streaming triumph for Paramount+.

“Star Trek fans all over the world embraced this incredible new Star Trek journey,” said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming. “We are thrilled that the Star Trek universe continues to be one of the most-watched franchises on the service.”

“Over the past six years, Alex Kurtzman and his amazing team have brilliantly created and carefully curated a new Star Trek universe for Paramount+ with five complementary series – each different in tone, style, story and in some cases target audience,” said George Cheeks, president and chief executive officer at CBS.

“Each series is a success in its own right, and now the franchise’s newest edition, Strange New Worlds, is earning critical acclaim and delivering notable performance achievements on the service, both domestically and internationally. We look forward to the franchise’s continuing journey on Paramount+ here in the US and globally, where in the case of Strange New Worlds, we’re just getting started.”

Have you seen Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? How are you celebrating Star Trek Day? Let me know in the comments below. Live long and prosper.

Paramount+ enters the streaming wars

Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) is now available in the UK and Ireland on a range of devices but not PlayStation or Xbox consoles at launch. Subscribers could sign-up a day early, and sci-fi cohorts (myself included) were able to begin streaming Halo: The Series and the Star Trek franchise on Tuesday.

I wasted no time in availing myself of a free 7-day trial (Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get 1 month for free as a reward and to promote Halo: The Series) and began watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Apple TV. A stellar spin-off series spawned from Star Trek: Discovery. It's the best space western since The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Initial impressions of the latest entrant into an overcrowded streaming space are relatively positive.

The interface for Paramount+ is very similar to other streaming services such as Disney+. However, at launch, there isn't much content (due to pre-existing deals) unless you're a Star Trek fan (myself included) and streaming is capped at 1080p with 5.1 surround sound.

Therefore, I won't be watching Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition in 4K with Dolby Atmos for the foreseeable future. Of course, the UHD format could be added at any time.

It's worth remembering Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks are exclusive to Amazon Prime. That said, look what happened to Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix outside the US? Following a social media backlash in the wake of the series being pulled without warning, season four was shown for free on Pluto TV.

Is Paramount+ worth subscribing to as consumers emerge from a global pandemic, face a cost of living crisis and geopolitical unrest?

It's early days for Paramount+, so I'm hesitant to recommend paying £69.90 for an annual subscription (unless you're a Sky Cinema subscriber on Sky Q or Sky Glass, where it's available at no extra cost). This may change over the coming months, but it's a no-brainer for Star Trek fans. I'll post an update on Paramount+ in the autumn.

Are you subscribing to Paramount+? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Paramount+ launches this Wednesday

Hit it! Paramount+ launches in the UK with Halo and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds this week. To celebrate, Halo's season premiere will be shown on Channel 5, which is owned by Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS).

Paramount+ will launch in the UK and Ireland on a range of devices on 22nd June. Sky Cinema subscribers will get Paramount+ at no additional cost. However, there isn't a similar bundle for NOW subscribers so I've cancelled my subscription.

I currently subscribe to Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+ and Netflix. However, I'll avail myself of the free 7-day trial to watch the exclusive live-action Halo series and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The latter is the best Star Trek spin-off series in years as evidenced by Nick Smith's review.

Will you be subscribing to Paramount+ for all things Star Trek? Let me know in the comments below.

Warp factor fun in Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has exclusively beamed onto Paramount+ with Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock reprising their fan-favourite roles from Star Trek: Discovery's second season, which seems like a lifetime ago in the new normal.

Paramount+'s protracted launch (outside the US) means UK fans (myself included) are unable to see Star Trek: Strange New Worlds until 22nd June. ViacomCBS isn't unique in this. The Mandalorian dropped onto Disney+ months before the streaming service was available elsewhere.

Nick Smith, our resident US-based stellar scribe, boldly goes.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Let us never forget: Akiva Goldsman wrote Batman & Robin, a film so silly and clunkily scripted that it destroyed a multi-million dollar movie series, costing Warner Bros. untold riches in box office and merchandising that could have been earned from more potential ‘90s bat-movies (he blames the audience).

So if you’re ever at the end of your tether, make a booboo at work, upset your significant other or eat the profiteroles in the fridge that were supposed to be for your house guests Friday night, just remember if Goldsman can bounce back from his fiasco to steer shows like Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

"I'm a deep, deep, deep, deep old comic book fan," Goldsman told Collider back in 2020 when the series was announced. That gee-whiz, kinetic storytelling sensibility shows in Strange New Worlds, where he is credited as co-creator, co-executive producer and writer of the pilot and other episodes.

Like 2001’s Star Trek: Enterprise, this new streaming series takes us back to a time just before the original series, although unlike Enterprise it lacks a MOR rock song intro. Instead, Strange New Worlds' opening music is like an off-note version of the Star Trek tune we grew up with. Those who would prefer something unique need not apply. The rest of the show similarly celebrates what makes Trek enjoyable: a charismatic captain (Anson Mount), a likeable crew, interplanetary moral dilemmas, teleporting and tolerance.

Judging by the pilot, the show most resembles Star Trek: The Next Generation, using archetypes and broad-stroke situations to debate the value and danger of progress and advanced technology. It also successfully captures the feel of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek movies, although this show eases off the fake lens flares.

Science definitely serves the story; although Strange New Worlds is set a decade before Captain Kirk’s televised mission, genetic tech is developed enough to change an Away Party’s appearance to help them blend in with an alien civilization, causing tension when Spock’s (Ethan Peck) gene shot wears off.

Part of the charm of the original stories was that the science behind the fiction was relatively simple – we were watching the crew of a glorified space submarine, following military rules, with specific tools and weapons at their disposal. Hopefully, Goldsman and his team won’t resort to more unlikely pseudoscience in their efforts to create a sense of wonder. Yes, I’m looking at you, Star Trek: Voyager.

Likewise, La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong)’s outburst seems out of place on a starship and it’s a surprise that such a hothead is serving in a critical position. Khan’t she control her temper? It makes for a good bit of conflict, though.

Beyond its fancy effects, Strange New Worlds' success hinges on the allure of its cast. Mount holds the show together, with Captain Pike the focus and fulcrum on and off the Enterprise. He struggles to cope with a portent of his own death, a possible meditation on the reminder of mortality the global pandemic has brought us all (a similar plot point runs through Amazon’s weird western series Outer Range). How’s that for a universal theme?

It’s fun to connect the dots with the beloved original series and see how Pike fares before the events of The Menagerie, or the JJ Abrams movies, or whatever mirror universe version of Gene Rodenberry’s creation we’re watching.

It’s also a joy to see a young Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) and other Strange Old Favourite characters get larger roles in a show that might not be bold but has the capacity to further explore age-old themes of effecting and policing other cultures, and how the way we choose to treat others makes us so wonderfully, illogically human.

Have you seen Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Are you subscribing to Paramount+? Let me know in the comments below.

Paramount+ is coming to the UK

Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) launches with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds this summer in the UK.

The ViacomCBS streaming service enters an increasingly overcrowded space as consumers face a catastrophic cost of living crisis amidst geopolitical turmoil and a global pandemic.

“The addition of Paramount+ to our strong portfolio of free-to-air, pay TV and streaming services will broaden the range of choice available to our audiences in the UK and Ireland”, said Maria Kyriacou, president, Australia, Canada, Israel and UK. “Paramount+ will be a one-stop destination for Paramount’s biggest brands, where fans of all ages can find exclusive original premium content, global hits, and discover a world of favourites from Paramount’s vast catalogue.”

Personally, I only subscribe to Apple TV+, Disney+ and NOW. However, I'll avail myself of the free 7-day trial to watch the exclusive live-action Halo series and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The latter is the best Star Trek spin-off series in years.

Paramount+ will launch in the UK and Ireland on a range of devices on 22nd June.

Will you be subscribing to Paramount+? Let me know in the comments below.

Strange New Worlds explores final frontier

Ahead of First Contact Day AKA Star Trek Day, Paramount+ has released a new trailer and TV Spots for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.



Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reunites Star Trek: Discovery season two fan-favourites, Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The trifecta will be joined aboard the USS Enterprise by new series regulars Babs Olusanmokun, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Jess Bush and Melissa Navia.

As a lifelong fan of both Star Wars and Star Trek, it's an exciting time in the geek galaxy.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debuts exclusively on Paramount+ on 5th May. There's no official announcement regarding the UK premiere, but it will be coming soon.

Are you looking forward to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Let me know in the comments below. Hit it.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture on Paramount+

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was hastily released in 1979 in the wake of Star Wars.

Official poster magazine and action figures in hand, I saw the maiden Star Trek silver screen voyage, reuniting the original television series cast, with my dad and an uncle at the Odeon Colchester.

After a promising opening Klingon battle, brought vividly to life by Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Hollywood composer Jerry Goldsmith (Alien), the movie soon became a star bore to a child moviegoer brought up on a diet of heroic space operas.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan followed in 1982 and is rightly regarded as one of the greatest sequels ever made.

Years later, I would rediscover Star Trek: The Motion Picture on VHS and develop a newfound appreciation for director Robert Wise's (West Side Story) ambitious mindbending adventure. In 2001, Wise oversaw a recut of the movie for release on DVD, which more closely matched his original vision. Now, to celebrate First Contact Day, a lavish 4K remaster will premiere on Paramount+.



Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition debuts exclusively on Paramount+ on 5th April.

Are you a fan of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and do you think the movie deserved better upon original release? Let me know in the comments below.

Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paramount+ has officially announced that Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) is joining the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Wesley will play a young James T. Kirk before he replaces Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) at the helm of the USS Enterprise.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show,” executive producer Alex Kurtzman and showrunners/executive producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers said in a joint statement. “Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reunites Star Trek: Discovery season two fan-favourites, Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The trifecta will be joined aboard the USS Enterprise by new series regulars Babs Olusanmokun, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Jess Bush and Melissa Navia.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds debuts exclusively on Paramount+ on 5th May. There's no official announcement regarding the UK premiere, but it will be coming soon.

Are you looking forward to seeing Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Let me know in the comments below.