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Strange New Worlds Is A Better Version Of What Star Trek: Discovery Was Trying To Be

Published

6 days ago

7th April 2025

Star Trek: Discovery was trying to achieve a pretty specific goal when it brought the franchise back to TV screens in 2017, but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds pulled it off far better than its parent show ever did. Although Strange New Worlds became its own show in 2022, it actually began when the entrance of Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise became a major storyline in Discovery season 2. The connection between both projects is tangible, but the spinoff’s notable differences make for two very disparate Star Trek TV shows.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5’s ending means it’s probably the last we’ve seen of Captain Michael Burnham and the show’s titular vessel – at least in the show’s original format. While Discovery does divide the Star Trek fan base, pretty much all fans can agree that it was worthy of being made – even if only for its role in the creation of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. With Strange New Worlds season 3 on the way (as well as season 4), the Mount-led show proudly remains as the franchise’s flagship show, and for more reasons than one.

Star Trek: Discovery’s Franchise Overhaul Was Intended To Welcome In A New Generation Of Fans

Discovery was the first Star Trek TV show in 12 years

When Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017, there hadn’t been any active TV shows within the saga since Star Trek: Enterprise‘s ending in 2005. JJ Abrams made his three Kelvin Timeline movies during that time, but those were set in an alternate reality. So, Discovery had the incredibly difficult task not only of honoring the franchise’s rich history but also updating the space opera for modern audiences. It attempted to do this in several ways, and some methods turned out to be more successful than others. The overall focus was giving brand-new fans somewhere solid to jump on board.

Custom Star Trek: Discovery image with Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets, Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, and Doug Jones as Saru

10 Ways Discovery Made Star Trek Better

Although Star Trek: Discovery made some divisive decisions during its 5-season run, the show made many positive contributions to the franchise.

Star Trek: Discovery season 1 had an entirely new cast, so newcomers didn’t have to know or recognize the characters. This was the first time the franchise had done this since introducing Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s cast as the first live-action show since Star Trek: The Original Series. Other changes included moving away from previous shows’ episodic format and adopting a serialized approach instead that told one long story over an entire season. Plus, Michael Burnham was clearly Discovery‘s primary protagonist, while previous Star Trek series traditionally championed ensemble casts. Plus, the visuals received a glossy overhaul.

Strange New Worlds Is A Better Starting Point For Modern Star Trek Fans Than Discovery – But It Isn’t A Perfect One

The Discovery references in Strange New Worlds’ opening episodes could make it tricky to follow

I feel like I’m in the minority of people who were Star Trek fans before Discovery, but also liked the show when it first aired in 2017. Discovery season 1 was incredibly well-made, but even I will admit it felt very little like a Star Trek show. I heartily acknowledge it’s part of the Prime Universe, but I would never suggest it to someone who was thinking about getting started on the franchise and isn’t sure where to begin. I would be far more likely to tell them to start with Strange New Worlds, despite technically being a Discovery spinoff.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 is expected to arrive in Summer 2025.

If I were to be given free rein when advising someone about which Star Trek show to begin with, I’d probably say one of the classic shows. However, I know the age of those projects can put certain people off. So, Strange New Worlds is a great middle ground. It retains more of the feel of classic Star Trek while also boasting a gorgeous modern aesthetic. The issue that could arise from this is that some context is needed about Discovery season 2’s ending – although Strange New Worlds does provide the shell of an explanation in its opening episodes.

I think it’s a great starting point that stands a good chance of converting a speculative fan into a proper Trekkie.

If a new Star Trek fan can navigate the confusing Discovery references at the beginning, then I think it’s a great starting point that stands a good chance of converting a speculative fan into a proper Trekkie. Plus, there’s the added bonus that with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also serving as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the adventures of Captain Pike are more likely than Star Trek: Discovery to lead viewers to watch the franchise’s first-ever show – which is great for TOS‘ legacy and longevity.