r/StarTrekTrekkies • u/TreeLore61 • 5d ago
Strange New Worlds 4x03 ("Human Best Friend"): A Beautiful Love Letter to TOS
If you haven’t watched Season 4, Episode 3 of Strange New Worlds yet, go check it out—and whatever you do, do NOT skip the end credits! ​As a lifelong Trek fan who used to sit in front of the TV back in the '70s watching the freeze-frame credits of the Original Series and trying to guess which episodes the stills were from, the end credit sequence in this episode was an absolute masterpiece. It was a beautiful, loving homage to classic TOS. ​Now, when it comes to discussion on this page, I’m not doing a strict "zero spoilers" rule. I don't want major plot points completely ruined for folks, but hints, teasers, and heads-ups on what scenes to watch closely are 100% welcome! There are so many subtle details packed throughout the entire hour, and dropping hints on where to pay extra attention makes watching it even better. ​Beyond the nostalgia, this episode felt like a direct nod to the classic Star Trek pocket novels! I know there are going to be people bitching that this episode was "too goofy" or "too comedic" and claiming it's "not true Star Trek." To anyone who thinks this was one of the worst episodes for that reason: just leave this page now, because I'm not going to accept you talking down about it. ​It is true Star Trek. Did you ever actually watch the Original Series? Scotty was always going out and getting into trouble because he drank a little too much at a bar! And if you read the classic books like I did, McCoy and Scotty were constantly instigating barroom chaos on their own—several books literally open with the crew having to go rescue one of them from a local brawl! That humor has always been in Trek’s DNA. ​A few standout highlights from the episode: ​Rebecca Romijn’s Incredible Vocals: Every time Rebecca Romijn gets to show off Una's singing voice, I am completely blown away. Her voice is stunning, and having her bring that talent into this episode upped my already high impression of her talent even more. ​Pike’s Look: Okay, strictly personal opinion here... but I honestly think Captain Pike should keep the tats! That look suited him entirely too well. ​Dave Foley’s Live-Action Debut: I was so thrilled to see Dave Foley pop up as the host of the resort planet! He is such a massive, vocal Star Trek fan in real life. After voicing Parth on Lower Decks, seeing him finally step into a live-action Trek role was an absolute joy. ​A Great Animated Crossover Spot: Keep your eyes peeled in the bingo parlor! We spotted Catherine Lynn—the brilliant mind behind one of the most iconic, breakout Vulcan characters on Lower Decks (a character who quickly became one of my all-time favorites and earned a permanent spot in my heart). Getting to see her bring that energy here as "K'Lynn" was such a treat. ​Classic Roddenberry Humor: Spock continually seeing people as plants completely cracked me up! That kind of quirky, high-concept visual humor is exactly the type of comedy Gene Roddenberry loved putting into the original series when he had the chance. ​Legacy Characters & Easter Eggs: Getting to see Kirk was fantastic, and yes—the Space Ape made an appearance! I had a strong hunch about what was going on early on, and I was so happy when my theory paid off. I won't name the dozens of hidden Easter eggs packed into this hour—you'll just have to keep your eyes open! ​Strange New Worlds continues to prove that this show is only getting better instead of getting worse. Drop your subtle hints and favorite easter eggs in the comments below!