Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 9 Review: Terrarium

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 9, “Terrarium,” delivers a moving narrative that centers Ortegas’ Gorn-fueled trauma. It’s not an unfamiliar storyline to this franchise, but it’s something that Star Trek does so well — extending the olive branch in an act of compassion for your foe. 

More-tegas

Yes, folks, three seasons in, we’re finally getting “More-tegas.” Melissa Navia stretches her acting wings in “Terrarium,” offering up her show-best work thus far. She’s equal parts hardened, tender, tenacious, and soft as Ortegas. Navia approaches her work with a hefty dose of empathy, and it’s apparent in her performance. It’s a nuanced portrayal. 

Ortegas’ trauma has persisted throughout Season 3, ever since her life-threatening injury courtesy of the Gorn in the premiere episode. “Terrarium” continues to unpack that trauma as Ortegas must work with a stranded Gorn pilot on a dangerous moon to survive, waiting it out until the Enterprise rescues her. “Terrarium” also does a great job of making the Gorn pilot relatable and worth rooting for, even though we can’t understand her language-wise. 

If anything, this outing is proof positive that we would all fare better as a species if we made a greater effort to understand each other and give each other grace. While the Gorn have done horrifying things (just ask La’an) as a race, one creature does not the whole make. We might just learn that we’re not so different after all. 

Death and Trauma 

In true Trek fashion, the end for the Gorn pilot is utterly tragic. We knew it would be. After all, the Gorn shun weakness. The pilot knew her death was inevitable, even though Ortegas tried to save her. La’an killing the Gorn is enough to tear anyone’s heart asunder. You understand why La’an did it — she didn’t know Ortegas had befriended the Gorn — but it hurts all the same. 

“Terrarium” would’ve benefitted from at least one scene with La’an and Ortegas in the aftermath, so they could better understand each other’s perspectives. Of course, Ortegas still considers La’an a friend, but it would’ve been nice to see La’an’s side of things. How they emerged from their Gorn-related traumatic experiences is quite different. 

Knowing the Metrons are the puppeteers behind it all, orchestrating this survival scenario to test whether two “barbaric” races like humans and the Gorn would kill each other in this setting, makes the Gorn pilot’s death even worse. The Metrons forced Ortegas and the Gorn to crash their shuttles. It’s a stirring meditation on those in power playing with the underprivileged like chess pieces, moving them about the board at their whim. They don’t see those below them as people — the latter only exist to serve the powerful. 

The Only Way Around Is Through 

This experience is a breakthrough healing moment for Ortegas. While healing from trauma is a lifelong process, Ortegas is well on her way to working through that pain so that it’s like luggage she can drag behind her and not the other way around.

“Terrarium” is a powerful piece of television in that regard. Never let your compassionate side dim, even in the wake of the persistent terrors of this world. 

Stray Observations: 

• This is technically the first appearance of the Metrons if we’re going by the fact that it’s 2261, predating The Original Series. However, their real first appearance is in the TOS episode, “Arena.” 
• I would’ve 100 percent fudged those numbers if I were in Uhura’s shoes. No judgment here. 
• I’d like to think that Ortegas would’ve petitioned for the Gorn pilot to receive asylum within the Federation because there’s no way her people would’ve accepted her with open arms. 
• “What Is Starfleet?” offers up some foreshadowing for “Terrarium” in multiple ways. For starters, La’an tells Beto that it’s best to shoot Gorn first and ask questions later. She goes on to kill Ortegas’ Gorn buddy. Then, Pike mentions having compassion for your enemy. Ortegas does just that in this episode. 
• Someone get Ortegas on the 23rd century’s version of Survivor. She would win. 

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+. 

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