Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Puppet Play

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 4, Episode 5, “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” hijinks (T’Pring shudders) are afoot on the Enterprise, and only Spock can save the day. It’s an obvious homage to The Muppets, but as an Angel fan, I also saw hints of the “Smile Time” episode. It’s also a wonderful showcase for the equally wonderful Ethan Peck, who consistently delivers on this show. 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Level-Five Transporter Accident” 

Spock and La’An are still grappling with their Griffin-related trauma (as I’m sure we’ll see from Kirk at some point), and the outing sees them only brush the surface of said trauma. For La’An, she might still fear what she could become, but one thing’s for certain: It’s time to end it with (Hot) Spock. 

Admittedly, I don’t like how their relationship concludes. La’An asserts they’ve been steadily growing apart over time, but as the audience, we only really see it in last week’s episode. It feels abrupt, and La’An’s handling of it is quite Vulcan. 

While the breakup makes sense canonically (as does Spock growing closer to T’Pring again), the writing of it feels like a hastily slapped bandage over a gaping wound.

Oh, the Hijinks

However, Spock’s reaction makes sense for this version of the character. He’s trying desperately to shut off his human-fueled emotional side and rely solely on logic, whereas with Chapel, his reaction to their disbanding is more visceral. Mr. Spock is edging ever closer to who he’s meant to be in Star Trek: The Original Series.

I also adore the Spock/T’Pring scenes here. In fact, Peck and Gia Sandhu (T’Pring/T’Puppet) are both episode standouts. Even with all the felt hijinks around them, Peck and Sandhu ground “Level-Five Transporter Accident.” 

There’s an intriguing role reversal happening in this outing — T’Pring slowly embraces the illogical, conceding that, sometimes, implementing the illogical is the only logical thing to do. She helps Spock think outside the box in that regard as he panics, trying to find a logical solution to the Orion invasion and the puppet problem. 

It Was All a Dream

That’s the reason why the “It’s all a dream” angle frustrates me somewhat. All that growth for Spock and T’Pring feels null and void. 

That aside, though, “Level-Five Transporter Accident” is silly. Incredibly silly. Perhaps I’m trying too hard to mine its depths for meaning, but if there’s one thing Star Trek: Strange New Worlds does well, it’s being silly. Nothing makes sense, and it’s not supposed to. (Here’s hoping next week is more narratively fruitful, though.)

Stray Observations: 

• Even as a space pirate, Boyle prefers not to be in control. It’s very on-brand of him. 
• Pike’s obsession over his new chair is very dad-like. He’s so excited to fall asleep on that thing while watching the game. 
• Puppet Pelia makes me so happy. Her hair reminds me of those corkscrew keychain bracelets or those plastic bands from the ’90s. 
• This is the second time Carol Kane has detached from her body in some way on a TV show — and all in the same week (ahem, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). 
• “Emo Explosion” is the name of my aging Millennial emo band. 
• Missed opportunity to have Little Ricky wink at Spock or move ever so slightly at the end. That said, I appreciate the possible intention not to lean too heavily into that “It was all a dream” trope. 
• Nobody burst into song à la Avenue Q, and that’s just disappointing. 

---

What did you think of this episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

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

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!