Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9 Preview: A World of Pure Imagination
The crew of the Enterprise finds themselves back in the Elysian Kingdom for Season 4’s penultimate episode, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9, “Once La’An a Time.”
The Enterprise first encountered the Elysian Kingdom on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 8, “The Elysian Kingdom.”
During that encounter, the Enterprise itself transforms into the kingdom, and the crew becomes different fairy-tale characters. Only Dr. M’Benga remembers his true identity.
He eventually discovers that a lonely Alien entity is transforming the ship into this make-believe land.
The episode ends with the heartbreaking decision by Dr. M’Benga to let his terminally ill daughter leave her corporeal form and live an immortal life with the entity.
On “Once La’An a Time,” the crew again encounters the Elysian Kingdom, only this time it’s a real planet. That’s about all that we know about the episode from the preview material.
Given the episode title, we can guess it will center on La’An. It’s also probably also safe to assume that Dr. M’Benga will feature heavily on the episode given his emotional history with the Kingdom.
Beyond that, though, we are left with a whole lot of questions.
Is the same entity the crew encountered in Season 1 creating this fantasy world? Also, why did the entity, if it is in fact the entity doing this, transform this planet? Will we see Dr. M’Benga’s daughter, or at least get an update on her well-being? Why are Dr. M’Benga and La’An so conspicuously absent from any preview photos?
Here’s everything you need to know about this episode, including the air date, cast, photos, and how to watch.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9 Details
- Title: “Once La’Aa a Time”
- Air Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
- Network: Paramount+
- Writer: Onitra Johnson
- Director: Sydney Freeland
How to Watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9
- Streaming: Available to stream on Paramount+
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9 Description
We return to the Elysian Kingdom, but this time on a REAL fantasy planet.
Guest Stars & Returning Characters
- Main Cast: Anson Mount, Babs Olusanmokun, Celia Rose Gooding, Christina Chong, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Melissa Navia, and Rebecca Romijn
Photos
Check out the photos from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9:
What are your hopes for this episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and be sure to catch up with our review of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 4, Episode 8, “Orders of Magnitude,” right here.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.