Read this review to see if the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “Wedding Bell Blues” is worth watching.
About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Season 3, Episode 2: “Wedding Bell Blues”
- Directed by Jordan Canning
- Written by Kirsten Beyer & David Reed
- Synopsis: At a Federation celebration, an uninvited guest disrupts Spock and the crew’s reflections.
- Airdate: July 17, 2025
- Starring: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Martin Quinn, Rebecca Romijn, John de Lancie, Cillian O’Sullivan, Rhys Darby, Melanie Scrofano, Dan Jeannotte, and Dan Jeannotte
The second episode in the two-episode season premiere aired yesterday. “Wedding Bell Blues” is a new episode of the Star Trek series, directed by Jordan Canning and written by Kristen Beyer and David Reed. It follows the complex relationship between Chapel (Jess Bush) and Spock (Ethan Peck), as the former’s career ambitions cause her to pause her relationship with the Vulcan science officer.
As Spock becomes the third wheel, their social awkwardness becomes more apparent. The episode uses minimal sets and off-the-wall scenarios, with great chemistry between Bush, Peck, and guest stars Cillian O’Sullivan and Rhys Darby. Fans of TOS and The Next Generation will enjoy the story.
Rhys Darby’s character, Trelane, is a childlike but powerful alien trickster from the TOS episode “The Squire of Gothos.” The show pays homage to William Campbell’s original performance and adds his unique spin to the character. However, there is still a need for head canon to reconcile his introduction on TOS with his time travel consequences.
The producers and writers of SNW inferred that Trelane is a Q, one of the super-beings introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation. John de Lancie voiced Trelane’s dad, and this is a popular fan theory. Canonizing Trelane as a Q is fan service and not necessary, but it gives a pointing Rick Dalton meme moment.
The resolution of the episode, with a scolding parental energy being, pushes past the homage line and creates more mysteries around Trelane without offering new insight into him or his species. Korby, on the other hand, is given a new dimension and offers a view of the famous scientist years before he loses his moral compass. Christine is smitten with Korby’s character and the fun banter that comes from the episode.
Overall: Watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2025): S3E02 – “Wedding Bell Blues”
This is a lighthearted episode that provides us with some real character humour. Fans who are engrossed in the series and all of the character relationships are likely to find it most effective. Once again, the series plays a bit fast and loose with canon, both with Korby and Trelane, so they can introduce and play with these great characters earlier in their timelines, but in both cases, it was handled effectively and added to the show. It’s excellent news if you enjoy romance, since we can already see the beginnings of a season that will focus more on character tales.
This was a great episode, and I’m rating it 4.5 out of 5 stars
All episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are available to stream on Paramount+. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Previous Episode Review | Next Episode Review
Have you watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds yet? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and feel free to share this review on any social media platform.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Bluesky. Have a wonderful day, and read our previous television reviews.
