Read this review to see if the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “A Space Adventure Hour” is worth watching.
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About Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Season 3, Episode 4: “A Space Adventure Hour”
- Directed by Jonathan Frakes
- Written by Dana Horgan & Kathryn Lyn
- Synopsis: La’An tests a prototype holodeck with a fictional case only she can solve.
- Airdate: July 31, 2025
- Starring: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Jess Bush, Rong Fu, Kira Guloien, Chris Myers, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, Martin Quinn, Rebecca Romijn, and Paul Wesley
If you want to avoid spoilers for this episode, skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 4 “A Space Adventure Hour”
Recap Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2025): S3E04 – “A Space Adventure Hour”
The episode begins with a retro-1960s sci-fi TV series named “The Last Frontier” with an actor doing a brilliant impression of William Shatner as the captain. There is a clear allusion to The Original Series in the opening of the episode. It would be nearly impossible to miss the acting, lighting, sound mixing, costumes, and props. The entire experience, including the last portion, could not last longer than ten minutes. I’m still not sure if this was meant to be a tribute performance, satire, or reconstruction of TOS. They encounter an alien puppet with visible wires, leading to a “battle” with sound effects and shaking camera effects. The opening credits are done in this style.
La’an is assigned to test a new Starfleet vessel method using a simulator, or “holodeck,” with Pike encouraging her to push it as hard as possible.
In his quarters, Spock is dancing as an exercise, and La’an finds him. They discuss holodeck parameters and brainstorm using “Amelia Moon,” an in-universe 1960s detective series. La’an arrives on the holodeck in full Amelia outfit, and she looks a lot like Agent Carter with a red wide-brimmed hat. The computer puts them in a 1960s mansion. She finds Uhura, now a producer/agent, and realizes the holodeck uses crewmate images for characters.
Jodi finds Tony Hart, a studio head, strangled in his hot tub. La’an introduces the suspects, the cast, and the creators of “The Last Frontier” show. The series was about to be canceled, but La’an plays the Amelia role to cut off contact with the outside world. She targets Anthony with a glass left at the crime scene, implicating Sunny. But Sunny denies getting a loan from the mob.
Sunny, who had a deal with Tony, collapses dead after coughing. La’an contacts Scotty, who informs her that the holodeck is taking more power than expected. La’an chooses Spock as her partner, while M’Benga reports power flickering on the ship. Scotty, with power overloading, insists he can compensate despite red alerts.
Swift confesses to having an affair with Hart’s secretary, Adelaide, and Sunny, who pushes her as a star. Anthony respects Sunny’s promotion of art, while Lee is writing a screenplay. While La’an and Spock are discussing the case, a chandelier nearly hits them, revealing that the safety protocols are off.
Scotty discusses a “hypothetical” problem with Uhura, revealing La’an is stuck on the holodeck and cannot shut it off due to its power consumption. Amelia and Spock discuss the situation, while La’an decides to solve the mystery. Jodi denies killing Lee or Tony but wishes she had. She then delivers a moving speech on how a show like “The Last Frontier” could change real-world commentary, inspire escapism, and motivate generations of scientists. Similar to how Star Trek changed the world.
La’an finds a roll of film in the fireplace after Jodi leaves and realizes it’s a clue. The ship is hit by a stellar flare, leaving Ortegas to navigate with only 30 seconds of power. Uhura suggests Scotty convince the holodeck he’s a program to communicate with La’an in the simulation.
Spock and La’an watch the film, and it ends with Bellows and Swift yelling at each other. The writer comes in drunk and gun-wielding, revealing that the show was never going to be canceled. He tells the detective he was being fired and accuses Amelia of being the killer. The Vulcan grabs the gun as it goes off. Scotty appears in the film footage to beg La’an to solve the mystery. That will end the simulation and restore power to the ship.
La’an hugs Spock in relief, only for it to dawn on her that Spock is the killer. It hits her that Spock is unusually cold and was already on the holodeck when she arrived. She realizes the holodeck crafted him as part of the challenge. “Spock” congratulates her as La’an happily shuts the program down, restoring power to the ship.
La’an and Scotty discuss the holodeck’s potential, but its power compensation makes it dangerous. Pike wants it buried, but we know what happens in the future.
Una critiques Scotty for not seeking help, while La’an finds the real Spock for a dance lesson. She realizes how much she needs him, and they kiss.
Some fun “outtakes” from the show “The Final Frontier” roll over some fake credits.
Overall: Skip Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2025): S3E04 – “A Space Adventure Hour”
This episode combines a number of tributes and vintage Trek with some strong character development for Spock, La’an, and Scotty. The episode, billed as a Hollywood-style murder mystery and a send-up of The Original Series, features Holodeck technology and similar tropes. Strange New Worlds’ love plot is a lazy attempt to manufacture drama, with soap opera-level plotlines and wacky sci-fi plots taking a backseat.
The episode is not perfect, but it offers fun entertainment, strong performances, and impressive costumes and production design. The show tried hard, and Jonathan Frakes does an amazing job as director. But it doesn’t hit the mark.
I’m giving this episode 3.5 out of 5 stars.
All episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are available to stream on Paramount+. New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds drop every Thursday.
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