In the season opener, we return to those aggressive reptilian creatures known as the Gorn when Pike and Co. come to the rescue of his imprisoned crew and Parnassus Beta colonists. These aliens have been fan favorites for the last two seasons but now they're being laid to rest at last.

If you want proof, look no further than the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. You probably read those descriptions and assumed that lack of creativity is the problem, since all four episodes are basically retreads of ideas we’ve already seen on Star Trek or in other things.

Spock, Kirk, Gorn — Oh My! How ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Breathed Thrilling New Life Into the 56-Year-Old Franchise By Adam B. Vary Marni Grossman/Paramount+