by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

The trial of Una Chin-Riley starts here! Written by Dana Horgan and directed by Valerie Weiss, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 2 – “Ad Astra per Aspera” will determine the fate of our favorite Illyrian commander. Spoiler Alert!

After a sudden departure early in the season premiere, viewers catch up with Captain Pike as he seeks out help from Neera (special guest Yetide Badaki), who just happens to be both an Illyrian lawyer and an old friend of Una. After a desperate (yet clever) plea from Pike, the savvy legal expert reluctantly agrees to take Una’s case with the hopes that it will pave the way for other Illyrians. With Pike and the crew watching remotely, the trial quickly gets underway and witnesses are called to testify, including Admiral April, Spock, La’An, and M’Benga. Despite having recommended her for Starfleet Academy, April’s testimony takes a turn for the worse as Neera’s confrontational questioning sparks outrage from both April and the tribunal.

Tactics are shifted, and the trial continues on with a wonderful splicing of scenes featuring the trio from the Enterprise, who speak to Una’s character, the impact that she has had on the lives of the crew, and the lives that she has saved in service of Starfleet. Una then takes the stand herself in order to share her story and the tribulations that she went through as a child, sharing how her culture and history was impacted by the laws of the Federation that were meant to avoid another Eugenics War. Although Una’s powerful statements were quite impactful to help avoid her potential imprisonment and dishonorable dismissal, no one could have predicted the twist that the trial was also an attempt by certain members of Starfleet to hold Captain Pike and the crew accountable for knowing about Una’s secret! How the trial concludes is quite a sight to see, so you will need to experience that for yourself.

“Ad Astra per Aspera” features impressive performances by stars Anson Mount as Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley, Ethan Peck as Spock, Jess Bush as Christine Chapel, Christina Chong as La’An Noonien-Singh, Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Erica Ortegas, and Babs Olusanmokun as Joseph M’Benga. Romijn gets MVP for the episode, as Una’s determination and motivations are expertly captured through her incredible performance. The trio of Chong, Peck, and Olusanmokun also deliver memorable performances while on the stand (and suited up in their beautifully crafted formal attire). Aside from the court-martial elements, the highlight of the episode was the unexpected humor delivered via Navia, Olusanmokun, and Peck, as the Ortegas and M’Benga comment on Spock’s encounter with his old Vulcan “nemesis”. Peck’s delivery at the end was pitch perfect, and it created a wonderful scene to break up the tension of the episode. 

Equality for Una (and her fellow Illyrians) is on the line in this episode, with narrative elements acting as a foil for contemporary issues in our society. The creative team behind Strange New Worlds provided viewers with an impactful story that rivals one of my other favorite non-action heavy Star Trek episodes, TNG’s “Measure of a Man”. It was time for Una to take a stand for her people and heritage, and the end result was nothing short of spectacular. 

Official Synopsis: Episode 202: “Ad Astra per Aspera”
Commander Una faces court-martial along with possible imprisonment and dishonorable dismissal from Starfleet, and her defense is in the hands of a lawyer who’s also a childhood friend with whom she had a terrible falling out.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Season 2 – “Ad Astra per Aspera” – 5/5 Trek stories that mirror modern society.

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