On paper, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, being the prequel that it is, should be telling its story with one hand tied behind its back. The lore needs to be handled with care to avoid the franchise being riddled with too many canonical inconsistencies. Regardless, I’m continually impressed by how well Paramount is able to dance around these restrictions. There have already been several moments in Strange New Worlds that push the limits of what’s possible during Captain Pike’s (Anson Mount) time in command of the USS Enterprise, and Season 4 is gearing up to add another.

​