Since its debut, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has proven that modern Trek can celebrate the franchise’s optimistic roots while still exploring new corners of the galaxy. But as the series heads into season 4, there’s one iconic element it hasn’t yet touched, one that’s been part of Trek’s DNA for nearly six decades. It’s time for Strange New Worlds to cross over into the Mirror Universe boldly.
Now, let's examine four key points arguing for a SNW Mirror Universe:
1. A legacy of reflection
The concept of the Mirror Universe first appeared in The Original Series episode “Mirror, Mirror,” where Kirk and his crew found themselves in a brutal, imperial reflection of Starfleet. The episode turned the Federation’s values inside out and became an instant classic. Since then, it’s been revisited across Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, Discovery, and Prodigy each time reinterpreting the theme of corruption, ambition, and moral compromise.
Given Strange New Worlds’ proximity to TOS chronologically, now feels like the perfect time to bridge that legacy gap. The show’s period setting could allow writers to explore the rise or early evolution of the Terran Empire, filling in historical blanks left by the timeline. More importantly, it could show how Pike’s Enterprise and crew, so grounded in optimism and empathy, respond when faced with a universe stripped of those very ideals.