Among the rankings of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episodes, season 3’s "A Space Adventure Hour" tends to be near the bottom. In fact, some fans go so far as to call it the worst episode of the entire series.
It’s notable, though, as it was directed by Jonathan Frakes. Besides playing William Riker, Frakes proved himself an adept Trek director over the year, which includes helming the beloved SNW crossover episode with Lower Decks titled "Those Old Scientists." While promoting the Starfleet Academy season 1 finale, Frakes addressed “A Space Adventure Hour” in an interview and how he felt surprised that fans disliked it so much. Frakes said via ScreenRant:
"I was very proud of it. Yeah, I was surprised. But, you know, s**t happens."
“A Space Adventure Hour” is a good old holodeck episode as La’an tests the new technology by crafting a 1960s murder mystery based around characters of a sci-fi show bearing more than a slight resemblance to Trek. It includes a homage to Lucille Ball, and Paul Wesley steals the show with his over-the-top William Shatner impression.
It’s a funny episode yet fans didn’t respond to it well. The complaints included the comedy being too lazy, mocking Shatner and Gene Roddenberry (both of their stand-in characters cited as massive egomaniacs) and the fact it was yet another of SNW’s “experimental” episodes when they have only 10 episodes per season.
Some of that hate appears overblown as the episode was meant as a love letter to Trek and its messages, something Frakes clearly wanted to present. Frakes shouldn’t be ashamed of it, and perhaps in time, more fans will come around to it being a better story than it’s given credit for.
Share your thoughts and comments about "A Space Adventure Hour" with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is now streaming on Paramount+.