As Star Trek: Strange New Worlds prepares for its third season, the producers are sharing how they had to fight to ensure the show got a proper conclusion!
It’s always sad for fans of a Star Trek show to know the end of a series is coming. For the most part, Trek has been lucky as, with the notable exception of The Original Series, they’ve been given the chance to wrap up their series in a good way.
Even Enterprise got a finale, as maligned as it was. Discovery was a bit different as there were plans for a sixth season but at least the producers were able to film a quick epilogue to wrap the saga up. It’s always better for a Star Trek show to have a real finale rather than leave off on a cliffhanger or other lack of closure.
That’s why fans are a bit relieved at the bittersweet news that Strange New Worlds will end after a six-episode fifth season. Season 3 premiered July 17 with season 4 currently in production. While fans would hope that the show could continue, the producers have shared that just getting this final season was a big deal.
Speaking to TVLine, executive producer Akiva Goldsmith shared how Paramount+ had intended to cancel Strange New Worlds after its fourth season, but he argued to give them at least one more year to wrap things up properly as they always wanted.
“Well, Paramount+ felt that we had sort of exhausted the appetite for Strange New Worlds after [Season 4]. And we said, ‘Well, remember, we made this promise to the fans that we get them right up to the edge of [the original Star Trek]’. And they were like, ‘Oh yeah, we were part of that promise, too. What do you need to get there?’ And we said, ‘I think we can do it in six [episodes].’ And they said, ‘OK, do it in six.'”
As a prequel, the series was always intended to have a short run. There's only so much time before Trek canon dictates Christopher Pike suffers his sad end and James T. Kirk becomes captain. Fellow EP Henry Alonso Myers reminded viewers that there are still 26 episodes to come, meaning it’s not quite time yet to mourn the series.
As for how the show ends, both producers stated the intention was always for the final episode to end with James Kirk taking command of the Enterprise. Now, with a six-episode fifth season set, they can work their way to that moment.
Thus, while fans may wish for Strange New Worlds to continue, at least the producers ensure that the series gets the ending they, and Star Trek fans, always wanted.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming now on Paramount+.
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