A huge decision has been reached on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that will be a massive shift for all Trek fans!
Fans are eagerly awaiting the season 3 premiere of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on July 17 on Paramount+. The prequel to the original Star Trek series (which began on Star Trek Discovery) has won over fans for capturing the spirit of the older show with some intriguing modern twists.
The show had already been renewed for season 4, so fans can be happy to know season 3 isn’t the last of it. However, it does seem the voyages will be ending as Deadline confirms that the show will end with a six-episode fifth season.
A statement from executive producers Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, and Alex Kurtzman paid tribute to the show and its coming end.
“From the very beginning, Strange New Worlds set out to honor what Star Trek has always stood for — boundless curiosity, hope and the belief that a better future is possible. We’re deeply grateful to Paramount+ for the chance to complete our five-season mission, just as we envisioned it, alongside our extraordinary cast and crew. And to the passionate fans who’ve boldly joined us on this journey — THANK YOU. With three more spectacular seasons ahead for you to see and enjoy, this adventure is far from over.”
While fans are no doubt sad to see the series coming to an end, it should be seen as a good way to finish it off strongly.
Why SNW may be better off with just five seasons
Some fans may complain that five seasons aren’t quite enough for Strange New Worlds. This would end its run at just 46 episodes total. The series has been wonderful, using classic Star Trek storylines matched with modern-day tech while honoring the characters.
The short run comes after both Star Trek: Discovery and Lower Decks ended after five seasons apiece and likewise each seeming to have plenty of life left to them. That seems to be more Paramount+ wanting to cut costs on such heavy FX-filled productions and limiting the impact of Star Trek.
The series has excelled in mixing established characters like Pike, Number One, Spock, and Kirk with some newer ones such as La’an and Ortegas. It plays on the timeline with some episodes hinting at more famous Trek stories to come, such as the Klingons and Gorn, and the upcoming season 3 seems ready to amp it up.
However, the show was always meant to have a short run for various reasons. The big one is that as a prequel to TOS, it’s only a matter of time before we reach the established fate for Pike. Indeed, SNW has had Pike knowing how his story ends and while he wishes he could change it, he’s ready to keep going no matter what.
The introduction of Spock, Kirk, Uhara and now Scotty means we’re getting closer to the events of TOS. While it’s tempting for the producers to pull some classic Trek time-travel/alternate reality shenanigans and have the Pike adventures continue, it’s more likely they stick to the history of Pike making way for Kirk.
So SNW would be better off ending Pike’s own story as otherwise, we’re going into a remake of TOS, and that’s not needed. There’s a concern about how the final season is only set for six episodes, which seems pretty short. Maybe they decided to give the show more, or perhaps the producers will use it well to go out with a bang for what comes off as an extended movie.
Season 4 will likely be designed to play into the final year. It’s also downright refreshing to have a series be given a specific time range rather than the countless TV shows expecting renewals and not getting them to leave us hanging on storylines.
At least we know there are going to be three seasons left of fantastic sci-fi Trek adventures coming and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will end its five-year voyage on a high note.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 premieres July 17 on Paramount+.