Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds Season 3, Episode 9 – “Terrarium”Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s penultimate episode combines among the best hits of Star Trek: The Authentic Collection and Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology to ship an hour followers have demanded. Directed by Andrew Coutts and written by Alan B. McElroy, Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, episode 9, “Terrarium,” is Lieutenant Erica Ortegas’ (Melissa Navia) long-awaited highlight.
“Terrarium” strands Lt. Erica Ortegas on a desolate planetoid after her shuttle mission by way of a mysterious wormhole goes awry. One other lifeform can also be caught on the rock orbiting a gasoline big that is about to fry them each: a feminine Gorn pilot (Warren Scherer) who Erica should befriend to outlive and be rescued by the USS Enterprise.
Ortegas and the Gorn’s stunning and poignant friendship in Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, episode 8, echoes Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) predicament within the Star Trek: The Next Generation classic, “Darmok.” “Terrarrium” additionally nods to the Nineteen Eighties sci-fi movie Enemy Mine.
Nevertheless, Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, episode 8’s best hyperlink is to Star Trek: The Original Series season 1‘s “Area,” when Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) battled and confirmed mercy to a Gorn. “Terrarium” finally reveals itself to be a direct prelude to Kirk’s showdown with the Gorn on Cestus III.
Ortegas’ Friendship With The Gorn Ends In Tragedy
Lt. Erica Ortegas and the Gorn pilot thought they have been saved when Erica’s gambit to set off a flare that might gentle up the planetoid and sign the Starship Enterprise labored. Ortegas and the Gorn have been secure behind the alien reptile’s warmth protect.
When Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and her safety staff beamed down, nevertheless, La’an noticed the Gorn and did not hesitate to shoot and kil her. La’an solely noticed their enemy who practically killed Erica already in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s premiere. La’an had no approach to perceive Erica’s scenario earlier than she acted instinctively.
The Gorn pilot was doomed even when she had been rescued by her personal form. The Gorn do not tolerate weak spot, and the pilot’s harm and friendship with a human Starfleet Officer would have condemned her if she returned to her folks.
Ortegas provided the Gorn safety and asylum if she returned with Erica to the USS Enterprise. Tragically, La’an’s instinctive defensive act minimize down the potential of Starfleet assembly a Gorn and having a significant dialogue that would have led to peace.
Star Trek: The Authentic Collection’ Area Gods The Metron Returns
Worsening Lt. Erica Ortegas ordeal is the revelation that each one of it was a manipulative experiment by the Metron, the seemingly all-powerful space gods from Star Trek: The Original Series‘ “Area.” A member of the Metron (Driush Zaheh) revealed himself to Erica after freezing time.
The Metron defined their race’s curiosity concerning the barbaric people and Gorn and whether or not they may get alongside. Ortegas and the Gorn pilot proved it was potential, till La’an murdered the reptile. The Metron wiped Erica’s thoughts, however allowed her to retain her reminiscences of her friendship.
The Metron’s look is Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds straight establishing the rationale for why they meddled with people and the Gorn once more in TOS‘ “Area.” Nevertheless, the Metron’s look undercut the already poignant and highly effective drama between Erica and the Gorn, and the shoehorning reveal of the Metron felt unwelcome.
The Metron is the second Star Trek: The Authentic Collection house god to return in Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, after Trelane (Rhys Darby) visitor starred in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, “Marriage ceremony Bell Blues.” John de Lancie additionally cameoed and voiced Trelane’s father within the episode.
What Ortegas Realized From Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds Season 3
Coping along with her trauma from the Gorn abducting and practically killing her is Lt. Erica Ortegas’ Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3 arc. That is one thing the omniscient Metron possible knew, therefore opening up a mysterious wormhole in order that Ortegas would pilot a shuttle and crash on the identical planetoid because the already-stranded Gorn.
Lt. Ortegas displayed the best beliefs of Starfleet and the noblest values of Star Trek.
Lt. Ortegas displayed the best beliefs of Starfleet and the noblest values of Star Trek when she overcame her preliminary concern and hatred. Erica reciprocated the Gorn’s compassion when the indigenous lifeforms attacked her, and Ortegas cared for the injured Gorn and finally solid a real friendship.
Positioned in an unattainable situation, Erica realized to look past the Gorn’s fearsome visage and acknowledged a fellow pilot in an an identical predicament who was lonely. As soon as Erica noticed the Gorn as a pal, she did not hesitate to deal with her as she would anybody else she cares about.
The Metron permitting Ortegas to retain her reminiscences of the Gorn is a blessing and a curse. Erica can honor her pal’s reminiscence, and her expertise can turn out to be the beginning of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets gaining a better understanding of the Gorn Hegemony.
Nevertheless, Ortegas additionally understands La’an’s impulse to kill the Gorn, primarily based on Lieutenant Noonien-Singh’s previous with the alien reptiles. Finally, Erica has to reconcile that her pal killed her different pal in a misguided try to avoid wasting Ortegas. It is going to be fascinating to see how Erica and La’an transfer ahead from this expertise.
Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds Lastly Delivered The Ortegas Episode Followers Demanded
Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, episode 8 lastly delivered the Erica Ortegas-centic hour fans have wanted since first assembly the USS Enterprise’s snarky chaos muppet pilot in season 1. Followers coined the hashtag #Mortegas to point out their assist for Erica. “Terrarium” is even moreso, it is the #Mostegas we have ever had from Unusual New Worlds.
As an Ortegas highlight, “Terrarium” doesn’t disappoint. Melissa Navia places on a one-woman present for practically your complete episode. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” paired La’an and Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) in a romantic two-hander, however Navia’s feat is much more spectacular as her solely scene associate was a Gorn.
Lt. Erica Ortegas’ ingenuity in a frightening disaster was additionally a revelation. Erica displayed the brilliance and resourcefulness of a Starfleet engineer, jerry-rigging a water condenser, and setting up a makeshift common translator in order that she may share fundamental communication with the Gorn.
Aboard the Starship Enterprise, Ensign Nyota Uhura’s (Celia Rose Gooding) unyielding willpower to rescue Erica confirmed the true depths of their friendship. Captain Pike noticed by way of Uhura’s desperation and breaking of guidelines to rescue Ortegas, however he commiserated since Erica means simply as a lot to him.
Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds season 3, episode 8 might nod to different notable episodes of Star Trek, however “Terrarium” is, inarguably, Lt. Erica Ortegas and Melissa Navia’s most interesting hour.
