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It is the finale. It is a Gorn attack. It is Captain Marie Betel down on a planet with 5000 colonists and the USS Cayuga blown to bits in orbit (save a healthy chunk of saucer section and a single survivor). It is the Gorn drawing a demarcation line in space and getting ready to feed. And: it is Pike et al to the rescue (sorta)! At least, there's tactical gear and there are phase rifles and there is a death-defying flight down to the planet (her name is Erica Ortegas -- and she flies the ship).    We'll make some *new* friends and meet some *old* enemies (and there will be some pew-pews and some boom-bangs) but all's well that en--   Wait. What? How does it end?   A CLIFFHANGER?!?!?! Oh, for the love of Khaless. 

In a *literally* musical episode of Strange New Worlds, the folks on the Enterprise throw themselves into the the thick of it. Singing? Check. Dancing? Check? Harmony and counterpoint and a big cast number? CHECK.   It is very possible that viewers thereof will be as divided and passionate in their reactions to this episode as the characters themselves are about their own lives. We disagreed.    And yet, debate is the spice of life, is it not? Also, music. And love -- which, apart from figuring out what subspace instability has caused them all to break out in song and how to fix it, is the front and center in this penultimate episode of the season!

In a very special episode of Strange New Worlds, a very special guest is on board the ship: former Klingon warlord turned Federation diplomat Dak'Rah. While he may charm a lot of folks on board with his mild-mannered temperament and his charms, the veterans of the Federation-Klingon war are not so easily won over by the former "Butchet of J'Gal."   Among them, two of the Enterprises finest -- who happen to also have been on J'Gal when Dak'Rah committed atrocities -- Doctor M'Benga and Nurse Chapel.

An accidental portaling causes Ensign Boimler, of the USS Cerritos, to travel back in time to Pike's Enterprise. Boimler is ecstatic to meet his heroes, but they are more concerned with him not screwing up the timeline.    An attempt to send him back is thwarted by Orion scientist/pirates who steal the portal. Once that's back, a second attempt is thwarted by Ensign Mariner coming through to rescue Boimler -- using up the last of the specific element the portal needs to work.   Cerritos/Enterprise mash-up ensues. Orion hurricanes, Vulcan laughter, and a whole lot of shenanigans. 

Just a regular ol' deuterium mining operation in Bannon's nebula on the edge of Gorn space. Pike is made fleet captain over the refinery and the USS Farragut as they try to get things online securing a future refuel hub for Star Fleet ships to come. Meanwhile, Uhura is hearing things and having hallucinations. She isn't sleeping well and no one aboard the Enterprise thinks it is anything more than lack of sleep and slight deuterium poisoning. Fortunately, the Farragut's new First Officer, James T. Kirk, is aboard the ship engaging in fraught family-time with his brother Sam -- and *he* believes Uhura might be on to something (after she punches him the face).   Will Uhura and "the Kirks" be able to save the day? Probably. But it'll be a helluva time getting there! And maybe we'll make friends along the way?

Just a cute little episode in which Spock and Chapel head down to a moon of Vulcan, inexplicably live through a shuttle crash, and Spock is changed (by advanced beings on the far side of a tear in spacetime) into a full human -- with emotions and body odor, and everything.   It would be cute, at least, if Spock's fiancee, T'Pring, and her parents were not coming aboard the Enterprise to have a formal Vulcan engagement dinner -- and if T'Pring's mom didn't already REALLY dislike her future son-in-law.   Yes, shenanigans. Yes, matters of the heart. and, YES, there is passionate KISSY KISSY in the offing!

Well. It's a bronze age planet where an officer thought to be KIA years back has actually given the locals Starfleet tech and made himself king. Also, he is bitter because he was left behind by the Enterprise. Also there are asteroids on the planet that give off radiation that affect a person's memory and make them forget nearly everything -- their name, their history. So the landing part of Pike, La'An, and M'Benga are up a creek.   And it's just as bad on the Enterprise. Everyone is forgetting.Thankfully, there is a hero waiting in the wings. She flies the ship!

How would you feel about a La'an episode? Like *just* La'an, you know, chief security officer dealing with her job, her demons, her heritage, her past? That's a yes, isn't it?!Now, what if we told you we would do that but *also* add in some time travel (to the 21st century), slick leather outfits, a hot (red) muscle car, a massive explosion, gun fights, street food... AND a little side-quest romance with none other than James Tiberius Kirk?Double-yes? I mean, is it confusing? You betcha. But is it also delightful?  Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.

It is one of the mightiest of all Trek tropes: a court case! Full with all the pomp and drama of courtroom procedurals. Stodgy judges, tense side bars, esteemed witnesses and surprise cross-examinations, and even a delightful micro-mystery running through out. One that is, of course, solved by our plucky lawyer/investigator.It's a real romp, is what we're saying. And all of it save Una's career -- and prevent her from having to serve TWENTY years in a Federation penal colony. All rise, baby!   Http://patreon.com/setphasers

Set Phasers returns to run down the new season of Strange New Worlds!! And we begin... Enterprise is in space dock at Starbase 1. Pike is taking some personal days to find a lawyer (maybe?) to help Una Chin-Riley get out of jail and leaves Spock in charge. It should be a sleepy couple of days. Except, Spock is kind of in love with Nurse Chapel these days and his Vulcan emotional barriers have come down in a big way. Also, former security chief La'an calls with an emergency and so, against orders, acting captain and crew steal the Enterprise to go to the edge of Klingon space. There they discover a radical syndicate called The Broken Circle who are attempting to get the Federation-Klingon Empire war started back up again.     Also, M'Benga and Chapel get kidnapped, then take drugs, the kick a lot of Klingon ass, and then nearly get completely blown up and space-froze.   And Spock is put through the ringer.   Join us at http://patreon.com/setphasers and get behind the scenes access including live viewing of our run downs on YouTube for subscribers only!

It's over. It's all over. And it's so hard to say goodbye!    But before that, Picard et al have to save his son from the clutches of a vengeful Borg Queen [in a giant borg cube on Jupiter] *and* save Earth (and, indeed, the galaxy) from being assimilated by the new, youngling *bio-borgs*!It's all about parents and children and generations -- and passing the baton. These are the voyages, right? stiff upper lip, and all that.    We're not crying, you're crying.   Join us for more BTS and early access Set Phasers fun at http://patreon.com/setphasers

The truth is out about Jack -- he's Borg, baby!  That's how he's been able to mysteriously control other people (for better or worse). Upon discovering this about himself, Jack absconds on a shuttle to a mysterious place in space where he will meet the Borg Queen that has been calling for him all of his life.   Meanwhile, the crew of the Titan head to Sol System to warn Star Fleet about the Changeling/Borg conspiracy-- showing up just a bit too late. Assimilation goes off all over the fleet (via biological borg tech). Only the young people are affected, the Olds have to make a run for it.   The La Forges fall under the sway; Captain Shaw dies so the others may flee; and the original crew of TNG return to their old ship. The Enterprise NC 1701-D is back! ENGAGE!   Join us on http://patreon.com/setphasers to boldly go with us for more Star Trek fun!