IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STRANGE NEW WORLDS - EPISODE 10 (“A Quality Of Mercy”) [Paramount+]

Consequence always has a way of reminding one where the path needs to lead but the primary texture is based in a notion of acceptance. The season finale of “Strange New Worlds” in Episode 10 entitled: “A Quality Of Mercy” engages what was looming over the personage of Captain Pike and the reasoning of what happens to him in 10 years time. While the plot mechanism is a little bit ham handed (though it does use decent lore), the episode definitely gets the point across and yet delivers the reasoning. This makes one of the final moments of the episode so poignant because it explains so much and yet allows the story to progress as needed unabated but with a desire consequence in mind. It shows that the universe is meant to function in a certain way even if it is not the way you necessarily want it to.

Anson Mount seems to bring a gentleness and a strength to Captain Pike making him not tragic but understanding. There is also another captain that comes into play and one seems to understand why that works in both good and bad ways and yet in a way that doesn't affect canon here. In this way, it offers an ability to understand characters we know in a way that they will not necessarily remember or know. Even in the ending cliffhanger (though less impactful) speaks to this. ”Star Trek” as of late has been more about the notion of existence (not that it hasn't always been but this subplot is more pronounced).”Strange New Worlds” in its first season (and especially with this episode) shows that it knows how to examine the human condition without losing the comprehension of both being engaging, fun, dramatic and heartfelt, all at the same time. A

By Tim Wassberg