Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2 - "Ad Astra Per Aspera"Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) is back aboard the Starship Enterprise but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's spectacular episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," didn't show Pike's reaction to the many changes that happened while he was away from his ship. In Strange New Worlds season 2's premiere, "The Broken Circle," Pike traveled solo across the galaxy to find his Number One, Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), legal representation for her court-marital. "Ad Astra Per Aspera" begins with Pike successfully recruiting Una's estranged childhood friend, Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki), to be her lawyer.
Meanwhile, Captain Pike left Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) in command of the USS Enterprise while he was away. In Strange New Worlds season 2's premiere, Spock steals the Enterprise to answer a distress call from La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong). Reuniting with the Enterprise's former Security Chief on Cajitar IV, Spock and the Enterprise crew prevent a Klingon/Starfleet syndicate's plot to use a false Crossfield Class Starfleet ship to reignite the war between the Klingons and the United Federation of Planets. By the end of "The Broken Circle," La'an res the Enterprise and the Federation flagship also has a new Chief Engineer, Commander Pelia (Carol Kane).
Captain Pike Doesn't React To Strange New Worlds Season 2 Premiere's Changes
When Pike returns to the Starship Enterprise after hiring Neera, Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2 neglects to show the Captain reacting to the big changes that happened while he was away. Pike doesn't consult with Spock about the fact that the Vulcan Science Officer led the crew to mutiny and stole his ship. Pike also doesn't acknowledge that La'an is back in uniform after she resigned her commission in Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 9, "All Those Who Wander," to reunite Oriana (Emma Ho), a young survivor of the Gorn, with her family. The Captain of the Enterprise also has no reaction to Commander Pelia as his new Chief Engineer, replacing the late Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak).
Instead, Pike's first scenes when he's back on the Enterprise are with Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), his significant other. Batel was tasked as Number One's prosecutor, and she was angry when Pike sided with Una's decision to reject her plea deal. Batel then cleverly convinced Chris not to take the witness stand because he concealed his knowledge of Una being a genetically engineered Illyrian from Starfleet for months. Amazingly, Pike watched Number One's trial with his senior staff aboard the Enterprise, and he didn't that La'an was back aboard even though they were in the same room.
Why Captain Pike Was Only Focused On Number One's Trial
Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," is a remarkable episode and one of the finest courtroom dramas ever in Star Trek. Number One's trial had been built up since early in Strange New Worlds season 1, and the inherent issues of the Federation's ban of Augments, prejudice, inequality, and Una's desire to be acknowledged for who and what she truly is were certainly deserving of the episode's singular focus. The stakes were also high for Captain Pike because he is complicit in Number One's lie. Indeed, the prosecution even attempted to frame Pike and the Enterprise crew as part of a conspiracy. Obviously, Number One's court-martial was paramount on Pike's mind.
Still, "Ad Astra Per Aspera" not having a scene of Captain Pike learning that Spock stole his ship and prevented a war with the Klingons, welcoming La'an back, and meeting Commander Pelia feels like a missed opportunity. This may feel like minutia, but these are also important Star Trek elements that round out life as a Starfleet Officer aboard the Enterprise. A handful of major events happened that literally altered the Enterprise and her crew, and a few moments of Captain Pike ing these changes would have felt complete. Perhaps such scenes were filmed and were simply excised for time. If so, hopefully, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's home video release will include them.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.