In the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the series delves into the complexities of Starfleet, revealing its military undertones and ethical dilemmas.
Strange New Worlds Addresses Starfleet’s Dark Side in Season 3, Episode 7
Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 7, “What Is Starfleet?” Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 just delivered a documentary-style episode that directly addresses a harsh truth about Starfleet. Directed by Sharon Lewis and written by Kathryn Lyn and Alan B. McElroy, “What Is Starfleet?” uses its unique framing device to tell a classic Star Trek story that wrestles with tough questions about Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets.
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 7, “What Is Starfleet?,” Umberto “Beto” Ortegas (Mynor Luken) explores the question posed by the episode’s title, asking “what separates the Federation from an empire?” Beto points out that Starfleet officers often act as soldiers, and he questions whether that makes them colonizers.
Shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Discovery have dealt with the darker aspects of Starfleet and the Federation before, but Strange New Worlds addresses the tough questions head-on. “What Is Starfleet?” arrives at the perhaps oversimplified conclusion that the people “make Starfleet what it is,” but the episode also confirms that every Starfleet officer must be prepared to fight if a situation calls for it.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Confirms That Everyone In Starfleet Must Fight
Starfleet’s primary mission may be one of exploration, but nearly all of its ships are equipped with plenty of weapons and armaments. In Beto’s documentary, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) recites the oath taken by Starfleet officers, which includes a promise to “defend its security,” meaning officers must always be prepared to engage in combat.
While security officers like Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) are often the most experienced fighters on a starship, every officer learns how to handle themselves. The Starship Enterprise has numerous officers skilled in combat, including Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun).
Dr. M’Benga works as a healer now, but he served on the front lines during the war with the Klingons, earning a reputation as a formidable warrior. In “What Is Starfleet?,” Beto asks M’Benga directly about some of the more questionable choices he has made, but the doctor remains tight-lipped about the darker aspects of his past.
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Although Dr. M’Benga’s primary role on the Enterprise is to serve as the ship’s Chief Medical Officer, he has helped train several officers in combat. “What Is Starfleet?” also shows La’an performing a weapons training exercise, emphasizing the obvious combat training Starfleet officers engage in.
Starfleet Doesn’t Seek War, But Will Fight If They Have To
Throughout Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 7, Beto asks questions regarding the Enterprise’s arsenal of weapons and the combat skills of its crew. La’an insists that it would be “stupid” for the Enterprise to go anywhere unarmed, considering how “unpredictable” unexplored space can be.
La’an points out that the weapons on the Enterprise are primarily defensive and that the “goal is to not have to use them,” but she acknowledges that the Enterprise will fight back and even attack first when necessary. Even Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) agrees that violence is sometimes necessary, although he’s quick to add that “Vulcans have many more ways to handle this than humans.”
In “What Is Starfleet?,” Starfleet orders the Enterprise to get involved in a lopsided war between the Lutani and the Kasar, but the episode doesn’t provide much context on this war. Instead, the story shifts its focus to the plight of the Jikaru, a creature that the Lutani have altered to become a makeshift weapon.
“What Is Starfleet?” could have gone a bit deeper with its exploration of the Federation and its involvement in intergalactic conflicts, but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds tends to take a more optimistic approach. Still, the episode asks some interesting questions and ultimately acknowledges that Starfleet has more in common with a military organization than its officers would sometimes like to admit.
