Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has never been afraid to take risks, but its latest episode, "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass," might be its boldest yet. The show dove headfirst into the world of daytime soap operas, complete with dramatic lighting, over-the-top performances, and even a cameo from soap legend Deidre Hall. During a panel at Tampa Bay Comic Con, stars Christina Chong and Ethan Peck shared behind-the-scenes secrets about how they pulled off this genre-bending feat.
The episode centers on Trelane (Rhys Darby), a god-like being who traps the crew in a soap opera reality to force them to confront their emotions. Spock (Peck) faces his half-brother Sybok, also played by Peck, while Captain Pike (Anson Mount) remains oddly immune to the absurdity around him—yet still grapples with his own trauma from last season's finale.
For Chong, the biggest challenge was walking the line between good acting and intentionally bad acting. "Trying to be a bad actor while still being kind of a good actor," she explained. "Where's the line? Learning to do all those, staring off into the distance, what am I looking at?" Peck echoed her sentiments, noting the technical hurdles: the episode used multiple cameras and a special director of photography who specializes in soap operas. "They set them up far away, and they slowly marched them in as you're filming," he said. "We used four, maybe six cameras, which is totally foreign to us."
Despite the chaos, both actors relished the change of pace. Chong compared it to theater, while Peck admitted to struggling to keep a straight face during one intense scene. "There was one take where I was trying to be smoky and smoldery," he recalled, "and she was just laughing hysterically."
This episode is a testament to the show's willingness to experiment, much like its unexpected character departures and family drama. It's a reminder that Star Trek can tackle any genre, from sci-fi to romance to comedy.
What's Next for Strange New Worlds?
With only two episodes left in Season 4, the finale, "Tomorrow's Enterprise," airs September 24. The show's fifth and final season is set to premiere next year, introducing classic characters like Dr. McCoy (Thomas Jane) and Hikaru Sulu (Kai Murakami). A potential sequel series following Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley) has been pitched but not yet greenlit.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is streaming now on Paramount+. For more on the show's future, stay tuned to Collider.
