The USS Enterprise has faced cosmic horrors, temporal paradoxes, and Klingon ambushes—but nothing quite like this. In this week's Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode, "Level Five Transporter Accident," the crew finds themselves literally reduced to puppets. Yes, you read that right. A malfunction in the transporter—the same tech that once split a man in two and fused others into a grotesque hybrid—now leaves nearly everyone aboard as adorable felt marionettes.
Collider is thrilled to debut an exclusive sneak peek from the episode, along with never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of the Jim Henson Company. The legendary puppeteers have outdone themselves, creating detailed puppet versions of each main cast member (except Spock, who remains blissfully human). The images reveal the entire design journey, from initial mood boards and concept sketches to the fully realized, string-operated doppelgängers that will steal your heart—even as they struggle to operate the ship.
In the clip, the crew is coming to terms with their new fuzzy reality. Their stubby felt fingers are useless for holding phasers or tapping console controls, which poses a serious threat to the Enterprise's operation. Pelia (Carol Kane), who was already a bit puppet-like in demeanor, tries to find a silver lining but quickly admits she can't think of one. It falls to Spock (Ethan Peck), the only flesh-and-blood crewman left, to figure out how to reverse the accident and save the day—no pressure, Vulcan logic.
This episode is just the latest twist in a season that has been anything but ordinary. The premiere hurled the ship 65 million years into the past, forcing Captain Pike (Anson Mount) into a heartbreaking choice between two warring species. Then Spock, La'An (Christina Chong), and James Kirk (Paul Wesley) found themselves trapped on a derelict starship straight out of a nightmare. The crew got a brief reprieve on a planet with a euphoria-inducing atmosphere, leading to some gloriously unprofessional antics, before Number One (Rebecca Romijn), M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), and Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) dove into a noir-tinged Klingon mystery.
If you're a fan of Star Trek comics, you might enjoy Seven of Nine's latest adventures while you wait for the next episode. And for those who love a good comeback story, this forgotten Avatar spin-off has returned with a new episode after a long break.
"Level Five Transporter Accident" premieres Thursday, August 20, exclusively on Paramount+. Be sure to check back with Collider for more updates on Strange New Worlds and all your favorite sci-fi shows.
