STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS
Season 1, Episode 2
Season 1, Episode 2
Children of the Comet
Series: Strange New Worlds - (2022 - present)Season: 1
Episode #: 2
Production #: SNW-102
Original Airdate: 05/12/2022
Writer(s): Henry Alonso Myers and Sarah Tarkoff
Director(s): Maja Vrvillo
Guest Stars
Dan Jeannotte as Lt. George Samuel Kirk
Co-Stars
Dana Beddoe as Deleb Alien Daughter
Amber V. Cull as Deleb Alien Mother
Jennifer Hui as Ensign Christina
Alex Kapp as the Voice of the U.S.S. Enterprise Computer
André Dae Kim as Chief Kyle
Thom Marriott as the Shepherd Captain
Stardate: 2912.4
Synopsis
While on a mission to study a comet near Persephone III, Cadet Uhura and other officers gather for a very informal dinner with Captain Pike. While Pike shares a humorous story about chasing a Nausicaan during his brief time in the security division, Uhura expresses doubt regarding her future in Starfleet. The cadet’s trepidation stems from a tragic accident that killed her parents and brother. She also speaks of her love for languages, which emerged when she sought to study all dialects in her native Kenya.
All is well until simulations predict that the comet will strike Persephone III, a planet inhabited by millions of people from a pre-warp society. The crew is shocked to discover that, despite not registering any lifeforms, the comet possesses a security force field and a structure of some kind. Spock, La’an Noonien-Singh, Uhura, and Samuel Kirk beam down and find an egg-shaped object. Sam Kirk steps forward and receives an unexpected shock that temporarily stops his heart.
With the comet’s defense screen reactivated, the U.S.S. Enterprise cannot retrieve its personnel. Before Pike can make a rescue attempt, a vessel belonging to a group called the Shepherds fires upon the Enterprise for interfering with the comet, which the aliens describe as an arbiter with a preordained path through the universe. The Shepherds see it as their sacred duty to allow the arbiter to proceed wherever it may lead, even when it puts itself and others in danger.![]()
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As Spock tries to give Uhura a pep talk on her first away mission, the cadet exhibits an interest in singing. However, these musical musings cause the comet’s interior to react with brilliant lights, helping Uhura and the landing party realize that music is the key to interacting with the controls. With the alien starship overpowering the Enterprise in ship-to-ship combat, Uhura and Spock sing together, assessing the reaction of the comet. Uhura’s insight pays off, as the comet lowers its shields and the Starfleet crew return to the Enterprise. Still faced with the stellar body’s imminent impact on Persephone III, Pike and his officers concoct a brilliant scheme. Erica Ortegas takes the starship through an intricate course and brings it to a stop in front of the comet. Communications officer Ensign Christina remarks that the Shepherds are hailing, so Pike pretends his vessel has lost power and requests these “space monks” use a tractor beam to save Enterprise.
Meanwhile, Spock covertly takes command of a shuttle, executing a flight plan towards the bowels of the comet. The sublimation caused by Spock’s heat shields shears a section off the comet, diverting it away from Persephone III while also releasing a significant amount of life-sustaining water vapor into the atmosphere. In the Shepherd’s point of view, this fulfilled the comet’s destiny.
Pike ruminates on who created the comet and how many others there might be. After further analysis, Uhura uncovers a star chart encoded in music transmitted by the comet. Sent before Spock’s shuttle mission, the chart nevertheless includes an exact likeness of the piece of ice that broke off from the comet and altered its course. Uhura theorizes that the comet “knew” its fate, a concept that brings a smile to Pike’s face as he clearly thinks of that news in terms of what he learned about his own future on Boreth. Over a drink, Number One points out that just because Pike received a message about his future, it doesn’t mean he truly understands it. Una argues that Pike’s fate could be what he makes it, a statement that the captain takes to heart. Sometime later when he is alone, Pike pulls up the files of the people he is determined to save in the training accident that is still almost a decade away…
Trailer
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