An ancient alien relic thwarts the Enterprise crew from re-routing a comet on track to strike an inhabited planet.

Strange New Worlds continues to impress in its second episode, relying on that old Star Trek trope of the mysterious spatial anomaly. As with the best episodes, it’s all about smart people trying to solve big problems, and this is a great opportunity for us to get to know Cadet Uhura.

The linguistics officer’s first away mission is the exploration of the interior of a comet which is due to destroy a planet in two days’ time unless the crew of the Enterprise can alter its course. With the 48 hours deadline being the first ticking clock, things get even more complicated with the restricted time that the team will be in safety, and inevitably there’s further jeopardy when someone is injured.

The characters are developing some witty rapport – Spock’s pep talk to Uhura is particularly fun – and it’s hard to believe that we’re only two episodes in. And while the spatial anomaly has been done to death in this franchise (Discovery used one for the whole of its most recent season), I’d wager that you won’t necessarily work out all the twists in advance. The episode may be restricted to just two locations (Enterprise and comet) but you won’t feel short-changed, and the visual effects are superb.

Verdict: ‘Sometimes things go so badly, you just have to laugh.’ But in the case of this episode, when things go so well, you have to applaud. 8/10

Nick Joy