‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Recap – ‘Ghosts of Illyria’

Written by Shae Rufe

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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This week, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise are sent to Hetemit 9, a planet once filled with those known as the Illyrians. Illyrians are humanoids who just so happen to genetically modify themselves to better suit the environment in which they might encounter. This, ideally, gives them an advantage on different planets. Instead of having to terraform an entire planet, the Illyrians would adapt to the habitat instead. Thus, preventing any unnecessary harm to the planet and preserving it as is. Illyrian advancements may make them a superior species in a lot of ways, yet the unfortunate side effect of their chosen evolutionary path means they’re not welcome within Starfleet or the Federation. The Federation will not allow Illyrians into the union based solely on the fact that they’re genetically modified. It’s more than just a little racist, considering that not all Illyrians are alike. The Federation has its reasons, having had so many negative encounters with genetically modified individuals. Seems discrimination will always be a battle that must always be fought.

Hetemit 9 is abandoned and inhabitable due to the Ion storms that frequently ravage the planet’s surface. Still, the Illyrian colony was left without a proper evacuation, leaving many of its research findings, journals, and facilities intact. A small away team is sent to the surface to do their own research and see what they can find while on the planet. The Ion storm moves in a lot quicker than expected, and most of the crew make it back to the Enterprise with some difficulty. Pike and Spock get left behind, and the Enterprise is unable to beam them out as the Ion storm hits the colony head on, jamming all transporter functions and communications. At least they have shelter, for the time being, surely nothing is going to happen to them or the ship. If only things were that simple. Exploring strange new worlds has a tendency to have just a few bumps along the way. While Spock and Pike are trapped in the planet, the crew on the ship has to face a different threat.

A threat that just happens to be infecting the crew, one by one. Some mysterious disease is making the infected crave light to the point of self-harm. Whatever this is, it’s causing a severe vitamin D deficiency, to a detrimental level. Those who were on the planet initially seem to be the only ones affected, or so it seems. Una seems to be immune to whatever this is, which is very odd. At first, we think she’s the only one who is immune to this strange disease, that is until Uhura avoids infection after direct exposure. The secret with Uhura turns out to just be a brilliant discovery. While she was exposed to the same virus that seems to be hitting all the crew, she beat it by simply sleeping in the dark. That would be a quick fix, only this thing is too smart, and makes its hosts act irrationally. They’ll do anything to get the light they desperately crave.

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Hemmer actually tries to beam in a piece of the planet’s core to get the light he craves. Una is quick to knock him out and then carries him to Med Bay. La’an and Dr. M’Benga have a lot of questions about that. Una has even more questions, considering it could be M’Benga’s fault for not having his section of the ship’s medical scanners and biofilters updated to look for contaminants. That gets brushed under the rug, for the time being, when Una confesses to M’Benga that she’s an Illyrian. M’Benga takes the news relatively well, considering. She offers her own blood as a way to synthesize a cure for the crew. The problem is, her metabolism destroys the virus too quickly to even make antibodies. Shortly after, M’Benga is infected and needs to be sedated. It’s just La’an and Una, the rest of the crew is either unconscious in Med Bay or quarantined.

Meanwhile the Ion storm has gotten worse, it’s starting to break down the library Pike and Spock are hiding in. To make matters weirder, there are strange beings of energy out in the storm, one tries to get into the library, and even zaps Spock in the neck before they try to completely break in. Spock and Pike can’t hold them off, and the creatures break in just as the Ion storm does. The creatures do the unexpected and shield Spock and Pike from the storm, saving their lives, before they leave with the storm. It’s then that Spock discovers a document left behind by the Illyrians. They had stopped their research and genetic modifications in hopes of being able to join the Federation. It meant more to them to be a part of the United Federation of Planets than it did to continue their ongoing genetic alterations. They even learn that the creatures that saved them were once likely Illyrians.

On the ship, La’an decides to deactivate the Warp Core’s shields, she’s been violently infected with this virus and will not be stopped. Una does her best, but La’an is strong, which makes sense considering who her ancestor is. La’an does lose, eventually, after she shares her disappointment with Una for lying to her. Una manages to knock her out and absorb the radiation from the Warp Core. Because of their close proximity, La’an was able to get some of Una’s antibodies, because reasons and radiation, and whatnot. From that, Chapel makes an antidote and saves the crew. Pike and Spock get back on board and all is well. Una even tries to resign, and Pike refuses, as he should. Illyrians are misunderstood, and Pike sees that, sees the discrimination and won’t lose a perfectly great first officer because of it. Una is left to doubt some of his intentions, but she at least makes up with La’an and helps the Doctor atone for a bittersweet mistake.

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