22 Years Later: Star Trek Reboots with Genre Mash-Up

In the latest episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, titled “Shuttle to Kenfori,” the series takes a dark turn as it revisits the Klingon War storyline that was a central focus in earlier seasons. This time, Captain Pike and Dr. M’Benga find themselves facing the aftermath of the war, including a confrontation with a war criminal named Dak’Rah.

But the most surprising element of the episode is the introduction of zombies into the Star Trek universe. For the first time since 2003, the franchise has dared to tackle this famous horror trope in a live-action format. This move is a big deal for Star Trek fans, as it adds a new layer of suspense and excitement to the series.

While some might be surprised by the inclusion of zombies in Star Trek, the franchise has a long history of exploring horror concepts. From salt vampires to sci-fi insane asylums, Star Trek has always embraced the darker side of science fiction. In fact, director Jonathan Frakes once described Star Trek: First Contact as “kind of a horror movie in many ways.”

In the new episode, titled “Shuttle to Kenfori,” Pike and M’Benga find themselves on a mission to retrieve a rare plant that could save a fellow crew member’s life. However, their plans are derailed when they encounter Klingons and zombies on an alien planet. While M’Benga is hesitant to label the infected individuals as zombies, Pike’s love for old-school pulp movies shines through as he refers to them as such.

Interestingly, this is not the first time zombies have made an appearance in Star Trek. In the Enterprise episode “Impulse,” the crew encounters Vulcan zombies who have been affected by a mysterious ore. This earlier episode delved into the idea of even the logical Vulcans succumbing to zombie-like behavior, adding a new layer of horror to the series.

In “Shuttle to Kenfori,” the focus remains on M’Benga’s personal story, intertwining his Season 2 history with the ongoing conflict between humans and Klingons. While the zombies add a thrilling element to the episode, it is M’Benga’s character development that truly shines through. As the crew navigates the dangers of the Klingon War and the unexpected threat of zombies, M’Benga emerges as the true hero of the story.

If you’re a fan of Star Trek or just enjoy a good sci-fi thriller, be sure to catch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ for all the action-packed drama and suspense.