Melissa Navia, who plays Lieutenant Erica Ortegas on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, is braver than you think. Lieutenant Ortegas was one of the brand-new characters in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and viewers looked forward to getting to know Melissa Navia's Erica Ortegas through a character-building episode. Unfortunately, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 didn't have an Ortegas-centric episode, so learning more about Ortegas would have to wait until Strange New Worlds season 2. When Strange New Worlds' second season finally aired, however, an episode that fully centered on Erica Ortegas wasn't part of it.
There seemed to be a very good reason for the lack of Lieutenant Ortegas in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, since Melissa Navia's partner passed away in December 2021, not long before filming on Strange New Worlds' second season began. This unexpected tragedy could have put a damper on production of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, but Melissa Navia still came to work while grieving the loss of her partner, Brian Bannon. Erica Ortegas was still very much a part of Strange New Worlds, even if in an apparently limited capacity.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Melissa Navia Explains Erica Ortegas' Season 2 Screentime
"No Scripts Were Changed"
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Melissa Navia addressed the lack of Lt. Erica Ortegas' screentime in Strange New Worlds season 2 during a panel at Creation's Trek to Chicago convention. It's true that Navia was grieving while Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was undergoing principal photography, but Strange New Worlds' writers never had to alter course. Storylines and scripts for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 did not have to be changed to accommodate Navia by giving Ortegas less to do, because Melissa Navia truly wanted to be on set with her "support group". Navia said at Trek to Chicago:
Melissa Navia: "People were saying the reason there was less Ortegas in season 2 was because I needed time to grieve. That's not the case. Going back to work and going back to set was the most amazing thing. The crew was extraordinary. ... I couldn't have asked for a better support group than Strange New Worlds. No scripts were changed."
The fact there's no alternate version of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 that had different screen time for Ortegas is an impressive testament to Navia's bravery and the strength of the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast and crew. With the Strange New Worlds team's support, Melissa Navia showed up and brought Erica Ortegas to life in Strange New Worlds season 2, exactly as it was intended to be, without any script changes. And even without a singular Ortegas episode, Strange New Worlds' second season revealed more about Ortegas' Starfleet career as a pilot and a Federation-Klingon War veteran.
Melissa Navia Promises More Lt. Ortegas in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
After Not Making The Cut, Strange New Worlds Season 3 Can Feature Lt. Ortegas
During the Trek to Chicago panel, Melissa Navia promised that Lieutenant Ortegas would have more screen time in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, compared to Strange New Worlds' first 2 seasons. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 was written before season 1 was even released, so it's possible the writers hadn't expected how popular Erica Ortegas would be, and held off on a season 2 Ortegas episode. Fortunately, that's changed. As Navia explains, "The fans want more Ortegas and the writers have heard it. If you're a fan of Ortegas, you're gonna be a fan of season 3."
Star Trek has changed from the days of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its 90s spin-off shows, when a slate of 26 episodes per season meant that each individual character could have their turn in the spotlight. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seeks to emulate that episodic storytelling style, but having only ten episodes per season makes it difficult to devote a story to every member of Strange New Worlds' ensemble cast, and Ortegas just didn't make the cut. Hopefully, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 will change that with opportunities to know Melissa Navia's Erica Ortegas better.
