Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 5 Review - An All-Time Great Episode Bodes Well For The Second Half Of The Season

Directed by Andi Armaganian and written by Onitra Johnson and Davy Perez, "Through the Lens of Time" opens with a log entry from Ensign Gamble (Chris Myers), finally offering more insight into the young medical officer who has popped up throughout the season. Gamble's wide-eyed excitement about working on the Enterprise is infectious, and the episode does a great job of making the viewer care about him as a character.

Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan) and Beto Ortegas (Mynor Luken) also return in "Through the Lens of Time," after making their debut in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, "Wedding Bell Blues." This week's episode focuses on Korby's newest archeological dig, as he's accompanied by a landing party led by Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush).

"Through The Lens Of Time" Explores A Fascinating New Alien World

Strange New Worlds Gets Back To Exploring, Well, Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds may excel at fun, self-referential episodes, but the show can still deliver an excellent story of exploration that feels every bit like classic Trek. When Korby, Chapel, and the landing party discover a massive underground temple on an alien planet, they set out to investigate, searching for ancient technology that may contain the secret to immortality.

The mission quickly turns dangerous when Ensign Gamble picks up an orb that explodes in his face. In a particularly gruesome injury, Gamble loses both of his eyes, prompting Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) to order the landing party to return to the ship. Before they can, however, the temple locks down, trapping them inside.

With its massive interior and shifting hallways, the temple defies logic, and the landing party is separated. Chapel and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) end up in one chamber, with Beto and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) in another, and Korby and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) in yet another.

They quickly figure out they can still communicate with one another, as they work to find a way out of the strange temple. "Through The Lens Of Time" doesn't spend much time establishing the alien world, but that only adds to the mystery, increasing the looming sense of dread that has been building since Gamble's injury.

While it may be a bit convenient that Korby and the landing party find just the right artifacts they need to later activate the structure within the temple, the episode has enough going on that this feels inconsequential. "Through The Lens Of Time" does a great job of building to its dramatic (and tragic) conclusion, while exploring some fascinating sci-fi ideas.

Strange New Worlds Continues To Explore New Romantic Relationships

Korby & Chapel, La'an & Spock & Uhura & Beto All Get Their Moments

So far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 has focused on exploring new romantic pairings. Although "Through the Lens of Time" focuses mostly on the plot, the episode finds time to explore romantic relationships among its couples.

Chapel and Korby continue to have great chemistry with one another, and a delightful scene early in the episode shows their similar sense of humor, hinting at why they work well together. Spock and La'an have apparently decided not to label their relationship, and Chapel and Spock continue to feel awkward around one another.

Erica Ortegas' (Melissa Navia) brother, Beto, remains adorably infatuated with Ensign Uhura, as their flirtatious relationship teased in "Wedding Bell Blues" continues. "Through the Lens of Time" puts all of these couples together in a dangerous situation full of unknowns, and the result is a fascinating exploration of their characters.

Before the mission even truly begins, "Through the Lens of Time" does a wonderful job highlighting how great these characters are with a handful of incredibly charming scenes. But after Gamble's horrific injury, the episode turns serious, delivering one of Strange New Worlds' darkest storylines so far.

A Terrifying New Threat To The Federation & A Devastating Death

"If Any Of Those Things Ever Escape That Well Down There, God Help Us All"

Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) works to treat Ensign Gamble, but his injury continues to resist treatment. Before long, Gamble changes, revealing that he has been possessed by a foreign (and apparently malevolent) entity known as the Vezda. When Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) arrives in sickbay complaining of migraines, the Gorn DNA inside of her has a strong reaction to the Vezda now possessing the brain-dead Gamble.

Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) also reacts strongly to the Vezda, saying that they are incredibly old and give her the "heebee-jeebees." The Vezda possessing Gamble tries to take over the Enterprise before Pelia and Lt. Scotty (Martin Quinn) trap it in the Enterprise transporter buffer. But the episode's final scene suggests that this will not be the last we see of the Vezda.

"Through the Lens of Time" gives almost every character something to do and advances several major storylines, while also presenting a story that's riveting from start to finish. With truly alien technology, genuine danger, and a terrifying new enemy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 delivers an incredibly tense episode that might just be the best of the season so far.