“A Quality of Mercy” was a fantastic bookend to the debut season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and a haunting mirror of the season premiere reminding us that it’s called “destiny” for a reason — sometimes, you just can’t escape your fate.

We open as Enterprise works a resupply mission to the Romulan Neutral Zone, accompanied by the USS Cayuga under Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), last seen leaving Pike’s wintery cabin back in the premiere. It’s nice to see her back, even if she doesn’t seem to have a story-related purpose in the opening moments beyond reminding us of her existence.

The more important moment comes when Captain Pike (Anson Mount) finds that the son of Outpost 4’s station commander Hansen Al-Salah (Ali Hassan) is none other than one of the cadets he’ll see die in his future Delta radiation disaster — a cold slap that rocks Pike’s usually-calm on-duty demeanor.

Determined find a way to save the kid from the coming disaster, Pike begins to draft a letter to young Maat Al-Salah (Chris River) to warn him about what’s to come…. and that’s when an older, world-weary Admiral Pike appears to the captain, claiming to be a version of himself from the future where his letter has caused a ripple effect which saved Christopher Pike — but brought a disastrous impact to the Federation at large.

After proving he is, in fact an older version of our Enterprise captain, Admiral Pike explains that he’s come back in time to prevent a disastrous turn of history — one that is, apparently, the fault of our Pike surviving the training accident. The Klingon monks of Boreth (last seen in “Through the Valley of Shadows”) have once again granted access to a time crystal, allowing Admiral Pike the chance to come back and warn our captain about what’ll happen if he tries to get out of his dark destiny — by thrusting him into his own “healthy” future to see how things go wrong in other, unexpected ways.

Pike finds himself quantum-leaping into his 2266-era self, landing right in the middle of an all-too-familiar wedding ceremony which is thankfully interrupted by a red alert siren — but to any Original Series fan who recognizes his surroundings, this isn’t just another call to battlestations: we’re about to find out what happens when Captain Kirk isn’t around to lead Starfleet’s first Romulan encounter… as Captain Pike steps into “Balance of Terror.”

The idea that Strange New Worlds might try to “remake” Original Series episodes in a way that erases or minimizes the classic Trek series has been debated in fan circles since the show was first announced, but what “A Quality of Mercy” brought us — showing us what happens when this crew gets put through the paces, without impacting any of the work the 1960’s cast and creatives put into “Balance of Terror” — is probably the best way the concept could have been handled.

It’s also great to see a similar approach is applied to the visuals, staging, camera moves, and the performances, from the addition of gold rank braids on everyone’s Starfleet uniforms, to the familiar sight of now-Lieutenant Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) in a classic-style uniform (and wearing Nichelle Nichols’ green hoop earrings), to Spock (Ethan Peck) having a more stoic persona (and a much tidier haircut) — and that push-in to Spock’s eyebrow-raising surprise at the sight of Romulan ears is a great return to the exact same moment in “Balance of Terror.”

The key difference here is Pike’s presence: instead of bringing Captain Kirk’s determined, decisive leadership to this incredibly-tense scenario, Pike’s peacetime persona (combined with his arrival to this unfamiliar era) leaves him unsure in the critical moment. He knows this is the inflexion point of the timeline, but how? It’s a little contrived — surely the actual Pike of 2266 would not be so unsure of himself, but I think it gives the whole thing such a stark difference.

It’s even apparent when the two plots go over the same ground, such as when the Enterprise returns to the recently-attacked Outpost Four. Pike’s apprehension around the mysterious aggressors is obvious, even as the Romulan Bird of Prey emerges from its cloak to destroy the station. It’s just as chilling as the original story, but this is also the point where the plots diverge, as Enterprise is joined by a sudden ally — Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) of the USS Farragut.

It’s a surprise twist to this episode, and a good one (though unfortunately spoiled by the opening credits). We’ve known for months that Wesley was coming aboard as Captain Kirk for Strange New Worlds Season 2, but giving us this ‘sneak preview’ of his performance — albeit one from seven years into an alternate future — was a wonderful surprise.

And honestly? His Kirk is good! It feels like Jim Kirk! It’s also very fun seeing Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) describe his brother in the classic tropes: studious charming and risk-taking. “He doesn’t like to lose” is such an obvious allusion to what we know of Jim from The Wrath of Khan that you can’t help but smile. There have certainly been some points where all the winking and nudging that Strange New Worlds has done this season started to become a bit annoying, but here it really works. (After all, Jim Kirk is the origin of so many Trek tropes that he’s earned it.)

Kirk comes aboard, we get to run through even another classic “Balance of Terror” moment, the “end run” around a nearby comet — but this version lacks the decisiveness of the original scenario, thanks to Pike’s role as Enterprise captain. His determination to bring the Romulans to the negotiation table is a perfect comparison with Kirk’s plan in both the original and alternate timeline. It fits with the Pike we’ve come to know so well: he is more contemplative than Kirk, and more willing to press for dialogue — but he’s also one to sometimes agonize over decisions rather than jump to make a snap call in the moment.

This is made immediately apparent when, after maneuvering around the comet, the Romulans are predictably nowhere to be found. Instead of reacting instinctively — as Kirk does in “Balance of Terror” — Pike holds which gives the Bird of Prey its opening to cripple the Farragut. Enterprise takes a bad hit too, severely damaging her weapon systems. It is interesting to see here the direct difference between Pike and Kirk in this moment, as it appears Pike simply doesn’t have the same kind of tactical instincts of Jim Kirk.

They’re just two very different types of starship captains, and here they pay the price for their differences — with the lives of Starfleet officers. Kirk isn’t happy, and his confrontation with Pike is positively brilliant; for the first time, we see Kirk lambasting an ineffective superior officer from the other side of the coin — and he’s right. If Pike hadn’t hesitated, the Romulans might not have attacked. Wesley plays it excellently, and he shines as Jim Kirk without resorting to a Shatner impression.

With both Enterprise and the Bird of Prey crippled, Pike makes the Pike gesture: he opens a channel to the Romulans, offering a chance for a two-hour ceasefire. The Romulan Commander (Matthew MacFadzean) takes some persuasion, but he eventually agrees in a gambit to repair his ship during the pause. Even as both crews set to work repairing their damaged engines and weapons, Pike can’t help but feel that something worse is to come, even when Kirk suggests a reinforcement ruse. Pike agrees, but his focus is still on peace —  the speech he gives to the Romulan Commander about the possibility of friendship is hits almost all the same beats as the stellar speech in the first episode.

He has no chance, though; the devious Romulan Subcommander (Mathieu Bourassa) — named Decius in “Balance of Terror” — called for backup through his own influential connections we heard about in that classic episode, which arrive in the form of a massive fleet lead by none other than the Romulan Praetor (Carolyn Scott) herself. She’s not interested in talking, and actually considers the parlay itself to be a sign of weakness — one that means the Federation is ripe for invasion.

Whatever cards Pike plays, from Kirk’s surprise ‘Starfleet reinforcements’ — in fact, robotic mining ships from the Neutral Zone outposts — to the reveal that Starfleet knows about the Romulan cloaking device, the Praetor isn’t stopping. He can’t charm them into peace the same way he charmed the people of Kiley 279. The Romulans were determined to start a war, and succeeded, and there was nothing Pike could do about it.

Even with Kirk using the drone ships to protect the Enterprise, Pike cannot avoid disaster: the Romulans have smelt blood and have now declared war on the Federation. The worst is to come, though, as the Romulan fleet’s parting shots caused significant damage to the Enterprise — as well as its Vulcan first officer, leaving Spock incredibly injured. Pike finds him in sickbay under the eye of a devastated Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush), with Spock’s body burned and broken, and his mind damaged beyond repair — Pike has saved himself, but Spock has paid the price.

Admiral Pike returns, teasing a bit more of what is to follow this disastrous experience: the war with the Romulans will last for decades, and Spock — who will, in “real” history, leave a centuries-long legacy from reunifying the Vulcan and Romulan civilizations, not to mention help to save Earth from both V’Ger’s arrival and Whale Probe destruction and negotiating peace with the Klingon Empire — won’t be around to help. (“He’s got places to be,” says Admiral Pike. Don’t we know it!)

Pike does get one last gift from his trip into the future, though: a chance to sit down with Jim Kirk and get to know the man who will eventually take the reins of the Enterprise. We never knew exactly why Kirk was assigned to take over the Enterprise after Captain Pike left the ship (beyond his Starfleet aptitude), so this may be the first step of Pike lining up his successor.

He’s decided to commit to his own fate, but at the same time leave his starship in the capable hands of someone he knows can guide the Enterprise and her crew into the future.

Returning to his own time in 2259, Christopher Pike has finally accepted with his destiny: while he may suffer when the time comes, the consequences of avoiding that outcome are too big to ignore — and he chooses to enjoy the time he’s got with the crew he loves, including Spock, who can sense that his captain has done something for which the Vulcan owes him a great debt. (One which he will repay through the events of “The Menagerie,” no doubt.)

All is well aboard the Enterprise, but the season won’t end there: Captain Batel returns with an urgent assignment to arrest Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn). It seems news of the Enterprise first officer’s Illyrian heritage, revealed back in “Ghosts of Illyria,” has made its way to Starfleet Command, and they are not happy about it.

He tries to stop the security officers from taking Number One away, but Una asks her captain to stand down — but knowing Christopher Pike, this fight is just getting started. It’s a twist that I really don’t think we needed here, and one that rips Pike right out of his personal moment of peace just to set up what’s coming when the show returns next year.

If they were really determined to end with this, the cliffhanger would have worked much better if they’d moved it to a mid-credits or post-credits position in the edit: let Captain Pike have his “happy ending,” let us viewers catch our breath, then give us the setup tease for Season 2.

OBSERVATION LOUNGE

• Admiral Pike wears a modernized version of the Wrath of Khan-era “Monster Maroon” Starfleet uniform, blended somewhat with the Strange New Worlds duty uniform. The alternate-future design seen here features embossed leather paneling, a slightly-different closing clasp, and a variety of “pip and squeak” rank badges. (Robert Fletcher would be proud.)
   
• Though mentioned in “Balance of Terror” and in “Conspiracy,” this is the first time we’ve actually seen the Federation-side Neutral Zone outposts.
   
• Captain Batel’s ship, the USS Cayuga, is another Constitution-esque ship similar to the crashed USS Peregrine seen last week.
   
• The couple being married in the cargo bay — here credited as simply “Groom” (Ian Rayburn) and “Bride” (Megha Sandhu) — are clearly meant to be Robert Tomlinson and Angela Martine who Captain Kirk nearly married in “Balance of Terror.” The couple seems to be cursed in all timelines, it seems: Tomlinson died in “Balance of Terror,” Martine was killed in “A Quality of Mercy,” and they both died at Krall’s hand in Star Trek Beyond.

• The Enterprise’s lighting, sound effects and visuals have been significantly altered to bring the ship close to its “Balance of Terror” appearance; the bridge lighting has been lowered, and certain computer noises have also had their volume increased. The exterior of the ships remains untouched, however — in Captain Pike’s alternate future, the warp nacelles still lacking the round caps at the rear they would gain after “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
   
• Most of the dialogue spoken before Captain Pike hails the Romulans is taken directly from “Balance of Terror,” with some lines here handed off to Dr. M’Benga, and Lt. Stiles‘ push to attack handed off to Lt. Ortegas. (Thankfully, Stiles’ anti-Vulcan bigotry didn’t carry over.)
   
• Christopher Pike is now the only Federation officer (that we know of) to understand the truth behind the Romulan species: they’re a divergent race who originated from planet Vulcan. Not revealed to the rest of the galaxy until “Balance of Terror” in 2266, it will be interesting to see if this knowledge comes to use in future Strange New Worlds stories.

• Captain Kirk’s starship, the USS Farragut, is finally seen for the first time; with its underslung warp nacelles, it appears to be a smaller predecessor to the Miranda-class design first seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Her internals (redress of the Enterprise bridge) are also slightly different, with blues and bronze highlights instead of the blacks and reds of the Enterprise.
   
• In this alternate future, Spock has taken the first officer role after Una’s “deception” and exile; La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) has let her hair down and now serves as Number One to Captain Kirk aboard the Farragut, and there’s no sign of either Lt. Sulu or Dr. McCoy aboard the Enterprise.

• Nurse Chapel and the rest of the Enterprise medical staff wear pale blue jumpsuits in the Romulan encounter future, an era-appropriate color change which leaves the white “present day” medical outfits in the pre-Original Series past.
   
• Like in “Balance of Terror,” we don’t learn the name of the Bird of Prey’s Romulan commander — but in a nod to their Next Generation-and-beyond look, these TOS-era Romulans now sport brow ridges and more refined uniforms and helmets.
   
• Unlike Commodore Oh’s fleet at the end of Star Trek: Picard’s first season, this Romulan armada contains a large variety of different vessel shapes and sizes.
   
• The song which plays over Pike’s return to duty is “Makin’ Memories” by Melissa Carper.

• While working in a Jeffries tube to repair the ship’s weapon systems, Spock is assisted by an unseen engineer with a rather distinct accent and demeanor. Sure, the credit just calls the red-shirted mystery man “Engineer,” but I know an Aberdeen pub crawler when I hear one!
   
• In their final discussion, Captain Kirk tells Pike about his father George, who served as first officer of USS Kelvin before heading to Iowa where Jim grew up (before moving to Tarsus IV). This is the first time the “prime universe” story of George Kirk has been told since we learned about the Kelvin in the 2009 Star Trek film — confirming his tenure aboard that ship occurred in both universes — but unlike in the Kelvin Timeline, “our” Kirk family (and the Federation at large) never encountered a dangerous Romulan from the future, the Kelvin was not destroyed, and George Kirk was not killed in action, allowing him to raise his sons Jim and Sam.

“A Quality of Mercy” is a very good ending to a very decent season of Star Trek. It gives us a definitive answer to whether Pike can escape his fate, while also providing a difficult foil to Pike’s own worldview. He can’t talk his way out of a war with the Romulans; it is, in fact, his presence as captain of the Enterprise that presages war in the first place. He is not the right man for that moment — but he’s the right man in the center seat for this moment.

Considering how this season began — with Pike preventing war through words, and actions of trust — seeing him being placed inside his own personal Kobayashi Maru test is great. It’s not perfect; I felt like some of the middle of the episode dragged slightly, and the weird conference call section between Pike, Kirk, the Romulan Commander, and the Praetor was incredibly clunky — but I can put those aside to celebrate the good story this episode brought us.

There is, of course, the big million-credit question: can Paul Wesley do justice to James T. Kirk? The answer to this viewer is a resounding yes. He’s got the stance, the piercing stare, the slight smile, and the delicate cadence.

Years of seeing other people play Kirk in fan films or in parodies with over-the-top William Shatner impressions make it difficult to see it take a while for me to feel out Wesley’s subtle performance — unlike Chris Pine, who very correctly plays his Kirk as a very different person in the Kelvin Timeline films, Wesley (like Ethan Peck before him) is challenged to bring that classic Kirk to life by channeling Shatner’s 1966 portrayal.

It is still the same Jim Kirk though; charming, erudite, but passionate — and I’m looking forward to seeing where this new-yet-old version of Jim Kirk goes in Strange New Worlds Season 2.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ debut season has been interesting, after a great start and even after some odd (but not silly) choices made along the way. It’s never been dull, never redundant, and it always gives its viewers something to talk about. It has, however, been safe — very, very safe.

Despite how some may have reacted to its choices, Star Trek: Discovery took big risks from the jump, from its radical redesign of the Klingon species, its ‘visual reboot’ towards costume, set, and prop design, or centering its focus around a disgraced Starfleet officer.

The series just isn’t taking risks. Season One has been tropey to a point of constant lampshading, both in terms of plots and characters — but it’s done it well, using the strong performances of this cast to carry the weaker moments in ways other shows might have fallen flat.

I’m not saying that “no risk” equals “bad show,” but this is Star Trek — risk is our business! That’s what this franchise is about, and why we’re still aboard her! Here’s hoping that Season Two takes a few more leaps without a safety net when Strange New Worlds returns  next year.Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will return in 2023 for an already-filmed Season 2, currently in post-production. The last five episodes of Season 1 will continue to roll out to the UK and Ireland on Paramount+ this summer; additional international distribution has not yet been announced.