5 Things to remember from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 before chapter 3 premieres

With Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 set to premiere on July 17, 2025, the galaxy’s most beloved crew is back to continue their five-year mission — and all signs point to an even more thrilling ride. According to reports, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the most-watched show within the franchise and has already been renewed for 5 seasons. With every season, the show will be approaching its endgame.

Season 3 will pick up directly after the Gorn conflict cliffhanger, and the trailer teases unexpected twists — from classic Holodeck adventures to a whodunit-style murder mystery episode. As Season 3 tracks at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes in early reviews, here are 5 key things to remember from Season 2 before jumping into Chapter 3:

Here are the 5 key things to remember from Season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ahead of the release of Season 3

Number One’s identity crisis

Una Chin-Riley, aka Number One, was arrested after it was revealed she’s an Illyrian, a genetically modified human, violating Starfleet's strict ban. She faces trial further, which sparks intense debates around inclusion, personal identity, and Starfleet ethics. Her story leaves a lasting impact on the Enterprise even after, with the support of the crew, she is ultimately reinstated.

The Gorn threat reaches a boiling point

The Gorn, first seen in Season 1, emerge as a formidable, terrifying enemy, unlike the campy lizard from classic Trek. Season 2 ends with a major Gorn ambush leading to several Enterprise crew members being captured. This has raised the stakes for season 3 as Starfleet is still hesitant to provoke a full-blown war, putting Pike in a moral dilemma: obey orders, or save his crew?

La’an’s emotional time-travel arc with Kirk

Security chief La’an Noonien-Singh falls for James T. Kirk in an alternate timeline during a time-travel mission. The timeline is then reset, leaving La'an with emotional scars and a memory of what could've been, which adds a layer to the character. This adds some vulnerability to her tough exterior as she still remembers everything and suggests towards some unsolved feelings which might resurface in season 3.

The franchise’s first Holodeck adventure

Season 3 is set to introduce the Holodeck, a fan-favourite concept later popularised in The Next Generation. Most viewers associate it with TNG, while the Holodeck actually appeared in the 1974 animated episode "Practical Joker." The new season teaser suggests that the Enterprise crew will fully explore its possibilities, including a Holodeck murder mystery episode that blends fun with suspense.

The show is approaching the endgame

Star Trek: Strange New World will have 5 seasons, and with each season, the show is supposed to move towards the endgame. Despite a minor critical dip in Season 2, Strange New Worlds continues to dominate in critical acclaim and fan adoration. Season 2 was a mental roller coaster ride, diving deep into personal traumas, growth, and relationships of each crew member. Every character is shown on their own path, but united as a crew.

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The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season ends with a massive cliffhanger, with the Gorn launching a surprise attack. Therefore, the finale leaves fans with major unanswered questions: Who survived the Gorn ambush? Will Pike disobey orders? What is Gorn’s endgame? How will the crew recover from this trauma?

All these set the tone for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.

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