Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' latest installment, Season 4, Episode 7, "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass," presents a narrative that struggles to balance a protracted gimmick with a deeply affecting exploration of Captain Pike's personal tragedy. While the episode initially dedicates significant runtime to a "soap opera" conceit, it ultimately delivers some of the most compelling scenes for Captain Pike in the season.
The episode's primary diversion is the return of Trelane, a Q-like entity previously encountered in "Wedding Bell Blues." This time, Trelane traps the Enterprise crew within a melodramatic soap opera, complete with exaggerated acting and plotlines. This stylistic choice, while perhaps intended as a novel concept, is described as a "waste of what precious little time we have left with Strange New Worlds." The review notes that the soap opera approach is unsustainable for a full episode, leading the narrative to pivot back to more traditional Star Trek storytelling approximately 36 minutes in.
This shift allows the episode to delve into Captain Pike's ongoing grief over the loss of his lover, Marie Batel, and the life they might have shared. Anson Mount delivers a powerful performance as Pike confronts his past and the phantom life he experienced, including a daughter who never existed but felt real to him. His interactions with the ship's counselor, portrayed by soap opera veteran Deidre Hall, are highlighted as particularly poignant, underscoring the emotional weight of his losses. This character-driven segment is seen as a "great Captain Pike story" that was unfortunately "under-serviced" by the preceding gimmick.
Trelane's role in "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass" is further criticized. Positioned as a passive observer, he has little impact on the unfolding events, including Pike's confrontation with his subconscious. The character is depicted as a less compelling imitation of his original appearance in The Original Series episode "The Squire of Gothos."
The episode also touches on the lingering implications of Spock and La'an's relationship. A scene between La'an and Spock after the "soap opera" interlude offers a somber reflection on their breakup. La'an perceives a hint of the more human Spock she needed in an alternate version of him, while the real Spock remains more stoic and seemingly unable to fully process her post-breakup struggles. This moment is also praised for its strong acting.
Furthermore, the episode features an unexpected appearance of Sybok, Spock's brother, albeit in an imagined context. The review questions the necessity of this inclusion, particularly given the anticipation for a proper onscreen interaction between the younger Spock and Sybok, a possibility hinted at in Season 1. As Strange New Worlds progresses, the limited time remaining for such developments is noted.