Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 4, Episode 9, "Once La'An a Time," continues the show's trend of "concept episodes" by revisiting a storyline from Season 1's "The Elysian Kingdom." This time, the focus shifts to Lieutenant Commander La'An Noonien Singh's internal struggles, as she confronts her darker impulses within a fantastical narrative.
Christina Chong delivers a typically strong performance as La'An, particularly in scenes where the normally stoic character attempts to express emotion. The episode, written by Onitra Johnson and directed by Sydney Freeland, eventually brings La'An's arc to a resolved state after she faces a literal manifestation of herself. The narrative also includes the Enterprise facing off against a dragon, a moment reminiscent of the fantastical scenarios found in The Original Series, enhanced by modern visual effects.
However, the reliance on a previous season's concept is a point of contention. The review suggests that revisiting "The Elysian Kingdom" feels less like an innovative idea and more like a "derivative rehash." The episode's narrative structure sees Captain Pike, portrayed by Anson Mount, sidelined for much of the story, acting as his alter ego, Sir Amand Rauth, while the "real" Pike is confined to a painting. Similarly, Paul Wesley returns as Prince Dashing, who is revealed to be a werewolf, but this plot thread reportedly amounts to little. The ongoing romance between La'An and Kirk is also noted, with questions raised about its canonical coherence.
The episode does offer some notable moments, including the personal touch of Christina Chong's real-life dog, Runa Ewok, appearing as the character Runa. It also subtly connects to Deep Space Nine's "Far Beyond the Stars" by referencing Benny Russell as the author of "The Kingdom of Elysian," establishing him as a real person within the Star Trek universe.
Despite these elements, "Once La'An a Time" is described as more "annoying than anything else" by the review, which argues that the show is using its limited 10-episode seasons on characters acting out of character. The conclusion is that the episode, while containing a few good moments, is largely an "empty vessel" that "creeps to the finish line" of Season 4, leaving viewers to anticipate the season finale.