6 Ups & 4 Downs From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3.3 — Shuttle To Kenfori

8. UP — You Want Mortegas, You Got Mortegas

This is the season of Erica Ortegas. Three hasn't been the happiest for the helm officer, but it is giving fans what they have been clamouring for. This is no fan service that would do disservice to the character. So far, the Gorn and post-Gorn storyline for Ortegas has been handled with depth and compassion. It is more than a little intriguing to see more than a little insubordination.

Things start off well for Ortegas. She is the one to recommend the "secondary scan of Section Eight" that reveals the Klingon battlecruiser. Her success turns to frustration, however, as Una decides to "sit tight". Later, in the ready room, Ortegas questions Una more brazenly. "Yeah, that won't work for me."

Later still, and back on the bridge, Ortegas deliberately increases speed so that the Klingons will detect the Enterprise, forcing Una's hand. She openly, and angrily, contradicts the commander whilst she is in the middle of giving orders.

Whilst we, the audience, know (from the end of last week's episode) that something more is going on than just excessive disagreement, the crew do not. Ortegas' internalised emotions are slowly simmering over to the exterior. Things have not yet reached boiling point. Melissa Navia plays the balance between Ortegas' inner- and outer-conflict brilliantly. We can only wait to see what happens next.