6 Ups And 3 Downs From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3.6 — The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail

9. DOWN — Risk Is Our Reference

Star Trek Strange New Worlds The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail Chapel Scotty
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Any prequel is a perilous venture. A prequel set within photon torpedo range of The Original Series is dangerous affair even Kirk might think twice to avoid. On the whole, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has found success as a predecessor, a more than worthy run-up to what comes next. The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail dared just a little too much to prefigure. Not unlike this paragraph, it contained one too many 'Greatest Line' to be savvy.

"It's like she's allergic to risk," says Commander Kirk of Captain V'Rel in his personal log as the episode opens. "She wants to do everything by the book," he adds. We all know what the first refers to. The second is notably a nod (also via a Vulcan or two) to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

The risk of "risk is our business" (before the fact) is later compounded when Kirk notes that "rousing speeches aren't exactly [his] forte". The look on Nurse Chapel's face in response is almost to suggest, 'but, sir, haven't you seen Star Trek?' Finally, all things have an origin, but "perform some miracles" to Scotty was a miraculous nod too far.

Contributor
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Jack has been a content creator for TrekCulture since 2022, and a Star Trek fan for as long as he can remember. He has authored over 170 articles, including one of TrekCulture's longest, and has appeared several times on the TrekCulture podcast. He holds a first-class honours degree in French from the University of Sussex, a master's with distinction in Language, Culture and History: French and Francophone Studies and a PhD in French from University College London (UCL). He has previously worked in the field of translation. His interests extend to science-fiction television and film more widely. His favourite series is Star Trek: Voyager, followed closely by Stargate SG-1.