Funny / Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

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Being Lighter and Softer than its sister shows, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has much more lighthearted comedy to enjoy.

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Season One

Episode 1: Strange New Worlds

• When Spock accepts T'Pring's proposal of marriage, they kiss. While they're in a restaurant on Vulcan, and the waiter immediately gets uncomfortable. (Well, as uncomfortable as a Vulcan would get, anyway.)
  Waiter: I'm going to have to ask you two to do that somewhere else. Please.
  T'Pring: What an excellent idea.
• If T'Pring's wit were a blade, Spock would have bled to death before ever leaving Vulcan.
  • When Pike calls just as Spock and T'Pring were about to consummate their engagement:
    Pike: Are you naked?
    Spock: No, sir.
    T'Pring: No, Chris, he is not. He was about to be.
  • When Spock accepts the assignment:
    Spock: Matrimony and duty. The two will complement each other.
    T'Pring: I remain skeptical.
• When Pike, Spock and La'an arrive on-world, the first words out of Spock's mouth are "Captain, where are my pants?". Turns out they gave Spock shorts for his disguise.
• The crew is forced to knock out a pair of Kiley scientists and beam them up to the Enterprise under sedation. One of them wakes up and, taking in what has happened, understandably freaks out and bolts, forcing Nurse Chapel to chase after him.
  Chapel: I know you're scared. It's not what you think!
  Scientist: What is this? [ducks into a turbolift, which then leaves]
  Chapel: Well, maybe it is a little bit...
  • Upon this development being announced, the crew is not particularly concerned. Ortegas seems to be mostly frustrated that she is missing out on the fun because she has to sit in the Captain's chair and be in command.
  • Oh, and the situation is referred to as a "Delta Scorpii Seven". That, plus Ortegas' annoyed "Always when I'm in the captain's chair" suggests that this isn't the first time this has happened.
  • During the foot chase, Chapel accidentally knocks down two crewmembers as she sprints past. They are, naturally, Red Shirts.
• As Uhura and the escaped Kiley scientist discuss a tagball game he was present at while their turbolift car makes its way to the Bridge, Nurse Chapel comes in from out of nowhere and sedates him.
  Ortegas: (sarcastically) Welcome to the Enterprise.
• Upon beaming down, Pike has this to say about their surroundings:
  Pike: Why is it always an alley?
• As Pike, La'an and Spock are riding an elevator down (complete with Muzak), one of the scientists takes notice of Pike and it appears that they both like what they see. And then she notices Spock's ear beginning to revert to its natural Vulcan shape, leading Pike to hurriedly shuffle Spock out of sight.
• "Captain, the pain — it is unbearable." Only Spock can say that in a convincing deadpan. And then follow it up by grabbing his ears and letting loose a long, painful scream before suddenly stopping as he fully reverts back to his true appearance, while nonchalantly adding, "That's better."
• Pike decides to reveal himself to the Kileans, and sticks to the classics:
  Pike (wan smile): Take me to your leader.
• Pike beams down between hostile, arguing parties, and awkwardly says "Hi...sorry to interrupt."
• When informed by Admiral April that the Federation Council is considering changing the name of General Order One to the Prime Directive, Pike is skeptical:
  Pike: Well, that'll never stick.

Episode 2: Children of the Comet

• The episode begins by revealing that Uhura's been invited to a dinner with Pike and the other officers, and Ortegas suggested she wear her dress uniform. Uhura steps out of the turbolift all nice and proper... and Ortegas is standing there in civvies. Turns out Ortegas was doing a little hazing. Just to rub it in, Ortegas says that it's now too late to change. When Pike sees her, he just chuckles at a joke he's seen many times before. And to top it all off, Pike answers the door in even more informal garb, wearing a recently stained kitchen apron.
• Hemmer predicts Uhura's question about the psychic visions of his people not through precognition, as Uhara assumes, but because of a case of Never Heard That One Before.
  Uhura: Uh, I've read that, among many things, the Aenar have a form of precognitive ability.
  Hemmer: I knew you were going to ask that.
  Uhura: Because you sensed my question before I asked it?
  Hemmer: Because everyone always asks that.
• While discussing with the crew about what to do about the comet, Pike takes a moment to compliment Kirk on his mustache, and Sam responds by jokingly suggesting the captain try one for himself. Uhura can only side-eye them incredulously.
  • One for the shippers: Uhura gives the same side-eye whenever she notices Spock and Chapel flirting. Extrapolate from that however you will.
• Sam Kirk ignores the first rule of what to do around weird glowy things and gets sent flying across the room, knocked unconscious and left sprawled out in much the same pose that the audience saw his corpse in during the original series.
• Spock tries to cheer Uhura up:
  Spock: Your humming suggests you may be experiencing distress. May I remind you that circumstances are less dire than they were. Mr. Kirk identified one error you can avoid. By eliminating that option, he has improved your odds.
  Uhura: Was that actually your version of a pep talk?
  Spock: Yes, I've been working on them.
  Uhura: ...Yeah, I wouldn't take your foot off the gas on that one.
• Faced with a comet about to smack into a planet, Captain Pike reacts thusly:
  Pike: We've got a planet to save before breakfast. [turns to Number One] I love this job!
• The Enterprise encounters a new species that calls themselves the "Shepherds". Pike can't believe it and asks his communications officer if there's a translation error.
  Shepherd Captain: We are the Shepherds.
  Pike: Really?
• Uhura is rather put out by Spock's Brutal Honesty about their dire situation with the Shepherds, and lets him know about it. Pike's response?
  "She's got a point, Spock."
• Spock is... Spock.
  Spock: I find the best way to defuse tension is to apply rigorous logic.

Episode 3: Ghosts of Illyria

• Hemmer's Deadpan Snarker nature really gets to shine.
  Una: Hemmer, did you find anything?
  Hemmer: Of course. That's why I'm wandering the ship in the middle of the night running diagnostics. For fun.
• Spock's use of a human metaphor leaves much to be desired.
  Spock: A watched kettle never boils.
  Pike: It's uh... a pot, Spock.
• Una effortlessly hefting an unconscious Hemmer over one shoulder to get him medical attention is the culmination of a series of events letting the viewer know there's definitely more to Una than meets the eye. When she arrives, though, it also momentarily distracts Nurse Chapel from the ongoing crisis.
  Chapel: How in the exact hell are you carrying him?
  Una: Never mind.
• While Una and M'Benga talk about the former's Illyrian biology, M'Benga starts to show symptoms of the sickness, Una has to stop him from touching a light above one of his consoles.

Episode 4: Memento Mori

• Erica Ortegas may be an Ace Pilot but she's not insane, implied by her You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me! reactions at the various solutions the Enterprise crew come up with for facing the Gorn.
  • Lampshading the From Bad to Worse situation as "Space really wants us dead." Which of course gives Pike his craziest plan yet, involving a nearby black hole. Then Pike is able to get her on board, summing up the plan as such: she basically gets to surf said black hole.
    Ortegas: [Smirking] Well, it sounds like fun when you put it like that.
• Spock warns Pike that taking the ship any further into the Brown Star runs the risk of destroying the ship. Pike, realizing that he can bait the Gorn into doing the same, tells him it's a good idea and orders the Enterprise further into the brown star. Cue a confused Spock:
  "That is not what I suggested."
• Uhura is following Hemmer’s instructions on a complicated bit of repairs and beams with pride when she thinks she has successfully finished the job. Then she gets a hilarious WTF expression when Hemmer tells her "Now we can get started."

Episode 5: Spock Amok

• Spock has a nightmare which is very similar to the scenario he will later experience in Amok Time except for some key differences:
  • T'Pring rejects Spock because he is human, reacting with revulsion to his hideous round ears.
  • The rival she chooses to fight Spock is... Spock, but fully-Vulcan.
  • The duel features the music from "Amok Time" and Spock gets his shirt cut open.
• At the start of the episode, T'Pring says "We must prioritize our relationship" in the most dry way possible, as though saying "Sex will now commence."
• When Pike learns that the R'ongovians met with the Tellarites first, he immediately seems to know that it didn't go well (as Tellarites tend to get pejorative). April then shows him a video of the R'ongovian ambassador yelling at the Tellarite for having a ridiculous beard. In retrospect, learning that the R'ongovians' hat is empathy, it's likely the Tellarite envoy and the R'ongovian ambassador were getting along quite swimmingly.
• Rather than stay in the room with arguing delegates, La'an asks Pike if she can continue doing "security things."
• A mind meld causes Spock and T'Pring to swap bodies. Hilarity Ensues.
  • When Pike rings the doorbell:
    T'Pring-in-Spock: What should we do?
    Spock-in-T'Pring: You must answer it. These are my quarters. Anyone who comes here will expect me to answer the door.
    T'Pring-in-Spock: I know how a door works.
  • Pike's utterly baffled look when T'Pring calls him by his first name.
  • Quickly followed by his reaction when he learns the truth.
    Pike: Get out of town.
    T'Pring-in-Spock: We are not in a town.
  • After clearing up that they are in each other's bodies, T'Pring-in-Spock says that Pike "can now quite clearly see the very clear difference in our mannerisms." Seeing the pair in matching stances and tones almost indistinguishable from their normal ones, Pike dryly remarks "yeah, totally."^note The eagle-eyed viewer, who granted has a leg up on Pike, can actually tell: "Spock" is standing with his arms crossed in front, the kind of "princess stance" T'Pring often uses; "T'Pring" has her arms clasped behind her back, in a military "parade rest" manner habitually used by Spock. But the differences are so subtle you have to look really hard for them, which just makes the joke funnier.
• Number One is jarred to hear folks nickname her "where fun goes to die." She and La'an then find two ensigns trying to play a "bingo" game that involved walking on the hull. La'an interrogates one like she's a Romulan spy, reducing her to tears, while Number One is laughing and getting along with the other to get her to talk.
  • La'an even calls "Bad Cop!" once they go to interrogate, to Una's disappointment.
• Number One and La'an decide to play Enterprise bingo, and one of the tasks is shooting each other with the lowest phaser setting. Only La'an gets a shot off. Number One admits that it genuinely hurts.
  • Getting the phasers down to their lowest settings involves repeatedly thumbing down the intensity setting for a few seconds.
• Everyone teasing M'Benga's dorky fly-fishing hat. He finally takes it off when transporting away... before immediately putting it back on once he's alone by the lake.
• Spock explaining to T'Pring how to answer the door.
  T'Pring: I know how a door works.
• "It appears that hijinks are the most logical course of action."
• Spock decides to have a little fun with Nurse Chapel.
  Chapel: What are friends for?
  Spock: (as though pondering a great philosophical question) What ARE friends for?
  Chapel: Uh... that was a rhetorical, Spock.
  Spock: Oh, I know. Humans are nearly as easy to tease as Vulcans.
• T'Pring (actually Spock in T'Pring's body) approaching Nurse Chapel makes Ortegas panic, as notoriously-adverse-to-long-term-relationships Chapel admitted to giving Spock relationship advice.
  Ortegas: "Are you serious? Never get in the middle of a Vulcan relationship. They will hit you with a lirpa! Trust me. Have you ever fought with a lirpa? I have actual scars."
  • In the middle of saying this, clearly as she's expecting that T'Pring's here to challenge Chapel to a duel, Ortegas gives a polite wave to T'Pring to hide her worry.
• All the main characters this episode, even the ones on shore leave, have some sort of drama happen to them. Then the episode cuts to M'Benga just fly fishing like he planned to, wearing his silly hat and not a care in the world.
• After Spock confesses to T’Pring that he punched a Jerkass acquaintance of hers, she replies "Having met him, that is logical."

Episode 6: Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach

• When the rebel Majalan cruiser attacks the Enterprise, the ship doesn't even shake, leading to Pike uttering an amused "Damage?" He then asks if it's possible to disable the cruiser without blowing them to smithereens, showing just how hilariously outclassed the rebels are compared to Enterprise.

Episode 7: The Serene Squall

• T'Pring matter-of-factly states she's been "doing research on human sex." Spock comes as close to a Spit Take as a Vulcan can.
• According to Aspen/Angel, Starfleet refers to Pike as their "Boy Scout". When Pike doesn't believe it, Una confirms that it's actually in his file.
• Ortegas' Unusual Euphemism when approaching the enemy vessel.
  Ortegas: First date or third date?
  Pike: Blind date.
  Ortegas: Aye, approaching with extreme caution.
• Pike cooks a meal for the Serene Squall as a mutiny-inducing tactic— leading to the sight of him wearing an apron over his combat suit.
• To convince T'Pring not to exchange Xaverius for Spock, Spock and Nurse Chapel pretend to be having an affair and kiss in front of a (seemingly) bamboozled T'Pring.
  • Angel's You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me! reaction when Spock and T'Pring divorce right in front of them.
• The Enterprise crew have taken over the Serene Squall, pulled off a Big Damn Heroes moment with Enterprise and managed to get the pirates aboard to stand down... mere moments before a couple of phaser bolts fly past Pike's head. Turns out they're still in the middle of the mutiny they incited and they took over the bridge prematurely.
  • Also, the Squall is steered with a ship's wheel— as in, a sailing ship.
• Pike requests to fire "gently" at the Enterprise and winces at the damage to it.
  Pike: I said gently.
  Ortegas: What does "fire gently" even mean?
• Una's hurried explanation for why Spock needs to beam the Enterprise crew off the pirate's bridge right away: "We may have seized the bridge prematurely, the mutiny is still ongoing."
• After their pirate-fighting escapades are over, Pike can't resist talking like a stereotypical pirate, much to Una's annoyance. (And judging by her annoyance, he's been doing it since they defeated the pirates.)
  Pike: Argh, me mateys. If we ever catch Angel, we should make them walk the plank. Argh.
  Una: Please stop. (Pike pouts)
  • Meanwhile Ortegas is enjoying it.

Episode 8: The Elysian Kingdom

• When Pike comments on how simple their science mission is, it's Spock of all people who brings up the human superstition that advises against Tempting Fate in such a way; when things then start to go south, Mr. Logical himself seems genuinely open to the idea that Pike did indeed jinx it. It's funny enough on its own, but even more so if one remembers the premiere when Spock was the one who commented on the fortuitousness of their circumstances and Una scolded him for jinxing it before things went Off the Rails. Clearly Spock took the lesson to heart— even more than Pike, who was with them on that mission.
• The total shock of Lt. Noonien-Singh of all people acting all girly, from her Girly Skirt Twirl to baby-talking to/with/at a puppy, in sickbay.
  • Bonus points for La'an briefly breaking into song as if she was a stereotypical Disney princess— followed up by M'Benga's deadpan "Okay".
• Everyone affected by the nebula entity goes completely over the top is worth every yuck— especially Uhura, who may or may not have been waiting her whole life to play an evil queen.
• Pike — who, it should be noted, will eventually have a medal for bravery named after him — as a whimpering coward is hysterical. Especially when stuck in a cell and moaning for help when it's clear he's been in it for about five minutes.
  Pike: I can't take it anymore, I tell you! The walls! The walls are starting to close in on me!
• He then capitulates way too quickly before the evil queen.
  Uhura: Kneel before me!
  Pike: (immediately kneels while everybody else remains standing) Yes, of course!
• Pike yelping "unhand me, you brute!" at a guard half his size is just delightful.
  • When Uhura gives her Join or Die speech, Pike nervously asks what she wants. When she says, "Your loyalty!" he looks relieved, his expression screaming, "Oh, that!"
• Considering that Pike and Ortegas have such a fun relationship, to see their fairy tale counterparts loathe each other is funny.
• When Hemmer describes contact with the entity in terms of having his brain squeezed out through his nose, Ortegas comments, "I did that to a man once." Cue Pike's WTF look.
• And then there's Hemmer, who's not affected by the entity. Despite having a serious temperament and little if any knowledge of Earth fairy tales, he really hams it up when he gets into his role as the White Wizard.
  "Once again, the magic of SCIENCE prevails!"
  • Hemmer also asks M'Benga what a wizard would say when doing magic. M'Benga tells him "Abracadabra". Hemmer cheerfully replies that he likes it, and then gets to use it when pulling off his transporter trick.
    "Abraaaa...KEDABRA!"
• The Enterprise's helmsman gets to play the swashbuckling hero with a sword.
• When M'Benga has his "Eureka!" Moment and says of Ortegas and Una's characters, "You don't know each other!" the pair look uncomfortable and awkwardly tell him that, actually, they know each other quite well.

Episode 9: All Those Who Wander

• The scene where Pike and Spock brief the senior staff on their new mission keeps getting derailed by Una and La'an gushing over Pike's cooking.
  • Spock doing the dishes while wearing an apron is a hilarious visual by itself.
• Pike shows off his dad skills by leading an away team. He tells Una that he's going to "pile the kids up in the station wagon, take a road trip", an analogy that confuses Spock, followed up with "Don't make me turn this car around." while pointing at everyone with the cooking tongs. La'an's deadpan look at Pike while popping a fork-full of food in her mouth is hysterical.
• One of the members of the away team is a newly minted Lieutenant who Spock mistakenly refers to by his old rank of Ensign. Sam Kirk and Chapel immediately note that Spock owes him a drink for referring to him by his old rank, "Starfleet tradition." Spock can only ask with mild exasperation if there's no end to human drinking games. (Does he know about this website?)
• After speculating that the Gorn spit is meant to blind victims, Hemmer snarks that for him, it is a wasted effort.

Episode 10: A Quality of Mercy

• Admiral Pike needs to convince a skeptical Captain Pike that he's him from the future and not some sort of illusion, imitation, or other trick. So Admiral Pike begins to tell the tragic story of a beloved childhood pony that died when Pike was very young... Sir Neighs-a-lot. Pike never told the story to anyone because, well, the impact gets ruined by the silly name.
• Pike getting dropped into the middle of a wedding between two people he doesn't know is so horribly awkward (both for him and for everyone who's clearly wondering what's wrong with their captain) that he's genuinely grateful when the Red Alert sounds.
  Pike: Oh, thank God.
• Sam Kirk freely acknowledges his brother's intelligence and skill, but... well, they're still brothers.
  Pike: Should we be worried that he's going to start a war?
  Sam Kirk: Look, I'm not gonna say that Jim isn't a pain in the ass. He is. He's a huge pain in the ass. But the truth is, he's as fine a Captain as Starfleet has.
• The long Reaction Shot when the bridge crew sees the Romulans for the first time. On seeing their resemblance to the Vulcans, Ortegas whips around (with a zoom-in on her shocked face) to look at Uhura, who looks at Sam, who looks at Pike, who looks at Spock... before cutting to a wide shot and another zoom-in on Spock's reaction. The dramatic musical sting (a re-orchestration of the classic Romulan theme) that accompanies it really puts it over the top.
• Admiral Pike notes how it's not every day you get to die twice to save the future. You know, because both he and Captain Pike are the same person. It's good to see his jokes don't get any better in the Bad Future.

Season Two

Episode 1: The Broken Circle

• When Pike goes on his personal trip, he figures that Spock will have an easy time in command since Enterprise won't be leaving spacedock, prompting Spock to once again bring up the Tempting Fate issue with the old human expression: "Famous last words." And, of course, Enterprise does leave spacedock — because Spock steals her. One can only imagine Pike's reaction when he comes back and learns about this.
• Commander Pelia does not take simulated coolant leaks lying down and completely and utterly needles Spock and the bridge crew over it before showing them how to actually do it. Made even funnier by Spock's growing discomfort as Pelia figures everything out.
• Ortegas and Uhura ask Spock for a Catchphrase to go into warp, pointing out others like Pike's "Hit it" or another captain's "Zoom!". Ortegas wants to use "vamanos" for hers. What does Spock choose?
  Spock: I would like the ship to go. Now.
• While being reprimanded for his actions by Admiral April, Spock winces and asks him to lower his voice. April deflates a bit and decides that the bloodwine hangover is punishment enough.

Episode 2: Ad Astra per Aspera

• Ortegas watches Spock and Pasalk talking in what seems a casual conversation and mockingly does a Gag Dub about how buddy-buddy they are. When M'Benga says it's clear from their body language that the two hate each other, Ortegas pauses before asking "are you messing with me?" At this point, Spock stands from the table, comes up to them and apologizes for his "unseemly outburst" before walking off, causing the two to burst into laughter.
• After Admiral April's disastrous testimony, he and Pike have a discussion with Pike pouring them both drinks. When April rejects the drink and storms out, Pike just pours all the booze into one glass for himself.
• During the trial, Spock reveals that he did believe Una was hiding a secret: her love of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. Despite the gravity of the situation, Una has to stifle a laugh at the memory of singing in the turbolift with Spock.
  • This line has an added layer of comedy given that Spock hates Pasalk and knows that his quip probably annoyed the older Vulcan.
• The entire crew welcome Una back to the Enterprise. Una asks "If you're all here, who's flying the ship?"

Episode 3: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

• Spock, of all people, has had a noise complaint made against him stating that he is playing his lute too loudly. His reaction to learning this is Tranquil Fury.
  Spock: May I inquire as to who filed this noise complaint against me?
  La'an: It was anonymous.
  Spock: (Death Glare) I shall make every effort to practice less vigorously going forward.
• Pelia defends her very large assortment of art (some of which still has "property of archeology department" tag on them) with how she's just a pack rat from her centuries of life and "just in case this entire no-money socialist utopia is just a passing fad." She also makes a point that the painting behind her is a replica and the Louvre needs to stop asking for it back.
  • It's later revealed that "The Archeology Department" is the name of an antique store Pelia owned in the 21st century - and the painting is there too! The Archeology Department is graffitied on cork-board, so it doesn't look like a reputable establishment.
  • Even funnier is that the painting in question is a painting that's been stolen and missing since the 1990s in real life.
• Kirk, in this timeline, has never been to Earth, so when he first lands in the 21st century, he assumes he's in New York City; La'an points out immediately that they're in Toronto, much to his befuddlement.
  • It's doubly funny because they're in Yonge-Dundas Square (a very recognizable part of downtown Toronto, which IS based off Times Square in NYC), but there's a GIANT building behind him that says "CF Toronto Eaton Centre" (arguably the most famous shopping mall in the city).
  • La'an going full Canadian trying to explain it to Kirk is delightful.
    La'an: You know, maple leaves? Politeness? Poutine?
• Kirk's utter ineptitude with a rotating door, getting caught in the middle because he follows it too long and having to force it backwards so he can get inside.
• La'an asks Kirk where he learned how to do a nerve pinch. He says he did a stint in a Denobulan prison with a Vulcan cellmate. Then he adds: "I can also make plomeek soup in the toilet!" What makes it especially funny is just how proud he looks when he says this.
• Kirk and La'an swap into contemporary Earth clothes and come out wearing nearly the exact same outfit. The two stare at each other for a bit, then Kirk sighs and goes back in to change.
• Kirk is having some trouble with 21st century culture:
  Kirk: What's a meme?
• The Romulan agent Sera admits being embarrassed that it took her so long to recognize one of the most famous men in the history of the Federation when she was face to face with him. Probably because he'd been recast.
• Romulans are apparently as obsessed with ears as their Vulcan cousins, since Sera complains that she still hasn't gotten used to having rounded ears after 30 years on Earth.
  • Note that this is not the first time we've seen Romulans snark about humans' round ears, especially when discussing disguises.
• Back in the present, when Pelia notes La’an is out of uniform, Uhura looks up and quickly spins around, wanting to see the usually straight-laced Chief Security Officer wearing something other than her uniform.
• When La'an contacts Kirk at the end and says she's calling him to ask about his brother, Kirk asks, "What did Sam do now?"

Episode 4: Among The Lotus Eaters

• When Ortegas has figured out who she is, she repeats "I'm Erica Ortegas, I fly the ship," to which the computer replies "Affirmative." She gives it a hilariously annoyed look, which it apparently takes notice of because it stops responding to this statement.
• Ortegas is piloting through the debris field, pleased with her performance as the "Proximity Alert" warning beeps repeatedly and an asteroid grows ever-larger on the main viewer. Spock simply glances at her sideways before deadpanning:
  Spock: It would be wise to avoid that.

Episode 5: Charades

• Upon learning of his transformation into a full human, Spock can't help but utter "What the f...?"
• Among Spock's new experiences when he turns human? The scent and taste of bacon. He ends up eating most of it while cooking with Pike, before inevitably asking:
  "Why do I feel nauseated?"
• Spock is at first annoyed at Sam not cleaning up his spot properly during a staff meeting. Within five minutes, he has to be held back by two security guards to keep from throttling Sam.
  Spock: Do not test me, Kirk! I will break you!
  • It becomes funnier with the foreknowledge that Spock will beat up Sam's brother about six years later. Even better, that happens because Jim has to basically push Spock's buttons to restore him to normal.
• When discussing his newfound feelings with La'an, Spock says he feels sad and frustrated. He then mentions he feels "strange feelings...stirring" whilst looking her up and down. Cue a very uncomfortable looking La'an.
• Spock doesn't immediately tell Amanda about his condition, but his attitude becomes increasingly like a teenager disagreeing with his mother. You can hear the "BUT MOOOOM!" in Spock's voice.
  • Spock conspicuously hides his condition using a beanie, which he insists is Starfleet issue as if that somehow makes it less out of place. And this won't be the last time he does this either, though for the opposite reasons.
  • Pike tries to get Spock away from his mother when he sees him starting to lose his cool, but the transporter room door slides shut right in front of him, leaving Pike staring at it in dismay.
  • After Spock finally loses his temper with his mother and says he doesn't care about logic, she goes silent, her eyes narrow, and Spock becomes visibly concerned. When she tells him to take his hat off, you can see Pike looking dejected in the background. And then when the camera does a close-up on Spock, we can see the door finally open.
• Pike's quite-reluctant involvement in the charade is quickly summed up in an exchange with Amanda where he tries to get out of helping.
  Pike: Do I have a choice in the matter?
  Amanda: You do not.
• While stalling for time, Pike tries to come up with an "ancient human tradition" that they must follow, before landing on charades. Amanda gives him a look that just screams seriously?!, while Pike can only roll his eyes at himself.
• The senior staff teaching Spock to speak like a Vulcan. It's painfully obvious they're making fun of him. Bonus points for Ortegas not moving any part of her face except the Fascinating Eyebrow.
  Spock: Do I really sound like that?
  Everyone (in an exasperated tone): YES.
• When T'Pring beams aboard, Spock tries to give a formal greeting.
  T'Pring: Spock, I have spent the last two days with my mother, I have no more patience for formality.
• Uhura and Ortegas badgering Chapel for her unwillingness to admit her feelings for Spock.
  Ortega: Oh my God, Christine, come on!
• Sevet has to constantly backpedal whenever he offers praise or amicability every time T'Pril immediately follows up with scorn or criticism. He's also pleasantly fascinated and open to the human ritual of 'charades' when it's brought up to stall for time.
• Pike's wordless reactions to the various goings-on with the Vulcans is pure comedy gold. Anson Mount is exceptionally good at acting with just his facial expressions (which is probably why he was also cast as Black Bolt) and the writers/directors clearly decided to just let him loose in this episode. To name a few instances:
  • During the above-mentioned scene where Spock discovers bacon, he tries to slow the Vulcan down with an expression that just screams "this isn't going to end well".
  • The whole transporter scene. From him being caught just as off-guard about Spock's beanie as Amanda is, to his subtle close-eyed headshake in the background as Amanda orders Spock to take the beanie off.
  • During the awareness ritual part of the dinner, as T'Pring starts laying into Spock, he takes a sip with a very awkward look to the side.
  • Right after the end of the dinner ritual he goes off to get some snacks at Sevet's request and gets back just as Spock takes his fake ears off and lays into T'Pril. His entire facial and body language immediately go from a cheerful "heeeey, I have the snacks" to a bewildered "ooooookay, not now" as he veers off to the side.

Episode 6: Lost in Translation

• Uhura and Jim Kirk's meeting mirrors how their analogues meet in the Kelvin Universe: With Kirk trying to chat her up and Uhura not being interested.
  • Kirk critiquing Spock's chess strategy from afar is funny when you recall that TOS established that Kirk is a better chess player than Spock is.
• Uhura panics during one of her visions and takes a swing before snapping back to reality. A man can be heard audibly groaning on the ground and it is revealed that she just laid out James T. Kirk.
• In a way, the meeting between Kirk and Spock. Ever since Kirk was announced to be appearing in the series, fans have speculated about the idea of the two meeting, and how the show will portray the foundation of their epic friendship. Not only is their introduction in the episode very casual and low-key, but the foundation of the friendship that would save the galaxy many times over is them both thinking that Sam is a pain in the ass.

Episode 7: Those Old Scientists

• The credits sequence has a special animated version and every two worlds, the creature that suckles on the Cerritos nacelle is shown doing it to the Enterprise as well, with one shot showing it covered in flames as they pass by a star. It finally ditches the Enterprise as they pass by Starbase One. The cosmic koala also appears in the final shot.
• Boimler screaming "Remember meeeeee!!" as he's sucked into the time portal.
• Upon Boimler's emergence from the portal, the landing party only exhibits Dull Surprise at his presence, with Una hailing the ship in a tone of voice implying she's more concerned with the paperwork this will generate than with the fact that a random portal spat out a human dressed in an odd Starfleet uniform. It would hardly be the weirdest thing the crew's been through.
• Number One notes Boimler's badge is also a communicator. Pike complains that "flipping it open is the best part!". Una agrees that their model of communicator is better.
• Boimler assumes he's on some holodeck and even pokes Pike before realizing he's in the past. He's also relieved they instantly know he's a time traveler as he has no idea how he'd keep it quiet.
• La'an tells Boimler not to give away any knowledge of the future.
  Boimler: Worf's honor... Dangit!
• Boimler can't keep up with the SNW stardate system when entering a log and only says "the past."
• Boimler mounts the saddle in Pike's office by swinging his leg around Riker style. He even says his name while doing it. Then Uhura walks in, leaving him flustered.
  • Jack Quaid improvised that bit— in front of Jonathan Frakes, who directed the episode!
• Boimler and Mariner are completely baffled at the sight of the legendary Spock smiling, laughing, and acting more human than they imagined. In fact, Boimler is even convinced he somehow "broke" Spock with his arrival here.
• Boimler suggesting he can track the Orions using his future knowledge, and the Enterprise crew can just choose to not look at him so they don't learn how he did it. Pike decides to go along with it. Cue the entire bridge crew with their back turned to Boimler as he's under a console swapping cables, with a few of them tangled around his limbs.
  Una: Are you sure this is wise?
  Pike: No, but I'm going with it.
  • Spock stands in his signature Reverse Arm-Fold.
• Spock wearing safety goggles is oddly amusing. Spock calmly walking away from their failed experiment and cautioning Boimler to take cover before ducking behind a bulkhead to avoid an explosion is hilarious.
  • The experiment in question proceeds to explode several times over, Boimler letting out one of his signature high-pitched shrieks every time.
  • Additional fridge amusing: it's been mentioned that Jack Quaid rewatched some LD episodes to study Boimler's mannerisms in order to replicate them in his live performance - this is a moment where that shows. Right before he runs for cover from the exploding experiment, he does the same "hands pulled to one side, one leg up, completely freaked face" motion the animated Boimler keeps doing, along with the patented scream.
    • For another example, he does Boimler's "Section 31 power walk" when walking away from a conversation.
  • Slightly before, Spock tells Boimler it's basically a coin flip if their experiment explodes or not, and that he's curious about luck. Before cheerfully asking Boimler if he feels lucky.
• Boimler gushes over the TOS-era tricorder design, comparing it to the one in his time period before casually mentioning that the 24th century ones are "less likely to explode" than the 23rd century ones. Cue a worried M'Benga who clearly didn't know about this flaw of his tricorder: "Explode, you said?"
• What gets Pike to agree to talk to the Orions? Boimler mentioning that among his legendary qualities is "really great hair." Spock's look at that is priceless, while Pike tries his best to not look flattered.
• Mariner defends following Boimler.
  Mariner: For all I knew, you were dead! Or stuck in a dystopian San Francisco in the middle of a riot!
  Una: Does anyone notice that their references are weirdly specific?
  Spock: Indeed.
  • Mariner also confesses to Boimler that she was thoroughly unprepared for how hot young-Spock was gonna be... while Spock is not ten feet away from them. (Tawny Newsome improvised the whole thing.)
    • Spock tilts his head at this, a quick reminder that Vulcan's have excellent hearing and he most definitely heard her say that.
• Ortegas calls Mariner "a good bad influence."
• Mariner cracks a joke about taking weird photos to "freak out my mom when she reads history books."
• Uhura is completely baffled at the idea anyone in the future knows her, while Mariner is a bit thrown to find what a workaholic she is.
• Mariner manages to help Uhura finally translate the glyphs on the time portal machine. Unfortunately, all they say is "This is a time portal."
• Mariner remarks that it'd be weird for Boimler to get thrown in the brig "by someone he used to dress up as for Halloween."
  Pike: Wait, really?
  Mariner: Yeah, he had to contour the hell out of the jawline too.
  Boimler: It was a process.
  • Pike again starts to look flattered before changing the topic.
• Boimler and Mariner being stunned that Pike already knows about his future fate (in an otherwise serious conversation).
• When they go to get the piece of the NX-01 contained in the ship, Pelia objects because they've pulled up her floor, which she uses. Spock snarks that she can hardly claim exclusive use of the floor.
• As Ortegas and Uhura start to geek out about the legendary NX-01 crew, they're noted to be behaving exactly like Boimler and Mariner, annoying Spock.
• As Boimler and Mariner are preparing to leave, Spock gives a respectful Vulcan salute to Boimler. Boimler attempts to reply in kind, but is so nervous that he completely messes it up.
• During the final run-in with the Orions, Boimler and Mariner go off on another Motor Mouth tangent, confusing the Orion captain and requiring Pike to steer things back to something relevant.
• Mariner wins over the Orion Captain by mentioning Tendi's ancestor among his crew, who also goes by Mistress of the Winter Constellations. He immediately shows respect after hearing that title.
• When the portal opens, Tendi and Rutherford can be heard calling back and offering to also come through. Boimler and Mariner respond with a joint Big "NO!", while Pike (who's just about at his wit's end) has a "No. Just… No" Reaction.
• The Leaning on the Fourth Wall bit where Ransom notices Boimler's poster of Una and says she was hot ^note Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romijin are married in real life.
• The final scene has the Enterprise crew celebrating Pike's birthday, except animated. As the scene carries on, they begin to notice they look weird, Spock wobbles his arm unnaturally, and Ortegas freaks out about her eyes being huge. Ortegas reveals she reproduced the Orion Hurricanes using authentic Orion delaq, so they're all actually completely hammered and hallucinating. This led to fan jokes that the entirety of Star Trek: Lower Decks is from the perspective of someone (Possibly Mariner) blitzed out of their mind on said drinks.
  • The final line of the episode is the normally level-headed M'Benga screaming, "WHAT the hell is in these things?!"

Episode 9: Subspace Rhapsody

• The "WTF" reactions to everyone when they start breaking out into song.
  Pike: So... that happened.
• When Ortegas starts singing, Pike stands from his chair and backs away in shock.
• In the first song, Ortegas and Mitchell exchange annoyed looks when they realise they are working their consoles in involuntarily synchronised movements.
• When Una sings that all is okay, the look on Pike's face clearly says "No, all is not okay."
• Pike lets out a disappointed sigh of "Oh no" and nods in resignation when even La'an starts singing, as if to say "It's going to be one of those days, then?"
• Even the episode's title sequence musical is partially A cappella.
• Pike's "WTF" expressions throughout the whole episode.
• Before he caught the singing bug, Kirk thought that the musical number had been rehearsed in advance. Apparently, he's under the impression that the legendary Captain Pike and his crew just enjoy doing showtunes. Or pull crazy elaborate pranks on visiting officers.
• With the senior officers worrying about another reality poofing them into bunnies, Spock reassures them, "I doubt we will be bunnies", which is a sentence that no Vulcan has ever said. (And somehow, Ethan Peck manages to say it with a straight face.)
• Kirk hangs a lampshade on how absurd this whole thing is after Spock gives a technobabble explanation.
  Kirk: Mr. Spock, you explained that very well. I almost understood it.
• Pike and Batel telling each other how they really feel. In song. While the whole bridge is watching. La'an does everyone a favor and ends the transmission.
  • Once Pike realizes he's singing in front of his crew, he turns around, prompting Ortegas and Uhura to immediately duck their heads and pretend to work.
  • Ortegas' expression during Pike and Batel's duet about their relationship problems is pure "This is awesome!" She practically has popcorn.
  • As La'an cuts off the transmission, Pike drops to his knees and has his arm extended in a plea. When the music stops, he awkwardly looks around, as if hoping no one saw him do that at literally the focal point of the entire bridge.
• It's spread to the rest of the fleet after the commercial break, and Una comments that Admiral April told her 'in a surprisingly beautiful baritone' to fix this before it got any worse.
  • The normally level-headed Pike, still embarrassed from his duet with Batel, asks if they can just blow up the anomaly. Spock nonchalantly agrees with the idea and immediately starts to roll with it.
• Zero-gravity dancing, anyone?
• During the finale song, Spock's adamant that unlike everyone else he will not miss the singing.
  • Possibly funnier: La'an saying she will miss it. Seems she's Not So Above It All.
• Klingon K-Pop. Words cannot do justice to the sheer ridiculousness of the scene. Highlights include Garkog's voice going up a few octaves and Pike's "Well, okay then" expression afterwards (to say nothing of the embarrassed reactions from the Klingon bridge crew who quickly and wordlessly end the transmission).
  • Let's just call it what it is: Kling-Pop.
  • Sam's reaction really sells it, too. At first, he's as confused (and horrified) as everyone else, but then bops his head to the beat. In fact, he's doing a undulating hip-thrust dance to it while Uhura stares at him gobsmacked.
  • Also, whilst it's a synthy high energy Rap-Pop song, the lyrics are still typical threats of Klingon violence.
    Garkog: (growls) Why have you...(visibly struggling) Ugh!
    (singing in tenor voice) Why you only calling us when you got your dramas?
    One of these days we'll repay you, we'll slay you
    Gonna draw your last breath
    At the end of our Mek'leths!
    Your eternal torture is every Klingon's dream
    You know what I mean?
    Make your blood scream!
    ("WTF" expressions on the bridge crew, before Garkog cuts off the hail)
  • And, of course, they're swinging their mek'leths around as they dance.
  • And if YouTube comments are anything to go by, imagine if someone on the Enterprise actually recorded that performance.
  • At the end before the Klingons abruptly end transmission, the classic Enterprise Bridge Warble-Chirp sound effect chimes in to punctuate the awkward silence.
  • And thus a new generation of "in the original Klingon" jokes were born.
  • Fridge Brilliance kicks in when you realize that THIS is what the Klingons meant earlier about being subjected to dishonor through this - opera has always been treated as one of the Klingons highest art forms, you'd think initially they'd at least be willing to accept being made to sing. But since they're not singing opera but pop (and human pop at that)...
• The grand finale is so over-the-top that the Enterprise and the Klingon ships are spinning around like they're dancing. If a starship could have a "WTF" reaction...
• Spock is trying to hold back during the finale on the bridge. However, he looks at the readouts and realizes they need just a little more ambient energy to reach the required eV output to overload the subspace field. Logically, the only thing he can do is join in the last dance.
  • Spock's little interruption during the finale is also pretty funny:
    Ensemble: We know our purpose is (We know our purpose!) to protect the mission!
    Our prime directive—
    Spock: Mmm, not exactly.
• Spock smooths things over with the Klingons with another drinking contest. He returns to the bridge on wobbly feet, clearly in the throes of another hangover.
• The episode ends with the crew giving Uhura a collective Death Glare as she starts humming a song from the musical reality. Nyota's response?
  Uhura: (visibly sheepish) Sorry. Earworm.

Episode 10: Hegemony

• Batel asks how Pike's doing, and since this is in the aftermath of a Negative Space Wedgie causing everyone to uncontrollably sing:
  Pike: I mean, I'm not bursting into song every ten minutes, so that's a minor victory.
  Batel: Very minor.
• Pike assigns Ortegas to join the landing party, as she's apparently been "bothering [him] for months to join one". Given that they're dealing with the Gorn, she's clearly kicking herself:
  Ortegas: Yes, I have... why have I been doing that?
• The fact that the audience probably identified Scotty before the Enterprise crew. As soon as you hear the Scottish accent, you know it couldn't be anyone else.
• Scotty's reaction to the crew falling for his trap.
  Scotty: You're not Gorn.
  La'an: Obviously.
  Scotty: You shouldn't-a walked into my Gorn trap, then.
  • Lieutenant Junior Grade Scott's body language and expression when he realizes he's been sassing a group of people who all outrank him is priceless.
• The disbelief and shock from all present when Scotty reveals he survived travelling from one star system to the next whilst also fleeing the Gorn by jury-rigging a shuttle to boost its thrusters.
• Pelia's reaction to Montgomery Scott boarding the Enterprise, calling him "One of my best students, with some of my worst grades." And his reaction to her being mild horror. Also she's the only one to call him Scotty which means it's possible she gave him the nickname.
  • Even better is that Scotty's reaction to her comment of him getting the worst grades can easily read as the abashment of being called out by one of your favorite teachers in front of your parents. Y'know, in the middle of a crisis.

Expanded Universe

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The High Country

• While stranded on a planet whose populace includes alien abductees from the American Wild West, Pike tells a farm girl that he is an ordinary inventor and not a space explorer right after she's mucked the stalls.
  Jennie: I've already had my load of manure for the day.
• After Pike explains First Contact protocols to some people who are rebelling against the local authorities, they are disgruntled about all of the tech they are barred from having.
  Carpenter: That's just great. Anybody looking at my people would see a bunch of muscle-bound idiots. And because of that, you'd say that I don't deserve to have the secret of a zapper.
  Weedaw: Zipper.
  Carpenter: Shut up.
  Jennie: The captain also brought a zapper.
  Joe: A zapgun?
  Jennie He threw it down the outhouse.
  Everyone: Awww!

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