Star Trek: Strange New World Episode 9 has a key element that many fans overlook

For decades, Star Trek has received acclaim for its futuristic outlook, philosophical quandaries, and iterative character progressions. But one of its most underrated qualities is its often audacious genre-straying. Whether horror (The Thaw in Voyager), courtroom drama (The Measure of a Man in The Next Generation), or political thriller (In the Pale Moonlight in Deep Space Nine), the franchise has always pushed creative limits.

And yet, many fans seemed truly shocked when Strange New Worlds—the most recent entry in the franchise—announced that it was going to dabble in musical theater. Subspace Rhapsody, Season 2, Episode 9, is Star Trek’s first full-fledged musical episode. While many welcomed the change with open arms, others were less than enthusiastic, questioning whether it had a place in the show's legacy.

But what many are missing is that this episode isn’t just a daring creative gamble—it’s a direct continuation of Star Trek's history of genre-bending innovation.

How Subspace Rhapsody came to be

In Subspace Rhapsody, directed by Dermott Downs, a strange quantum probability field strikes the USS Enterprise, causing its crew to spontaneously break into song and dance. Across ten original musical numbers and a diversity of styles, the episode delves into character relationships, internal conflicts, and team dynamics in a way never attempted before.

Rebecca Romijn’s Number One has a rousing number about her vulnerability. There’s a rocking solo in which Ethan Peck’s Spock sings of his emotional turmoil, while even Captain Pike (Anson Mount) becomes embroiled in an unexpected lyrical throwdown.

And while this may seem like an atypical choice for a Star Trek series at first glance, it isn’t out of line at all with the franchise’s history of exploring emotions through unorthodox presentation.

A franchise rooted in experimentation

Throughout its history, Star Trek has been highly experimental in its narrative technique. The series, which first aired in the 1960s, blended interstellar discovery with social allegory and frequently used sci-fi to portray and illuminate current problems such as racism, war, and authoritarianism.

Later series continued this tradition. The Next Generation offered episodes completely told from an alien perspective (Darmok), Deep Space Nine experimented with nonlinear storytelling techniques (Far Beyond the Stars), and Voyager introduced surrealist, mind-bending stories (Bride of Chaotica!).

The lighter, comedic elements of Subspace Rhapsody are certainly not unprecedented. In Qpid from The Next Generation, the crew is forced into a Robin Hood fantasy, and Take Me Out to the Holosuite from Deep Space Nine revolves around a baseball game. These episodes are reminders that Star Trek has long been successful at mixing genres while staying true to its thematic essence.

A divided fanbase

Despite that legacy, reactions to Subspace Rhapsody were mixed. Many fans embraced the creativity and felt the episode offered emotional resonance as well as pure entertainment value. Critics, such as Den of Geek and Vulture, remarked that it was one of the season's boldest and most fun episodes to watch. Rotten Tomatoes echoed high audience engagement with a solid approval rating.

However, some longtime fans were not as receptive. A vocal segment of the Star Trek community slammed the episode as "cringe-worthy" and a deviation from the show's core mission. Others went as far as to liken it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s musical episode, Once More, with Feeling—a divisive installment that ultimately became a beloved part of genre television.

The truth is, that Star Trek has always faced resistance when breaking new ground. When The Next Generation premiered, fans of the original series were skeptical. Deep Space Nine’s serialized storytelling was controversial, and some viewers were put off by Discovery’s darker tone. However, such creative risks have gradually been recognized as fundamental to the franchise’s survival.

A celebration of what makes Star Trek unique

At its heart, Subspace Rhapsody isn’t just a musical episode—it’s a testament to how Star Trek continues to reinvent itself while staying true to its fundamental themes of exploration, diversity, and emotional resonance.

The episode allows the characters to express their emotions through music, bringing out the human (and Vulcan) condition in a way that words alone often cannot. This serves as a reminder that Star Trek was never just about space battles and advanced technology; rather, it has always been about telling stories that resonate with individuals on a deeper level.

So, for those who might have dismissed Subspace Rhapsody as a gimmick, it may be worthwhile to reconsider. After all, embracing the unexpected is what Star Trek has always been about.

What did you think about this episode? Was the decision to make a musical episode the right one, or did it fall short of expectations? Let us know in the comments below!