Review of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 7 – A Documentary That Challenges Starfleet

In the seventh episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, the crew of the USS Enterprise is subjected to an unusual experience when Beto, Erica’s brother, a documentary filmmaker, starts trailing them for his project on Starfleet. Initially, Beto sets out to create a critical exposé questioning the very nature of Starfleet, exploring whether it is more of an empire than a force for good. His documentary, titled ‘What Is Starfleet?’, takes the form of an investigation into Starfleet’s ideals and practices, and he begins by asking hard-hitting questions. However, the film—and the episode—becomes increasingly ambivalent, with Beto’s perspective shifting as he experiences the Enterprise’s reality firsthand. As the crew faces a complicated mission involving a mysterious creature, the Jikaru, Beto’s interactions with the crew reveal the complexities of their duties and motivations. The episode explores themes of moral compromise, ethical decision-making, and the internal conflicts within Starfleet. Despite some uneven storytelling and a shift in the documentary’s tone, the episode is notable for its character development and emotional moments, particularly the performances of Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura and Anson Mount as Pike. Ultimately, Beto’s documentary ends on a more positive note, with him realizing that Starfleet is not an empire, but a force striving for good, even if imperfect.