JULY 24, 2023 – As you probably are aware, San Diego Comic-Con was this weekend, and while there were no cast or crew in attendance at the Star Trek Universe panel due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, there was still some exciting content.

The panel was hosted by film critic Scott Mantz and consisted of new trailers, key art, and a full episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The latter you don’t have to wait for, as it turns out. In case you missed it over the weekend, episode 207 of SNW, “Those Old Scientists,” has dropped early on Paramount+. This is the much-anticipated crossover episode with Star Trek: Lower Decks, in which Mariner and Boimler find themselves aboard Pike’s Enterprise. The episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes and, again, is available to stream now. (Episode eight, “Under the Cloak of War,” will also drop this week, on Thursday as usual.)

What we still have to anticipate includes season five of Star Trek: Discovery. According to Star Trek, the season “will find Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well... dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.” In the following extended trailer for the final season, revealed at SDCC, Captain Burnham finds herself on the hull of an enemy vessel attempting to disable it while it goes to warp with the Discovery and another Federation ship in pursuit. And the next, shorter, teaser for the season includes some behind-the-scenes commentary from the cast.

Season five of Discovery is set to premiere in early 2024.

Jumping back to Strange New Worlds, episode nine, “Subspace Rhapsody,” will feature a franchise first, a musical episode. Yes, as in lots of singing and dancing – and apparently some romance between Jim Kirk and La’an. There will be ten original songs, and even the show’s theme gets the treatment, with music and lyrics by Kay Hanley and Tom Polce. Until the show goes on, here’s the trailer:

The final trailer is from the upcoming season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks, which premieres – with two episodes – on September 7. The preview features action from  physical training and waste removal to fancy shuttle piloting and knife wounds in bars that are “all part of the ambience.”

Stay tuned for more from the expanding Star Trek Universe!