JUNE 21, 2022 - Heinrich Heine says in Die Loreley, “I know not why I am so sad; I cannot get out of my head a fairy-tale of olden times.” This week on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, it seems our heroes will find themselves in a similar predicament.

Episode eight of this first season is entitled, “The Elysian Kingdom,” and in it the U.S.S. Enterprise becomes stuck in a nebula that is home to an alien consciousness that traps the crew in a fairy tale. The photos for the week feature quite the appropriate outfits, including, among others, Dr. M’Benga in robes and a crown, Spock in black with long hair and a staff, Lieutenant Ortegas with a sword, and Lieutenant Noonien-Singh in a sparkling gown … and holding a puppy.

That latter unexpected image might be why Christina Chong in a recent interview we told you about said about this episode, “Oh, and no spoilers, but episode eight was the cherry on top of the cake for me. You’ll understand why when you see it, but in a nutshell, I got to live out my 5-year-old fantasies.”

“The Elysian Kingdom” is directed by Star Trek newcomer Amanda Row. Akela Cooper and Onitra Johnson wrote the episode. Cooper co-wrote “Ghosts of Illyria,” and Johnson has previously worked as a writers’ assistant on the show.

You can get a sneak peek at the episode, which drops this Thursday, June 23, on Paramount+.