Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season One Episode 6: Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season One
Episode 6: Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach

Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach

A more serious episode after a light hearted episode.  The Enterprise arrives at a planet Pike previously visited 10 years ago when he was a lieutenant (before his time on the Enterprise).  That would put his visit in 2249, so Alora referring to Pike as Lieutenant (his rank at their last meeting) is a bit of a stretch.  Commander maybe?  More of M'Benga and his daughter.  The planet is called Majalis...no points for guessing the inspiration.  The floating cities on Majalis are more than a little like the floating city of Ardana in TOS The Cloudminders.  The child being the prophesized "First Servant" whether he consents or not is a bit dark.  Yes the boy tells Alora that he does it willing, but can a child that age really make that choice?  This is exactly the question of this episode.  In some ways this is reminiscent of TNG "The Dauphin".  The concept of plugging a person into a machine to use his mind to control and guide a civilization at the expense of their body and freedom is (unfortunately) a bit reminiscent of TOS Spock's Brain (just not so corny).  Over all a good episode, a classic trek morals vs prime directive, one species mindset over another story, harkening back to TOS.  Also a little tie-in to M'Bengas search for a cure for his daughter (see the next episode).  Some great acting from Anson Mount as Pike in this episode.