While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wasn't the flagship launch of the franchise's new era on Paramount+, for many it became that after one of the most remarkable first seasons in sci-fi history. While originally pitched as a flashback show to the Enterprise crew before Star Trek: The Original Series, showrunner Akiva Goldsman and an impressive crew really captured why people love Star Trek in the first place while balancing the nostalgia with added nuance, modernity, and some biting humor.

And now, the cast returned June 15 on Paramount+ for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. Read our piece on season 2, episode 1, and then read below for more on the season.

What is the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds plot?

THe first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds left us on a cliffhanger, with first officer Number One being court-martials for hiding her past - and many of her crewmates jumping to her defense. That will be picked up on directly in season 2.

“It was a cliffhanger for Una at the end of [season] 1,” says Rebecca Romijn during an MCM panel, referring to the arrest of her character Una Chin-Riley for breaking the genetics code of Starfleet, something that had been teased throughout the first season. “I can’t tell you how many fans think I’m no longer on the show, think that that was it, that was the end of Una’s story. And without revealing anything, I did shoot a season 2!”

Speaking more broadly about the season as a whole, Romijn says “We really took some very big swings with genre in season 2. It might not be completely embraced by all fans, but we tried a lot of things, and we’re very excited […] to share it with fans.”

For one, I expect more humor in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

“I think pretty much everyone is trying something that we weren’t expecting to do, myself included. Especially with my character, we’re really charting some uncharted territory,” added Celia Rose Gooding, who plays Nyoto Uhura in the series.

Melissa Navia, who plays helmsman Erica Ortegas, says that her character's backstory will be delved into deeply in season 2.

“What the fans want, and what the fans are gonna get, is to see what [Ortegas’] backstory is, and what made her so skilled and so professional, why she is so loyal to her crew mates, why they are so loyal to her, her relationship with Pike, which everybody loves — the rapport that they have. We’re definitely going to get a lot more backstory,” she teases. “I’m excited to show fans where she comes from, why she fits, and why she belongs on the Enterprise.”

That includes reveals that might retroactively change some of her scenes in the first season, she added: “There’s things that we’re going to be talking about in season 2 that I was aware of [during the shooting of the first season], because the producers and the writers, our wonderful showrunners — they’re not winging it. We have a plan. So all of her inner story, that monologue, has been working through me since day one on set.”

Ethan Pack, who plays Spock, tells us to look forward to his character's interaction with new castmember Carol Kane, as well as something he's "most excited" for fans to see in episode 5, 'Charades.'

Where are the Strange New Worlds season 2 trailers?

If you only have time for one Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 trailer, this is the best one to get hyped for June 15:

who is the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast?

Thankfully, the core cast of Strange New Worlds returned for season 2 That is:

• Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike
• Rebecca Romijn as first officer Una Chin-Riley / Number One
• Ethan Peck as science officer Spock
• Jess Bush as nurse Christine CHapel
• Christina Chong as chief security officer La'an Noonien-Singh
• Celia Rose Gooding as cadet Nyota Uhura
• Melissa Navia as helmsman Erica Ortegas
• Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. Joseph M'Benga
• Dan Jeannotte as George Samual 'Sam' Kirk

In addition, the season 1 surprise of Paul Wesley as a younger James T. Kirk will be returning for the second season.

On the new side, iconic actor Carol Kane has Joined as the ship's new engineer, Pelia. Also, Star Trek: Lower Decks voice actors Tawny Newsome (Beckett Mariner) and Jack Quaid (Brad Boimler) would be making their live-action debuts as those characters in a special crossover episode of two shows in this season.

What is the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds release date?

The Pike-led Enterprise will return June 15 on Paramount+ for much of the world.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 will debut on Paramount+ in United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

In Canada, Strange New Worlds season 2 will debut June 15 on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel before streaming on Crave.

For those of you in New Zealand, Strange New Worlds season 2 will debut June 15 on TVNZ.

And for our readers in India, look for Strange New Worlds season 2 on Voot.

How many Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episodes are there?

Like its first season the Strange New Worlds season 2 will be comprised of 10 episodes. Here's the details:

Release Date	Episode	Title	Director	Writer(s)
June 15, 2023	Season 2, Episode 1	'The Broken Circle'	Chris Fisher	Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman
June 22, 2023	Season 2, Episode 2	'Ad Astra Per Aspera'	To be announced	Dana Horgan
June 29, 2023	Season 2, Episode 3	'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow'	Amanda Row	David Reed
July 6, 2023	Season 2, Episode 4	'Among the Lotus Eaters'	Eduardo Sánchez	Kirsten Beyer & Davy Perez
July 13, 2023	Season 2, Episode 5	'Charades'	To be announced	Kathryn Lyn & Henry Alonso Myers
July 20, 2023	Season 2, Episode 6	'Lost in Translation'	Dan Liu	Onitra Johnson & David Reed
July 27, 2023	Season 2, Episode 7	'Those Old Scientists'	Jonathan Frakes	Kathryn Lyn & Bill Wolkoff
August 3, 2023	Season 2, Episode 8	'Under the Cloak of War'	To be announced	Davy Perez
August 10, 2023	Season 2, Episode 9	'Subspace Rhapsody'	To be announced	Dana Horgan & Bill Wolkoff
August 17, 2023	Season 2, Episode 10	'Hegemony'	To be announced	Henry Alonso Myers

Valerie Weiss is also comnfirmed to be directing an episode for the new season, although their assignment has not been confirmed.

Will there be a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds release season 3?

Paramount is bold with Strange New WOrlds, ordering a third season of the show three months before season 2 even debuted. Although no official announcement has been made about a release date, one could expect that to be coming in 2024 given the history of the show.

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Melissa Navia also talked about carrying on the legacy of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s William T. Riker.