Boldly Going: Picard Season 2 Teases an Epic Star Trek Musical Adventure in Strange New Worlds
Jurati sets the stage for a potential musical episode in Strange New Worlds as Picard Season 2 hints at new musical adventures in the Star Trek universe
Summary
The musical episode of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' proved to be a remarkable endeavor, achieving exceptional success by securing a spot in the Nielsen streaming Top 10 and ascending to the top position on the Apple music streaming charts with its outstanding soundtrack.
Dr. Agnes Jurati's musical performance in Star Trek: Picard season 2 paved the way for a surprising musical twist in Strange New Worlds.
The success of this unique episode raises the potential for future musical endeavors in other Star Trek series, although frequent utilization may diminish its charm.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds revolutionized the Star Trek franchise with its groundbreaking musical episode. However, it was Dr. Agnes Jurati, portrayed by Alison Pill, in Star Trek: Picard season 2 who set the stage for this unprecedented feat. Helmed by director Dermot Downs and featuring music and lyrics by Kay Hanley and Tom Polce of Letters to Cleo fame, "Subspace Rhapsody" in season 2 of Strange New Worlds proved to be a bold and successful move for the prequel show. This remarkable episode not only skyrocketed to the Nielsen streaming Top 10 but also saw its soundtrack dominate the Apple music streaming charts.
Beyond showcasing the vocal talents of the Strange New Worlds cast, particularly Celia Rose Gooding and Christina Chong, Star Trek's first musical episode delved deeply into the intimate emotions of the USS Enterprise crew. Ensign Nyota Uhura, portrayed by Gooding, fully embraced her role as Communications Officer and ultimately saved the galaxy. Lt. Spock, played by Ethan Peck, grappled with the heartbreak resulting from his failed romance with Nurse Christine Chapel, portrayed by Jess Bush. Additionally, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh, portrayed by Chong, discovered the necessity of opening herself up to others beyond her bond with Lt. James T. Kirk, portrayed by Paul Wesley. The musical episode of Strange New Worlds was far more than a mere gimmick; it brought forth a refreshing and captivating style of storytelling within the Star Trek universe.
Picard Season 2’s Jurati Set Up Strange New Worlds’ Musical
Star Trek: Picard season 2 paved the way for the Strange New Worlds musical episode. In episode 6, titled "Two of One," the Borg Queen convinces Dr. Agnes Jurati to showcase her singing talents at the NASA Europa gala. Dressed in a striking red gown, Jurati surprises the audience with a mesmerizing performance of Pat Benatar's "Shadows of the Night." Directed by Jonathan Frakes, Jurati's musical moment becomes one of the standout highlights of Picard season 2. The desire for a musical episode had been brewing since Star Trek: Picard season 1, with showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Michael Chabon attempting to involve Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, the idea became a reality with the help of Strange New Worlds showrunner Henry Alonso Myers, who had prior experience with musical episodes. Agnes Jurati's arc in Star Trek: Picard season 2 laid the foundation for a remarkable Star Trek musical performance that unravels her character's hidden depths.
Will Star Trek Do Another Musical Episode?
Given the success of Strange New Worlds' musical, audiences naturally question if there will be more musical Star Trek episodes. Will a musical episode become a regular occurrence in Strange New Worlds or other Star Trek shows, or will it remain a one-time success? Clearly, the production of "Subspace Rhapsody" was a significant endeavor that the cast and crew of Strange New Worlds executed flawlessly. However, repeatedly incorporating musicals may diminish the uniqueness and charm that made "Subspace Rhapsody" so extraordinary.
With Star Trek: Discovery's fifth season already completed, serving as the final season, and Star Trek: Picard concluded, the only other live-action Star Trek series with the potential for a musical episode besides Strange New Worlds is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It is unlikely that the Star Trek: Section 31 movie, featuring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, would adopt a musical format. Animated series such as Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy would have an easier time incorporating a musical episode compared to live-action series if they were interested. At present, the standout moment of musicality in Star Trek was Agnes Jurati's performance in Star Trek: Picard's second season, which can be seen as a buildup to the musical episode in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
