Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 5 - "Level-Five Transporter Accident"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet episode is one of the funniest hours of Star Trek ever made. Directed by Jordan Canning and written by Henry Alonso Myers and Dana Horgan, "Level-Five Transporter Accident" is a loving homage to The Muppets, with uncannily accurate puppet versions of the Starship Enterprise's crew created and performed by the geniuses at The Jim Henson Creature Shop.
Ethan Peck's Lieutenant Spock was the lone USS Enterprise crew member who wasn't turned into a puppet. Peck's beleaguered Vulcan Science Officer was joined by guest stars Rachael Harris and Joe Lo Truglio as Orion pirates who tried to hijack the Starship Enterprise, and never expected the absurd levels of resistance they encountered from its puppet crew.
Meanwhile, every cast member from Anson Mount to guest star Gia Sandhu as T'Pring raised the pitch of their voice-overs so that their characters had slightly elevated puppet voices. Working in unison with The Jim Henson Creature Shop's talented puppeteers, the cast and crew of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds jam-packed the puppet episode with clever, meta, and just plain wacky jokes.
Here are the 10 funniest zingers and absurd scenarios in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' instant classic puppet episode:
10 Puppet Panic When Orions Attack The Enterprise
Panicking with screams and flailing arms is a staple of The Muppets, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had the perfect scenario for its own furry, felt freak-outs. When the Orion starship Vo'Nee opens fire on the defenseless USS Enterprise, the episode cuts to its puppet crew losing their minds as the starship explodes around them. Even the puppet bartenders in the Port Galley hilariously flail side to side.
9 La'an's Superhero Landing
As a puppet, Security Chief La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) couldn't make good on her threat of "lethality" at the Orion pirates boarding the USS Enterprise. However, after Captain Pike implemented his plan to use their advantages as puppets to take back their ship, La'an's puppet style became more acrobatic, complete with what Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) calls a superhero landing.
Of course, La'an's landing crouch with one arm on the ground and the other in the air was made famous by Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), and it was also mocked and copied by her sister, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If The Avengers movies existed in Star Trek's universe, it wouldn't be surprising that La'an is a Black Widow fan.
8 Pike's Flying Attacks
Captain Pike was one of Starfleet's top pilots, but as a puppet, Chris really learned how to fly. Puppet Pike launched himself twice at the Orions as he led his crew to regain control of the Enterprise.
Spock performed what the X-Men call a "fastball special" by hurling Pike at Captain Ch'Rol.
La'an and Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romjin) sent Pike soaring at one Orion pirate, and then Spock performed what the X-Men call a "fastball special" by hurling Pike at Captain Ch'Rol (Rachael Harris). The Orion leader's twisted grimace as the cute and cuddly puppet captain flew into her was also a laugh riot.
7 Spock Kisses Puppet T'Pring
Unfortunately, all of the puppet mayhem in "Level-Five Transporter Accident" was revealed to be Spock's dream. But before that sad realization, puppet T'Pring helped Spock re-center himself in Vulcan logic. Then, the former engaged couple sent jaws dropping as Spock kissed puppet T'Pring. Ethan Peck agrees that the tender moment was as weird as it was funny.
Gia Sandhu, incidentally, is sensational as T'Pring and voicing puppet T'Pring, especially when the Vulcan has an emotional breakdown, having been pushed beyond her threshold by the being on the Enterprise, that "ship of chaos," again.
6 "Scotty Really Screwed The Pooch"
In Spock's dream, the "Level-Five Transporter Accident" was caused by Scotty trying to break the long-range transporter distance record by beaming his childhood puppet, Little Ricky, 29,000 kilometers to the starship of his rival, Declan Milder.
The Little Ricky puppet's "quantum particulates" were the reason for the level-five transporter accident.
In Captain Pike's ready room, the Enterprise's newly-puppetized senior staff assessed what being made of felt would mean, but Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) placed the blame squarely at Scotty, declaring to everyone that "Scotty really screwed the pooch" and mercilessly taunting him about Declan Milder being a better engineer.
5 Pelia Cut in Half
To Captain Ch'Rol's chagrin, even slicing puppet Pelia in half with her sword didn't stop the Chief Engineer, or quiet the loquacious Lanthanite. Even before Pelia was bisected, she caused chuckles by throwing her boots at Ch'Rol, which bounced harmlessly off the irritated Orion pirate.
Carol Kane had one of the funniest one-liner deliveries in the episode, when Pelia told Scotty, "I've been cut in half! Or can't you see that?"
All it took was a quick sewing job to restore Pelia as good as new, and it was a learning opportunity by the long-lived engineer to assess the miraculous advantages of being a puppet. When Pelia joined her crewmates to attack the Orions on the Enterprise bridge, Ch'Rol was understandably perplexed, musing out loud, "I cut her in half!"
4 "The Needs Of The Many"
Perhaps the last thing anyone expected in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet episode was a callback to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, but it happened. When the Orions shoved Pike out of the airlock, the puppet captain pressed his hand to the glass and reminded Spock, "The needs of the many..." before being blown into space.
The homage to Spock's future death was not planned.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds executive producers and co-showrunners Akvia Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers told TV Guide that the homage to Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) future death was not planned. But once they realized the moment's similarity to Wrath of Khan, "Don't we have to...?' And so we did, and we liked it a lot," explained Goldsman.
3 M'Benga About To Fight
Dr. Joseph M'Benga's (Babs Olusanmokun) dark history as a Starfleet assassin is well-established. Just because he became a puppet doesn't mean M'Benga isn't still dangerous. One of the best sight gags in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet episode was puppet M'Benga's eyes going dark and wincing right before he attacks an Orion with deadly knitting needles.
2 Giant Hooded Puppet Reveal
The gag of two or three diminutive characters stacked on top of each other and wearing a coat is a comedy staple, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet version is gold. To begin their assault on the Orions, Pike, La'an, and Una wear T'Pring's Vulcan robe and open it to dramatically reveal a trio of puppet Starfleet officers. That joke works every time.
1 Puppets Talking In Space "Doesn't Even Make Sense!"
Captain Pike being blown into outer space and discovering that puppets don't need oxygen to breathe was hilarious on its own, thanks to Chris' monologue. The payoff was the rest of the puppet Enterprise crew joining Pike and floating out in deep space. Except they could still talk and hear each other in the vacuum of space.
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01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
ANCC-1701-D BNX-01 CNCC-1701 DNCC-74656
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
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02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
AData BSpock CTuvok DSarek
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
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03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
AThe Temporal Accord BGeneral Order One CThe Omega Directive DThe Prime Directive
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
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04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
AThe Borg BThe Dominion CThe Romulans DSpecies 8472
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
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05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
AWilliam Shatner BAvery Brooks CPatrick Stewart DScott Bakula
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
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06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
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07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
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08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
AKhan Noonien Singh BGeneral Chang CQ DGul Dukat
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
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Pelia declaring, "It doesn't even make sense!' is a knee-slapper because of the brazen illogic of it all. However, the scene cuts to Spock waking up from his dream. Still, even if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' puppet escapade technically 'never happened,' that doesn't negate the irreverent joy of every joke told by "Level-Five Transporter Accident."
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's new episodes premiere Thursdays on Paramount+
Release Date 2022 - 2027-00-00
Network Paramount+
Showrunner Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
Writers Onitra Johnson
English (US) ·