Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 4, Episode 8, “Orders of Magnitude.”
<em>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds </em>returns with another intricate moral dilemma in this week’s episode. Titled “Orders of Magnitude,” the eighth episode of Strange New Worlds Season 4 sees James Kirk (Paul Wesley) once again thrust into a position of authority on the Enterprise when an emergency arises as a visiting Admiral takes control of the ship — and as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. In this episode, Kirk’s instinctual drive to achieve the best possible outcome clashes with a vengeful Starfleet Admiral, played by <em>Scandal</em>‘s Joe Morton, who is determined to destroy a cloaked ship responsible for his family’s death. The episode also uncovers Kirk family lore that fundamentally alters how the future Captain perceives his father — and his own future.
In light of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary this week, I sat down with Paul Wesley to discuss the final episodes of Strange New Worlds Season 4. “Orders of Magnitude” allows Kirk to view his absent father in a new light when he discovers that George Kirk was actually a hero. When asked how this revelation might influence his own journey as both a father and a Starfleet officer, Wesley told Collider:
“It’s funny because his father obviously was kind of an absent dad, and he knows how much that hurt. He obviously felt that pain. And so I think for him, he doesn’t really know. I think it’s a consistent conflict. It’s like, “Do I not pursue my dream of becoming a captain, or do I be a good father?” And unfortunately, the reality of the situation is you can’t do both. You can’t. And I think in many ways, learning that his father was actually a hero gives him, in a way, the kind of drive and the fuel to maybe become a hero himself.”
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What is your greatest strength in a crisis?
The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.
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<What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for?
<Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.
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<AThe survival and dignity of my people — even if I have to become something frightening to ensure it.
<BThe safety of my crew — every single one of them. No one gets left behind.
<CFreedom — for my people, for every world still crushed under the weight of an empire.
<DThe truth — what actually happened, what’s actually out there, whether anyone believes me or not.
<EThe one person — or the one memory — that still makes any of this worth surviving for.
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<How do you relate to the people around you?
<Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.
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<AWith intensity and distance — I care deeply, but the weight I carry makes closeness complicated.
<BWith warmth and irreverence — I take the mission seriously, not myself.
<CWith directness and trust — I say what I mean, and I expect the people I work with to rise to it.
<DWith professional care but clear limits — I’ll protect you, but I won’t pretend we’re family.
<EWith wariness that slowly becomes loyalty — I don’t trust easily, but when I do, it holds.
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<You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do?
<How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.
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<APrepare in silence. If they won’t listen, I’ll be ready when they finally have to.
<BKeep pushing until someone listens — and if no one does, handle it myself.
<CBuild the case, find the allies, and make the threat impossible to ignore.
<DDocument everything. The truth matters even if no one believes it yet.
<EStop trying to convince anyone. Survive it. That’s the only argument that counts.
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<‘What has your heroism cost you personally?’
”Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they’d pay it again.’
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”My innocence—I’ve seen what I’m capable of; I can’t unsee it.’
”People I’ve loved—the command chair has a view but it’s lonely.’
”A normal life—I gave up everything ordinary when I chose this cause.’
”My sense of safety—I know exactly what’s out there now; I can’t pretend otherwise.’
”Almost everything—and I’m still not sure what I’m carrying it all for; but I keep going.’
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NEXT QUESTION →’
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07′
”How do you feel about the rules of your world?’
”Every hero has a relationship with their system; what’s yours?’
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”I understand them deeply—I know which ones must be broken and why.’
”I respect their spirit but bend their letter when needed.’
”The system is problematic; I’m here to dismantle it rather than work within it.’
”I follow protocol until it’s no longer useful; then I’ll make my own call.’
”The rules collapsed long ago; what’s left is instinct—and mine are reliable.’
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NEXT QUESTION →’
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08′
”When everything is on the line; what keeps you going?’
”The answer is your most honest trait.’
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”Destiny—or something so similar that it no longer matters.’
”The people on my ship—their faces; their trust; they’re counting on me.’
”The belief that our fight is worth every sacrifice—including this one.’
”Sheer refusal to let it win—whatever it may be; that’s just who I am.’
”I’m not sure anymore; but I’m still on my path.’
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REVEAL MY HERO →’
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‘Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…’
‘Your answers point to an iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts; values; and unique approach to facing challenges.’
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+’Arrakis · Dune”
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+’Paul Atreides”
+’You carry burdens most would crumble under—the knowledge of your capabilities; and what you might need to become.”
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+’USS Enterprise · Star Trek”
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+’Captain Kirk”
+’You lead with instinct; warmth; refusing no-win scenarios—always believing there’s another option others miss.”
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+’The Rebellion · Star Wars”
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+’Princess Leia”
+’You hold firm when faith wanes—not from fearlessness—but because giving up isn’t in your nature.”
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+”‘”divcls=”‘result-card-inner'”
+”‘”sptxt style=”‘background:linear-gradient(135deg,#fff 40%,#4ADE80);’-webkit-background-clips:text;-webkit-text-fill-color:transparent;background-clips:text;”>Ellen Ripley””
+”‘”txt>”You aren’t reckless or grandiose—you’re simply resolute during critical moments.””
+”‘”ulcls=”‘result-bullets'”
+”‘”+”You perceive threats clearly documenting truths even amidst disbelief handling situations independently.”
+”‘”+”Ripley’s heroism stems from her actions rather than performance—she wields flamethrowers instead of speeches.”
+”‘”+”You embody her composure under extreme pressure refusing denial regarding threats.”
+”‘”+”When necessary—you stand firm—that’s everything.”
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+’The Wasteland · Mad Max””
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+”‘”+”You have endured trials that would break most—what emerged is often underestimated.”
+”‘”+”You don’t seek help nor validation waiting instead until rules cease applying.”
+”‘”+”Your loyalty becomes absolute once earned through actions rather than words.”
+”‘”+”Max isn’t nihilistic—he lost everything yet found something worth protecting against his will.”
+”‘”+”This resilient human essence defines who you are.”
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Joe Morton Brings Empathy and Depth to His Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Villain"
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- (L-R): Joe Morton as Admiral Reeger and Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode 8 season 4 streaming on Paramount+ 2026 Photo Credit Jan Thijs Paramount+
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“<smallclass="""body-img-caption"""Image via Jan Thijs Paramount+
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Morton brings incredible nuance as Admiral Reeger in this episode—a performance Wesley found both challenging yet rewarding on set.”Well,” he said,”it was hard because Joe brought real empathy into his immoral actions.” Thus you’re facing off against someone whose motivations challenge your own.”Wesley continued praising Morton’s performance stating,”it adds depth making characters multidimensional with moral ambiguity—a hallmark of great dramas.”Two more episodes remain in Season four streaming now on Paramount+ stay tuned at Collider for more updates.”
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