Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 5 – “Through The Lens Of Time”Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 5 uncovers a formidable and ancient evil threat looming over the USS Enterprise and potentially the entire galaxy. This gripping episode, directed by Andi Armaganian and penned by Onitra Johnson and Davy Perez, titled “Through The Lens of Time,” delivers an intense and thrilling narrative that paves the way for an ominous menace that will resonate throughout the remainder of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.

As part of the investigation into the M’Kroon’s ancient temple situated on Vadia Nine, Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) takes the lead of a landing party that includes Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O’Sullivan), Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), Ensign Dana Gamble (Chris Myers), and the documentarian Beto Ortegas (Mynor Luken). After their initial exploration, they are joined by Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), but unfortunately, the landing party soon finds themselves trapped within the enigmatic temple.

During their harrowing encounter, Ensign Dana Gamble is suddenly blinded by an ancient artifact. However, when they beam back to the Enterprise, it becomes alarmingly evident that Gamble has fallen under the sinister influence of a malevolent entity known as the Vezda. The crew of the Enterprise must race against time to combat the Vezda while Chapel’s away team works diligently to unravel the mysteries of the temple and its peculiar ability to traverse different dimensional planes.

Discover the New Evil Enemy Unveiled in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Did The Enterprise Crew Truly Defeat The Vezda?

The Vezda represents an ancient and malevolent entity that has existed for thousands of years. Commander Pelia (Carol Kane), a Lanthanite who has lived for eons, provides essential background information about the Vezda, expressing her deep-seated fears regarding how ancient and dangerous these evil aliens truly are, stating that they give her the “heebie jeebies.” The ominous presence of the Vezda that took possession of Ensign Dana Gamble ultimately confirmed Pelia’s worst apprehensions.

In a climactic moment, the Vezda was successfully captured by Scotty (Martin Quinn) after Pelia shot it in the back with a phaser while it threatened Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun). Scotty then beamed the Vezda to “nowhere,” presumably far from the Starship Enterprise. The Vezda wreaked havoc during its presence, resulting in the deaths of several security officers of the Enterprise, including Ensign Gamble.

While the Vezda that possessed Dana Gamble appears to have been vanquished, there are still thousands of Vezda imprisoned on Vadia Nine. Should one manage to break free, it raises serious concerns that others could follow suit from their ancient captivity. By introducing the Vezda, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seems to decisively shift focus away from the Gorn, marking the emergence of a formidable new antagonist for season 3 and potentially beyond.

What Ultimately Became of Ensign Dana Gamble?

Did Gamble Fall Victim To Strange New Worlds’ First Landing Party Curse?

Ensign Dana Gamble emerged as a delightful new character introduced in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, titled “Wedding Bell Blues.” Initially serving as a temporary replacement for Nurse Chapel, Gamble quickly became a beloved figure among Dr. M’Benga and earned a permanent position on the USS Enterprise. Tragically, the Vezda took control of Gamble’s body, leading to his demise, as it used Dana’s memories to impersonate him when necessary.

Much like Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia), Ensign Dana Gamble was overjoyed to participate in his first landing party, but this experience turned out to be disastrous. The eager Gamble met his untimely end during his inaugural and only landing party mission.

However, Chris Myers demonstrated remarkable versatility, seamlessly transitioning from a charming new supporting character to a chillingly effective antagonist. Sadly, Dr. M’Benga was left to mourn the loss of his new protégé and had the heartbreaking task of informing Dana’s family about his tragic fate.

How Captain Batel Reacted To Strange New Worlds’ New Evil Enemy

Was Batel’s Gorn DNA Activated By The Vezda?

The Vezda posed an unexpected challenge aboard the Starship Enterprise when confronted by Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano). Her reaction to the evil entity was both surprising and perplexing, as she began to communicate in the Vezda’s alien language, exhibiting an unexpected surge of strength and agility to combat the villain until it ultimately retreated.

Captain Batel’s DNA, having been merged with Gorn due to her prior infection, creates a complex dynamic. Spock discovered a method to synthesize a Chimera Blossom that would help stabilize the hybridization of Marie’s human and alien genetics. However, Batel’s sudden transformation during her encounter with the Vezda suggests that these malevolent aliens might also be adversaries of the Gorn, or it could indicate that Marie is evolving into a new type of being entirely.

The Escape of Nurse Chapel & Enterprise’s Landing Party From The Alien Prison

Unraveling the Mystery: “Effect Before Cause”

The most captivating and quintessentially ‘Star Trek’ element of Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 5, lies in the exploration of the M’Kroons’ ancient temple located on Vadia Nine. Following the unleashing of the Vezda, Nurse Chapel’s landing party quickly found themselves divided into pairs, comprising La’an and Christine, Spock and Korby, along with Uhura and Beto, each believing they had become separated in various parts of the temple.

Nevertheless, Spock astutely deduced that the group remained within the same room but was experiencing a shift across different planes of existence. The Vulcan reasoned that the temple’s unique properties facilitated an “effect before cause,” allowing events to unfold before they were consciously experienced. Furthermore, Spock recognized that since the M’Kroon temple “accepted” Chapel, it fell upon her to lead her comrades out of this dimensional perplexity.

With trust in Spock, Nurse Chapel bravely stepped into what appeared to be an endless chasm, a moment reminiscent of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Ultimately, the cause caught up with the effect, enabling Chapel, Spock, Korby, La’an, Uhura, and Beto to safely escape the temple. The Starfleet heroes also discovered that the temple serves as a prison for the Vezda.

Unveiling Dr. Roger Korby’s Darker Facets

Is Korby’s Behavior On Vadia Nine Cause For Concern?

Dr. Roger Korby’s introduction in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, “Wedding Bell Blues,” showcased his romance with Nurse Christine Chapel, where they were both manipulated by the cosmic trickster Trelane (Rhys Darby) in favor of Spock. This earlier portrayal made Korby appear empathetic and relatable, as he and Chapel shared a genuine love for one another.

However, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 5, viewers were privy to a different side of Korby, revealing a facet of his character that prioritizes his own scientific ambitions over the well-being of his friends, a stark contrast to Chapel and her fellow Starfleet Officers who value teamwork and safety.

Although Korby’s actions did not come across as overtly threatening, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds subtly hinted at a darker aspect of his character, suggesting potential dangers he may pose to the Starship Enterprise in the future, foreshadowing events in the Star Trek: Original Series.