Caution: This information reveals plot points from the “Terrarium” episode of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” To watch it, you’ll need a Paramount+ subscription. Proceed with reading at your own discretion!
The showrunners of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds assured us that character Erica Ortegas would have a more substantial presence in Season 3, and her significant story arc concluded in the second-to-last episode with an impressive standalone episode titled “Terrarium”. While it might appear to viewers that Melissa Navia’s performance was mainly alongside a Gorn costume wearer, TopMob uncovered that the actual filming process for this episode was considerably more complex than it seemed.
Prior to “Terrarium” becoming accessible on Paramount+, I had the privilege of conversing with Navia, who shared her experience tackling the unique challenge of acting alongside a predominantly non-verbal alien character in most scenes. The actress revealed that this role presented several difficulties, particularly due to the constraint that they could only utilize the Gorn suit for a restricted duration.
The suit we wore during our interaction with Warren [Scherer] was extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver, thus limiting our time together. Consequently, there were many instances where I had my close-ups while acting opposite George, our Assistant Director, whom I adore. George is not like the Gorn character from Star Trek. I’m crossing my fingers that he reads this! I can still vividly imagine George sitting there, perhaps thinking, ‘Grumpy Gorn.’ However, I was often required to act opposite George or even against an empty Gorn head because it was simply too challenging due to the heavy suit’s weight.
Navigating within the authentic Gorn costume presented quite a hurdle, thus, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds primarily used it sparingly, only when its inclusion was indispensable for the scene. Consequently, Melissa Navia performed most of those scenes solo, or with a partner who may not have been adept enough to effectively portray the intense emotions she showcases in that particular episode.
In select instances of the episode, the character known as The Gorn donned his complete outfit, but Strange New Worlds exercised caution in employing the full costume. Melissa Navia shared insights on the safety measures adopted when it was utilized, and also provided guidelines to help viewers identify moments where the full suit is on display within the episode.
Warren sported an internal cooling system within his suit, such was the intensity of his work and heated environment. This meant that whenever he donned the suit, we were truly operating against the clock. At the peak of the Gorn’s screen time, we maximized Warren’s potential to deliver his best performance.
It appears that the Gorn suit from the movie was not designed for prolonged use during filming, yet in “Terrarium,” it seems as though it had an extensive screen time, leading me to believe that I was watching a genuine animal acting instead of a character in costume. The abundance of the Gorn’s appearance almost made me forget that it wasn’t a real creature earning its SAG credit for performing on set.
In simpler terms, actress Rebecca Romijn from Star Trek shared details about an alternate plan for the final season of Strange New Worlds. My thoughts on this are a mix of emotions.
Although the finale took an unfortunate turn, I can’t help but express my admiration for this episode, which seemed to mark a climax in Erica Ortegas’ significant arc during Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3. With the showrunners setting up a potential Captain Kirk spinoff focusing on his first year as captain of the Enterprise, it’s hard not to acknowledge the poignant truth that we have a limited number of episodes left featuring Ortegas as part of the narrative.
In comparison, characters such as Number One and La’an have had more opportunities to stand out thus far, compared to Melissa Navia’s Ortegas. Luckily, it is evident that the writers put a great deal of effort into expanding the helmsman’s narrative this season, and they even incorporated some subtle references that held personal significance for Navia.
In a heartfelt tone, I must admit that the dedication put into this remarkable journey through Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has made it a bit easier to accept the impending farewell to these captivating characters. As we embark on Season 5, which sadly will be the last, the series is set to deliver just six episodes that will skillfully tie up loose ends.
In an exciting twist, Akiva Goldsman, the showrunner, has revealed that the goal is to bring the storyline right up to the moment when Captain Kirk, portrayed by Paul Wesley, takes over command of the Enterprise from Captain Pike. At present, it seems there are no plans for a spinoff, but as we draw nearer to the final chapter, who knows what unexpected twists may unfold?
The last episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 3 will be available for streaming on Paramount+ this coming Thursday, September 11th. In a short while, we’ll find out how the season concludes and what hints it gives about Season 4.
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2025-09-05 04:08