Strange New Worlds needs an Ortegas-centric episode (or 2…or more)

As a gamer who has spent countless hours navigating the vast cosmos of Star Trek, I can’t help but feel a sense of longing for Lt. Erica Ortegas to take command and steer her own episode in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It’s not just about filling the void left by Data-centric episodes in The Next Generation, but rather about delving deeper into a character that, despite being listed as a main cast member, has yet to get her moment to truly shine.

Among the enjoyable aspects of various Star Trek shows is that they often present group actors, with individual episodes spotlighting distinct characters. It’s alright if, like me, you’re not particularly fond of Data-centric episodes from The Next Generation, as there are numerous excellent Worf episodes instead. In the same vein, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues this trend; however, at this point, none of the main cast members have had an episode dedicated solely to them.

In the premiere of “Strange New Worlds,” Lieutenant Erica Ortegas, played by Melissa Navia, debuts as the helmsman aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Given that she’s a primary cast member, it’s expected that we might see episodes focusing on her character, similar to those centered around Pike, Spock, Number One, Uhura, M’Benga, Chapel, La’an, and Hemmer. However, after two seasons, this hasn’t been the norm.

Besides some casual details revealed through dialogue, Lt. Ortegas is primarily depicted as the one who pilots the ship. However, in Navia’s portrayal and the writers’ crafting, Ortegas emerges as a lively, self-assured, and engaging character. It would be intriguing to dedicate an episode (or several) to delve deeper into Ortegas’ past and personality, offering a more comprehensive understanding of this captivating character.

For example, it’s clear that Ortegas possesses exceptional flying skills, yet her experience in off-world assignments is relatively limited. This could provide an interesting narrative opportunity, allowing her to demonstrate abilities beyond piloting.

Just as Ortega’s casual, humorous demeanor can make for enjoyable interactions, it could also lead to intriguing narratives. It seems that Captain Pike (Anson Mount) might be more accepting of a friendly bridge environment compared to other captains. Is there a connection between Ortega’s personality and her past experiences? Could her exceptional piloting skills grant her some leniency?

One significant reason for desiring Ortega’s episodes is that she stands out as entirely distinctive within Strange New Worlds. Besides Hemmer, played by Bruce Horak, who also had an under-explored backstory before departing the series, Ortega is the sole major character not originally introduced or connected to a character from The Original Series.

Although the SNW (Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard) versions of these characters might vary significantly from their original TOS (The Original Series) counterparts, it’s still evident that we have some understanding of their backgrounds and future events. However, there’s a constant risk that fresh details could be nothing more than thoughtless revisions. Ortegas is essentially a clean slate with no fixed notions about who she should be or how she fits into the established canon.

It’s reasonable to assume that there hasn’t been an episode focusing on Ortega because Strange New Worlds has a limited run of 10 episodes per season, compared to the 26 episodes common during the runs of The Next Generation to Enterprise. However, we’ve seen quite a few episodes featuring Spock (Ethan Peck) in Strange New Worlds so far.

Even though Spock is deeply cherished, his narrative has been thoroughly delved into for more than five decades. It might be refreshing to reduce the number of episodes focusing on Spock, giving Ortega an opportunity to take center stage instead of primarily serving as a supporting character in her appearances.

I’m eagerly anticipating Season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as it may finally delve deeply into the character of Lt. Ortegas. Given her distinct personality within the series, there’s a wealth of information I’d love to discover about her.

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2024-10-04 22:23