Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 4, “A Space Adventure Hour”
The stars ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldshave nothing but great things to say about working with director Jonathan Frakes. Frakes began hisStar Trekjourney by portraying Commander William Riker throughout all seven seasons ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,and he first took on the role of director forTNGseason 3’s “The Offspring.”
Most recently, Jonathan Frakes directedStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3, episode 4, “A Space Adventure Hour,” which featured a 1960s murder mystery on the holodeck. As part of theComic-Con Variety Studio Presented by Google TV,Strange New Worldsstars Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Paul Wesley, Christina Chong, and Jess Bushspoke about their experience working with Frakes.Read their quotes below:
Christina Chong: He wants to be in on the action, to the point where he’s hiding behind plants in the shot and whispering directions to us. He’s in our eyeline. He lights up everyone’s day when you walk into work. Working with Frakes is just a complete joy.
Jess Bush: He’s singing. He’s also wonderfully self-deprecating. Not the sense of he’s tearing himself down, but like, ‘What do you think? What should we do here?’
Rebecca Romijn: It’s very collaborative. He’s got very, very good ideas. And he also, because he’s an actor, he loves to be right there on set with the actors, and not necessarily over in video village. And he likes to start the day in the hair and makeup trailer, because that’s what he’s always done as an actor. He just wants to be with the actors.
Paul Wesley: This episode was very heavy on bringing our own spin on what we were doing. So he wanted us to improv. He wanted us to have fun. Like the blooper reel at the end. Some of it was scripted but a lot of it was just like us having fun on the day with breaks.
What This Means For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Frakes Remains A Fixture Of Strange New Worlds
In addition to bringing Commander Riker to life, Jonathan Frakes has directed some ofStar Trek’sbest episodes, includingStrange New Worldsseason 2’s excellent crossoverwithStar Trek: Lower Decks.“A Space Adventure Hour” marks another win for Frakes as a director,and the show’s stars seem happy to continue working with him.
Star Trekhas already confirmed that Frakes will direct an episode ofStrange New Worldsseason 4, as well as at least one episode ofStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
In his two episodes ofStrange New Worldsso far, Frakes has incorporated numerous references to pastStar Trek,and his obvious love for the franchise always shines through. As Frakes seems to have a good relationship with the show’s cast and withStar Trekin general,he will likely remain a fixture in the franchise for the foreseeable future,and that can only be a good thing.
Our Take On The Comments Of The Strange New Worlds Cast
Frakes' Strange New Worlds Episodes Are Some Of The Show’s Best
Strange New Worldshas become one ofStar Trek’smost fun shows, and that’s never more apparent than in theepisodes directed by Jonathan Frakes. With his obvious knowledge of and love for all thingsTrek,Frakes' episodes ofStrange New Worldsact as love letters to theStar Trekfranchise,celebrating its long history and its passionate fans.
“A Space Adventure Hour” is an incredibly fun hour of televisionthat could have easily fallen flat in the hands of the wrong director or cast. But Jonathan Frakes and thecast ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldsmake the episode work, and the obvious fun they are having can practically be felt through the screen.
It’s great that the cast members ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldshave such a solid working relationship with Frakes, as that can only work in the show’s favor. It doesn’t look like Frakes will be departingStar Trekanytime soon, and that’s a wonderful thing for the franchise’s future.
