Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” brings the comedy and some complicated looks at Vulcan culture. It asks us timeless questions for the Star Trek fandom: what does it mean to be Vulcan, and what does it mean to be human? Let’s take a look at my review of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half-Vulcans.”
It’s Only Logical…
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” does something a little different, turning four of our main crew into Vulcans. When they first gave us a clip of this episode last summer, I asked the question of how turning the crew into Vulcans gave them a genetic predisposition for logic. It’s a detail I missed in my first viewing, but Una states that the Kerkhovian serum is based on Spock’s perceived experiences, therefore already logical, which would normally take Vulcans years to achieve. It’s a detail that I’m afraid some folks will miss. I think this would have been better served if it had been revealed as a conversation, rather than narration. It’s only mentioned once briefly and quickly in the episode, so if missed, then a viewer might spend the rest of the episode confused.
All that being said, once I caught that particular detail, I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the episode a bit more. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” does give some good humor, seeing our crew act in ways contrary to their normal behavior. Christine, the consummate extrovert, now sees all of her socialization as a waste of time. Uhura, a communications expert, decides that instead of communicating, she will literally make Beto understand her via mind meld. Pike’s predilection for precision in the kitchen is now cranked up to eleven, and La’an, well, I’ll expound on her situation more later. The comedy increases for me on each viewing. I anticipate this episode being one that will grow on the fandom over time.
MORE: Read our Strange New Worlds season 3 reviews—Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, and Episode 4.
Sister Time with Una and La’an
Bookending Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” with the sister time between Una and La’an is the best part of the episode for me. The humor in La’an’s apology of “I’m sorry I beat up James Kirk, and tried to take over the ship…and start a war,” is hilarious in its delivery, but also heartfelt. You can feel the embarrassment and remorse La’an feels about her behavior. Una’s response helps soften the blow—don’t let it happen again, unless Kirk really deserves it.
Both of these women are gals with tough exteriors who have difficulty letting others in. They trust each other enough to let their walls down and share their deepest feelings with one another. I can relate quite a bit to that feeling. Their absolute candor with one another in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” is especially sweet for me. If I continue to get more positive female friendships and sister time like this in my Star Trek, I will be quite pleased.
MORE: Check out our Strange New Worlds season 3 reviews— Episode 5, Episode 6, and Episode 7.
Una & Doug
I did take issue a bit with the relationship between Una and Doug in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half-Vulcans.” It’s not because I don’t like Una and Doug together. I think it’s sweet and a bit funny to see Una, who is normally straight-laced and serious, totally lose her cool and inhibitions around this human-fascinated Vulcan. I’m a bit bothered that this relationship seems to be played for laughs because Rebecca Romijn is a conventionally attractive 6-foot-tall statuesque model, and Patton Oswalt is a short, not conventionally attractive man. Surely we are past this in the 23rd century?
That aside, having an uber geek like Patton Oswalt in Star Trek is wonderful. It’s not his first time in Star Trek either. He voiced Agness Jurati’s digital pet cat, Spot 73, in Star Trek: Picard, and wrote Star Trek #500 in September of 2024. Patton is delightful as Doug. He’s charming and humorous. Plus, the post-credits scenes with Spock, playing up the idiosyncrasies of humanity, like annual birthday parties, high fives, contractions, the need for 8 hours of sleep, the human proclivity to eat so much cheese, etc., are all quite hilarious. Truthfully, I think these scenes are funnier than anything within the context of the episode. Finishing with a Spock smile is just the icing on the cake.
MORE: Check out our interviews with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Celia Rose Gooding, and Melissa Navia!
La’an’s Battle
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” gives us further insight into La’an’s augment DNA. She displays her ancestor Khan’s proclivity for domination. Even though he was considered the most “benevolent” of the augment dictators, that doesn’t make him any less of an authoritarian dictator. It demonstrates La’an’s desire for control in her own life, taken to its worst conclusion. I appreciate that what makes La’an break out of this desire for control is art. It’s dance, it’s music. It’s the affection she feels for Spock. The art allows her to feel all her feelings and clear her head. That emotional catharsis really works well for this scene and plays into what she and Spock are both learning through their dance sessions.
The musical cue is a fascinating variation of the “Amok Time” fight music and then evolves into a thoughtful, ballroom dance piece filled with longing. Massive props to composer Nami Melumad for her continuously incredible musical work with Strange New Worlds. That piece really made an already perfectly executed emotional beat with Christina Chong and Ethan Peck that much better.
MORE: You’ll want to watch our interviews with Christina Chong, Jess Bush, Ethan Peck, and Babs Olusanmokun!
Final Thoughts
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” gives us good emotional beats with our characters while also bringing the humor. It’s an episode that took a few viewings to really sink in for me. My challenge to you is that if you’re not sure about this episode, give it another look. You might like it more on the second go-around.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out my favorite line in the episode. When Erica says, “We’re a chaos family! It’s what you like about us!” I felt seen. She is the delightfully fun chaos muppet, and I’m always delighted when she gets the opportunity to bring that to the forefront. It’s also affirming to me as a fellow chaos muppet. More of this, please!
What did you think of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 8 “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans”? Leave me a comment and let’s talk Trek.
The next episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will air on September 4, 2025, on Paramount+.
