SNW · SEASON 11×10

A Quality of Mercy

NOMADIC PICK · ESSENTIAL VIEWINGA bold finale that reworks a classic.

FIRST SHOWN (US): 7 July 2022
ON: Paramount+
STARDATE: 1457.9
DIRECTED BY: Chris Fisher

WRITTEN BYWritten by Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman

IN BRIEF

SPOILER-FREE

On patrol near the Romulan Neutral Zone, Pike meets a young man whose future is bound up with his own, and is offered a chance to change his fate.

SYNOPSIS

SPOILERS

Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS

On patrol near the Romulan Neutral Zone, Pike meets a teenager who will become one of the cadets he is destined to save in the accident that will leave him severely disabled. Pike starts writing a warning to him, but an older Pike from an alternate future appears and shows him what happens if he avoids his fate. Seven years later, still captain of the Enterprise, Pike faces a Romulan Bird of Prey that has destroyed a Federation outpost, alongside the USS Farragut under Captain James T. Kirk, who favours attack. Pike chooses diplomacy and wins a ceasefire, but the Romulan sub-commander summons an armada. Spock is gravely wounded and the Romulans declare war on the Federation. Pike realises his sacrifice will save Spock and prevent this war, and he accepts his future. Back in the present, Captain Batel of the USS Cayuga comes aboard the Enterprise and arrests Una for being Illyrian.

DID YOU KNOW?

01The episode retells “Balance of Terror” (1966), recreating some scenes shot for shot, and reprises Fred Steiner's Romulan music from that episode.
02Matthew MacFadzean takes the Romulan commander's role played by Mark Lenard in the original, and Ali Hassan takes Commander Hansen, originally played by Garry Walberg.
03Paul Wesley, cast as Kirk for season two, makes a surprise appearance.

SOURCES WE CHECKED