Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The RANDY Awards: Category X, Season Two

 As the Awards Ceremony is approaching its second round apex, one more RANDY stands between now and the announcing of the Best Episodes: Bronze, Silver and Gold.  The X category is that of the Most Ambitious Episode.  Among the things that make Star Trek: Strange New Worlds a singular success among the franchises is its willingness to step outside of the "box."  Hell, toss the box and make a bubble!

In the first season the Most Ambitious Episode went to "Spock Amok" with its overlapping themes and well woven plot twists that came together on multiple levels.  It was a brilliantly conceived and exquisitely executed use of characters and story arcs.  Season Two's winner is really nothing like season one's!  

Ambition and success are not the same critter.  It seems likely that the episode I chose was the most controversial of the season.  The creators swung for the bleachers and depending on who you ask the result was somewhere between a bases loaded homer to an infield fly catch!  Personally, it definitely got to third base, and drove in at least one runner.  The winner is "Subspace Rhapsody."   Written by Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff, it first aired on August 3, 2023.

Epilogue:
The music was composed by Kay Hanley and her longtime collaborator, Tom Polce.  Kay performed with Letters from Cloe.  The two have a lot of talent, what they didn't have was what every real musical has...a out of town tryout, or two, or three...  Had they I would like to think that the following edits would have been made.  The Gilbert and Sullivan homage piece would have been turned over to someone who understanding Gilbert and Sullivan MUCH BETTER.  Two other numbers needed some serious reconsideration, as well.  Both involved sub-plots involving La'an and Number One.  I question the focus on their premise when other possibilities were available like a spirited duet between Sam and James Kirk.