Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Unleashes Ancient Alien Horror That Feels Straight Out of Stargate
Space archaeology fans, get ready for an episode that’s right up your cosmic alley. The fifth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, “Through the Lens of Time,” just dropped on Paramount Plus, and it’s already making waves for its mix of ancient mysteries, dangerous aliens, and a dash of dark humor. This episode doesn’t just entertain—it also draws some strong parallels with the beloved Stargate franchise, giving sci-fi fans plenty to talk about.
- Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 5 features a new ancient alien threat
- The story echoes themes and ideas from the Stargate universe
- Key plot twists involve possession and ancient rivalries
- Connections between the new aliens and existing threats like the Gorn
- Where to watch both Star Trek and Stargate series
Ancient Aliens, New Problems
In “Through the Lens of Time,” Dr. Roger Korby (played by Cillian O’Sullivan) asks the Enterprise crew for help investigating an ancient species that supposedly achieved immortality. However, things go south quickly after the team heads into a mysterious underground temple. Not only do they face classic adventure-style dangers, but they also run into outright horror. This blend of genres makes the episode stand out as one of the season’s best so far.
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Stargate Vibes: Parasitic Aliens and Ancient Tech
If you’re a fan of Stargate, you’ll notice some familiar themes. The redshirt trope gets a new twist when medical Ensign Dana Gamble (Chris Myers) is possessed by a Vezda, a malevolent alien species trapped in the temple. The Vezda use Gamble’s memories to torment Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and threaten the rest of the crew, in a way that’s reminiscent of the Goa’uld parasites from Stargate SG-1.
For those unfamiliar, Stargate started as a 1994 movie about a wormhole device found in Egypt, later becoming the hit series Stargate SG-1. The show’s Goa’uld aliens could possess human hosts, just like the Vezda do in this Star Trek episode. Over the years, Stargate built a deep mythology around ancient alien empires and reluctant alliances—something Strange New Worlds explores here, too.
Ancient Rivalries and New Threats
The plot thickens when Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) reacts violently to the possessed Gamble. Earlier, Batel survived an encounter with the Gorn and carries their DNA, which now seems to give her a strange, alien strength. She even starts speaking in an unknown language before attacking Gamble, showing just how complicated and dangerous these alien influences have become.
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Because Strange New Worlds is highly episodic, some plot threads—like the fate of the Vezda or Batel’s transformation—may take a while to resolve. Still, the episode sets up the Vezda as a potential major threat, possibly even rivaling the Gorn, who nearly overwhelmed Federation space earlier this season.
Star Trek vs. Stargate: A Tale of Two Universes
While Star Trek is known for its utopian vision, Stargate SG-1 offered a more grounded take on what would happen if modern humans stumbled onto advanced alien tech. The Stargate team often found themselves as underdogs, navigating ancient rivalries and political intrigue on Earth and beyond. Like Strange New Worlds, SG-1 loved mixing serious threats with fun episodic adventures—think time loops and body swaps. The camaraderie among the crew is also a highlight in both series.
If you want to learn more about the Jaffa, who were forced to serve the Goa’uld in Stargate, check out this page.
The Future of Space Archaeology on TV
The Stargate franchise expanded with spinoffs like Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, each adding new twists to the “ancient aliens” formula. Although there was a brief revival with the animated miniseries Stargate Origins in 2018, there hasn’t been a new show since. However, Amazon MGM Studios now owns the rights, so a comeback could happen—especially since audiences seem eager to revisit classic sci-fi concepts (example, example).
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For now, you can stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount Plus, with new episodes every Thursday. The entire Stargate franchise is available on Prime Video. If you love stories about mysterious ruins, ancient threats, and crews facing the unknown, both universes have plenty to offer.
