Tread Perilously's Star Trek month continues with an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds called "A Quality of Mercy."
When Captain Christopher Pike considers altering the fate he has been dreading since his year in command of the U.S.S. Discovery, a future version of himself makes him leap into the events of "Balance of Terror" -- only he's still in command of the Enterprise. Will he make the same choices as James T. Kirk? Or will his wish to save everyone lead the Federation into another prolonged war. Also, whose fate among the Enterprise crew is crucial to future events?
Erik and Justin consider the Kurtzman Era of Star Trek via a legacy sequel (or is it a requel?) to one of The Original Series' best episodes. Continuity and Enterprise also come into question. Erik marvels at how much Akiva Goldsman gets Trek. Justin reconsiders Joel Schumacher. The pair debate a recent Strange New Worlds episode inspired by soap operas. Erik removes Kirk from William Shatner. Sarek's abilities as a father are doubted. The pair also consider Trek's tendency to equate promotion to admiral with death. Justin's attempt to use Middle-earth mythology gets an immediate correction and Babylon 5 cannot help but make another return.
