Oh, hell yes. All the whiny naysayers without a shred of humor or childlike wonder can go eat a warp core this week. This was absolute PERFECTION.

The true measure of a show’s achievement lies in how successfully it portrays its characters and themes with only the idea of them on screen.

And in replacing every live-action actor from the Enterprise’s crew, save Spock, with puppets, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds absolutely NAILED it.

(Jan Thijs/Paramount+) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Level-Five Transporter Accident”

The letter of the week is “H,” Fanatics. And “H” is for hijinks.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 5, “Level-Five Transporter Accident,” is a masterclass in creativity, while, at the same time, effectively furthering narrative and character development.

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Level-Five Transporter Accidentby Diana Keng
  • Paris is Always a Good Idea Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Marcos Was Nearly Perfect, But Not For Chelseaby Laura Nowak
  • Does The Ark Season 3 Episode 4 Take Us Into The Matrix?by Alexandria Ingham

But can we take a moment to admire the puppet avatars that the Jim Henson’s Creature Shop created to stand-in for the cast?

Specifically, Pelia. If anyone deserves to have a puppet form IRL, it’s the legendary Carol Kane.

Puppet Pelia steals the spotlight in every scene she’s in, whether she’s being cut in half, sewn together, or floating through space.

(Paramount+/Screenshot) Scotty’s Gripe

The entire premise of the adventure is that Scotty hates Declan Milder. We never meet Declan Milder. He has nothing to do with the Enterprise. There’s a possibility he’s forgotten that Scotty ever attended the Academy with him.

Add TV Fanatic as a Trusted Source on Google!

Get More of Our Coverage!

However, Scotty’s built Declan up in his head as his great nemesis. And his entire motivation for pushing the long-range transporter’s limits is to beat Declan’s record, and scare the pants off him with Little Ricky.

It’s juvenile and borderline reckless, but with all the things we’re learning about Scotty this season, it’s not out of character.

(Jan Thijs/Paramount+) Spock’s Crisis

As Scotty accelerates towards his moment of victory over the classmate who has been living rent-free in his head forever, he leans heavily on Spock to assist him with the science and the implementation of his theory.

That pressure — and the disturbing introduction of Little Ricky — adds to Spock’s mental load.

Listicles Opinion Piece Silo Is Good, But These Apple TV Thrillers Are Even Better Siddhika Prajapati – August 20, 2026 Opinion Piece Reality TV Big Brother Spoilers: Is a Last-Minute Flip About to Save Kamu? Paul Dailly – August 20, 2026 – 4 Replies Opinion Piece Grounded in Fear: Why Kennedy’s Reluctance to Go Outside Made Silo Feel Real Alexandria Ingham – August 20, 2026 Opinion Piece Only One House of the Dragon Character Is Worthy of the Iron Throne — But It Can’t Happen Alexandria Ingham – August 19, 2026 Adaptations Opinion Piece Reacher Season 4 Is Racing Through Its Source Material — But Will It Pay Off? Siddhika Prajapati – August 18, 2026

Still dealing with the trauma of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 2, “The Griffin Incident,” he is blindsided by La’an’s decision to end their relationship.

He then reaches out to T’Pring for help reconnecting with logic. She reluctantly agrees on the condition that there be no hijinks when she visits the ship.

(Paramount+/Screenshot)

For an expert in logic, she’s not too bright sometimes.

And, Of Course, There Would Be Pirates

The rest of the crew (and T’Pring) being puppets makes things complicated enough. If that were all Spock had to deal with, it would already be a lot.

But then there are the Orion pirates. Led by the fantastic Rachael Harris, Lucifer‘s Linda Martin herself, who has a tendency to pop up in all my favorite shows.

She guest-starred on Fantasy Island Season 2 Episode 1, “Tara & Jessica’s High School Reunion/Cat Lady” and then again on Leverage: Redemption Season 3 Episode 2, “The Digital Frankenstein Job.”

(Paramount+/Screencap)

Green’s a great color for her.

Embracing the Chaos

Granted, since the entire puppet vs. Orion scenario is Spock’s coma dream, we can assume everything that happens relates to his personal crisis of logic.

Breaking up with La’an, his unresolved Griffin trauma, T’Pring’s presence, and Little Ricky all add up to him feeling overwhelmed and under attack.

  • Average Joe Season 2 Is Bigger, Wilder, and More Unhinged — Stars Tease What’s Aheadby Whitney Evans
  • Babs Olusanmokun on Dr. M’Benga’s Duality, Relationships, and Holiday Plans on Star Trek: Strange New Worldsby Diana Keng
  • The Westies’ Tom Brittney and Sarah Bolger Explain Why Jimmy and Bridget’s Secrets Keep Them Togetherby Carissa Pavlica

One wonders if the puppet superpowers, including being able to chill out in the vast vacuum of space, isn’t his unconscious desire to let go of corporeal concerns and just bugger off to the next nebula like a freed orca.

(Paramount+/Screenshot)

Puppet T’Pring’s also there to remind him that his crew has some commendable qualities, despite not being Vulcan.

“While your crew may occasionally be unorthodox, they are always in pursuit of knowledge, safety, and protecting each other. I find that endearing.” — T’Pring

The fact that Puppet Scotty comes up with the glove that mimics organic electroconductivity — with the occasional electrostatic shock — probably means Spock subconsciously recognizes his innate brilliance.

And the idea that Puppet La’an is relieved that she poses no threat to her Starfleet family or the Federation in puppet form… well, it seems Spock’s empathetic ability is better than he realizes.

(Paramount+/Screenshot) Echoes of the Future

For the second time in as many episodes, the writers made a trapped-in-a-transporter-buffer comment about Scotty.

Again, for those not in the know, at a point between Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, Montgomery Scott will survive for 75 years in a pattern buffer after his transport ship crashes on a Dyson Sphere.

To be clear, he puts himself into the buffer. And it works.

Once was funny. Twice? Maybe getting a little heavy-handed with that particular frying pan.

  • Silo Is Good, But These Apple TV Thrillers Are Even Betterby Siddhika Prajapati
  • 7 Shows That Better Take Home the Gold at the 2026 Emmysby Sam Huang
  • Best Lines From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 4, “A Case of Chiaroscuro”by Diana Keng

However, the re-enactment of the iconic Kirk-Spock goodbye with fluffy-faced Puppet Pike on the airlock side of the glass?

*Chef’s kiss,” Writers Room. You are — and always shall be — brilliant.

(Paramount+/Screenshot) Chaos Has To Be Part of the Plan

The ice cream adage about Star Trek has never been truer than for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4.

There are so many flavors. Pick your favorite, and leave the rest of us to like what we like.

In short, don’t yuck on our yum.

(Jan Thijs/Paramount+)

Maybe puppets aren’t your thing. No judgment. “The Griffin Incident” definitely wasn’t to my taste. I probably won’t ever watch it again.

But “Level-Five Transporter Accident” is yet another fascinating example of how Star Trek: Strange New Worlds leans into a genre and owns it.

And it’s so incredibly joyful. It broadcasts the message that no matter how little or full of fluff you are, you can achieve great things if you embrace who you are and work together.

I’m sure many of you have your own take on this, Fanatics. Unfurl your flag in our comments below and vote for your favorite puppet crew member in our poll!

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Level-Five Transporter Accident

    On the highly anticipated PUPPET episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Level-Five Transporter Accident, there are PUPPETS! We review it!

  • Best Lines From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 4, “A Case of Chiaroscuro”

    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “A Case of Chiaroscuro” coins these new classic lines on its film noir adventure. They’ll always have Mat’aar-12!

  • Babs Olusanmokun on Dr. M’Benga’s Duality, Relationships, and Holiday Plans on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

    In an exclusive interview, Babs Olusanmokun discusses Dr. M’Benga’s delicate balance of healer and warrior on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Nothing is Completely Black and White

    On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “A Case of Chiaroscuro,” the Enterprise crew must tread carefully in Klingon-occupied territory. Our review!

  • Best Lines from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 3’s “Human Best Friend”

    The most laugh-out-loud moments on Star Trek’s Hangover-inspired “Human Best Friend” had the best lines! Check out our list of script gems!

TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps.

The post Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Level-Five Transporter Accident appeared first on TV Fanatic.