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Strange New Worlds Goes Full Noir for Episode Four

The Aug. 13 entry uses an in‑story black‑and‑white conceit to stage a doppelganger resistance tale, prompting debate over its plot conveniences and continuity

Overview

  • Episode 4, “A Case of Chiaroscuro,” aired Thursday, Aug. 13, and is presented entirely in black and white with the show explaining the palette as an effect of unusual stellar radiation.
  • The surface story strands Una, Dr. M’Benga and Uhura on a Klingon‑occupied planet where Una must pose as a local resistance figure while the Enterprise side investigates missing data that may signal sabotage.
  • Critics and cast singled out the episode’s production design, AR Wall sets, lighting and cinematography as standout elements and praised Rebecca Romijn’s central performance.
  • Reviewers also raised concerns about convenient plot turns, uneven use of the black‑and‑white device across scenes, and continuity issues tied to the return of Klingon Commander Kor and established Klingon lore.
  • The episode keeps Season 4’s genre experiments in focus as the series releases weekly on Paramount+, and it adds to conversation about how formal stunts should balance with character arcs given that a final six‑episode run has already been filmed.