Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 4 Ending Explained: Nothing Is Black & White

Image credit: Paramount+ Published Aug 13, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 4 - "A Case of Chiaroscuro"Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) learns that nothing is black and white during a Klingon occupation in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Directed by Meera Menon and written by Skylar Ojeda and Dana Horgan, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 4, "A Case of Chiaroscuro" is a bold, entirely black-and-white ode to Casablanca. Number One's moral compass and adherence to the rulebook are tested on the planet Mat'aar XII, where she, Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) are stranded. Mat'aar's sun emits radiation that renders everything in black and white, while the twelfth planet is under the control of the Klingon Empire. In a bizarre coincidence, Una had an exact double on Ma'taar named Nevette, who was collaborating with Commander Kor (Demore Barnes), the governor of the Klingon occupation. Una and M'Benga discovered N'Vette was secretly working for the Mat'aar resistance, and that she was murdered. Number One found herself in an impossible and perilous scenario. Una had to find a way to help the resistance before escaping Mat'aar without the Starfleet Officers' true identities being discovered by the Klingons. Number One Helps Mat'aar's Resistance Against The Klingons Image credit: Paramount+ Una, M'Benga, and Uhura learned that the Klingons planned to solidify their control of Mat'aar XII by making their defense grid more destructive, to ensure no one can enter or leave the planet. In retaliation, Nevette and the resistance planned to detonate an EMP to wipe out the Klingons' technology. Una planted the EMP's detonator on Roman (Andy McQueen), who was planning to betray the resistance to the Klingons. Roman murdered Nevette and knew all along that Number One was an impersonator. Instead of killing Roman after their confrontation, she tricked Roman so that the Klingons identified him as the saboteur who detonated the EMP. When the EMP brought down the Klingon defense grid, it also disabled the D7 battle cruiser orbiting Mat'aar XII. This allowed Una, M'Benga, and Uhura to make their escape and return to the Starship Enterprise undetected. What happens to Mat'aar, and whether they can drive the Klingons off their planet, were questions left unanswered. Una forced to "pretend she's someone she isn't" nods to how she kept the secret that she is a genetically engineered Illyrian for most of her Starfleet career, until she chose to come clean and won her inalienable rights in a court-martial. Yet Una impersonating Nevette, who was posing as a Klingon collaborator while secretly leading the resistance, tested her moral resolve as a Starfleet Officer. Roman was a murderer, and so framing him to go down for detonating the EMP means certain death at the hands of the Klingons. Yet Una still condemned a man to die in a situation where she, as a Starfleet Officer, had no legal cause to interfere. The events transpiring on Mat'aar are in Klingon space and out of the bounds of the United Federation of Planets. Una acted and broke Starfleet protocol to help the innocent people on Mat'aar, citing that "Starfleet isn't always right." Meanwhile, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 4 hinges on the contrivance that Una has an exact doppelgänger who isn't a clone or from Star Trek's multiverse, and that no one, not even Kor, could tell she wasn't the real Nevette, except for Roman because he killed the real deal. Somehow, everyone on Mat'aar speaks English, and Una even sounds exactly like Nevette. It is a lot to accept up front to enjoy the episode. La'an's Investigation Leads To Nurse Chapel On the USS Enterprise, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) discovers missing data on the Angelo-1 probe, which Una's away team was sent to retrieve undetected before they were forced to hide on Mat'aar XII. Discovering the cause of the probe's missing data led to an investigation that fed into La'an's growing paranoia and fears that she is succumbing to her augment DNA. "Chiaroscuro" is an Italian word for 'light-dark', referring to a strong contrast between light and dark affecting a whole composition. After following clues to dead ends, La'an sought counseling from Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) about her psychological issues, which unexpectedly revealed the answer: It was Chapel who somehow deleted the data from the Angelo-1 probe while it was being transported onto the Enterprise. Chapel confessed that she was contacted by the captain of a medical starship she previously served on, the USS Yang, which illegally entered Mat'aar space without Starfleet approval to answer a distress call. Christine did what her former captain asked and deleted the proof of their incursion to protect everyone aboard their starship. Nurse Chapel asked La'an to be "a friend" and keep her secret, which she did when reporting back to Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Like Una, La'an broke Starfleet protocol to protect Christine and the starship crew whom Chapel is protecting. Meanwhile, Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) feels growing distance from La'an, and their romance seems to be on the rocks. Uhura Survives The Klingons' Mind Scanner Image credit: Paramount+ The Klingon occupation of Mat'aar was a baptism of fire for Ensign Nyota Uhura, who had never been behind enemy lines and had no experience "pretending to be someone else." However, Uhura had the perfect mentor in Dr. M'Benga, who drew on his history of black ops against the Klingons. The most crucial advice Joseph gave Nyota was to come up with a false identity that was truth-based, to make it easier for her to believe. Commander Kor was played by John Colicos in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Errand of Mercy," which introduced the Klingons. Colicos reprised Kor in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Uhura taking M'Benga's advice to heart saved her when she was apprehended by the Klingons and personally interrogated by Commander Kor. In what is the first time the Klingon mind scanner referenced in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Errand of Mercy" has been canonically seen, Uhura withstood it by telling the truth that she isn't part of the resistance and focusing on the true aspects of her cover story. In "Errand of Mercy," Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) withstood the mind scanner (also known as a "mind sifter" and "mind ripper") thanks to his Vulcan logic and mental discipline. Either Kor used a low setting on Uhura, or Nyota unwittingly exposed the flaws of the Klingons' fearsome weapon of torture. Either way, it's now canon that Uhura beat the Klingon mind scanner years before Spock. Scotty & Ortegas Are Friends Now Image credit: Paramount+ "A Case of Chiaroscuro" deals with murky moral themes, but there was lightheartedness as well, thanks to the Enterprise's new (human) best friends: Lieutenants Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) and Scotty (Martin Quinn). La'an suspected Scotty of wiping the Angelo data, only to discover that the engineer ingeniously manipulated the probe signal to allow them to track the Klingons' D7 battle cruiser. Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment The Final FrontierTrivia Challenge 🚀ShipsEnterprise! ⭐CrewMake it so ☠EnemiesResistance is… ⚡TechWarp speed! 📖LoreLive long… ENGAGE → 01 The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series? ANCC-1701-D BNX-01 CNCC-1701 DNCC-74656 ✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager. ✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager. NEXT → 02 Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character? AData BSpock CTuvok DSarek ✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise. NEXT → 03 Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called? AThe Temporal Accord BGeneral Order One CThe Omega Directive DThe Prime Directive ✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake. ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols. NEXT → 04 “Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called? AThe Borg BThe Dominion CThe Romulans DSpecies 8472 ✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.” ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.” NEXT → 05 Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him? AWilliam Shatner BAvery Brooks CPatrick Stewart DScott Bakula ✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard. NEXT → 06 Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called? ATranswarp Drive BWarp Drive CSlipstream Drive DSpore Drive ✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive. NEXT → 07 At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called? AThe Prometheus Trial BThe Omega Simulation CThe Corbomite Maneuver DThe Kobayashi Maru ✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. ✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario. NEXT → 08 In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain? AKhan Noonien Singh BGeneral Chang CQ DGul Dukat ✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life. ✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record / 8 Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty? ↻ RE-ENGAGE Ortegas and Scotty became true friends at the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 3, "Human Best Friend." The helmsman and engineer now being buddies, after loathing each other so publicly, was surprising and noteworthy enough for La'an to report it to Captain Pike. Scotty and Ortegas bantering over their chicken sandwich lunches was genuinely funny. Meanwhile, not making any (human best) friends on the Enterprise is the new Vulcan Ensign, A'Sha (Bianca Nugara), who was as unfriendly to La'an as she was to Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's premiere. A'Sha seems to see everyone else on the Enterprise in black-and-white terms and treats her crewmates with equal disdain. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's new episodes premiere Thursdays on Paramount+ Release Date 2022 - 2027-00-00 Network Paramount+ Showrunner Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman Directors Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman Writers Onitra Johnson Franchise(s) Star Trek Creator(s) Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet