The third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds finally started this week, and its opener, “Hegemony, Part II,” picked up right where the last season left off. But along the way, it surprisingly ended up taking the Gorn—a Trek mainstay and the show’s longest-running threat—off the board.

The updated, computer-generated versions in "Strange New Worlds" look much more reptilian and alien, and even boast prehensile tails. They're also a considerable upgrade on the CG Gorn who appeared in "Enterprise" episode "In a Mirror, Darkly" 20 years ago. Bitter experience.

"Hegemony, Part II" had several moments when things could have taken a much darker turn. But through teamwork and perseverance, the crew of the Enterprise pulled off a victory on all fronts. The Gorn are gone (for now), the Parnassus residents were saved, the crew is safe and Pike's beloved Batel survives her ordeal as a Gorn baby incubator.