Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is barreling forward with its second season, and all signs are pointing to this batch of episodes of the Discovery spin-off being just as acclaimed as the first. The show is certainly only doubling down on its wonderful cast of both regulars and guest stars. Comedy legend Carol Kane joined the cast full-time as Engineer Pelia in the season premiere, and episode two includes a scene-stealing guest star we hope to see more of.
The guest star in question is Yetide Badaki, who joins the show’s cast as Counselor Neera Katoul. In last week’s episode, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) went off in search of finding his friend and first officer Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) legal representation for her trial over breaking Starfleet regulations by keeping her Illyrian origins a secret. In episode two, titled “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” Pike succeeds in his goal, by recruiting the services of Katoul, an Illyrian herself.
Katoul instantly made a big impression on viewers, with hopes that she’ll return again in the future.
What else has Yetide Badaki been in?
Badaki, who has made clear her Trekkie credentials on Twitter, might’ve just joined the Star Trek universe but she might already be a familiar face thanks to her various other TV and movie roles. The Nigerian-American actress has been in the business since 2003 and has made guest spots in such hit shows as Lost, Criminal Minds, Masters of Sex, NCIS: New Orleans, and The Magicians, as well as appearing in Disney Plus original sports film Rise in 2022.
She also featured in four episodes of This is Us season three as Chi Chi. However, Badaki is most well-known for her regular role in American Gods, the Starz adaptation of the popular Neil Gaiman novel. The 41-year-old appeared in all 26 episodes across three seasons as Bilquis, an ancient goddess of love also known as the Queen of Sheba. Bilquis was a fan favorite on American Gods, so it’s no surprise that she’s making an impact on Star Trek fans as well.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds beams new episodes to Paramount Plus on Thursdays.
Published: Jun 22, 2023 12:42 pm