Who are the Metrons in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Details revealed 

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 9, titled Terrarium, the series revisits one of the most mysterious alien species first introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series: the Metrons. These powerful beings originally appeared in the classic 1967 episode Arena, where they transported Captain Kirk and a Gorn captain to a barren asteroid to force them into combat.

Now, nearly six decades later, Strange New Worlds brings the Metrons back into the canon timeline with new details and a fresh connection to the Gorn storyline. In this episode, Lt. Erica Ortegas becomes the subject of one of their experiments after being stranded with a Gorn pilot on a hostile moon.

Just as Kirk once faced a trial of survival, Ortegas is placed in a situation where the Metrons want to observe if two so-called “barbaric” species can cooperate.

The episode directly ties to TOS canon while also expanding on the Metrons’ motives, their perception of humans, and their ability to manipulate memory. Their reappearance not only clarifies why Starfleet seemed to “forget” about the Gorn in later years but also raises questions about the true power and intentions of these enigmatic beings.

How Star Trek: Strange New Worlds redefines the Metrons’ role

The Metrons in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are portrayed as a species with abilities that stretch far beyond Federation understanding. In Terrarium, one Metron appears before Lt. Ortegas after her survival ordeal with a Gorn. Unlike other alien encounters, this being explains that its physical appearance is only a projection, hinting that its true form might be noncorporeal.

This directly builds on what was suggested in The Original Series, where the Metron who spoke to Kirk admitted their chosen look was meant to be easier for humans to process. The continuity makes it clear that their power is not just technological but also deeply rooted in the manipulation of perception.

The episode confirms that the Metrons have been around far longer than humans, claiming to have existed in their part of the galaxy “before your species walked upright.”

That kind of lifespan positions them in the same league as other so-called god-like entities across the franchise, such as the Organians or Q. Yet the Metrons remain distinctive because their focus is not random interference but calculated experiments. They select individuals like Kirk or Ortegas, isolate them under extreme conditions, and watch to see whether violence or cooperation wins.

Another significant detail in Terrarium is how the Metrons handle memory. After Ortegas protests the killing of the Gorn pilot by Starfleet officers, time stops, and the Metron reveals the situation was engineered. Once the lesson is complete, they erase her recollection of their presence while leaving her memory of cooperating with the Gorn intact.

This explains a long-standing canon issue: why Kirk and his crew in “Arena” acted as though they had no prior knowledge of the Gorn, despite encounters in Strange New Worlds. By inserting themselves into perception, the Metrons can effectively rewrite history for other species.

The dialogue also hints at why the Gorn and humans are of special interest. The Metron calls both “barbaric,” yet continues to test them, suggesting curiosity about whether two warlike civilizations could ever reach peace. This fascination may not be limited to just humans and Gorn, but the show positions them as central to the Metrons’ observations.

Their return in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds doesn’t just revive a classic alien; it reframes their role as experimenters whose manipulations explain long-standing inconsistencies in Star Trek canon.

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