Deidre Hall has spent decades inside the world of daytime drama as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives, and recently, she stepped into a different kind of universe entirely, guest starring on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in an episode built around a full-blown soap opera parody instigated by the reality-bending Q-child Trelane (Rhys Darby). Hall guest starred in Season 4, Episode 7, “Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass,” and told BLKCinema.com in an exclusive interview that the offer was an easy yes.
“I think when I first got the call, I was thrilled,” Hall said. “I mean, I grew up on Star Trek anyway, so what a huge thrill.” Hall said the soap framing made the offer an easy fit. “I guess maybe in the same sentence somebody said they’re doing a soap opera spoof, so obviously I would be comfortable there, but I thought what a good idea and good for them and yes, let’s do it.”
Why does a soap parody make sense for Star Trek?
Hall pointed to the overlap between two long-running, multigenerational franchises as the connective tissue behind the episode’s premise. Asked whether her decades playing one character helped her adjust to a show as fantastical as Star Trek, Hall turned the question back on the format itself, noting the parallels between soap plotting and science fiction extremity. She said the episode’s tone struck the right balance. “I think they do a lovely job of being calm,” Hall said, adding that her favorite touch was watching Pike’s disorientation play out. “It was so subtle but profound. So clever.”
What surprised her about the production?
Hall said the production’s craftsmanship stood out once she got on set, singling out costume designer Bernadette Croft. She also described the physical design of the sets as effective at establishing tone, from underlit hallways to a multicolored bar. “It’s like a candy room in here,” Hall said. “Everything on the set is designed to be interesting and different.”
A crossover moment across two 60-year franchises
The guest appearance lands during a notable overlap for Hall: her Days of Our Lives character’s 50th anniversary coincides with Star Trek‘s 60th. Hall said being recognized outside of daytime television still catches her off guard. “I always get surprised when we are acknowledged outside of daytime, and it happens all the time,” Hall said. “It’s nice to be acknowledged outside of that.”
Hall also touched on the production timelines separating the two shows — Days of Our Lives typically shoots close to a year ahead of air, meaning her Star Trek work landed in the middle of a backlog of unaired soap footage. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I recorded it,” Hall said. “I knew my husband, I showed up and it’s gonna air. That would be my perspective on it.”
Asked whether Days and Star Trek fans might cross over, Hall said she hadn’t considered the question before signing on but expects the episode to draw daytime viewers who haven’t sampled the franchise before. “I’m suspecting that we’ll have a lot of daytime people that maybe haven’t caught Star Trek yet,” Hall said. “I better tune in and see what that’s all about.”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 is streaming on Paramount+.
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