A number of Star Trek canon events must happen before Star Trek: Strange New Worlds comes to an end in season 5. As a Star Trek prequel, Strange New Worlds covers the voyages of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise in the years before it became Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) iconic ship in Star Trek: The Original Series.
Captain Pike is aware that a disfiguring accident that will end his Starfleet career awaits him in his future. But in the greater Star Trek universe, other pivotal events will take place leading into Star Trek: The Original Series. Although Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has stories of its own that will have to wrap up before the series signs off, here are 10 things that canonically have to happen before Strange New Worlds is over.
10
Scotty Becomes USS Enterprise Chief Engineer
There’s A Lot Of Distance Between A Lt. Junior Grade And The Chief Engineer
Lieutenant Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn) joins the USS Enterprise crew in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, but the young engineer is still a ways away from the Chief Engineer portrayed by James Doohan. In Strange New Worlds, Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) is the current Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise.
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The exact dates of Scotty’s promotions through Starfleet’s ranks from junior grade Lieutenant to Lt. Commander aren’t known, but they presumably will have to happen at some point during the final seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
9
USS Enterprise Gets TWO New Doctors After M’Benga
First Dr. Mark Piper, Then Bones
Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) is Captain Pike’s choice as Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise, but he won’t remain in that post after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Even before Captain Kirk selects Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) as the Enterprise’s CMO, another physician, Dr. Mark Piper (Paul Fix) replaces M’Benga in Star Trek: The Original Series‘ second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
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It’s possible M’Benga’s killing of Klingon Ambassador Dak’Rah (Robert Wisdom) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 8, “Under the Cloak of War,” could lead to Starfleet forcing Captain Pike to replace M’Benga. However, Dr. M’Benga (Booker Bradshaw) does later serve as a physician on the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series under Dr. McCoy.
8
Lt. Sam Kirk Leaves The USS Enterprise
And Starts A New Life As A Family Man
Lieutenant Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) has the bragging rights of serving aboard the USS Enterprise before his younger brother, Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley). However, Sam will be gone by the time Jim becomes Captain of the Enterprise, whether voluntarily or at the request of his brother. How Sam’s exit goes down is something Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could reveal.
The exact number of children that Sam Kirk has is a little ambiguous. In “Operation — Annihilate!” Craig Hundley is introduced as Sam’s son Peter Kirk. However, in “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” Sam Kirk seems to have two additional sons that are unnamed.
Lt. Sam Kirk has ‘plot armor’ in that he doesn’t die until Star Trek: The Original Series’ season 1 finale, “Operation – Annihilate!” Meanwhile, Sam has a wife, Aurelan (Joan Swift), and three young sons, who could still be introduced in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
7
Spock Falls In Love After Nurse Chapel
But That Love Won’t Last Forever Either
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 9, “Subspace Rhapody,” Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) ended her romantic relationship with Lieutenant Spock in “Subspace Rhapsody.” However, there is another romance for Spock waiting on the horizon. In Star Trek: The Original Series’ “This Side of Paradise,” Spock (Leonard Nimoy) recalls falling in love with another human woman, Leila Kalomi (Jill Ireland), in 2261.
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Strange New Worlds Confirms Season 3’s Time Jump With A Star Trek: Enterprise Callback
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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 is set in 2261, which could mean that at some point, the USS Enterprise could visit Earth so that Spock can meet Leila. Their relationship ultimately ended badly, however, with Spock’s rejection of Leila, and that rejection was the catalyst for “This Side of Paradise.” Given the timeline of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, Leila may make an appearance.
6
Lt. James T. Kirk Gets Another Girlfriend After Carol Marcus
A Son Won’t Stop Kirk From Finding Romance
According to the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, “The Deadly Years,” Lieutenant James T. Kirk had a relatively serious relationship in 2261 as well, with a scientist named Janet Wallace (Sarah Marshall). However, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has established that Kirk has an on-again, off-again long-distance girlfriend, Carol Marcus, who is pregnant.
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Perhaps Kirk’s frequent guest spots in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will explain Jim’s relationship with Janet Wallace… and Carol Marcus… and reveal more of his attraction to Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong).
5
A Starship Crash Sets Up Star Trek: The Original Series’ Roman Episode
A Ship Will Vanish, But Captain Pike Won’t Be The One To Find It
In Star Trek: The Original Series’ “Bread and Circuses,” the USS Enterprise travels to 892-IV, the Romanesque planet where Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy are captured and made to fight in gladiatorial arenas. All of this is set up, however, by the disappearance of the Federation survey vessel, the SS Beagle, in 2262.
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Given that the wreckage of the Beagle won’t be found until 2268, it is somewhat unlikely that the ship’s disappearance will be a main plot point in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Nevertheless, any reference to the Beagle would be an awesome Easter Egg that would set up one more detail connecting Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: The Original Series.
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4
The Omicron Colony Is Established To Set Up A Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 Episode
A Quaint Colony With Seriously Exotic Plants
Another event that is more likely to happen in the background of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but which would still be an awesome Easter egg, is the establishment of the Omicron Ceti III agricultural colony in 2263, the setting of Star Trek: The Original Series season 1’s episode, “This Side of Paradise.”
It’s possible for Strange New Worlds to include a reference to the establishment of the Omicron colony.
At the Omicron colony, Spock’s former flame, Leila Kalomi, attempts to seduce him with the help of native pod plants that change the emotions of infected people. It’s possible for Strange New Worlds to include a reference to the establishment of the Omicron colony in one of its three upcoming seasons.
3
Ardana Joining The Federation Sets Up A Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Episode
An Unjust Planet Whose Admission Hints At Corruption
2263 is the year that Ardana joined the United Federation of Planets. Aradana is the setting of Star Trek: The Original Series season 3’s “The Cloud Minders.” Ardana had a rigid caste system, divided between the working Troglytes and the ruling Stratos, and it still practiced torture and capital punishment years after joining the Federation.
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However, Ardana was also one of the only sources for the rare mineral Zenite, used for medical technology. The choice to admit a planet like Ardana into the Federation was almost certainly controversial, and that controversy could easily be a plot point in a later season of Strange New Worlds.
2
Star Trek: Voyager’s Tuvok Is Born
A Vulcan Legend Is Born In 2264
Star Trek: Voyager‘s Tuvok (Tim Russ) was born in the 23rd century, specifically 2264, which should also be the timeframe of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 or season 5. While Tuvok would be a newborn, his birth could be an Easter egg as part of the communication between Vulcan and the USS Enterprise.
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Star Trek: Voyager’s Lieutenant Tuvok has a storied Starfleet career that began in the 23rd century and continues into the 25th century.
It’s not out of the question for Strange New Worlds to potentially reference Tuvok’s birth as a shoutout to Star Trek: Voyager fans. Of course, no one on the Starship Enterprise would ever guess Ensign Tuvok would later serve on the USS Excelsior under Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) or that Lieutenant Commander Tuvok would journey through seven years in the Delta Quadrant with the USS Voyager.
1
Spock Visits His Parents On Vulcan For The Last Time Before Star Trek: The Original Series
It Is Almost Time For The Ultimate Estrangement Of Spock From Sarek
Spock was estranged from his father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard, James Frain), during most of the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. In “Journey to Babel,” set in 2268, Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt), mentions that Spock had not seen his parents in four years. That sets Spock’s final visit to Vulcan before Star Trek: The Original Series in 2264.
It’s logical to guess that Spock will see Sarek one final time before they reunite in “Journey to Babel.”
It seems almost impossible that an event as central as Spock’s ultimate estrangement from his parents would not be featured prominently in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Whatever happens in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seasons 4 and 5, it’s logical to guess that Spock will see Sarek one final time before they reunite in “Journey to Babel.”
