I’m Worried Star Trek Is Creating A James T. Kirk Problem In Strange New Worlds Season 3

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds may have a Kirk problem in season 3. Both audiences and Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) have known all along that he will, someday soon, suffer a tragic fate. Over the show’s first two seasons, characters from The Original Series have slowly been appearing in Strange New Worlds. From Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) on the Enterprise, to Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) on the Farragut, there are now a lot of classic Star Trek characters in Strange New Worlds‘s cast.

But what has made Strange New Worlds so iconic thus far are the unique and original stories that the show’s creative team have been telling. From Star Trek‘s first musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody,” to a classic Star Trek courtroom episode, “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” Strange New Worlds has distinguished itself as a new Star Trek show with classic Star Trek sensibilities. But references to TOS can easily turn into too much of a good thing, and I am starting to get worried that there will be too much Lt. Kirk in Strange New Worlds season 3.

Will There Be Too Much Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3?

A Few Appearances Are Fine, But I Don’t Want To See Him In Every Episode

Based on the recently released Strange New Worlds season 3 teaser trailer, I am worried that there will be too much Kirk in the show’s next season. He is very prominent in the trailer and, based on it, we know he’s at least in the murder mystery episode and the sci-fi spoof episode. That sci-fi episode in particular is a little worrying – it seems to be based on tropes from the TOS era, so showing Lt. Krik in command of a TOS style bridge might be a little too close for comfort.

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Sorry Strange New Worlds, But I Don’t Want This Classic Star Trek Character In Season 3

He may be one of my favorite characters on Star Trek: The Original Series, but I hope this icon doesn’t appear in Strange New Worlds season 3.

We also know the actor, Paul Wesley, is only billed as a guest star for Strange New Worlds season 3, so it’s safe to assume he won’t be in every episode. Lt. Kirk did appear in two episodes of SNW season 2 without feeling like he was stealing the show. So long as Lt. Kirk’s appearances continue to keep him away from the Enterprise bridge, Strange New Worlds should do just fine next season. Nevertheless, the more Lt. Kirk appears in Strange New Worlds season 3, the more it could start to seem like he is overshadowing Captain Pike.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Is Captain Pike’s Show, Not Kirk’s

Anson Mount Is Doing A Great Job As Captain, And I Want The Show To Keep The Focus On Him

In the past two seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Captain Pike has more than earned his place among the ranks of iconic Star Trek captains. Later Star Trek shows make it clear that future-Fleet Captain Pike is one of the most respected and decorated officers in Starfleet history, right up there with Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) who commanded the first Enterprise and helped found the Federation. Strange New Worlds is more than proving that he earned that reputation.

Every time Lt. Kirk appears on the show, Strange New Worlds has to create a justification for his appearance other than fan-service, and it would be an absolute shame to see Lt. Kirk overshadow Captain Pike in his glory days. Right now, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already been renewed for season 4, and I would like to see Captain Pike continue leading his crew through new adventures for as long as possible.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Release Date

May 5, 2022

Network

Paramount+

Showrunner

Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman

Directors

Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman

Writers

Onitra Johnson