10 Unbelievable Divorce Revelations in Spock & T'Pring's Star Trek Odyssey

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 5 - "Charades"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds skillfully builds up the conclusion of Mr. Spock and T'Pring's relationship from Star Trek: The Original Series. Taking place approximately 7 years before Spock joins Captain Kirk in the iconic five-year mission of the Starship Enterprise, Strange New Worlds delves into the previous adventures of the Enterprise under the leadership of Captain Christopher Pike. Lieutenant Spock already serves as Pike's Chief Science Officer and is romantically involved with T'Pring.

In the renowned Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Amok Time," the bitter end of Spock and T'Pring's romance is established. As Spock experiences the ancient Vulcan mating ritual known as pon-farr, he is compelled to return to Vulcan where T'Pring awaits him. However, T'Pring has found a new fiancé named Stonn and decides to dissolve her engagement to Spock by invoking the Vulcan ritual combat known as Kal-if-fee. Surprisingly, Captain Kirk is selected to face Spock in a fight to the death instead of Stonn. Ultimately, T'Pring's desires are fulfilled as her betrothal to Spock is permanently severed. It is a sorrowful conclusion to the love story between these two Vulcan characters. For years, questions lingered about Spock and T'Pring's early years, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds now provides answers while also laying the groundwork for "Amok Time."

10 Spock's Dream About Star Trek: The Original Series "Amok Time"

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1's Vulcan body swap comedy, "Spock Amok," Lt. Spock had a vivid dream about the Kal-if-fee ritual depicted in TOS' "Amok Time." However, in Spock's dream, he found himself engaged in a battle representing the two sides of his identity - his Vulcan and human nature. This dream served as a reflection of Spock's underlying fears of being caught between his two cultures and his personal feelings of inadequacy towards T'Pring. Despite T'Pring's assurance that she fully embraces Spock, both his Vulcan and human aspects, Strange New Worlds establishes that Spock's internal uncertainties persist and will play a role in his decision to distance himself from T'Pring in the future.

9 Spock & T'Pring Have Long Distance Relationship Problems

Spock and T'Pring have very limited opportunities to see each other. Spock's decision to dedicate himself to Starfleet means he is constantly traveling across the galaxy aboard the Starship Enterprise. On the other hand, T'Pring focuses on her own career counseling Vulcan criminals who have abandoned logic. The distance between them poses a significant challenge for both Vulcans, although it seems to affect T'Pring more than Spock. T'Pring understands and accepts Spock's prioritization of his Starfleet career and the Enterprise, but the extended periods of being apart for months at a time will eventually turn into years, taking a toll on their relationship.

8 Spock & T'Pring's Friendship With Captain Pike

7 T'Pring's Job Brings Her Closer To Stonn

An intriguing twist revealed in Strange New Worlds is the close friendship between T'Pring and Captain Pike, Spock's commanding officer. Surprisingly, T'Pring addresses Pike by his first name, "Chris," which is not a common practice for Spock due to his respect for Pike's rank. This intimacy between Spock and T'Pring raises further curiosity, considering that Captain Kirk, Spock's closest friend in later years, had no knowledge of T'Pring's existence. However, the unfortunate accident that disfigures Pike might have a detrimental effect on the relationship between Spock and T'Pring, as they both share a mutual friend.

The introduction of Strange New Worlds reveals T'Pring's role as a rehabilitation specialist at the Ankeshtan K'til Vulcan criminal rehabilitation center. Interestingly, her colleague, Stonn (Roderick McNeill), eventually becomes her lover. T'Pring's daily interaction with Stonn in a highly demanding and perilous environment, while her fiancé, Spock, remains light years away for prolonged periods, sets the stage for her decision to choose Stonn as her future husband over Spock.

6 Sybok Is One Of T'Pring's Prisoners

One of the most astonishing surprises in Strange New Worlds is the revelation that Sybok, Spock's half-brother, is imprisoned in the Ankeshtan K'til Vulcan criminal rehabilitation center. This revelation adds a shocking twist to the Spock and T'Pring storyline. Sybok, the eldest son of Ambassador Sarek and a Vulcan princess, rejected logic and was considered a heretic among Vulcans. In a surprising turn, Strange New Worlds reveals that Sybok married a space pirate known as Captain Angel and is currently incarcerated under the name Xaverius. Spock deduced this pseudonym, but it remains unclear if T'Pring is aware that Xaverius is actually Sybok. Nevertheless, this discovery has the potential to negatively impact the relationship between Spock and T'Pring.

5 T'Pring's Mother Hates Spock

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5 titled "Charades," we are introduced to T'Pring's parents, T'Pril (played by Elora Patniak) and Sevet (played by Michael Benyaer). T'Pril, being highly dominating, holds a strong dislike for Spock whom she sees as inferior due to his 'handicap' of being half-human. This inherent racism displayed by T'Pril is most likely a significant reason behind Spock's reluctance to fulfill the childhood pact of marrying T'Pring. It can be deduced that Spock, on a subconscious level, does not desire to become a part of T'Pring's family and have T'Pril as his mother-in-law.

4 Spock & T'Pring's Engagement Is Partly About Sarek

3 T'Pring Feels Spock Doesn't Trust Her

The bond between Spock and T'Pring formed during their childhood, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5 unveils the role Ambassador Sarek played in this connection. As a prominent and influential Vulcan leader, Spock's father holds considerable power. Conversely, T'Pring's father, Sevet, lacks authority and is controlled by his wife, T'Pril. Sevet yearns for a union between their families through marriage with Sarek. However, succumbing to this internal pressure to wed Spock will only result in Sevet's continual disappointment.

In Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, titled "Charades," the comedic farce unfolded as Spock made a heartfelt confession to T'Pring, T'Pril, and Sevet. He revealed that he had assumed the identity of a human, cleverly disguising himself as a Vulcan. However, his tactics of involving Captain Pike, the USS Enterprise crew, and even his own mother, Amanda Grayson, in his charade, ended up straining his relationship with T'Pring. Disappointed by Spock's omission and feeling a lack of trust, T'Pring decided that they needed "a break" from their engagement. This event could be seen as one of the significant reasons why Spock and T'Pring's relationship ultimately dissolved in Star Trek: TOS.

2 Spock Has Romantic Feelings For Nurse Chapel

Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett) carries an unrequited torch for Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series that the Vulcan admits he can't reciprocate. However, in Strange New Worlds, new dimensions are unveiled as it clarifies that Spock does indeed possess intense romantic feelings for Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush). In episode 9 of the first season of Strange New Worlds, when Spock lost control over his Vulcan emotions, he found himself conflicted by the overwhelming surge of emotions he harbors for Christine. It is logical to suggest that Spock genuinely experiences a passionate connection with Chapel, one that he does not share with T'Pring.

1 Spock & Nurse Chapel Kissed

Nurse Christine Chapel made every effort to restore Spock to his rightful state as a half-Vulcan and half-human in episode 5 of season 2 of Strange New Worlds titled "Charades." However, despite re-embracing his Vulcan identity, Spock chose not to suppress his feelings for Christine any longer. Their passionate kiss (and potentially more) signifies their intention to explore a romantic relationship in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Presently, T'Pring remains unaware of Spock and Chapel's connection, although she harbors suspicions. Should T'Pring discover the truth, it would mark a significant turning point in ending her relationship with Spock permanently in Star Trek: The Original Series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.