7 Iconic Star Trek Characters We Hope to See in Strange New Worlds Season 3

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has introduced updated versions of some characters from Star Trek: The Original Series in its first two seasons. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) leads the USS Enterprise in this series, which is set before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) takes command. Kirk has already appeared in Strange New Worlds, played by Paul Wesley as a young lieutenant on the USS Farragut. Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) is also a prominent character, first introduced in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

As Strange New Worlds progresses towards the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, more classic characters have the opportunity to make an appearance. Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) are regulars on the show, with their characters becoming more complex than in TOS. In the season 2 finale of Strange New Worlds, Lt. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Martin Quinn) surprised fans with his appearance, aiding Pike and his crew in a battle against the Gorn. The series has effectively portrayed legacy characters, expanding on their backgrounds while staying true to their original depictions.

Janice Rand

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap"

Star Trek Yeoman Rand - Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap" - Janice Rand

Yeoman Janie Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney, was a key character in eight episodes of the first season of Star Trek: The Original Series. She served as Captain Kirk's personal yeoman and while there was a hint of attraction between them, they maintained a strictly professional relationship. Despite her short-lived time on the show, Rand was a respected and valued member of the Enterprise crew, forming close friendships with fellow officers like Uhura and Sulu. Although originally intended to have a more prominent role, Rand was written off the show after season 1, leaving her backstory unexplored. This opens up the possibility for a younger version of her character to potentially appear in Strange New Worlds, perhaps as a Starfleet Academy cadet.

Grace Lee Whitney returned to portray Janice Rand for brief appearances in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Matt Decker

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 6, "The Doomsday Machine"

Star Trek the Doomsday Machine Matt Decker - Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 6, "The Doomsday Machine"

Sybok

In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Sybok (Spock's half-brother) was a Vulcan who believed in finding the ultimate truth and pursued it relentlessly. Sybok used his telepathic abilities to manipulate others and convince them to join him on a quest to find Sha Ka Ree, the mythical planet where he believed ultimate knowledge resided. Despite his controversial methods, Sybok's charisma and conviction inspired loyalty in his followers, including some members of the Enterprise crew. Ultimately, Sybok's journey led to a confrontation with a powerful being posing as God, testing his beliefs and challenging his understanding of truth and faith.

Introduced in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Sybok Strange New Worlds - Introduced in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Spock's half-brother, Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) made his first appearance in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. In the movie, he becomes obsessed with finding God and the mythological Vulcan planet of Sha Ka Ree. Eventually, Sybok realizes the error of his fanatical search and sacrifices himself to save Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Despite being mentioned and briefly seen in Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 7, "The Serene Squall," Sybok has not officially appeared in the series yet. In the episode, it is revealed that Sybok is currently a prisoner at the Ankeshtan K'Til Vulcan Criminal Rehabilitation Center, being cared for by Spock's former fiancée, T'Pring (Gia Sandhu).

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Sybok goes by the alias Xaverius and is married to space pirate Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel).

Carol Marcus

Introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan Carol Marcus - Introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

In a musical episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lt. James Kirk casually mentions his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Carol, who is a scientist on Starbase One and is currently expecting Kirk's child. This mention hints that Carol Marcus could potentially appear in future episodes of Strange New Worlds, possibly adding a romantic twist with Kirk and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (played by Christina Chong). In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, it was shown that Kirk and Carol (portrayed by Bibi Besch) drifted apart as they focused on their careers. Their son, David Marcus (played by Merritt Butrick), followed his mother's path and became a scientist working on Project Genesis until his tragic death in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Gary Mitchell

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 3, "Where No Man Has Gone Before"

A picture of Star Trek's Gary Mitchell from the orignal series is shown. - Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 3, "Where No Man Has Gone Before"

Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell, played by Gary Lockwood, was the helmsman on the Starship Enterprise in a single episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. He and Captain Kirk were friends from their time at Starfleet Academy, and Kirk personally chose Mitchell to join his crew. In 2265, Mitchell gained psionic powers after the Enterprise encountered the galactic barrier. His powers made him arrogant and cruel, leading Kirk to make the difficult decision to end his old friend's life to protect the rest of the crew. Mitchell's past before joining the Enterprise remains a mystery, but his friendship with Kirk had already spanned several years by the time of Strange New Worlds.

Hikaru Sulu

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap"

Star Trek Sulu George Takei - Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap" - Hikaru Sulu

Hikaru Sulu, played by George Takei, started his journey on the USS Enterprise in 2265 as a science division officer. He later switched to the command division and took on the role of the senior helmsman. Throughout Star Trek: The Original Series, Sulu showcased his exceptional piloting skills and occasionally led the Enterprise in the absence of Kirk and Spock. Eventually, he was promoted to Captain of the USS Excelsior, solidifying his place as one of Starfleet's most respected officers. It would be intriguing to explore Sulu's time as a cadet at Starfleet Academy in Strange New Worlds and delve deeper into this lesser-known part of his career.

Dr. Leonard McCoy

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap"

Star Trek Dr Bones McCoy - Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 1, "The Man Trap" - Dr. Leonard McCoy

Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, known for his prickly personality and medical skills, would be a great addition to Strange New Worlds. It would be exciting to see a Supernatural actor take on the role. As the only member of the classic trio from Star Trek: The Original Series who has yet to appear, Bones should definitely show up before the end of the series. By 2259, when much of Strange New Worlds is set, McCoy was already practicing medicine. Since he and James Kirk were friends before Kirk became captain of the USS Enterprise in 2265, they should definitely cross paths in season 3 of Strange New Worlds.

It would be enjoyable to witness some of the earliest moments of Star Trek's most iconic trio working together. On Star Trek: The Original Series, McCoy's role as the perfect foil for Spock's logical stoicism and Kirk's passionate leadership style added to the show's charm. The dynamic between these three characters is a significant reason why TOS is such a beloved classic. While Captain Pike and the current Enterprise crew should remain the stars of Strange New Worlds, it would be fun to see some of the earliest moments of Star Trek's most iconic trio working together. Hopefully, some of these classic Star Trek characters will make an appearance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, which is currently in production.

Star Trek: The Original Series & Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are available to stream on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive overview of classic Star Trek characters who have the potential to appear in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." The author discusses the impact and significance of these characters in the original series and explores how they could be integrated into the prequel story. The article effectively highlights the opportunities for character development and expansion, while staying true to the established lore. It sparks excitement and anticipation for the future of the series, making readers eager to witness the introduction of these beloved characters in a new context.

The article also raises interesting questions about how the younger versions of these characters will be portrayed and how their interactions with the current Enterprise crew will shape the narrative. It suggests that the inclusion of these classic characters could add depth and complexity to "Strange New Worlds," while also paying homage to the original series that inspired it. The article successfully captures the essence of fan anticipation and the potential for the series to expand its storytelling horizons.