Detective Spock's Shocking Revelation: Meet Kirk's Secretive Brother in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds!

Summary

In the episode "Lost in Translation," it is revealed that James Kirk has achieved the position of First Officer on the USS Farragut. This rapid promotion in Starfleet causes Sam to feel a tinge of jealousy towards his younger brother.

George Samuel Kirk is skillfully portrayed in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds by a popular actor recognized for their role in The Good Witch.

CAUTION: This article contains significant plot details for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, titled "Lost in Translation."

Dan Jeannotte breathes life into the character of George Samuel Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Serving as the older brother to James T. Kirk (played by Paul Wesley), Sam is a xenoanthropologist in the life sciences department on the USS Enterprise. While he takes orders from Lt. Spock (portrayed by Ethan Peck), Sam shares a close friendship with Captain Christopher Pike (played by Anson Mount), who personally requested his presence on the Enterprise crew. Beyond his work in the ship's science labs, Sam occasionally joins away missions, particularly those involving alien lifeforms.

In season 2, episode 6 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds titled "Lost in Translation," it is unveiled that James Kirk has recently been promoted to the position of First Officer on the USS Farragut. This achievement makes him the youngest First Officer in Starfleet's history, a record previously held by his father and Sam. While Sam outwardly displays genuine pride for his younger brother, he also harbors a hint of envy towards the speed at which James ascends the ranks of Starfleet. Nevertheless, the portrayal of Sam Kirk by Dan Jeannotte showcases a captivating and fully-developed character.

Sam Kirk & Who Plays Him In Strange New Worlds Explained

Sam Kirk first appeared in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" Here, Jim Kirk discusses his brother with an android. Sam was married to Aurelan (played by Joan Swift) and they had three sons. Although he served on the USS Enterprise for a period, Sam eventually left Starfleet to become a civilian scientist. When James Kirk assumed command of the Enterprise and embarked on his five-year mission, Sam and his family were present to bid him farewell. Subsequently, Sam took on the role of a research biologist at an Earth Colony research station.

Renowned Canadian actor Dan Jeannotte's notable works include portraying Brandon Russell in The Hallmark Channel's The Good Witch and Ryan Decker in Freeform's The Bold Type. Jeannotte has also been involved in motion capture and voiceover projects for the Assassin's Creed video game series, notably portraying assassin Arno Victor-Dorian in Assassin's Creed: Unity. In addition, he has starred in various made-for-television romantic comedy films and made an appearance as James Stewart on The CW's Reign.

What Happens To Sam Kirk In Star Trek: The Original Series?

Sam Kirk was first mentioned in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and made his actual appearance in the series after his death in "Operation - Annihilate!" In this episode, Sam's corpse was portrayed by William Shatner. Sam worked as a research biologist and his colony was attacked and taken over by flying parasites. Although his wife, Aurelan, was able to send a distress signal to the Enterprise, Sam had already passed away, and Aurelan herself died soon after. Their young son, Peter, survived the attack. While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is still a few years away from reaching the timeline of Star Trek: The Original Series, Dan Jeannotte's portrayal of Sam Kirk as a likable character adds to the tragedy of his ultimate fate. Catch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streaming on Paramount+ every Thursday.