Dive into the Intriguing World of Star Trek: Unraveling the Secrets of Hemmer, Strange New Worlds, and the Enigmatic Dancing Klingon!

Summary

Lt. Hemmer, played by Bruce Horak, was a beloved and compassionate character on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, and his presence continues to be felt on the show.

Hemmer, an Andorian Aenar gifted with telepathic abilities, took on the role of mentor and father figure to Cadet Uhura, urging her to stay in Starfleet.

In season 2, Bruce Horak made two more appearances. He portrayed Hemmer in instructional videos for Uhura and also played a Klingon captain who sang and danced in the musical episode. Given his impressive performances relying heavily on prosthetics, there is potential for him to feature in forthcoming Star Trek projects.

Bruce Horak's character, Lt. Hemmer, quickly became a fan favorite in the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Although he only appeared in six episodes as the Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike, his impact on the show was undeniable. Despite his tough exterior, Hemmer revealed himself to be a caring and compassionate individual, forming a special bond with Cadet Nyota Uhura, who saw him as a mentor.

Tragically, Hemmer sacrificed his life in episode 9 of the first season. However, Bruce Horak has made two subsequent appearances in season 2. In episode 6, titled "Lost in Translation," Lt. Hemmer is featured in instructional engineering videos that he left for Uhura. Later, when Uhura begins experiencing hallucinations, she sees a zombified version of Hemmer. Furthermore, Bruce Horak surprises fans with a cameo in a musical episode of Strange New Worlds, where he portrays a singing and dancing Klingon captain. Given his willingness to undergo extensive prosthetics and make-up, Horak has the potential to make future appearances in Star Trek projects as either another alien character or even a human character.

Who Was Hemmer In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

Hemmer, a member of the Andorian subspecies known as the Aenar, possessed unique attributes of blindness and telepathic abilities. Due to the peaceful values upheld by the Aenar, very few of them chose to join Starfleet. Although Hemmer professed belief in the principles of Starfleet and the Federation and vowed to defend them, he abstained from engaging in combat. Hemmer held a cherished position within the Enterprise crew, earning their respect and admiration. He assumed the role of a mentor and paternal figure to Cadet Uhura, offering crucial guidance during her moments of self-doubt. Consequently, Hemmer played an integral part in preserving Uhura's commitment to Starfleet, as he believed it was his life's purpose. Tragically, during an away mission, Hemmer contracted Gorn eggs, ultimately sacrificing his own life to protect his companions.

Bruce Horak, despite having limited onscreen acting experience, boasts an extensive background as a performer and artist. Affected by childhood cancer, Horak suffered a significant loss of vision, with only 10% remaining. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the sole visually impaired actor to have appeared in Star Trek while adhering to legal blindness standards. Additionally, he possesses a formal education in theater and actively participated in Shakespeare in the Park performances, captivating audiences for numerous years in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, his hometown. Horak's artistic talent extends beyond acting, as he is a skilled painter whose remarkable artwork and performances have garnered multiple awards. Horak's debut television role took place in 2010, featuring in an episode of Warehouse 13. Furthermore, he showcased his abilities in two episodes of the CW's In the Dark in 2022 and two episodes of NBC's Transplant, along with the made-for-television movie Family History Mysteries: Buried Past.

Zombie Hemmer In Strange New Worlds Season 2 Explained

In Strange New Worlds season 2 episode 6, "Lost in Translation," Ensign Uhura starts hearing an unidentified sound that is inaudible to everyone else. Subsequently, she begins experiencing disturbing hallucinations. Among them is a transformed, undead version of Lt. Hemmer. Uhura had a strong bond with Hemmer and held him in high regard, making his demise particularly devastating for her. Prior to the onset of these hallucinations, Uhura had been viewing a recording of Hemmer providing instructions on recalibrating the communications system. Throughout the episode, Bruce Horak appears as Hemmer, both in these videos and in Uhura's hallucinations.

"Lost in Translation" underscores Hemmer's significance to the crew of the Enterprise, especially to Uhura. Uhura and Number One (Rebecca Romijn) face difficulties when trying to interact with the new Enterprise Engineer, Pelia (Carol Kane), as her presence serves as a reminder of Hemmer's absence. As Uhura endeavors to determine the cause of her hallucinations, she confronts her grief surrounding both Hemmer's demise and the loss of her family. Ultimately, Uhura realizes that an extraterrestrial species has been attempting to communicate with her, and that the Enterprise's presence in a nebula has been causing harm to these beings. Once the Enterprise ceases its activities, the hallucination of the zombified Hemmer appears before Uhura, completely restored and healthy. As Uhura observes, the apparition of Hemmer nods approvingly before fading into nothingness.

Bruce Horak Was Strange New Worlds Musical’s Dancing Klingon

Bruce Horak surprised fans with a cameo appearance as General Garkog in the highly enjoyable musical episode "Subspace Rhapsody" of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In the climactic finale, Ensign Uhura leads the crew of the Enterprise in an energetic musical number to break the subspace field's hold on the surrounding area. Captain Pike, needing more voices for the desired outcome, contacts a nearby Klingon ship. Despite their initial resistance, the Klingons succumb to the urge to sing and deliver an unexpectedly lively K-Pop song. Bruce Horak takes on the role of the lead singer in this impromptu Klingon boyband, leaving viewers in awe of his unrecognizable appearance.

Horak's cameo not only becomes one of the episode's standout moments but also adds to the delight as the Klingons sing amusing lyrics such as "Gonna draw your last breath at the end of our mek'leths" and "Your eternal torture is every Klingon's dream." The presence of Bruce Horak truly enhances this comedic and surprising scene. Lt. Hemmer and Bruce Horak's welcome additions to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds leave fans hoping that this brief cameo in "Subspace Rhapsody" is not the last time they see Horak in the Star Trek universe.

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