Mind-Blowing Star Trek Revelation: Meet the Ultimate Crossover Character in Strange New Worlds
Commander Pelia's limitless potential shines in Strange New Worlds as the character defies boundaries, making appearances across all Star Trek shows while leaving fans intrigued about the longevity of their existence (305 characters)
In season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a fascinating new character named Commander Pelia was introduced. It was revealed that Pelia could potentially appear in any future Star Trek project. In the premiere episode titled "The Broken Circle," Carol Kane portrayed Commander Pelia and made a memorable impact. Pelia belongs to a new species called Lanthanites, who possess remarkably long lifespans and have been alive for over a thousand years. Despite similarities in physical appearance with humans, not much information has been disclosed about the Lanthanites, except for the fact that they have seamlessly integrated themselves within human society for thousands of years.
Following the tragic death of Chief Engineer Hemmer in season 1, the USS Enterprise required a replacement engineer, and Commander Pelia stepped up to fulfill this role. In "The Broken Circle," Acting-Captain Spock takes command of the USS Enterprise in response to a distress signal sent by La'an Noonien-Singh. While Pelia quickly discovers Spock's plan, she chooses to assist him rather than impede him. Following this mission, she offers to become the new Chief Engineer of the Enterprise, expressing her boredom with her previous job as a teacher at Starfleet Academy.
Strange New Worlds’ Pelia Can Appear In Any Star Trek Show
Commander Pelia's extensive lifespan as a Lanthanite enables her to make appearances in any era of Star Trek. She has the potential to appear in time travel episodes set in the past, as well as the far future in shows like Star Trek: Discovery and the upcoming Starfleet Academy. The yet-to-be-confirmed Star Trek: Legacy could also provide an opportunity for Pelia to interact with popular characters such as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) or even Q (John de Lancie). Pelia's lively personality makes her an ideal character for an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, where she could engage in various entertaining antics with Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and the rest of the crew.
Similar to the character Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Pelia's longevity allows her to offer insights and assistance to Starfleet officers throughout different time periods. In the episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, La'an and an alternate universe Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) are transported back to 21st century Earth. They discover Pelia residing in Vermont, even though this is prior to her involvement in Starfleet and even before Starfleet existed. Despite these circumstances, Pelia readily assists La'an and Kirk without hesitation. As one of her primary goals in life is to avoid boredom, Pelia would eagerly seize the opportunity to aid any Starfleet officer in need.
What Strange New Worlds Revealed About How Long Pelia Lives
Pelia, a Lanthanite whose exact lifespan is unknown, has clearly lived for an extended period of time. In the two episodes she has appeared in, Pelia has mentioned bits of her past. For instance, she claims to have learned math from ancient philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, indicating that she has been alive and on Earth since at least the 6th century BCE. Additionally, it is evident that Pelia has accumulated an impressive collection of artifacts from around the world, including a priceless Vermeer painting from the Louvre.
Interestingly, Pelia's appearance remains unchanged from the 21st to the 23rd century, implying that Lanthanites age very slowly or potentially stop aging altogether at some point in their lives. While she does express dissatisfaction with the boredom that comes with a long life, her new role as the Enterprise's Chief Engineer is expected to provide some relief. Pelia recognizes that life aboard ships named Enterprise is rarely dull. As the season progresses, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is anticipated to shed more light on the Lanthanites, but Pelia has already secured her place as a valued addition to the Star Trek franchise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
