Reviving the Klingon Leader: Unveiling the Enigmatic Frontier in Discovery's Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds takes a different approach to the Klingons compared to Star Trek: Discovery. However, it would be a wise decision to include Chancellor L'Rell from Discovery in the show. Star Trek: Discovery brought the franchise back to television after a long hiatus, but its first season was met with mixed reactions. One of its most controversial changes was the radical reinvention of the Klingons, including their physical appearance and motivations, which were not adequately explained.

In contrast, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been successful in pleasing long-time fans by paying attention to continuity details, having a likable main cast, and using an episodic structure that differs from the trend of serialized storytelling in modern television. As expected, the premiere episode of Strange New Worlds season 2, titled "The Broken Circle," reverts the Klingons to their appearance and behavior in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Star Trek: The Original Series films, which are the most beloved versions of these iconic aliens. However, it would be beneficial to establish some connection to the Klingons from Star Trek: Discovery, and introducing L'Rell would be the perfect way to achieve that.

Strange New Worlds Should Bring Back Discovery’s Klingon Chancellor L’Rell

Chieffo's portrayal of L'Rell in Star Trek: Discovery season 1 stood out among the other Klingons. Unlike her fellow Klingons, she wasn't excessively vicious or cartoonishly evil. Instead, she displayed empathy, wisdom, and a willingness to find common ground. By the end of the season, L'Rell became the Klingon Chancellor, effectively ending the war and paving a new path for her people. Although her role was limited in season 2, her future and the state of the Klingon Empire remain unknown. Given that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds takes place shortly after Discovery's first two seasons and will continue to incorporate the Klingons, exploring L'Rell's fate and the state of the Klingon Empire seems like an important narrative. Additionally, adjusting her makeup and prosthetics to align with the traditional Klingon appearance would not be difficult and has already been done with characters like Dahar Master Kor in previous Star Trek series.

What Is The Status Of The Klingon Empire In Strange New Worlds?

In the timeframe of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, "The Broken Circle" establishes the Klingon Empire as a significant threat to the United Federation of Planets. Starfleet is still grappling with the aftermath of the bitter war with the Klingons depicted in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. The episode focuses on a group of renegade Klingons seeking to reignite the conflict with the Federation, leaving little room to delve into Klingon politics and leadership.

The Klingons have always played a crucial role in Star Trek, and it is likely that they will continue to do so in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise crew still carry complex emotions about being sidelined during most of the war as a last line of defense. If L'Rell remains in a position of power, they may have the opportunity to confront their Klingon-related issues directly. However, if she has been overthrown, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds may find itself in a familiar and hostile relationship with one of the Federation's most formidable adversaries.

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