Shocking Plot Twist: Is Nurse Christine Chapel Really Leaving Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 9, "Subspace Rhapsody."

Summary

Nurse Chapel's future on the USS Enterprise is secure, although her new opportunity may lead to her temporarily leaving at the end of season 2. However, her placement with Doctor Korby will offer ample material to develop her character in season 3.

Chapel's fellowship is paving the way for her future journey and involvement with Korby, ensuring Jess Bush's continued portrayal of the character for years to come.

Nurse Christine Chapel's new opportunity in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds raises the possibility of Jess Bush potentially exiting the role after season 2. At the beginning of Strange New Worlds' musical episode, "Subspace Rhapsody," Chapel is presented with the opportunity to study alongside Doctor Roger Korby at the Fellowship of Archaeological Medicine. This placement would require Chapel to leave the USS Enterprise, risking her romantic relationship with Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). While Star Trek canon has established that Christine and Spock won't remain together, it also establishes Nurse Chapel as a permanent presence aboard the USS Enterprise in the future.

With Nurse Chapel's future on the USS Enterprise secured, it is evident that the character's departure will only be temporary. As season 2 nears its end, we encounter a delay in Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 3 due to ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in Hollywood. Consequently, Chapel's storyline may unfold entirely off-screen. However, Chapel's association with Doctor Roger Korby holds great significance in the Star Trek canon. As a result, instead of disregarding Jess Bush's character from Strange New Worlds, Chapel's fellowship will provide her with substantial material to showcase once production resumes for season 3.

Jess Bush's Nurse Christine Chapel Is Not Leaving Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

After Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) steps down as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer, Chapel will continue collaborating with Spock and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley). This solidifies Jess Bush's continued presence on the show. Therefore, in the upcoming production of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, Jess Bush will remain a full-time cast member, much like how the imprisoned Number One (Rebecca Romijn) played a significant role in the initial episodes of season 2. Given the delays caused by the strikes, the show might choose to incorporate a notable time leap between seasons 2 and 3. Consequently, Chapel could already be back on board the Enterprise in the premiere episode.

Strange New Worlds Is Setting Up Chapel's Star Trek: TOS Fiancé

Instead of focusing on the opening of Strange New Worlds season 3, the narrative could shift towards Chapel's three-month placement with Doctor Korby. This would allow for a deeper exploration of the evolving relationship between Chapel and Korby. Even though Spock and Chapel's romance seemed to come to an end in the musical episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, season 3 will still address the consequences of their breakup. The reason behind the strained relationship was Christine's placement and her inability to communicate about the opportunity with Spock, which created a divide between them. Given that Strange New Worlds season 2 only had one episode, it is evident that there is more to be uncovered about the failed romance between Spock and Chapel.

Nurse Chapel's new role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds does not mean that Jess Bush will be written out of the show. On the contrary, Chapel's fellowship serves as a setup for her first significant storyline in Star Trek: The Original Series. In the episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", it is revealed that Korby and Chapel were engaged before he disappeared on Exo III in late 2260. Considering that this takes place only a year after the events of Strange New Worlds' musical episode, Chapel's engagement to Korby and his doomed expedition to Exo III will undoubtedly play a significant role in upcoming episodes.

Chapel's longing for her missing partner, Korby, motivates her to join the Enterprise's deep space exploration mission, hoping to reunite with him. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Chapel will confront a crucial choice between a married life with Korby or the thrill and adventure of serving aboard the USS Enterprise before his vanishing. Her connection and the opportunity to learn from Korby solidify her commitment to the ongoing Enterprise mission, guaranteeing Jess Bush's portrayal of the character for future years. Don't miss the stream of the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ on August 10.