The Hidden Easter Egg in Strange New Worlds That Diehard Star Trek Fans Cannot Miss

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 2, Episode 4 - "Among The Lotus Eaters"

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 4, titled "Among the Lotus Eaters," Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the USS Enterprise return to Rigel VII. Throughout the episode, there are references to the unaired pilot of Star Trek: The Original Series, called "The Cage." This pilot focused on Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) instead of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and centered around a significant mission to Talos IV. Captain Pike mentions a previous mission to Rigel VII in which he lost four crew members, which becomes a central point of introspection for him. However, his reflection is interrupted when he is taken captive by the Talosians and placed in a literal cage.

Episode 4 of Strange New Worlds allows Captain Pike to revisit Rigel VII, and he and his landing party quickly uncover the planet's dangerous nature. As they explore, Captain Pike, Dr. M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) experience headaches and memory loss. Eventually, they even forget their own identities and find themselves trapped in a cage. The use of the term "cage" not only describes the physical cell holding Pike, La'an, and M'Benga, but also serves as a deliberate nod to the original unaired pilot.

How Strange New Worlds Called Back To Star Trek TOS Pilot "The Cage"

The mention of a cage not only references the episode "The Cage," but Captain Pike also has a conversation with Number One (Rebecca Romijn) that mirrors one from the original pilot. In "The Cage," Pike discusses the failure of the Rigel VII mission with the then-doctor on the Enterprise, Phil Boyce (John Hoyt). Pike takes responsibility for the deaths of his crew, and Dr. Boyce tells him: "Chris, you hold yourself to impossible standards. You treat everyone on board as human beings except yourself." Una expresses a similar sentiment to Pike in "Among the Lotus Eaters" as he reflects on what went wrong during the first mission to Rigel VII.

After apparently damaging his relationship with Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), Pike acknowledges that captains are "accountable for the lives of others. This leaves little time for our own." However, Una reminds him that "everyone deserves happiness in their life, even a captain." Number One was also present during the initial Rigel VII mission, and she reassures Pike that the outcome was not his fault. These conversations offer insight into the kind of person and captain that Pike is, reaffirming that he will always prioritize the well-being of his crew above his own.

Strange New Worlds Fixes Pike's Star Trek TOS Failure

Captain Pike's new mission to Rigel VII offers him an opportunity for redemption following the failed mission mentioned in "The Cage." Upon discovering that he and his team unintentionally left Starfleet technology on the planet, Pike becomes determined to rectify the situation. To his astonishment, he learns that one of his presumed deceased crew members has actually survived, prompting him to prioritize their rescue. However, Yeoman Zac Nguyen (David Huynh) holds a grudge from his time on the planet and decides to punish Pike by trapping him and his team in an external cage that erases their memories. Yet, Zac underestimates Captain Pike's unwavering dedication to his crew.

Pike manages to retain some memories, specifically his concern for M'Benga and La'an. When La'an sustains an injury, Pike battles against memory loss to ensure M'Benga, who can provide medical assistance, regains his memories as well. Captain Pike's deep care for his crew empowers him to resist the memory loss long enough to confront Zac. Ultimately, Pike saves his team, including Zac, and aids the people of Rigel VII in recovering their lost memories. Drawing upon the original unaired pilot, "The Cage," Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' episode "Among the Lotus Eaters" grants Pike an opportunity to mend past mistakes and showcases his exceptional leadership as a Starship Captain.

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