The Legacy of Khan Noonien Singh and His Family in Star Trek

The Origins of Khan Noonien Singh

Ricardo Montalban's Khan Noonien Singh is arguably Star Trek's most iconic villain, and Khan and his family continue to affect Star Trek stories. Khan first appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 22, 'Space Seed,' when Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the USS Enterprise found Khan's ship floating in space. The genetically enhanced Khan had been a powerful tyrant on Earth during the late 20th century. When Khan's reign fell and the Eugenics Wars began, he and his followers escaped on the SS Botany Bay, cryogenically freezing themselves for a long journey with no particular destination in mind.

Star Trek Original Series Space Seed Khan Sleep

Khan returned in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan seeking revenge, but Captain Kirk defeated him once again, though not without great personal cost. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is the newest Star Trek property to feature a connection to Khan. Khan's descendant, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) serves on the USS Enterprise of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Because of Khan's tyrannical reign in Earth's history, everyone knows the name Noonien-Singh, and La'an sometimes struggles with the legacy of her last name. With the introduction of La'an, Strange New Worlds has expanded the Noonien-Singh family tree and provided more details about Khan's complex history. In the alternate Kelvin timeline, Khan Noonien Singh is portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. In J. J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness, Khan is recruited by the Starfleet Intelligence organization, Section 31, but later turns on them, seeking revenge on Starfleet. His plan is thwarted by Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the USS Enterprise.

Khan in Star Trek: Wrath of Khan

The Family of Khan Noonien Singh

The exact circumstances surrounding Khan's birth remain unknown, but Star Trek has suggested the future tyrant was created rather than born. In the 1990s, Khan ruled a quarter of Earth's population from his power base in the Indian subcontinent. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,' altered this timeline and La'an Noonien-Singh encounters the young Khan in 21st-century Toronto. At this point in history, the genetically engineered child is being held at a top-secret facility within the Noonien-Singh Institute for Cultural Advancement. As revealed in Star Trek: The Original Series, Khan will eventually become a powerful tyrant who rules over much of Earth. Although Strange New Worlds changes the timeline of these events, history still seems to follow a similar path.

Star Trek Strange New Worlds young Khan tomorrow

When Captain Kirk and his crew happen upon Khan's ship in Star Trek: The Original Series' 'Space Seed,' they are familiar with his history. They bring him aboard the Enterprise anyway, only to discover that Khan has not given up his power-hungry ways. He recruits historian Lt. Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue), to help him take over the ship, although she eventually sides with Kirk. Kirk is ultimately able to stop Khan, but he will later regret stranding Khan and his people on Ceti Alpha V. Khan seeks revenge against Kirk in Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan, setting off a chain of events that results in the death of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Khan is later killed, with the status of any children he may have had unknown.

Star Trek Original Series Space Seed Khan Marla

The Descendants of Khan Noonien Singh

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds introduced Khan's descendant, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh, who serves the security chief of the USS Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). As a child, La'an was bullied because she shares Khan's infamous surname, and she worries that she could become dangerous due to genetic augmentations she has inherited. Perhaps because of the time between Khan's existence and La'an, most of the enhanced genetic abilities seem to have diminished. Although La'an is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, she has not displayed any kind of superior strength or abilities.

Star Trek Strange New Worlds La'an

La'an may be the last Noonien-Singh at the moment, as she lost her entire family to the Gorn when she was a child. While La'an and her family were living on a colony ship, it was attached by the Gorn, and the young La'an was the only person who survived. After she was rescued by Starfleet, she went on to attend Starfleet Academy and quickly climbed the ranks to the position of chief of security on the Enterprise. La'an has become an invaluable member of the Enterprise crew, and her knowledge of the Gorn has helped in their battles against the dangerous reptilians. La'an has a perfect Starfleet record, but she sometimes struggles to make interpersonal connections.

La'an Klingon Strange New Worlds