The Mysterious Lanthanites of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Introducing the Lanthanites

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 introduced the Lanthanites, a new alien species, to Star Trek canon. Commander Pelia (Carol Kane), the new Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise, is the first Lanthanite seen in Star Trek. Pelia replaced the late Lieutenant Hemmer (Bruce Horak), who was a blind Aenar, as the head Engineer of the flagship of the United Federation of Planets.

Star Trek Pelia Enterprise Bridge

Commander Pelia doesn't register as an alien at first, but the insightful and quirky engineer is indeed part of a new species in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The prequel series set years before Star Trek: The Original Series has no shortage of alien races aboard. Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) is half-Vulcan and Commander Una Chin-Riley AKA Number One (Rebecca Romijn) is an Illyrian, a race that culturally utilizes genetic engineering. Strange New Worlds has also included classic Star Trek alien antagonists like the reimagined Gorn, the Romulans, and the Klingons. But Pelia and the Lanthanites are something new to Star Trek and here's what we know about them so far.

Star Trek SNW Tomorrow Pelia

Lanthanites are a very long-lived race of humanoids. Commander Pelia can pass for a human and the only tell is her peculiar accent, which the Starship Enterprise's Communications Officer, Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), was able to identify as Lanthanite. Spock knew of a group of Lanthanites who lived on Earth incognito until the 22nd century, hinting that Pelia isn't alone on the Federation's homeworld and may have been part of that conclave. However, Lanthanites must be a Federation member race if Commander Pelia is allowed to serve in Starfleet. It's not clear if Lanthanites are a truly immortal species, but they are certainly very long-lived, if prone to the 'boredom' inherent in seemingly living forever. Interestingly, Pelia is similar to Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guinan is El-Aurian, a race of 'listeners' who are also extremely long-lived. Guinan was known to have lived on Earth since the 19th century, and she established her bar, Ten Forward, in the 20th century before she served on the USS Enterprise-D in the 24th century. However, Pelia claims she has lived on Earth far longer than Guinan.

Star Trek SNW Broken Circle Pelia

The Ageless Commander Pelia

Pelia has lived on Earth for a long time. Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' offered some major clues as to how old Commander Pelia is. Security Chief Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) was frustrated by Pelia storing archaeological contraband on the Starship Enterprise. When La'an and an alternate reality Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) time-traveled to the 21st century, they learned that 'The Archaeology Department' Pelia oversaw was not a university or museum but a warehouse in Vermont where the Lanthanite stored her curios she collected over the centuries. Pelia also claimed she knew Pythagoras, who invented mathematics. Pythagoras lived from 570 BC to 490 BC, which would make Pelia at least 2,500 years old. Amusingly, Pelia didn't know anything about engineering when La'an and Kirk encountered her in the 21st century. In history more recent to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' 23rd century, Pelia joined Starfleet after the Vulcans made First Contact with Earth as she saw humanity becoming a spacefaring race with the advent of Starfleet in the 22nd century. Pelia devoted herself to studying engineering and warp travel, and the Lanthanite became an instructor at Starfleet Academy. Among her students who later joined the USS Enterprise were Hemmer and Una Chin-Riley, neither of whom Pelia was particularly impressed with. Strange New Worlds season 2's finale, 'Hegemony,' established that Pelia also trained Lt. Montgomery Scott AKA Scotty (Martin Quinn), the Starship Enterprise's future Chief Engineer when James T. Kirk (William Shatner) becomes Captain.

Pelia in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds musical episode.

The Future of Commander Pelia

Scotty's surprise appearance in Strange New Worlds season 2's finale naturally creates the question of how long Commander Pelia will remain aboard the USS Enterprise as Chief Engineer. Scotty (James Doohan) is a Star Trek: The Original Series icon as Chief Engineer, after all. However, in Strange New Worlds, Scotty is still a young Lieutenant. Lt. Scott can take his first steps as a 'miracle worker' if he can conjure a way for Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and the Enterprise to defeat the Gorn. Carol Kane has been a delightfully offbeat addition to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but it's natural to wonder how long she will remain on the show. Kane is a legend of stage and screen, but unlike Whoopi Goldberg, who has appeared for decades as Guinan, Carol is not a lifelong fan of Star Trek. Still, Strange New Worlds has already killed off one Chief Engineer, Lt. Hemmer, and Scotty may still be too green to slide into the Chief Engineer role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. It might be better for the overall Star Trek franchise if Pelia chooses to step down from the Enterprise of her own volition at some point. And, because there's no evident limit to how long a Lanthanite can live, Carol Kane could potentially reprise Pelia in other Star Trek series no matter how far in the future they are set.

Pelia and Scotty