Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 3 - "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
In "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, the Star Trek timeline is altered, resulting in an unexpected change for Khan Noonien-Singh (Desmond Sivan) - he is now Canadian. Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and an alternate reality version of Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) travel to 21st-century Toronto in order to prevent a timeline-altering attack. During this journey, La'an discovers that her ancestor Khan, who is just a young boy, is the target of a Romulan assassin named Sera (Adelaide Kane).
In the original Star Trek series, it was established in the episode "Space Seed" that Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) and his genetically engineered followers escaped from Earth aboard the SS Botany Bay in 1996. Khan ruled a significant portion of Earth until the Eugenics Wars of 1992-1996 led to his overthrow. According to Star Trek Into Darkness, a film directed by J.J. Abrams, Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) was the result of a selective breeding program that began in 1959. This history of Khan remains consistent in the Prime Timeline canon, which predates the creation of the alternate Kelvin Timeline in 2230, as depicted in the 2009 Star Trek film. Additionally, there is speculation that Khan's origins may be Sikh, hailing from the northern region of India, according to his future wife, Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue).
Why Khan Is Now Canadian In Strange New Worlds' New Star Trek Timeline
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Sera explains that the Temporal Wars and interference with Earth's timeline have altered the course of history. This includes changing Khan's origins, with him now being born in 21st-century Toronto, making him Canadian despite his South Asian ethnicity. The presence of the Noonien-Singh family's genetics lab in Toronto suggests that Khan was created there. This revised Star Trek timeline is reinforced by drawings of the Toronto skyline in Khan's bedroom.
The change in Khan's nationality to Canadian is attributed to production changes in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. Originally scheduled to be the season premiere, the episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" was pushed back due to COVID-related reasons, becoming the third episode instead. Initially, there was discussion of filming in New York City, but the decision was ultimately made to shoot in Toronto, the production base of Strange New Worlds. As a result, Khan missed the opportunity to potentially be an American born in New York City and instead became a Toronto-born Canadian.
Will Star Trek Deal With Strange New Worlds' Khan Timeline Changes?
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman stated that the first episode of season 1 had already established a timeline change by showing Captain Christopher Pike revealing Earth's World War III to the people of Kiley 279. The recent episode of Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, affirms that Khan's creation and the Eugenics Wars have now been shifted to the 21st century. This alteration aims to maintain Star Trek's "aspirational future" and enhance the relevance of these events. Nevertheless, these significant changes will inevitably impact existing movies and TV shows.
It is hoped that there is a comprehensive plan in place for all of Star Trek on Paramount+, not just Strange New Worlds, to address the implications of these new timeline changes. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 confirmed the occurrence of the Temporal Wars introduced in Star Trek: Enterprise, and Strange New Worlds has now depicted the consequences in the timeline related to Khan. Perhaps exploring the repercussions of these timeline changes, including Khan Noonien-Singh's new 21st-century origins and Canadian citizenship, can be an expansive storyline that extends beyond Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
