Unveiling La'an's Most Startling Secrets in Mysterious New Worlds: A Bold Departure from Star Trek's Khan

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 3 - "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" In this episode, Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) confronts her fears of becoming like Khan (Ricardo Montalban). However, she finds hope in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." La'an, who is a descendant of Khan in the 23rd century, had previously revealed to Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki) in episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," that she carries Khan's genetic enhancements. This secret has caused her to keep others at a distance and adopt a solitary demeanor, even though she serves as the Security Chief of the USS Enterprise.

In episode 3, La'an, along with an alternate reality version of Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), is sent to 21st-century Toronto to prevent a timeline-altering attack. While investigating a Romulan conspiracy to disrupt human history, La'an develops feelings for Kirk. However, their budding relationship is cut short when Kirk is assassinated by a Romulan named Sera (Adelaide Kane). La'an is then forced to make a difficult choice between preserving the timeline or allowing Sera to kill her true target, a young Khan (Desmond Sivan). Ultimately, La'an decides to stop Sera and save Khan, a decision that has significant personal implications for her.

Why La’an Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of Turning Into Khan In Strange New Worlds

Confronting Khan in season 2, episode 3 of Strange New Worlds had a profound impact on La'an. Throughout her life, she had a deep-seated fear of becoming like Khan, given her own inherited enhancements and modifications. As a child, La'an endured taunting and being called "Augment," a painful reminder of her connection to him.

However, by confronting the young Khan, La'an proved that she is fundamentally different. Despite knowing the darkness that lies ahead for him, she chose to protect him. Unlike Khan, La'an is incapable of committing cold-blooded murder and is not driven by pride or self-interest. Her difficult upbringing and the loss of her family at the hands of the Gorn forged her resilience, and she drew inspiration from Starfleet and her mentor, Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn). La'an firmly believes in the duty and honor of Starfleet, but above all, she is dedicated to saving lives, including Khan's when it mattered most. La'an no longer fears becoming like Khan because, in the aspects that truly matter, they are fundamentally different.

How La’an & Khan Are Similar (And Different)

La'an Noonien-Singh cannot ignore the fact that Khan is an ancestor in her family lineage. A surprising revelation in Season 2, Episode 3 of Strange New Worlds indicates that time is pushing back against Romulan interference, altering Khan's history by placing his creation in the 21st century. The Noonien-Singh family also played a role in creating Khan and other genetically enhanced individuals through an institute utilizing eugenics. However, all of this occurred two centuries before La'an's birth, and her own life is not determined by this familial past. Nonetheless, La'an remains cautious due to her shared similarities with Khan.

While Khan is known for his super-strength and heightened intelligence, La'an has yet to display the same physical capabilities. While Lieutenant Noonien-Singh is a skilled fighter, she was overpowered by both Number One, who is an Augment herself, and Sera, who possesses Romulan super strength. However, La'an has shown an impressive tolerance for Klingon blood wine, likely due to her genetic modifications. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, La'an Noonien-Singh is not portrayed as weaker than Khan. Instead, she possesses an inner strength of character, empathy, and compassion that Khan simply lacks or fails to comprehend. This makes her a superior individual in the ways that truly matter.

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