Unveiling the Brilliant Move Made by Strange New Worlds That Sets It Apart from Star Trek DS9
Strange New Worlds wisely avoids replicating Star Trek DS9's character replacement technique by introducing Pelia instead of a new Dax Learn how Ezri Dax's eventual success on DS9 despite Jadzia shaped this decision
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds took a different approach in introducing a new Chief Engineer character for season 2. Unlike Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which replaced Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax with Lt. Ezri Dax due to a dispute between the actress Terry Farrell and Paramount, Strange New Worlds decided not to kill off its popular Chief Engineer, Lt. Hemmer. However, in season 2, Hemmer was replaced by Commander Pelia, a move that allowed the show to avoid the challenge of a new character living in the shadow of their predecessor.
Strange New Worlds’ Pelia Didn’t Do Star Trek: DS9’s Replacement Trick With Dax
In the premiere episode of Strange New Worlds season 2, titled "The Broken Circle," a new character named Commander Pelia is introduced. Unlike Hemmer, Pelia is a brilliant engineer with a completely different personality. While Hemmer was a gruff and intimidating Aenar, Pelia is a quirky and lively Lanthanite who has been residing on Earth for centuries. Right off the bat, Pelia figures out Lt. Spock's plan to steal the USS Enterprise by faking a warp core breach. Using her persuasive skills, she manages to become the new Chief Engineer. Pelia's unique accent and humorous nature provide a stark contrast to Hemmer, but she quickly wins over Spock and the audience.
Given the unexpected popularity of Hemmer among viewers, it might have been tempting for Strange New Worlds to introduce a similar character, maybe another Andorian or Aenar with a similar temperament. However, the show takes a completely different approach by creating Pelia and casting Carol Kane, a renowned comedian who is new to the Star Trek franchise. Kane's idea to give Pelia an unusual but distinctive accent sets her apart and makes her truly unforgettable. As a Lanthanite, Pelia brings an unpredictable element and possesses the ability to see through the flaws of the much younger crew aboard the Starship Enterprise. With the addition of both Hemmer and Pelia, Strange New Worlds has now hit a home run with two exceptional Chief Engineers.
Ezri Dax Eventually Worked On DS9 (Despite Jadzia)
However, Ezri Dax faced challenges in establishing herself as a distinct character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7. Despite Nicole de Boer's excellent portrayal of Ezri's conflicted and uncertain nature, she struggled to stand out from the shadow of Jadzia Dax, who was portrayed as assured and cool. Eventually, Ezri was able to be appreciated as a great character in her own right, even though she only appeared in one season of DS9.
On the other hand, Strange New Worlds season 2 took a different approach to avoid such a predicament. Commander Pelia, played by Carol Kane, is intentionally portrayed as nothing like Hemmer, allowing Kane to establish her own character without the need to escape from Bruce Horak's shadow. Additionally, it is revealed that Hemmer was taught by Pelia at Starfleet Academy, creating a bond between the two engineers that the upcoming season can explore. Fortunately, Commander Pelia is free to captivate and surprise audiences without the burden of needing to escape from Lt. Hemmer's shadow, unlike Ezri Dax's struggle with Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
