Unveiling the Enigmatic 12 Star Trek: TOS Characters for an Epic Encounter in Strange New Worlds Season 3!

Summary

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has successfully reinvented classic Star Trek characters and offers the possibility of introducing more in season 3.

The prequel series skillfully reimagined iconic characters such as Captain Christopher Pike and Ensign Nyota Uhura, infusing their characters with refreshing depth.

Strange New Worlds could potentially feature beloved characters from Star Trek: The Original Series, including Carol Marcus, Gary Mitchell, and Janice Rand.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has successfully reinvented and reimagined several beloved Star Trek characters. However, there are still numerous characters that could be added in season 3. Not only are there several main characters from Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) who have yet to make an appearance, but there are also intriguing characters who only appeared briefly in one or two TOS episodes. Since Strange New Worlds takes place a few years before TOS, there is the potential for younger versions of these characters to be introduced.

One of the most exciting aspects of prequels is the opportunity to delve into the backstory of important characters and provide insight into future events. In this regard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has done an exceptional job in reimagining iconic characters such as Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). By building upon the established foundation and adding new layers to their characters, the show has breathed new life into them. Additionally, Strange New Worlds has successfully improved and recontextualized certain elements from TOS that may not resonate as well with today's audience. With that in mind, here are 12 characters from Star Trek: The Original Series who should be included in Strange New Worlds.

12 Carol Marcus

11 José Mendez

Carol Marcus has already been mentioned in Strange New Worlds, setting the stage for her potential appearance in season 3. In the musical episode "Subspace Rhapsody" of Strange New Worlds, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (played by Christina Chong) shares her encounter with Lt. James T. Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) from the Prime Universe. Kirk acknowledges his connection with her but discloses that he is currently involved with a woman named Carol, who recently discovered her pregnancy. Dr. Carol Marcus, a renowned Federation scientist and former flame of William Shatner's Jim Kirk, was introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

In the TOS episode "The Menagerie," Commodore José Mendez (Malachi Throne) commanded Starbase 11. After Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter, Sean Kenney) suffered a horrific accident, Commodore Mendez oversaw his treatment on the Starbase. To transport Captain Pike to Talos IV, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) took control of the Enterprise. Commodore Mendez collaborated with Captain Kirk in pursuing Spock and ultimately subjecting him to a court-martial. However, it was later revealed that the Mendez on the Enterprise was merely a creation of the Talosians, and the real Commodore had remained at the Starbase. The Talosians allowed the real Mendez to witness Spock's trial, and ultimately, Spock faced no punishment for his actions.

10 Gary Mitchell

9 Matt Decker

Despite only making a brief appearance in one early episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) established himself as one of Jim Kirk's closest companions during their shared time at Starfleet Academy. At the time of "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Mitchell serves as one of the dedicated helmsmen aboard the Enterprise. While traversing a peculiar energy barrier, Mitchell was bestowed with extraordinary powers, which ultimately led to his descent into arrogance and cruelty. Following a tumultuous struggle, Kirk found himself compelled to take Mitchell's life in order to prevent any further consequential harm. It is noteworthy that, considering Mitchell's concurrent education at the Academy alongside Kirk's, he should have been serving on a starship during the era of Strange New Worlds.

Commander Matt Decker, played by William Windom, served as the commanding officer of the USS Constellation. He was widely recognized as one of Starfleet's most decorated officers. In the renowned TOS episode, "The Doomsday Machine," Captain Kirk and the Enterprise discovered Commander Decker on the Constellation, which had been decimated by an extraterrestrial entity known as the "planet killer." This monstrous device had not only annihilated Decker's crew but also inflicted severe damage upon his vessel. Consumed by guilt and sorrow, Decker commandeered one of the Enterprise's shuttles and valiantly propelled it into the planet killer, selflessly detonating an explosive, albeit without successfully disabling the menacing contraption. However, inspired by Decker's bravery, Kirk and his crew replicated this audacious maneuver using the starship Constellation, ultimately obliterating the planet killer. As Decker helmed the Constellation for a remarkable three five-year missions before his untimely demise, it is plausible that he would have encountered Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise during their respective ventures.

8 Richard Daystrom

Introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Ultimate Computer," Dr. Richard Daystrom (William Marshall) was among the Federation's foremost scientists and inventors. Daystrom, who had developed the duotronic computer system that powered most starships in the 23rd century, including the USS Enterprise, attained great success at the age of 24. Yet, appearing in "The Ultimate Computer" as an older individual, Daystrom endeavored to regain the acclaim he once enjoyed during his youth. Despite an unsuccessful attempt to create a multitronic computer system fueled by artificial intelligence, Daystrom continued to be highly esteemed. Notably, both The Daystrom Institute and Daystrom Station were named in his honor.

7 Janice Rand

Janice Rand, portrayed by Grace Lee Whitney, made appearances in eight episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and also featured in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Within TOS, Rand held the position of Captain Kirk's personal yeoman, attending to his needs along with other officers on the ship. Occasionally, she accompanied the away team on missions. Tragically, Grace Lee Whitney experienced a horrific assault from a studio executive, resulting in her character's departure from the show, causing great devastation for Whitney. The inclusion of Janice Rand in Strange New Worlds would not only solidify her significance as a crucial Star Trek character but also serve as a tribute to the enduring legacy of Grace Lee Whitney.

6 Kor

5 Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd

Being the first named Klingon character in Star Trek, Kor (John Colicos) holds a significant place in the history of the franchise. Delving deeper into his background would offer an intriguing exploration. Regarded as one of the most esteemed Klingon warriors, Kor played a crucial role in the establishment of the Treaty of Organia, which officially brought an end to the Federation-Klingon war. Following his introduction in TOS, Kor made appearances in three episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In his later years, he made the ultimate sacrifice to assist the Klingons and Federation in their battle against the Dominion. Given that Kor was already in command of a Klingon warship during his time in TOS, it would be fascinating to know more about the journey he undertook to attain such a distinguished status.

Despite initially appearing in an early episode of TOS titled "Mudd's Women," Harry Mudd, portrayed by Roger C. Carmel, has also made an appearance in the more recent Star Trek series. In "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad," one of Star Trek: Discovery's most enjoyable episodes, Rainn Wilson takes on the role of Harry Mudd and creates a time loop that repeatedly destroys the USS Discovery. Mudd, a cunning smuggler and con artist, never fails to cause mischief whenever he graces an episode of Star Trek. It would be a missed opportunity for Strange New Worlds not to invite Rainn Wilson back to reprise his role as Mudd and have him thoroughly torment Captain Pike and his crew on the Enterprise.

4 Hikaru Sulu

George Takei's portrayal of Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series made him a renowned and iconic Starfleet officer. Sulu held the crucial position of senior helmsman on the Enterprise, where he primarily operated the ship. Apart from his exceptional piloting skills, Sulu exhibited a keen interest in various fields such as botany, fencing, judo, and aikido. After his tenure on the Enterprise and its successor, the Enterprise-A, Sulu eventually assumed command of his own vessel, the USS Excelsior. Notably, in the Star Trek: TOS episode "Arena," Spock described Sulu as an "experienced combat officer," indicating that he potentially participated in the Klingon War depicted in Star Trek: Discovery before the events of Strange New Worlds.

3 Pavel Chekov

Pavel Chekov joined the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series in season 2, becoming a regular member. His primary role was as the Enterprise's navigator, but he also worked in the science department on occasion. Chekov took great pride in his Russian heritage and often made false claims about Russian contributions to common phrases and inventions. Throughout the series, he formed a close friendship with Sulu. Since Chekov was only 22 when he started serving on the Enterprise, any appearances in Strange New Worlds would depict him as a teenager at Starfleet Academy.

2 Dr. Roger Korby

Dr. Roger Korby, renowned as the "Louis Pasteur of archeological medicine," is Nurse Christine Chapel's future fiancé. The musical episode of Strange New Worlds establishes Chapel's acceptance into a 3-month fellowship with Dr. Korby. This could potentially pave the way for their relationship and the emergence of a love triangle involving Lt. Spock. In Star Trek: The Original Series, the Korby character was portrayed as an android, but in season 3 of Strange New Worlds, we may witness the introduction of a living, breathing Roger Korby.

1 Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Completing the iconic trio that formed the heart of Star Trek: The Original Series were Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy (portrayed by DeForest Kelley). Described as an "old country doctor," Dr. McCoy served as the Chief Medical Officer on the Enterprise or Enterprise-A for an impressive 27 years. Despite not possessing the most pleasant bedside manner, he possessed genuine care for his patients and utilized all his efforts to ensure their well-being. Dr. McCoy officially joined the Enterprise crew in the year 2266, taking on the role of CMO after Dr. Mark Piper (played by Paul Fix). With his extensive experience as a science officer and surgeon, it's understandable why Dr. McCoy would find numerous reasons to visit Captain Pike's Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.