Unveiling the Enigmatic Fate of Kirk's Strange New Worlds: Star Trek's TOS Planet Guides La'an through Grievous Loss

Warning: Spoiler Alert for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 4 - "Among The Lotus Eaters." Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh's (Christina Chong) experience on Rigel VII inadvertently taught her how to cope with Captain James T. Kirk's (Paul Wesley) death. La'an and Kirk had embarked on a time travel mission to 21st-century Toronto in Episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." While trying to prevent a Romulan operative named Sera (Adelaide Kane) from assassinating her ancestor, Khan Noonien-Singh (Desmond Sivan), Sera fatally shot Kirk. Although Kirk was from an alternate timeline, La'an had developed feelings for him during their brief time together.

In Episode 4, "Among the Lotus Eaters," La'an accompanied Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) on a landing party to Rigel VII. Unfortunately, the planet's radiation caused them, as well as the crew of the USS Enterprise orbiting Rigel VII, to lose their memories. Furthermore, La'an sustained severe injuries from an encounter with Rigel VII's indigenous Kalarians. Determined to save La'an and restore their memories, Pike and M'Benga embarked on a mission to the Kalar castle, discovering that its unique material was resistant to the radiation emitted by a meteorite. As a result, the crew of the Enterprise regained their identities.

Rigel VII Teaches La'an How To Deal With Kirk's Strange New Worlds Death

La'an's loss of memories in episode 4 of Strange New Worlds season 2 provided her a means to quietly cope with the tragic departure of James Kirk. During their time in 21st-century Toronto, La'an started to open up to James, to whom she had an attraction, and who did not judge her based on her surname and family history. This different Captain Kirk hails from a timeline where Khan Noonien-Singh was eliminated prior to his transformation into a murderous tyrant. When her memory was restored, La'an disclosed to Dr. M'Benga, "But maybe some memories are worth the pain of others." Through her brief but affectionate time with James, La'an finds solace and healing amidst the abrupt and violent loss.

Neither Captain Pike nor Dr. M'Benga comprehended the hidden meaning behind La'an's statement about certain memories being "worth the pain of others." However, both agreed with the sentiment due to their own personal reasons; Pike came to recognize the true significance of Captain Batel, his girlfriend, while M'Benga is still dealing with the trauma resulting from the brutal Klingon War. Meanwhile, La'an continues to mourn James Kirk, while being bound by orders from the Department of Temporal Investigations to never discuss the events that occurred in 21st-century Toronto in order to safeguard the timeline. She silently suffers from her memories but also realizes on Rigel VII that enduring the pain is worthwhile due to the value her memories of James hold.

Will La'an Meet Kirk Again In Strange New Worlds Season 2?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cleverly allowed La'an Noonien-Singh to grieve Captain Kirk discreetly, and "Among the Lotus Eaters" equipped La'an with the necessary tools to handle the loss of her beloved. However, in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, La'an revealed that Kirk is actually still alive in her timeline, serving on the USS Farragut, but he is not the Kirk who time-traveled with her. This puts La'an in a challenging and uncomfortable position of encountering the doppelganger of her lost love.

In Strange New Worlds season 2, Lt. Kirk will eventually join the crew of the USS Enterprise. This will lead to significant events in Star Trek canon, such as Kirk's initial encounter with Ensign Nyota Uhura and Lt. Spock. Yet, following the events of Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, there is high anticipation surrounding how La'an will navigate meeting a different James T. Kirk on the Enterprise. Thankfully, the lesson she learned in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 4 enables her to find solace in her memories of Captain James Kirk if Lt. Kirk doesn't meet her expectations.

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