Unveiling the Epic Flip: Star Trek TOS' Greatest Episode Takes a Fascinating Twist
Strange New Worlds' mind-bending twist on Star Trek's iconic 'City On The Edge of Forever' flips the script, delivering a gripping tale where Kirk's fate takes an unexpected turn Prepare for an exhilarating journey through time in 'Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow' – hailed as the ultimate modern time travel episode
WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 2, Episode 3 - "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
"Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds expertly reimagines one of Star Trek's most memorable time travel episodes. A surprising visitor aboard the USS Enterprise leads Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) on a journey back in time, all in an effort to prevent a catastrophic alteration to the timeline. This episode explores a profound moral dilemma and tells a poignant love story between La'an and Kirk, drawing striking parallels with the beloved Star Trek: The Original Series episode "City on the Edge of Forever".
Strange New Worlds Remakes "City On The Edge of Forever" - And Kills Kirk Instead
In "City on the Edge of Forever," Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and Lt. Commander Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) journey to the 20th century with the purpose of preventing Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (portrayed by DeForest Kelley) from accidentally altering the future. Upon arriving in 1930, Kirk and Spock encounter Edith Keeler (played by Joan Collins), a woman whose role in the history of humanity is incredibly significant. Unlike the young Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, who must continue living, Edith's demise is essential for preserving the established timeline. Kirk faces a profound dilemma as he has developed strong feelings for Edith, which mirrors La'an's own predicament. Both Kirk and La'an need to sacrifice their loved ones to safeguard "their" respective futures.
Prior to being fatally shot by Sera (Adelaide Kane), it becomes evident that Captain James T. Kirk of the United Earth Fleet must meet his demise in order to uphold the Star Trek timeline as viewers are familiar with. By preventing Sera from altering history, La'an will nullify the reality from which this particular Kirk originates. In the meantime, in "City on the Edge of Forever," it is discovered by Spock that if Edith Keeler continues to live, her pacifist movement will inadvertently aid Germany in winning the Second World War. Hence, it is crucial that the tragic traffic accident that claims Edith's life occurs exactly as documented in history.
"Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow" Is The Star Trek's Best Modern Time Travel Episode
Inspired by Star Trek's United Federation of Planets, Edith was ahead of her time with her utopian ideals. Unfortunately, the 20th century was not ready for her progressive vision. This serves as a poignant reminder that often, good people pass away before witnessing the realization of a fairer society. Moreover, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds offers a striking twist with Khan, emphasizing the necessity for society to confront the monsters of history and ensure that the horrors of the past are never repeated.
"Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" stands out among the few time travel episodes in the modern Star Trek franchise. While Captain Christopher Pike experienced an alternate future in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale "A Quality of Mercy," it resembled Ebenezer Scrooge's revelation of the consequences if he didn't alter his behavior. On the other hand, Star Trek: Picard season 2 ventured into time travel but lacked clarity on the mechanics and reasons behind Q's alteration of history.
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3 titled "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," the concept of time travel is explored, delving into the intricate world of temporal mechanics. Kirk challenges La'an by questioning her authority in determining the "correct" reality between two possibilities, leading to a significant ethical dilemma. By eliminating Khan Noonien Singh as a child, La'an prevents the disastrous Eugenics Wars and saves numerous lives. However, this action would involve the murder of an innocent child and hinder humanity's progress in embracing the Federation's ideals of a utopian society. Despite the difficulty, La'an ultimately makes the morally sound decision. Don't miss new episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 on Paramount+ every Thursday.
