Unveiling the Immortality Secret: Captain Pike's Unfathomable Fate in Strange New Worlds

Summary

Captain Pike's prior knowledge of his future disability gives him an advantage in Strange New Worlds, as he knows he won't die before the accident.

In Strange New Worlds, the characters, who are also present in The Original Series, are safeguarded from death by future events. As a result, the show prioritizes emotional storytelling and lacks high stakes.

The allure of Strange New Worlds stems from its status as a prequel, enabling the audience to establish profound connections with the characters by means of their development and emotional passages.

Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) already possesses knowledge of the accident that will ultimately lead to his disability in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In a prior encounter with Klingon Time Crystals during Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 12 "Through the Valley of Shadows," Pike experienced a vision of his future self, horribly disfigured and wheelchair-bound, communicating through beeps. By sharing this insight with the audience, Strange New Worlds successfully avoids an excessive amount of dramatic irony. Pike is privy to the same information as the audience, effectively providing him with "plot armor."

Notably, certain characters from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will also make appearances in Star Trek: The Original Series. Their existence in the future implies that they cannot die in Strange New Worlds, thus granting them a form of protection referred to as "plot armor." As a result, the stakes for these characters appear to be relatively low, at least in terms of their mortality. However, the focus of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds shifts towards exploring the essence of these individuals and tracing their paths towards becoming the familiar versions seen in the future series. Rather than emphasizing physical peril, the narrative instead delves into their emotions and personal development.

Pike Knows He Won't Die In Strange New Worlds & He Uses It To His Advantage

Captain Pike, embracing the future as a certainty, believes he cannot meet his end before his predetermined accident, giving him an advantage. In Season 2, Episode 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds titled "Ad Astra Per Aspera," Pike is determined to enlist Counselor Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki) as Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romjin)'s legal defense. Due to the inhospitable air for humans in Ketoul's office, Pike must wear an oxygen mask during his visit. Despite Ketoul's refusal to see him, Pike persists, stating that he will wait indefinitely, even as his oxygen levels reach dangerously low levels. This may appear reckless, but Pike's confidence in winning this risky game of chicken stems from the understanding that he is not meant to die just yet.

While Pike's knowledge of the future is limited to himself, he is not the only one aware of what lies ahead. Ensigns Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) make a visit from the future in Season 2, Episode 7 of Strange New Worlds titled "Those Old Scientists," showering Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) with effusive praise, thereby revealing their survival. Consequently, Spock insists on taking on a risky spacewalk in Episode 10 of SNW titled "Hegemony." Just like his captain, Spock knows that he cannot meet his demise and willingly places himself in harm's way to ensure success.

Star Trek Canon Says Some Strange New Worlds Characters Can't Die, But Plot Armor Doesn't Matter

Pike, Spock, and Uhura are accompanied in this protected class by their colleagues from the Enterprise crew, Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), as well as any other TOS characters who may make an appearance in Strange New Worlds. However, the fact that they are shielded from harm does not overshadow the emotional tension in the scene. The viewers are aware that both Spock and Chapel will not meet their demise during a tense encounter with a Gorn soldier in "Hegemony." Instead, the drama arises from the conflicting emotions they experience despite their previous breakup, Spock's commitment to his Vulcan heritage, and Nurse Chapel's departure from the Enterprise.

The allure of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds lies in its complete acceptance of its status as a prequel. Unlike its predecessor, Star Trek: Discovery, which often grappled with adhering to established canon, Strange New Worlds sidesteps this issue by allowing its characters to be privy to knowledge that the audience already possesses. It abandons any facade of placing its legacy characters, such as Captain Pike, in actual peril. Instead, it delves into character growth and emotional journeys, resulting in more compelling narratives and characters that the audience can genuinely connect with.