Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas its fair share of romantic pairings, but how do they stack up against one another? In a 2023 interview withVariety,Akiva Goldsman, one of the showrunners ofStrange New Worlds,described the show as"a lot of relationship stories in space.“Following the adventures of Captain Christoper Pike (Anson Mount) and his USS Enterprise,Strange New Worldshas not only explored numerous relationships from many different perspectives but has alsoexperimented with a variety of genresin fascinating ways.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsexplores many different kinds of relationships, but the show contains more romance than many otherStar Trekseries. While most of the love stories and relationships onStar Trek: The Original SeriesandStar Trek: The Next Generation,for example, only lasted for one episode,Strange New Worldshas been able to take more time to dive into its characters and their relationships.WhileStrange New Worldshas become a show about so many different things, Goldsman’s description truly gets to the heart of the show’s stories.
5Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh & Lieutenant James T. Kirk
Played By Christina Chong & Paul Wesley
After forming a connection with an alternate-reality version of Captain James T. Kirk, La’an reaches out to the Lieutenant Kirk of her universe. While thisKirk feels echoes of the connection between him and La’an,he is currently involved in a complicated relationship with Carol Marcus. In theStar Trek: Strange New Worldsmusical episode, La’an tells the Prime Universe Kirk about her feelings for his alternate universe counterpart. Although Kirk acknowledges that he feels a connection to La’an, he reveals that Carol is currently pregnant with their child.
La’an and Lt. Kirk have the potential to become one ofStrange New Worlds’best romances, but the show has not yet had time to explore their love story.
Due to her traumatic past and connection to Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán), it took a lot for La’an to open up to Lt. Kirk as she did. While La’an did not blame him for his confession,she was understandably devastated by the news.Still, based on the events ofStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,viewers know that Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch) will eventually call off her romance with Kirk and raise their son on her own. This would open the door for La’an and Lt. Kirk to explore the connection they have, one that appears to span multiple universes.
4Lieutenant Spock & T’Pring
Played By Ethan Peck & Gia Sandhu
Spock’s Vulcan fiancée T’Pring was first introduced inStar Trek: The Original Series'“Amok Time,” butStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas given their relationship more depth.Spock and T’Pring were engagedin 2259, and Spock spent some time on Vulcan that year before returning to his post on the Starship Enterprise. As a full-blooded Vulcan, T’Pring approaches her relationship with logic, but she and Spock obviously care for one another.T’Pring appeals to Spock’s Vulcan side,and the two make a great pair, although Spock’s human emotions sometimes cause problems.
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InStrange New Worldseason 2, episode 5, “Charades,” T’Pring and her family visit the Enterprise for an engagement dinner. Prior to the dinner, Spock was turned into a full human by a group of advanced aliens. Spock did not tell T’Pring about this transformation, and, although Spock was soon restored to his Vulcan/human self,T’Pring suggested the pair take some time apart.This led Spock to give in to his feelings for Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), who brings out his more human tendencies.
3Lieutenant La’an Noonien-Singh & Captain James T. Kirk
InStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 3, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” La’an travels back in time to 21st century Toronto with an alternate universe Captain James T. Kirk. As La’an and Kirk work to find a way back home,La’an discovers that this version of Kirk has never heard of Khan Noonien Singh.This helps La’an open up to him and lower some of the walls she has built around herself. During their adventure, La’an and Kirk encounter an undercoverRomulan operative named Sera (Adelaide Kane), who had been sent back in time to disrupt human progress.
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Sera’s original plan was to blow up a cold fusion reactor, which would decimate the city of Toronto, but when Kirk and La’an disrupt her mission, Sera decides to kill the young Khan Noonien Singh (Desmond Sivan). When Kirk and La’an confront Sera,the Romulan operative fatally shoots Kirk,much to La’an’s horror. La’an overpowers Sera and checks on Khan before returning to her own timeline, mourning a version of Kirk who doesn’t exist and a lost love she can tell no one about. La’an and Kirk have an undeniable connection and their love story is as beautiful as it is tragic.
2Captain Christopher Pike & Captain Marie Batel
Played By Anson Mount & Melanie Scrofano
Since his introduction inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, Anson Mount’s Captain Christopher Pike has become one ofStar Trek’smost beloved and relatable captains. In its series premiere,Star Trek: Strange New WorldsintroducedCaptain Marie Batelas Pike’s romantic partner, andthe two are truly a perfect match in many ways.As Starfleet captains, Pike and Batel stay busy, but they manage to carve out time to see one another whenever they can. Even when Batel arrested Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), Pike came to understand that her hands were tied and did not hold her actions against her.
Pike and Batel’s relationship is not always perfect, but it feels incredibly realistic.
Captain Pike and Batel’s relationship is not always perfect, but it feels incredibly realistic, and they clearly care deeply about one another.Strange New Worldsseason 2 ends with Batel’s life hanging in the balanceafter she becomes infected with Gorn eggs, but Captain Pike and his crew refuse to give up on her. As Pike faces a no-win scenario from multiple fronts, he does not have the time to fully process Batel’s condition before the cliffhanger ending of theStrange New Worldsseason 2 finale. It remains to be seen whether Batel will survive, but these events will likely impact her relationship with Pike either way.
1Nurse Christine Chapel & Lieutenant Spock
Played By Jess Bush & Ethan Peck
After T’Pring broke things off with Spock, he embarked on a new relationship with Nurse Chapel. Chapel had long had feelings for Spock, and he had recently begun to develop feelings for her in return.Chapel’s vibrant humanity brings out Spock’s human side,and he appears more emotional whenever he’s with her. While Spock is undeniably happy at the beginning of their romance, the pair’s relationship becomes more complicated as it progresses. When Nurse Chapel is accepted to a medical fellowship with Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O’Sullivan), she accepts it without telling Spock.
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WhileSpock and Chapel’s romanceappeared to come to an end inStrange New Worlds’musical episode, it remains to be seen how their relationship will progress. Based on his solo musical number in “Subspace Rhapsody” and his future inStar Trek: The Original Series,Spock will move away from his human tendencies and embrace Vulcan logic for much of his adult life.Also revealed inTOS,Chapel will eventually fall in love with Roger Korby, and the two will become engaged, although she continues to harbor feelings for Spock for years.
The context of their past romance makes Chapel a stronger and more tragic character, as she’s not just pining for Spock, but is mourning what they once were.
Despite their complications, Spock and Chapel’s romance works for a number of reasons. Not only do they have obvious chemistry, but they also bring out the best in one another. Plus,Spock and Chapel’s relationship onStar Trek: Strange New Worldsrecontextualizes their interactions onStar Trek: The Original Series.The context of their past romance makes Chapel a stronger and more tragic character, as she’s not just pining for Spock, but is mourning what they once were.
Jess Bush’s take on Nurse Chapel has become one of the best things aboutStar Trek: Strange New Worlds,and the show’s upcoming third season will hopefully continue to explore her fascinating relationship with Spock.
