Star Trek: Strange New Worldswould not have worked if the show had not updated the character of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount).Anson Mount’s Captain Pikemade his debut inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2 when he took over command of the USS Discovery to investigate a series of mysterious red bursts. Mount’s take on Pike turned out to be so well-liked that fans began clamoring for a spin-off following his adventures on the USS Enterprise. Thus,Strange New Worldswas born.
The character of Christopher Pike (as portrayed by Jeffrey Hunter) actually debuted in 1966, in the onlyStar Trek: The Original Seriestwo-part episode, “The Menagerie.“Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike was originally meant to beStar Trek’sleading man,but NBC rejected the show’s original pilot, “The Cage.” Pike joinedStar Trekcanon as the captain of the Enterprise before Kirk, but his story remained mostly untold untilStrange New Worlds.However, while the show is a welcome addition to the saga, it wouldn’t have worked with the original version of the character for one key reason.
Strange New Worlds Wouldn’t Have Worked With Star Trek’s Original Version Of Captain Pike
Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike Feels Outdated
Jeffrey Hunter’s take on Captain Pikewas temperamentally different from Anson Mount’s and would not have worked as well with the tone ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds. Hunter’s Pike was intense and austere, never letting his guard down in front of his crew.The Pike of “The Cage” does not seem like the type of captain who would host dinnersfor his crew in his personal quarters. Anson Mount’s Pike, on the other hand, is likable from his very first appearance and he comes across as open, honest, and personable.
OnStrange New Worlds,Captain Pike treats his crew like family and is always willing to listen to whatever they have to say.When strange occurrences happen on the Enterprise, like when the crew suddenly breaks out into song, Pike rolls with it,while ensuring that his ship and crew are safe. It’s difficult to imagine Jeffrey Hunter’s Pike joking with his crew, let alone singing with them.Strange New Worldshas become one of modernStar Trek’smost beloved shows, and it simply would not have worked as well without this updated and emotionally available version of Captain Pike.
Strange New Worlds' Captain Pike Is Actually Closer To Kirk
Pike Clearly Loves Being A Starship Captain Just As Much As Kirk
Although Captain Pike has a decidedly different command style from Captain Kirk, the two have quite a bit in common as well. They both have a certain twinkle in their eye that signifies how much they love beingcaptain of the Enterprise.Pike and Kirk both know the greatest strength of a starship is its crew,but Pike is a bit more collaborative than Kirk and Kirk is more willing to take risks. Still, both men were obviously meant to be starship captains. Not only do they both excel at their jobs, but they clearly have a blast doing it most of the time.
After “The Cage” was shown to studio executives at NBC, some complained that it was"too cerebral,“so Gene Roddenberry livened up the show with the more dynamic Captain Kirk. This clearly proved to be a success andStar Trek: Strange New Worldsstuck to the same basic formula. By makingPike a more dynamic character and just a little more like Kirk,Strange New Worldsbalances out its more serious stories. Anson Mount’s Pike can be contemplative and serious during times of crisis, but he also takes time to acknowledge how weird and fun life on a starship can be.
How Much Strange New Worlds Actually Rewrites Star Trek’s Original Captain Pike
Anson Mount’s Updated Version Of Pike Is Perfect For The Modern Era
Jeffrey Hunter was a fine actor, but his Pike does not convey the bright and hopeful energy that Mount’s Pike does. Still,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsdid not completely rewrite the character of Captain Pike, keeping much of his basic story the same.Pike is still destined for a tragic futureafter a horrific accident leaves him disfigured and paralyzed. Even knowing this fate awaits him,Anson Mount’s Pike holds on to hope and stands strong for his crew.That Pike has foreknowledge of his future redefines the character, making him even more of a tragic hero.
Prior to the events of “The Cage,” Pike had led a mission to Rigel VII that went south, leaving three crew members dead.
“The Cage” only offered a short glimpse into Pike’s character, and he was clearly not at his best. He was still struggling with the ramifications of a previous mission and was evenconsidering leaving the Enterprise. Because “The Cage” caught Pike on a bad day so to speak, Anson Mount and the creators ofStrange New Worldshad a bit of leeway when fleshing out his character’s personality. In some ways, the Pike ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldsstill feels like the same character from “The Cage,” but Anson Mount has updated him to be a perfect hero for the modern era.
