Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reinvented Captain Christopher Pike for the better, and Anson Mount truly breathes new life into the character. Originally played by Jeffrey Hunter, Captain Pike was introduced in the unaired pilot of Star Trek: The Original Series titled "The Cage." Though this episode is widely available to watch now, many Trek fans met Captain Pike (Sean Kenney) in the two-part TOS episode "The Menagerie." These episodes use footage from "The Cage" to tell the tragic story of Captain Pike's last mission, and this story has become an important part of Star Trek lore.

Before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) took over command of the USS Enterprise, Christopher Pike served as her Captain, embarking on a five-year mission to explore the final frontier. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Pike's journey and brings more depth to his character, as well as the rest of his crew. With his faithful First Officer, Number One (Rebecca Romijn), and his half-Vulcan Science Officer, Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), Pike boasts one of the best crews in Starfleet. Although Anson Mount's version of Captain Pike would not exist without Jeffrey Hunter's original portrayal, Strange New Worlds has turned the character into one of Star Trek's greatest captains.

10 Pike Evolved From Star Trek: TOS "The Cage's" Sexist Captain

In "The Cage," Captain Pike says that he "can't get used to having a woman on the bridge." This is in response to a new female crew member who has replaced his previous Yeoman. He then adds to his female First Officer, referred to as Number One (Majel Barrett): "No offense, Lieutenant. You're different, of course." This added comment only makes his statement worse. Pike's comments do not at all fit with who he is as a character or with Star Trek's utopian view of the future. Thankfully, Strange New Worlds acts as though this exchange never happened, and the current bridge crew of Pike's Enterprise includes more women than men.

9 Captain Pike Is Friendly With His Enterprise Crew

Many starship captains keep themselves at a distance from their crew, but Pike seeks out their company and friendship. While Pike from "The Cage" was lonely and somewhat removed from his crew, Pike of Strange New Worlds is much less isolated. Mount's Pike regularly has crew over to his quarters for dinner, where he personally cooks for them. He has more varied interests than simply being a starship Captain, and he can easily switch between Captain mode and friend mode. He laughs and jokes with his crew, making Pike's Enterprise crew truly feel like a family.

8 Captain Pike Doesn't Automatically Resort To Violence

The Captain Pike of Strange New Worlds attempts every other possible strategy before resorting to violence. Pike can command a starship in battle just as well as any Starfleet Captain, but he always strives for a peaceful solution first. In contrast, Jeffrey Hunter's Pike in "The Cage" resorted to violence almost immediately after finding himself trapped by the Talosians. Pike again finds himself trapped in a cage in Strange New Worlds season 2 episode 4, "Among the Lotus Eaters," but even with his identity forgotten, he tries diplomacy before violence. He does eventually have to fight against his captors in order to save his crew, but he is much slower to anger than Hunter's earlier version of the character.

7 Captain Pike Knows His Tragic Fate

As seen in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Menagerie," Captain Pike will be horrifically injured in an accident as he's trying to save several Starfleet cadets. In Star Trek: Discovery, Pike learned of his fate by touching a Klingon Time Crystal, and throughout the first season of Strange New Worlds, he struggles to come to with this foreknowledge. Thanks to a visit from his future self in Strange New Worlds season 1's finale, Pike comes to accept his fate. Captain Pike's foreknowledge of his tragic end makes him an even more heroic figure, as Pike continues to maintain a sense of hope despite his dark future.

6 Captain Pike Listens To His Crew, Regardless Of Rank

While Captain Pike consults with his Chief Medical Officer in "The Cage," he does not spend much time getting input from the rest of his crew. The Chris Pike of Strange New Worlds often consults his crew for suggestions and solutions during missions and gives everyone's ideas equal consideration. He is familiar with the backgrounds of his senior officers, and he makes use of their individual strengths and areas of expertise. He clearly cares about his crew and values their opinions equally, regardless of their rank or position on the ship. Captain Pike is confident not only in his own abilities, but the abilities of every crew member on his ship, and he never lets his ego or pride get in the way.

5 Captain Pike Has Interesting & Realistic Romantic Relationships

In "The Cage," Hunter's Christopher Pike has an almost instant attraction to the lone human on the planet, Vina (Susan Oliver). Like many of the romantic relationships on Star Trek: The Original Series, Pike and Vina's love story is based on little more than attraction and ultimately feels rushed. As seen in Star Trek: Discovery's "If Memory Serves," Vina (Melissa George) remains part of Chris's past (and future), but he has other romantic partners along the way. Strange New Worlds introduces a more complex and fully realized partner for Pike in Melanie Scrofano's Captain Batel. Though Pike and Batel's relationship cannot last, it's nice to see Pike with another Starfleet Captain who not only understands him, but is also just as competent and intelligent as he is.

4 Captain Pike Has More Patience Than Bravado

While Captain Pike of "The Cage" reacted to his imprisonment by throwing himself at the walls, Captain Pike of Strange New Worlds now has more self-discipline and patience. He's more sure of himself and does not feel the need to posture or boast about his ship and its capabilities. In Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 7, "The Serene Squall," when Pike and most of his crew are captured by pirates, Pike uses his wit and cooking skills to trick the pirates into turning on one another. Captain Pike takes time to stop and think before he reacts and patiently allows situations to play out before jumping to conclusions.

3 Captain Pike Gets to Be Funny in Strange New Worlds

Jeffrey Hunter played Pike as a serious Captain in "The Cage," but Anson Mount gets to have more fun with the character. Not only does he often share jokes with his crew, he sometimes finds himself involved in ridiculous scenarios. In Strange New Worlds season 1, Pike poses as a pirate in "The Serene Squall" and then later becomes a fairytale character in "The Elysian Kingdom." In other comedy episodes, like "Spock Amok" and "Charades," Spock gets most of the humorous bits, but Pike's reactions to Spock's so-called hijinks are priceless. Anson Mount is clearly having fun in these episodes and he brings some levity to a character who could come across as too self-serious.

2 Captain Pike Is Open About His Feelings

Rather than the stoic personality of previous Starship captains like Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Pike is never afraid to let his feelings show. While he keeps his head in a crisis and rarely seems afraid, joy and sadness can often be clearly seen on his face. During Number One's trial in season 2's "Ad Astra Per Aspera," Chris' appreciation and respect for his First Officer is obvious. He fights for her right to remain in Starfleet and displays a palpable sense of relief when she wins her trial. Pike also opens up to her about his relationship troubles, as well as the dark future that looms over him.

1 Captain Pike Is Profoundly Empathetic and Comionate

In a world of celebrated anti-heroes, Captain Christopher Pike stands apart because of his deep sense of comion. Not only does he exemplify the ideals of Starfleet, he is, to put it simply, a genuinely good person. He does everything in his power to protect the of his crew, and keenly feels every loss. He leads with kindness and empathy, and will always take the time to hear someone out before making judgments. And he strives to do the right thing regardless of the consequences. Pike's charming personality and lack of ego make him eminently likable, and Anson Mount wonderfully captures all of these qualities. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has cemented Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike as a worthy addition to the line-up of iconic Star Trek captains.

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