Summary

• Sybok's return in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been teased, but certain things cannot happen with his character due to his role in Star Trek V.
• Spock cannot capture Sybok in the new series, as established in Star Trek V, where he mentions not having seen his half-brother in a long time.
• Captain Kirk cannot be present in any Sybok episodes, as he has no knowledge of Spock's half-brother prior to the events of Star Trek V.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has teased the official return of Sybok, the Vulcan half-brother of Spock (Ethan Peck), but Sybok's role in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier means two things can't happen. Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 7, "The Serene Squall" reveals that Sybok is currently being housed at a Vulcan rehabilitation facility under the assumed name Xaverius. Sybok is only briefly glimpsed in "The Serene Squall," and he has not made another appearance since. A future Strange New Worlds appearance has been set up, but there are certain things the show can't do with Sybok as a character.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier established Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) share a father in Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), but Sybok rejects logic and his father's teachings. Years after being banished from Vulcan, Sybok serves as the main antagonist for Star Trek V, as he lures the USS Enterprise to him so that he can travel to the mythical planet of Sha Ka Ree. Sybok believes that he will find God there, and while the planet he finds is indeed home to a powerful entity, it is not God. Based on the events of Star Trek V, Spock cannot catch up to his half-brother if Sybok returns in Strange New Worlds, and James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) cannot be present in any Sybok episodes.

Spock Can't Capture Sybok In Strange New Worlds

In Star Trek V, Sybok taunts Spock by saying: "Spock, it's me. It's Sybok. After all these years you've finally caught up with me." Because of this line of dialogue, Spock cannot apprehend Sybok in Strange New Worlds. At some point, Sybok will either be released or escape from Ankeshtan K'til, and while Spock will likely want to pursue him, he cannot ever catch him. Sybok's line implies that Spock has been searching for his half-brother for quite some time, but Sybok evaded him. In The Final Frontier, Spock says he hasn't seen Sybok in a very long time, but this doesn't preclude the two from meeting in Strange New Worlds, which is set about 25 years before Star Trek V.

When Spock sees Sybok on the viewscreen, he recognizes him immediately and says: "He reminds me of someone I knew in my youth." The Spock of Strange New Worlds is still young and is at the very beginning of his journey to reconcile his Vulcan and human sides. Plus, by Star Trek V, Spock has already died and been brought back to life. It makes sense that Spock would refer to his time aboard the Enterprise of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) as his youth, which leaves open the possibility for the young Spock to have a run-in with his half-brother.

Kirk Can't Be In Any Sybok Strange New Worlds Episodes

Despite being Spock's best friend, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) has no knowledge of Sybok prior to the events of Star Trek V. When Spock reveals that Sybok is his half-brother, Kirk is shocked and does not believe him at first. Kirk has no idea that Spock had a brother, and Strange New Worlds cannot do anything to change that. Spock tends to keep his personal life private, and he doesn't often talk about his past, so it makes some sense that he would not discuss his half-brother. However, this means that if Sybok makes an appearance in Strange New Worlds, Kirk cannot find out about him.

Considering James Kirk has not yet become a regular cast member of Strange New Worlds, it should not be difficult to exclude him from any episodes featuring Sybok. Sybok's brief appearance in "The Serene Squall" sets up his return, and his lover Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel) is still out there somewhere likely plotting to rescue him. As a "Vulcan without logic," Sybok apparently never achieves rehabilitation, reinforcing the idea that he escapes from Ankeshtan K'til at some point. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds should definitely bring back the character of Sybok, but they have to be careful with how it's done.