One of the most interesting and terrifying additions Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has made to Star Trek canon is elevating the Gorn from a minor hostile species to an existential threat to the Federation itself. When the Gorn were introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Arena," they were superiorly large and strong lizard creatures who took issue with Federation incursions into their space, but they were not yet horrifying. But Strange New Worlds has revealed that the Gorn incubate their young within the flesh of other species.

By season 3 of Strange New Worlds, the details of the captured crewmen mean things aren’t quite as dire as they seem.

The Gorn Kidnapped The Wrong Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Characters

These Crewmen Can Fight Back

The captured of the Enterprise's crew are some of the most capable people in Starfleet to survive the Gorn. Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia), and Lt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) are all immenently capable of facing the Gorn, and if anyone can survive captivity, it's them. Whereas most of the crew of Enterprise were only introduced to the Gorn in season 1 of Strange New Worlds and haven't seen much combat, these 4 are prepared.

For one, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh literally grew up with the Gorn. She is also a Dr. M'Benga's fighting force breaks Star Trek's rules about doctors fighting, but his skill could very well be the deciding factor in saving the crew.

Sam Kirk May Be The Weak Link Against The Gorn

Or Maybe He'll Surprise Us

Lieutenant Sam Kirk, however, is a xenoanthropologist, not a fighter. On the surface, this makes him seem like the weak link in whatever challenges the crew will face among the Gorn. Indeed, Lt. Kirk has thus far seemed more likely to faint than to fight. Skills that the rest of this crew has, like combat experience or previous experience with the Gorn, are not skills that Lt. Kirk shares. Nevertheless, there may be more to Lt. Kirk than meets the eye, and his captivity among the Gorn may be his chance to shine.

We don't know much about Starfleet's training for its xenoanthropologists, but Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is a xenoanthropologist, and she certainly has some combat training.

The Original Series already showed Lt. Kirk's death in "Operation - Annihilate!", seven years after the events of Strange New Worlds. At least we know he’ll survive. But more than just surviving, Lt. Kirk's skill as a xenoanthropologist may actually make him the most qualified person to connect with the Gorn. , Captain Pike has led the Enterprise to the brink of war with the Gorn at Parnassus Beta. While it is by no means guaranteed, Lt. Kirk's skills at relating to other species may very well be the key to peace in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.