Star Trek timeline to recontextualize events and characters in The Original Series.

That's especially true for Strange New Worlds series regular Dr. Joseph M'Benga, who only appears in two episodes of The Original Series. In the TOS season 2 episode "A Private Little War," Dr. M'Benga is trusted with Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) medical care while Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) goes on an away mission. Thanks to his knowledge of Vulcan physiology, M'Benga knows the best medicine is actually smacking Spock out of the Vulcan healing trance, so he can be properly treated for a gunshot wound. M'Benga returns in a much smaller capacity in TOS season 3's "That Which Remains."

Strange New Worlds Set Up Dr. M'Benga's Vulcan Expertise In Star Trek: The Original Series

Dr. M'Benga Being A Vulcan Expert Is Hinted At In Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds can set up Joseph M'Benga as an expert in Vulcan medicine in Star Trek: The Original Series because it's a Star Trek prequel taking place before TOS. Because he only appears in two episodes, M'Benga's Vulcan medical expertise is pretty much his defining characteristic in TOS. But Strange New Worlds cleverly extrapolates from the few data points we get in TOS — mostly from "A Private Little War" — and builds up Dr. M'Benga's backstory.

In "A Private Little War," Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) points out that M'Benga did his medical internship on Vulcan, which convinces McCoy to entrust M'Benga with Spock's care.

Hints of M'Benga's Vulcan expertise are scattered throughout Strange New Worlds. In Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 5, "Spock Amok", M'Benga is approached to undo the unwanted mind-swap between Spock (Ethan Peck) and T'Pring (Gia Sandhu). During his time on Vulcan, M'Benga was never able to study a "katric transference," and now uses a ground urchin paste that simulates the electromagnetic properties of Vulcan skin with all the delight of a man truly in his element.

M'Benga confidently — and correctly — asserts that Spock and Pasalk "hate each other".

Later, in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," M'Benga and Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) intently watch a conversation between Spock and Vice iral Pasalk (Graeme Somerville) from across the USS Enterprise's bar. While Ortegas assumes that Spock and Pasalk are as chummy as two Vulcans can be, M'Benga knows better. M'Benga has a particular insight into Vulcan body language after years of studying with them, and M'Benga confidently — and correctly — asserts that Spock and Pasalk "hate each other".

How Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Made Dr. M’Benga A Better Character

Strange New Worlds' Dr. Joseph M'Benga Is More Than Just His Vulcan Knowledge

There's no doubt Strange New Worlds made Dr. M'Benga a better character. M'Benga's presence in TOS is minimal, but it was very important that M'Benga was a Black doctor — and a specialist — on 1960s television. It was huge, for the time, that Kirk and McCoy respected M'Benga, not just as a physician, but as Spock's doctor. In TOS, M'Benga's character is limited to his expertise, but Strange New Worlds expands on his characterization: he has a family, a troubled past, and a genuine friendship with Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush).

In the first two seasons of Strange New Worlds, Dr. M'Benga's arc examines whether questionable medical ethics are forgivable if they still lead to the greater good. Throughout Strange New Worlds season 1, M'Benga secretly keeps his terminally ill daughter, Rukiya (Sage Arrindell), in the transporter buffer while researching a cure. The second season sees M'Benga grappling with his checkered past as a veteran of the Klingon-Federation War. M'Benga's Protocol 12 drug leveled the playing field in combat against Klingons, and he faced off against Dak'Rah (Robert Wisdom), the Butcher of J'Gal.

While M'Benga's Vulcan knowledge is downplayed in Strange New Worlds, it's still incorporated into the character. It's just that now it's only a small part of who Joseph M'Benga is, and sits alongside his Kenyan heritage, love for his daughter, veteran status, friendship with Chapel, and fishing hobby. No doubt Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 will further expand on Dr. M'Benga. With one of the 10 episodes featuring USS Enterprise crew turned into Vulcans, M'Benga will surely have more opportunities to show off his expertise.