Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Episode 8 - "The Elysian Kingdom"
In Dr. M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) was dying of terminal cygnokemia, but Debra made Rukiya an immortal being by separating her from her body. However, Rukiya's new lease on life may signal a willingness for Strange New Worlds to do the same for some of the Starship Enterprise's crew.
Strange New Worlds has been incredibly well-received by Trekkers because it has resurrected the lost spirit of classic Star Trek. As an episodic show, Strange New Worlds has brought back the beloved 'problem of the week' format introduced by Star Trek: Discovery season 2 and, no matter what else the five-year mission of Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) entails, the Starship Enterprise will to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) so that Star Trek canon can proceed as it must.
But what if Strange New Worlds can break Star Trek canon? This idea has been seeded all throughout season 1, and "The Elysian Kingdom" makes the subtext into text. Rukiya's story (which echoes Pike's dark future) was that she was fated to die because no matter what Dr. M'Benga did, he couldn't cure her. But the Jonisian Nebula has allowed Rukiya to live her life and "write her own stories." Indeed, Rukiya also rewrote the fairy tale her father repeatedly read to her and she rearranged characters and events more to her liking. What if, as Strange New Worlds continues into season 2, the series follows suit and gives itself the license to do the same thing so that the Enterprise crew' destinies can be changed? And what if this is the story Strange New Worlds has been telling all along?
Will Captain Pike Change His Future?
Captain Pike began Strange New Worlds knowing exactly where and when his life as he knows it will end. An encounter with a Klingon time crystal in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 gave Pike full awareness that he will have a fatal accident while saving Starfleet cadets and he will be bombarded with delta radiation that will leave him a physical shell of himself. In the TOS two-parter, "The Menagerie," Spock (Leonard Nimoy) will mutiny and risk the death penalty in order to deliver the invalid Captain Pike to Talos IV, where he can live out his life in the Talosians' illusions. But the foreknowledge of his future haunts Captain Pike and almost led him to quit Starfleet entirely.
Pike has seemingly accepted his destiny because he would be trading his life for the lives of the young cadets. But his Number One, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), has also tried to convince Chris that he's not necessarily locked into this future, even though Trekkers know it's what has to happen according to canon. But does it? Strange New Worlds episode 6, "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach," introduced another possible option for Pike: the planet Majalis has medical technology more advanced than anything found in the United Federation of Planets, and Pike's former lover, Alora (Lindy Booth), is the planet's Minister.
However, Pike can't abide by the secret murder of children at the heart of Majalan society and he turned his back on Alora. Yet the possibility remains that Pike could change his mind and accept Majalis' help when his accident happens. There may even be another option the Enterprise will encounter that could potentially heal Pike as Strange New Worlds continues into season 2.
Will Spock And T'Pring Stay Together (Or Will Spock Be With Nurse Chapel)?
Spock's (Ethan Peck) relationship with T'Pring (Gia Sandhu) is one of the most revelatory stories in Strange New Worlds season 1. Trekkers know from the TOS classic, "Amok Time," that Spock and T'Pring (Arlene Martel) are destined to sever their marriage bond. But Strange New Worlds slingshots backward to show Spock and T'Pring in happier and more hopeful times 8 years prior. What's more, the young Vulcans are an electrifying couple together. The fact that Spock and T'Pring are very affectionate (for Vulcans) and trying to make their extremely long-distance relationship work compounds how sad it is that they eventually split. But what if they didn't split and Strange New Worlds finds a way to keep them together?
Meanwhile, Spock also has dynamic chemistry with Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) in Strange New Worlds, and Christine clearly has feelings for the Vulcan Science Officer. This tracks with the fact that Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) has an unrequited love for Spock on Kirk's Enterprise in TOS, but Strange New Worlds has shown that the attraction between Spock and Chapel could be mutual. There is certainly the potential for romance between Chapel and Spock that could bloom. While this wouldn't necessarily contradict Star Trek canon, Strange New Worlds may be in the process of writing a new ending for Spock, T'Pring, and Nurse Chapel's love triangle instead of locking them into the future that's already set.
Will Uhura Leave The Enterprise?
Another ongoing Strange New Worlds season 1 story involves Cadet Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), who has been vocal that she isn't sure if a career in Starfleet is for her. Of course, Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) is destined to serve as Captain Kirk's Communications Officer, but Cadet Uhura may very well take a different path so that she exits the Starship Enterprise. This isn't to say that Uhura wouldn't take her place on Kirk's bridge when she is supposed to, but as a Cadet, Uhura is also rotating into different areas of the Enterprise and learning myriad skills. Nyota has also survived many life-threatening situations. It's possible that Strange New Worlds' compelling Uhura canon may end up changing the future Trekkers expect for her.
Will Strange New Worlds Crossover With Star Trek: Discovery?
When Star Trek's executive producer Alex Kurtzman appeared on The Ready Room with Wil Wheaton, he answered "yes" when Wheaton broached the possibility of a crossover between Paramount+'s Star Trek series. Kurtzman didn't specify which series may crossover but Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds share a defined history. When Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery jumped to the 32nd century, it was expected as a permanent one-way trip, but, as Borg Queen (Annie Wersching/Alison Pill) has shown, there is any number of time travel solutions that could cause Pike's Enterprise and Captain Burnham's USS Discovery to meet once more. A crossover between Discovery and Strange New Worlds, if it happens, would redefine the canon of both series and the greater Star Trek universe.
What Does It Mean If Strange New Worlds Breaks Star Trek Canon?
After earning so much goodwill, Strange New Worlds would certainly risk the ire of Star Trek fans if the show smashes canon, yet as the elder Spock himself often says, "There are always possibilities." One such possibility is that Captain Pike's USS Enterprise could somehow exit the timeline or creates a different branch. There may even be another far-out explanation in the making that could allow Strange New Worlds its own operating space that wouldn't trap it into known Star Trek canon while somehow still fulfilling what's meant to be. Indeed, it may be that Strange New Worlds is laying the groundwork to give Pike, Spock, and the others a different future or a variation of their known destinies. Of course, it's also quite likely that this speculation is moot and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is merely musing over other compelling possibilities but is still marching dutifully towards TOS' canon all the while.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams Thursdays on Paramount+.