There’s been a lot of Star Trek on streaming services lately. New Discovery, Lower Decks and Prodigy are on the way, and Picard‘s third season recently wrapped up. In addition to all that, fans are soon to be treated to a second season of the well-received Strange New Worlds, coming this June. A recent trailer has thrown up some surprising glimpses of things to come.
One of the main things that has got fans talking is the presence of James T. Kirk. Kirk made his Strange New Worlds debut in the season 1 finale, and looks set to have a larger role in the second season. In the trailer, Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) beams aboard the Enterprise. From the lingering looks they give each other, it seems as though sparks may fly between Kirk and regular crew member La’an. We also get a scene of the usually cool-headed Kirk being baffled by the concept of a revolving door in what appears to be a case of time travel to modern-day Earth.
Fans are also excited to see that the trailer offers the first proper look at season 2’s new cast member — Chief Engineer Pelia — played by veteran actress Carol Kane. Pelia has been described as a “highly educated and intelligent” officer who “suffers no fools.” The shock exit of original Chief Engineer Hemmer left a void in the show for many viewers, but Pelia is shaping up to be an intriguing new addition who may fill that void.
Klingons and more
Another big feature of the trailer is the presence of Klingons – who many fans will be elated to see look very much like they did in The Next Generation, instead of the controversial redesign introduced in Discovery. Spock appears to be indulging his human side with some alcohol-fuelled diplomacy, much to the delight of his Klingon counterparts. A classic Klingon Bird of Prey also makes a menacing appearance.
That covers all the big reveals, but there are plenty of fascinating glimpses of future plots. In one, fan favorite Uhura seems to potentially survive a shuttle crash, apparently on Earth – though it seems eerily similar to the shuttle crash that led to the death of her parents, as described in the first season.
It also looks like Spock and Chapel’s complicated one-sided romance — established so well in the first season — is set to continue, with the characters continuing to build toward the tragic dynamic they had in The Original Series.
And finally, Spock is getting a shot at command, taking over the captain’s chair in Pike’s absence… though his catchphrase might need work.
Strange New Worlds will release on Paramount Plus on June 15.