Number One’s (Rebecca Romijn) backstory onStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseems partly inspired by a backstory conceived by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry 60 years ago. Majel was the original actor to portray Number One inStar Trek’s 1964 pilot, “The Cage,” which was rejected by NBC.Number One was the First Officer of the USS Enterprisecommanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), and she was cool, logical, and emotionless - traits that would be given to Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) when Gene Roddenberry revamped “The Cage” intoStar Trek: The Original Series.
60 years later,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsis essentially the show “The Cage” would have been, but updated for the 21st century. Number One is part ofStrange New Worlds' main cast and leadership triumvirate along with Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck).Strange New Worldsalso gave Number One her name - Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley- and revealed thatUna is an Illyrian, a species that practices genetic engineering, which is illegal in the United Federation of Planets. Una’s history bears a striking resemblance to the backstory Majel Barrett-Roddenberry created for Number One in 1964.
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry Partly Invented Number One’s Star Trek Backstory
It sounds very similar to Una’s history on Strange New Worlds
In Nana Visitor’s new book,Star Trek: Open A Channel: A Woman’s Trek, the actor who portrayed Major Kira Nerys onStar Trek: Deep Space Ninedelves into the history of Number One in Star Trek, which includes Majel Barrett-Roddenberry’s disappointment when NBC demanded Gene Roddenberry drop both Number One and Majel fromStar Trek.Visitor describes thebackstory Majel wrote for Number One to enrich her characterbeyond what was inStar Trek’s “The Cage,” and it amazingly hews closely to whatStar Trek: Strange New Worldsestablished for Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley. Read Nana’s quote below:
Majel even developed a backstory for her, which explained that she had been genetically engineered to have as much intelligence as possible and that she was called Number One not because she was the first officer but because she was the best her people had to offer.
It’s quite possible thatStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' executive producers and co-showrunnersAkiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myerswere aware of Majel’s Number One backstory and incorporated it into Rebecca Romjin’s Una, perhaps as a secret way to honor the original Number One actor. Another of Majel’s ideas for Number One was that her planet numbered people, butStar Trekhas long since established “Number One” as a nickname starship Captains give to their First Officers,which is likely inspired by Una’s excellence aboard the USS Enterprise.
Strange New Worlds Made Number One The Star Trek Character Majel Barett-Roddenberry Wanted To Play
Number One is crucial to Strange New Worlds
It’s no secret that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was crushed when NBC forced Gene Roddenberry to drop Number One and her fromStar Trek. Majel settled for portraying Nurse Christine Chapel, who is also now onStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, reconceived and played by Jess Bush. Majel is undoubtedly the First Lady ofStar Trek,and she has voiced Starfleet’s computers in manyStar Trekseries, as well as embodied the effervescentLwaxana Troi onStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. ButNumber One was the character that got awayfrom Majel because NBC and audiences weren’t ready for her in the 1960s.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 - Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 ended with an epic cliffhanger and here’s everything known about when it will be resolved in season 3.
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry passed away in 2008, and, tragically, she never got to seeRebecca Romijn as Number OneonStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley is the character Majel hoped for- Una is cool and authoritative, but she is also kind, has a keen sense of fun, and has the strength of her convictions. Number One’s genetically engineered physical strength is exceeded by her heart and desire to be the best First Officer in Starfleet. Further, Una is a good friend who has earned the loyalty of her crew on the Starship Enterprise. Number One inStar Trek: Strange New Worldswould make Majel Barrett-Roddenberry proud.
Source: Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek by Nana Visitor
