Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) changed a lot between the end ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2 and the start ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.Captain Pike was re-introduced inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, along with Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), and Number One (Rebecca Romijn). The Starship Enterprise trio proved to be so popular,Star Trekfans clamored for Pike, Spock, and Number One to get their own spinoff.This resulted inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, which premiered in 2022 and has become the flagshipStar Trekseries on Paramount+.
Star Trek: The Original Series' two-parter, “The Menagerie,” establishes that Fleet Captain Christopher Pike (Sean Kenney) is horribly disfigured by delta rays and confined to a mechanical wheelchair. Pike’s injuries occur as he saves several Starfleet cadets.Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 12, “Through the Valley of Shadows” added an unexpected twist:Captain Pike learns of his dark futurefrom a Klingon time crystal on the planet Boreth. Chris carries the burden of his future throughout the rest ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2 and into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. ButPike doesn’t handle the knowledge of what’s in store for him well.
Strange New Worlds Season 2 Cast Guide — Every New & Returning Star Trek Character
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' cast of USS Enterprise legends grows in season 2, including the additions of Scotty and Lt. James T. Kirk.
Captain Pike Is Different In Strange New Worlds From How Star Trek: Discovery Ended
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2 endedwith the USS Discovery vanishing into the 32nd century, and the focus shifts to Captain Pike, Lt. Spock, Number One, and Commander Ash Tyler (Shazad Lafif) answering to Starfleet about Discovery’s disappearance. After safeguarding the truth about Discovery, Captain Pike returns to the USS Enterprise, as does Spock, who dons his Starfleet uniform and resumes his post as Science Officer. Ultimately,Captain Pike confidently launches his starship onto their next mission- and their future headlining their own spinoff,Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Pike’s condition in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is an about face from how Star Trek: Discovery left him.
However, whenStar Trek: Strange New Worldsbegins, Captain Pike is on shore leave at his home in Bear Creek, Montana with his girlfriend,Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano).Pike is a shell of his former self. Chris is scraggly and disheveled, and Pike is seriously contemplating retiring from Starfleet. It’s only because Admiral Robert April informs him that Number One has gone missing and needs rescuing that Pike decides to return as Captain of the Enterprise. But Pike’s condition inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsis an about-face from howStar Trek: Discoveryleft him.
What Happened In Between Star Trek: Discovery & Strange New Worlds?
Pike’s future knowledge became a burden to him
Captain Pike’s behavior inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 1 holds the answer to what happened betweenStar Trek: Discovery’s season 2 ending and his own spinoff beginning. ThroughoutStrange New Worldsseason 1,Pike struggled to reconcile the tragedy awaiting him.Chris does confide in Spock and Number One, and Pike researches the young people he will save in the future. Pike learns inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 1 finalethat he can’t alter his destiny, which would have tragic consequences for the galaxy and would transfer his fate to Spock.
Admiral Pike from an alternate future timeline mired in a forever war with the Romulans showed Captain Pike why he can’t change his future.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldspicks up in 2059, months afterStar Trek: Discoveryended in 2258. During that period,Captain Pike was emotionally debilitated by his future knowledge, and it eroded his ability to command the USS Enterprise. When the Enterprise docked into Starbase One for repairs and upgrades, Pike took the opportunity to take shore leave, with his mind on not returning. After all, leaving Starfleet would mean avoiding his destiny. But Captain Pike has since learned inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsthat he can’t fight fate.
