Summary
Despite mixed audience opinions and a fate doomed by canon, I thinkStar Trek: Strange New Worldsshould continue the relationship between Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Science Officer Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck). Their romance started as Nurse Chapel’s crush on Spock, mirroring the unexplored feelings between the two officers inStar Trek: The Original Series.Although the Spock and Chapel pairing hasn’t always been popular, their relationship should be exploredto discover how it can develop the characters individually inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3.
Set before the events ofStar Trek: The Original Series, thecharacters inStar Trek: Strange New Worldshave a unique opportunity to set up their future counterparts. This helpedStrange New Worldsmake a name for itself by exploring recognizable characters and familiar narratives from bygoneStar Trekeras. I know Majel Barrett’s Christine Chapel is destined to be engaged to Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong), and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock engages in Vulcan romance traditions with T’Pring (Arlene Martel). Still, I thinkStrange New Worldsshould keep Spock and Chapel together for a little while longer.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Will Be “Our Best Season So Far”, Says Anson Mount
Anson Mount hypes Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, which he hints will take even bigger swings than the ambitious season 2 did.
Spock And Chapel’s Relationship Gives Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Sex Appeal
The Vulcan and Nurse give Strange New World a steady romantic subplot
Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas given most of its romantic subplots to the USS Enterprise’s Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), who has been romantically involved with two separate characters inStrange New Worldsseasons 1 and 2.Captain Pike’s love interestsinclude one-episode guest star Minister Alora (Llindy Booth) and the recurring Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), but neither of them are fromStar Trek: The Original Series. Despite Pike’s occasional relationships, I thinkStrange New Worldsbenefits from a more stable romantic subplotthrough Christine and Spock’s connection.
I thinkStrange New Worldsshould see Spock and Chapel’s relationship through for a season or two to give these characters room to grow.
ThroughoutStrange New Worlds' first season, there’s definitely will they or won’t they tension between the Vulcan Science Officer and Medbay’s lead nurse. However,Strange New Worldsseason 2 takesSpock and Chapel to the next levelby making them more or less an officialStar Trekcouple. Although Christine is hesitant about commitment because of her desire to accept an archeological medicine fellowship,Spock defies his Vulcan commitments and explores his distinctly human feelingsfor the nurse. I thinkStrange New Worldsshould see Spock and Chapel’s relationship through for a season or two to give these characters room to grow together—and, eventually, apart.
Spock Is In Love In Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 2, But Not With T’Pring
Spock has “no words” about how he feels about Nurse Chapel in Strange New Worlds' season 2 premiere, but the word he’s looking for is “love.”
Strange New Worlds' Romance Lets Chapel And Spock Shine Individually
Their romance provides context for their individual development
Lt. Spock and Nurse Chapel’s relationship mainly explores their growing feelings for each other, buttheir connection also allows for the individual development of their characters. Due to her connection to Spock, Christine is depicted outside of performing her duties as the ship’s head nurse. We see heartbreaking flashbacks of Chapel and Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), whofought in the Klingon War. Spock showcases his human side thanks to his relationship with the nurse, and we get to see his sense of humor shine through his usually stoic Vulcan facade.
I hope Spock and Chapel have more time together so we can see them flourish together and separately.
The time-travelingEnsign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) shares blamefor the breakup between Lt. Spock and Nurse Chapel inStrange New Worldsseason 2, though Christine is partly responsible because she accepted a fellowship with Dr. Roger Korby, who will become her fiancé if the show followsStar Trek: The Original Seriescanon. However,Strange New Worldsseason 2’s finale hinted at a rekindling of their romancein the highly anticipatedStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3, and I hope Spock and Chapel have more time together so we can see them flourish together and separately thanks to their unorthodox but fascinating relationship.
