One of the most interesting and terrifying additionsStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas made toStar Trekcanon is elevating the Gorn from a minor hostile species to an existential threat to the Federation itself. When the Gorn were introduced in theStar Trek: The Original Seriesepisode “Arena,” they were superiorly large and strong lizard creatures who took issue with Federation incursions into their space, but they were not yet horrifying. ButStrange New Worldshas revealed that the Gorn incubate their young within the flesh of other species.
Bythe ending of season 2 ofStrange New Worlds, Captain Pike (Anson Mount) brought theEnterpriseto the verge of war with the Gorn. Orbiting Parnassus Beta, Captain Pike ignored Starfleet orders to not engage with the Gorn to rescue stranded Starfleet crewmen on the surface. But that rescue had mixed results:several members of theEnterprise Crewand inhabitants of Parnassus Beta were kidnapped by the Gorn.While this leaves theEnterprisein a tight situation forseason 3 ofStrange New Worlds, the details of the captured crewmen mean things aren’t quite as dire as they seem.
The Gorn Kidnapped The Wrong Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Characters
These Crewmen Can Fight Back
The captured members of theEnterprise’s crew are some of the most capable people in Starfleet to survive the Gorn. Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia), andLt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte)are all immenently capable of facing the Gorn, andif anyone can survive captivity, it’s them. Whereas most of the crew ofEnterprisewere only introduced to the Gorn in season 1 ofStrange New Worldsand haven’t seen much combat, these 4 are prepared.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Will Have Many Different Genres & Surprises, Teases Composer
EXCLUSIVE: Season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will span many different genres, and include a few surprises, according to the show’s composer.
For one, Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh literally grew up with the Gorn. She is also aveteran of the Klingon War, along with Dr. M’Benga and Lt. Ortegas.That practical combat experience will give them an edge,whether in a trial-by-combat situation like Captain Kirk (William Shatner) faced in “Arena” or fending off Gorn juveniles. Dr. M’Benga, in particular, is a fierce fighter, as shown in season 2 episode 1, “The Broken Circle.” In some ways,Dr. M’Benga’s fighting force breaksStar Trek’s rules about doctors fighting, but his skill could very well be the deciding factor in saving the crew.
Sam Kirk May Be The Weak Link Against The Gorn
Or Maybe He’ll Surprise Us
Lieutenant Sam Kirk, however, is a xenoanthropologist, not a fighter. On the surface, this makes him seem like the weak link in whatever challenges the crew will face among the Gorn. Indeed,Lt. Kirk has thus far seemed more likely to faint than to fight.Skills that the rest of this crew has, like combat experience or previous experience with the Gorn, are not skills that Lt. Kirk shares. Nevertheless, there may be more to Lt. Kirk than meets the eye, and his captivity among the Gorn may be his chance to shine.
We don’t know much about Starfleet’s training for its xenoanthropologists, but Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is a xenoanthropologist, and she certainly has some combat training.
The Original Seriesalready showed Lt. Kirk’s death in “Operation - Annihilate!”, seven years after the events ofStrange New Worlds. At least we know he’ll survive. But more than just surviving,Lt. Kirk’s skill as a xenoanthropologist may actually make him the most qualified person to connect with the Gorn.Remember, Captain Pike has led theEnterpriseto the brink of war with the Gorn at Parnassus Beta. While it is by no means guaranteed, Lt. Kirk’s skills at relating to other species may very well be the key to peace inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3.
