In only two seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Anson Mount has turned Captain Christopher Pike into one of Star Trek's most beloved captains, repairing any problems with Jeffrey Hunter's original Captain Pike. When Gene Roddenberry was conceptualizing Star Trek: The Original Series, the story revolved around Captain Pike and his Enterprise crew. Finding an actor to portray Pike was one of Roddenberry's most difficult tasks, but Jeffrey Hunter eventually landed the role. However, after NBC rejected the show's first pilot, "The Cage," Jeffrey Hunter left Star Trek's production.
Star Trek fans first met Pike in TOS season 1, episodes 11 & 12, "The Menagerie," after the former Enterprise captain had suffered his devastating accident. Captain Pike then became a footnote in Star Trek history, until Star Trek: Discovery season 2 reintroduced Anson Mount as a new and improved Christoper Pike. Fans took an instant liking to Mount's portrayal of Pike, which eventually convinced Paramount to give him his own series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Strange New Worlds has become an ensemble show that showcases the entire Enterprise crew, but Captain Pike has already joined the ranks of Trek's best captains.
Anson Mount Fixed Star Trek’s Problem With Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike
Mount's Pike Is Instantly More Likable Than Hunter's Ever Was
After a screening of "The Cage," NBC famously rejected the Star Trek pilot, claiming that it was "too cerebral" for audiences of the time. The studio was unhappy with many of the casting choices, finding Jeffrey Hunter's take on Captain Pike to be overly serious. When NBC made the unprecedented decision to order a second pilot, Hunter left the production, leaving Roddenberry and his team to find another captain. Still, Captain Pike became a part of Star Trek canon, giving modern Trek the chance to further develop the character.
Anson Mount's Captain Pike retains Hunter's thoughtfulness but is less temperamental and more personable. The Pike of Strange New Worlds treats his crew like family, hosting dinners in his personal quarters, something it's hard to imagine Hunter's Pike doing. Anson Mount's Pike has the same attractive leading man qualities as Hunter but is more charismatic and likable. Strange New Worlds has provided more insight into Pike, and Mount has truly made the role his own, bringing a compelling and dynamic energy to the character.
Captain Pike Is A Star Trek Throwback Who Is Also Modern
Pike Is The Perfect Male Hero For Modern Television
Captain Pike feels like a classic Star Trek captain in many ways, but he's far more sentimental than previous Star Trek captains were allowed to be. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) may have had very different command styles, but they both devoted themselves to their careers at the expense of personal relationships. Picard, in particular, always kept himself at a distance from his crew. Pike, on the other hand, remains open, treating his crew members like equals and inviting them to challenge him with their own ideas.
Pike has also managed to maintain a steady and healthy relationship — with Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) — a feat few Star Trek captains have managed.
Captain Pike is romantic in every sense of the word. He has all the positive attributes of a classic male hero without the arrogance and remoteness often associated with those kinds of characters. Perhaps most importantly, Pike is a good man, which feels like a breath of fresh air in a television landscape full of bitter antiheroes. Even knowing his eventual fate, Pike remains a beacon of hope, and his dynamic with his crew makes Star Trek: Strange New Worlds one of the franchise's most enjoyable shows.
