Star Trek: The Original Series debuted Nurse Christine Chapel, who was portrayed by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. Chapel aided Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley), the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). While Chapel was a memorable supporting character, her role in Star Trek was limited, with the emphasis of 1960s-style television strictly on male space heroes Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy.
In Star Trek: The Original Series, Nurse Chapel is perhaps best known for her unrequited love for Spock. In Reimagining Chapel, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds retained and significantly expanded Christine's romantic arc with the Vulcan Science Officer. However, Jess Bush's electric charisma and versatility as an actor allows for Chapel to evolve in impressive ways, with far more agency, more daring, and more surprises than what was possible in 1960s Star Trek.
6Nurse Chapel Invented Starfleet’s Technology That Turns Humans Into Aliens
Chapel Is A Starfleet Innovator
Nurse Chapel's debut in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' series premiere quickly established that Christine is far more brilliant than previously known. Chapel developed the Starfleet technology that allows humans to be safely turned into aliens. Christine's tech allowed Captain Pike, Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), and Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) to be altered into Kiley 279 aliens so they could rescue Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn).
Chapel is brilliant at her work, and her abilities were recognized by being accepted into a prestigious fellowship to study archaeological medicine under Dr. Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan). Nurse Chapel doesn't become a doctor until Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which seems far too late considering Christine's talents and medical breakthroughs. However, Chapel's confidence issues may be what hold her back from becoming a doctor sooner.
5Nurse Chapel Has A Romantic Past Before Lt. Spock
Chapel Also Gets Engaged To Dr. Roger Korby
Nurse Chapel's romantic history is defined by two men, Spock and Dr. Roger Korby, but Christine has a healthy romantic past that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has slowly peeled back layers of. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 5, "Spock Amok," Christine was casually dating Lieutenant Dever (Graham Parkhurst), although she quickly dropped him when he wanted to get serious about their relationship. Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) also teased Christine about when she dated a woman.
Given Nurse Chapel's youth and attractiveness, it's logical that she is not a nun. Chapel had more romantic experiences than Spock when they were together, since the Vulcan was essentially engaged to T'Pring (Gia Sandhu) since they were matched as children. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 will reveal the extent of Chapel's romance with Dr. Roger Korby, although all of this will count as Nurse Chapel's romantic past in Star Trek: The Original Series.
4Nurse Chapel Can Fight
Chapel Is A Klingon War Veteran With Combat Experience
Female characters in Star Trek: The Original Series rarely saw combat, even Starfleet Officers. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Nurse Chapel is no damsel in distress. Chapel fought for the first time, taking out a space pirate attempting to hijack the USS Enterprise, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 7, "The Serene Squall." Two episodes later, Chapel's mettle was tested by an encounter with ravenous infant Gorn.
3Nurse Chapel Helped Dr. M'Benga Cover Up A Murder
Chapel Backed M'Benga's Story About What Happened To Ambassador Dak'Rah
Nurse Christine Chapel's loyalty to Dr. M'Benga included helping him cover up a murder on the Starship Enterprise. M'Benga and Chapel's trauma from the Klingon War resurfaced when the Starship Enterprise hosted Klingon Ambassador Dak'Rah (Robert Wisdom), who was known as a war criminal dubbed "The Butcher of J'Gol." M'Benga killed Dak'Rah in Sickbay and claimed self-defense after the Klingon attacked him unprovoked.
2Nurse Chapel Broke Up With Spock In Star Trek’s Musical Episode
Chapel's "I'm Ready" Asserted Her Independence But Broke Spock's Heart
Although it wasn't meant to last, Nurse Chapel breaking up with Lieutenant Spock was an eyebrow-raiser, just a few episodes after their romance became official in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. Spock and Chapel gave their relationship a go at the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, "Charades," after Chapel found the means to give a fully human Spock back his Vulcan DNA.
The seeds of doubt that Chapel and Spock would last as a couple were planted by Ensign Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid), who told Christine that books written about Spock in the future make no mention of her.
1Nurse Chapel Will Become A Vulcan In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
The USS Enterprise Crew Will Get Logical
Nurse Chapel is highly intelligent and driven by an innate curiosity, and this is amplified when she turns herself into a Vulcan in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. In a clip from Strange New Worlds season 3 released during San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Chapel surgically alters herself, Captain Pike, Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh into Vulcans to accomplish a mission that requires Vulcan logic and physical stamina. Hilariously, the half-Vulcan Lt. Spock feels inadequate because of his crewmates becoming fully Vulcan.
Jess Bush's Nurse Christine Chapel is a more complete character than Star Trek: The Original Series allowed Chapel to be, and Christine is continually evolving. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Christine is more social, formed supportive friendships with Ortegas, Uhura, and La'an, and is closer to Dr. M'Benga after their past ordeals in the Klingon War. I'm excited to see how Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 will find more ways for Nurse Chapel to surprise us.
