Anson Mount perfectly portrays Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, fixing one very outdated aspect of Jeffrey Hunter's original Captain Pike. Jeffrey Hunter's Pike was initially meant to be the leading man of Star Trek: The Original Series before being replaced by the more dynamic Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). In Star Trek's original pilot, "The Cage," Pike is captain of the Enterprise, and Leonard Nimoy's Spock is the only crew member who made the transition from "The Cage" to the rest of TOS.
Captain Pike made a brief appearance in the Star Trek: The Original Series two-parter, "The Menagerie," after suffering a horrific injury while saving a group of Starfleet cadets. This officially established that Pike had been captain of the Enterprise before Kirk, and set up several elements of Pike's story. Following his appearance in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Anson Mount's take on Captain Pike became popular enough to earn his own spin-off. Strange New Worlds has since become one of modern Star Trek's best shows, with a compelling cast of characters led by Mount's near-perfect leading man – with one character change typifying this success.
Captain Pike’s Attitude Towards Women In Strange New Worlds Is His Best Change From 1960s Star Trek
In "The Cage," a woman named J. M. Colt (Laurel Goodwin) acts as Captain Pike's personal yeoman. When Colt delivers a report to Pike on the bridge, he comments that he "can't get used to having a woman on the bridge." Realizing that his first officer, Number One (Majel Barrett), is in fact, a woman, Pike quickly adds, "No offense, Lieutenant. You're different, of course." Not only do these comments reflect a view that was already becoming outdated by the late 1960s, but they also make no sense in the context of Star Trek's 23rd-century utopian society.
Jeffrey Hunter's Pike felt undeniably like a product of the 1960s, but thankfully, his sexist attitude is not at all reflected in Anson Mount's take on the character. The Pike of Strange New Worlds surrounds himself with capable officers, many of whom happen to be women, and he treats all of his officers like family. The future world presented in Star Trek has no room for sexism (or any other kind of prejudice), and Captain Pike's attitude reflects that worldview. He listens to all of his officers, considering their ideas equally, regardless of their gender, age, or species.
Captain Pike Is A Romantic Leading Man In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Anson Mount's Pike Makes A Great Romantic Lead
Jeffrey Hunter's Captain Pike would not have worked nearly as well as Anson Mount's does as a romantic leading man. Captain Pike has all the qualities of a strong male lead, while also defying traditional gender roles in some ways. He's a strong leader, without being arrogant or demanding. He seeks advice and knowledge from those around him, commanding the Enterprise in a more collaborative way than some other Trek captains have. Pike is also a romantic, without the leering qualities Kirk could sometimes have on TOS.
In his Starfleet uniform and an apron, Captain Pike represents the perfect leading man.
Captain Pike clearly cares for and respects his romantic partner, Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), and he accepts that she is also an ambitious Starfleet captain. He is not at all threatened by her position in Starfleet, and he is the one who cooks whenever they are together. In his Starfleet uniform and an apron, Captain Pike represents the perfect leading man. Not only is Pike comfortable with who he is, but he's also comfortable being surrounded by strong, capable women. All of this only makes him more likable and attractive as a romantic lead in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
