I’m Shocked At How Strange New Worlds Season 3’s Premiere Was Scotty’s Real Star Trek Origin

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 3 premiere offered a surprising look at the earliest days of Lt. Montgomery Scott's (Martin Quinn) time on the Starship Enterprise. By the time of Star Trek: The Original Series, Scotty (James Doohan) knows the Enterprise like the back of his hand, and he prides himself on his ability to solve almost any engineering problem.

Martin Quinn's Scotty made his debut in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 finale, "Hegemony," as the sole survivor of the Gorn attack on the USS Stardiver. Scotty's ingenuity saved him from the Gorn, as he rigged his shuttle to appear as a Gorn ship on the Gorn's sensors.

"Hegemony" ended with the USS Enterprise facing off against the Gorn and Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) facing a seemingly impossible choice. In the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premiere, "Hegemony, Part II," Pike relies on every member of his crew, including Scotty, to find a solution that saves everyone.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3’s Premiere Was Scotty’s Origin Story

Pelia Taught Scotty How To Be A Miracle Worker

Throughout Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 3 premiere, Scotty works with his former Starfleet professor and current USS Enterprise Chief Engineer, Commander Pelia (Carol Kane). Pelia chastizes Scotty for not recording a "work-in-progress log" while he was "jury-rigging" his makeshift Gorn cloaking device for his shuttle.

When Captain Pike checks on Scotty's progress, the future chief engineer starts to explain why he's having trouble. However, Pelia quickly interrupts to assure Pike that the device will be ready before the Enterprise crosses the Gorn Hegemony line, putting pressure on Scotty to find the solution.

Later, Pelia rushes into engineering, exclaiming that "The Gorn are here!" which prompts Scotty to throw caution to the wind and finish his device quickly. Realizing that Scotty works best under pressure, Pelia pushes him to take risks, molding Scotty into the "miracle worker" he will one day become.

Scotty protests when Captain Pike suggests turning the Enterprise into a stellar flare, and Pelia chastizes him for claiming the job is "nearly impossible." But, as always, Scotty makes it work, proving that Pelia and Pike's faith in him is well placed, and showing glimpses of his future as Enterprise Chief Engineer.

Scotty Is Very Different From Star Trek: The Original Series’ Chief Engineer

Still, Martin Quinn's Scotty Feels Like An Accurate Younger Version Of The TOS Engineer

Martin Quinn's young Scotty lacks the confidence and more boisterous attitude of the Chief Engineer from Star Trek: The Original Series. While he's brilliant and resourceful, Scotty also doubts himself and has a tendency to be overly cautious and avoid risk. The Scotty of TOS is much more confident in his own abilities and has developed a familiarity with the Enterprise and its capabilities.

In the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 premiere, Scotty had just lost his entire ship and crew to the Gorn. It makes sense that he would be more cautious at that point, but Pelia sees what a great engineer Scotty could be. It's clear Pelia was a major influence on Scotty and helped him become the Chief Engineer we know from Star Trek: The Original Series.