Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home's Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) narrowly escaped the fate Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) met in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Star Trek IV and Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" are among Star Trek's best and most memorable time travel stories. But while Star Trek IV was a joyous and uplifting success for Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew, Strange New Worlds' "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" was a tragedy for Captain Kirk and Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong).
In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Admiral Kirk took an insane gamble and time traveled to 1986 San Francisco when an enormous probe threatened to destroy 23rd-century Earth. Kirk's mission was to find two humpback whales and bring them back to the future in the hopes that the whales could speak to and stop the probe. Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and the former crew of the USS Enterprise were true fish out of water in 20th-century San Francisco as they split up to fulfill different objectives so they could make the return trip to the 23rd century.
Chekov Almost Died In 1986 San Francisco In Star Trek IV
Thankfully, Chekov was rescued by Captain Kirk and his friends.
Pavel Chekov nearly met his end in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. After the Russian Starfleet Officer conspicuously asked passersby on the streets of San Francisco where he could find "nuclear wessels," Chekov and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) fittingly locate the USS Enterprise. In this case, the Enterprise was a 20th-century US Navy aircraft carrier. Chekov and Uhura beamed aboard to take enough nuclear material to power Admiral Kirk's stolen Klingon Bird-of-Prey. When they were spotted, Uhura safely beamed away, but Chekov was seriously injured in a fall while trying to escape the Navy's security.
Chekov made it back to the 23rd century with his crew.
Chekov could have died in 1986 San Francisco, which would have been disastrous. After all, Pavel is from 300 years in the future, with no identification. Luckily, Admiral Kirk, Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Dr. Gillian Taylor (Catherine Hicks) infiltrated the hospital where Chekov was admitted, and they successfully mounted a rescue. Chekov made it back to the 23rd century with his crew, Gillian, and her humpback whales safe and sound. No member of Admiral Kirk's crew perished and was left behind in the 20th century.
Captain Kirk Died In 21st Century Toronto In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
La'an watched Kirk die.
Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" wasn't as fortunate as Chekov in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Kirk was from an alternate timeline, and he joined Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh on her mission to course-correct reality back to Star Trek's Prime timeline. La'an and Kirk found themselves in 21st-century Toronto trying to stop a Romulan time agent named Sera (Adelaide Kane) from altering the course of time. During this mission, La'an and Kirk fell in love.
Kirk was Captain of the United Earth Fleet Enterprise in his alternate timeline.
Tragically, when Sera revealed herself as the villain to James and La'an, the Romulan shot Kirk, who died from his wound. La'an was able to stop Sera from her plot to murder the young Khan Noonien-Singh (Desmond Sivan), but she couldn't save Kirk. La'an still mourns James, even after meeting and befriending his Prime Universe counterpart, Lt. James T. Kirk. What happened to Captain Kirk's body after La'an restored the proper Prime Timeline isn't clear, as James was a John Doe with no identification. Captain Kirk was ultimately a sacrifice to save time itself in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but no sacrifice by Chekov was necessary to save Earth in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
