Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is primed to answer one of the biggest mysteries from William Shatner's Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Although Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill), the older, Vulcan half-brother of Spock (Leonard Nimoy), was ostensibly Star Trek V's villain, Shatner's movie unveiled the film's true antagonist: a malevolent alien posing as God (George Murdock). Surprisingly, Strange New Worlds reintroduced Sybok to its pre-Star Trek: The Original Series era. Maybe Strange New Worlds can do the same for "God."
Sybok's quest in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier led him to hijack the USS Enterprise-A commanded by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Sybok needed Kirk's starship to transport him and his followers to Sha Ka Ree, a fabled planet at the center of the galaxy protected by the Great Barrier. Sybok believed Sha Ka Ree was the source of all creation, the equivalent of what humans call Eden, and that God himself resides there. But it was folly, and Sybok sacrificed himself to save Spock, Kirk, and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelly) from the vengeful "God."
How Strange New Worlds Can Answer Star Trek V’s Evil God Mystery
What Did God Do That He Was Imprisoned In Sha Ka Ree?
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has the opportunity to explain details that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier's rushed final act left hanging. In the 35 years since William Shatner's Star Trek movie was released in the summer of 1989, it has never been revealed what, exactly, "God" was, and why he was imprisoned on Sha Ka Ree. It's also unclear how long "God" has been imprisoned on the barren world encircled by the Great Barrier. Was it centuries? Eons? How old is this false "God" entity?
"God"'s powers evidently include changing his form, becoming and dispersing energy, and controlling the environment of Sha Ka Ree. Yet "God" needed a starship to escape the planet. The pseudo-divine entity told Sybok he needed to "merge" with the Enterprise, so perhaps he can also control machines, and this is why he urged Sybok to bring the ship "closer." Many questions, including "God's" true name and alien species, have been lingering since Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but Strange New Worlds can answer them.
Strange New Worlds Can Set Up Sybok’s Visions From God
Sybok Was Always A Believer
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 reintroducing Sybok was a shocker, and Spock's emotional sibling could be part of Strange New Worlds season 3 or 4. Strange New Worlds bringing in Sybok tacitly implies that his backstory will be explored in greater depth, just as the prequel established Sybok operates under the pseudonym Xaverius and married the space pirate Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel). Exploring Sybok's past should mean setting up Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, giving more context and details to what was only hinted at in William Shatner's movie.
Spock knew about his brother's mad quest to find Sha Ka Ree, either before or during the events of Strange New Worlds.
"God" told Sybok that the Vulcan was "the first" to find Sha Ka Ree (which was a myth Sybok himself apparently created). This implies "God" reached out to others to rescue him, but Sybok was the true believer who breached the Great Barrier. Dialogue between Spock and Sybok in Star Trek V also indicates Spock knew about his brother's mad quest to find Sha Ka Ree, either before or during the events of Strange New Worlds. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could reveal when Sybok told Sybok of his desire to find God, and flashbacks or other means could shed light on what, exactly, "God" was all along and how Sha Ka Ree became the pretender's prison.
