Strange New Worlds' Number One Story Revealed A Harsh Reality About Pike As A Star Trek Captain

A harsh reality about Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was exposed in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, but this trait also makes the Captain of the USS Enterprise admirable. Directed by Valerie Weiss and written by Dana Horgan, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera" dealt with the court-martial of Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) AKA Number One. Una was nearly drummed out of Starfleet and imprisoned for lying about being a genetically engineered Illyrian.

One of the best Star Trek courtroom episodes ever, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "Ad Astra Per Aspera" began with Captain Pike taking it upon himself to save Number One. Pike recruited Neera Ketoul (Yetude Badaki) as Una's defense counsel. Despite her reluctance after her childhood falling out with Una, Neera took on the United Federation of Planets' tribunal on Number One's behalf. Thanks to Neera, and Una's forthrightness on the stand, charges were dropped, and Number One resumed her post aboard the Starship Enterprise. Captain Pike's defiance of Starfleet and loyalty to Una helped make this happen.

After Strange New Worlds Season 2, Captain Pike's Two Most Trusted Officers Have Been Court Martialed

Spock & Number One Have Faced Starfleet Disciplinary Action

Remarkably, both of Captain Pike's most trusted senior officers, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck, Leonard Nimoy) are court-martialed and exonerated in Star Trek. Number One's harrowing ordeal in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," led to a victory that gave her credence in Starfleet as an Illyrian. By recruiting Neera Ketoul and taking a stand against his own girlfriend, and Una's prosecutor, Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), Captain Pike's dedication to saving Una resulted in Number One no longer needing to hide who she truly is.

In Star Trek: The Original Series' two-parter, "The Menagerie," Spock risked his Starfleet career and court-martial out of loyalty to Fleet Captain Pike (Sean Kenney), Spock hijacked the USS Enterprise to bring the gravely injured Pike to Talos IV, defying Starfleet's General Order 7 and inviting the death penalty. However, it was ultimately revealed that the hearing was an illusion created by the Talosians. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, however, Spock stood by Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) for his crimes against Starfleet that led to Kirk's demotion to Captain in command of the USS Enterprise-A.

Strange New Worlds Has Established Pike As One Of Star Trek's Most Rebellious Captains

Pike Does What's Right Whether Starfleet Likes It Or Not

Captain Pike lives up to his reputation as one of the greatest starship Captains of the 23rd century, but it's also true that Pike has a rebellious streak. The Captain of the Enterprise has and will defy Starfleet's orders if he believes there's a better course of action, or if Chris thinks the rule is unfair. Some examples include Pike hiding the truth about the USS Discovery after Star Trek: Discovery season 2, and breaking the Prime Directive on Kiley 279 in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' series premiere. Captain Pike is defined by doing what's right above blindly following orders.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 begins with Captain Pike finding a way out of a no-win situation with the Gorn. As seen in a preview clip from Strange New Worlds season 3's premiere, Pike chooses to follow Starfleet orders and retreat only after he and the USS Enterprise crew find a way to track the Gorn ship that kidnapped their friends, including Lt. La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) and Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia). Starfleet may not always like it, but Captain Pike will break ranks whenever he has to in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.