THAT Shocking Star Trek: The Next Generation Cameo In Strange New Worlds Season 3 Episode 2 Explained

A familiar actor from Star Trek: The Next Generation makes a shocking voice cameo in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2. Directed by Jordan Canning and written by Kirstin Beyer and David Reed, "Wedding Bell Blues" is a comedic masterpiece guest starring Rhys Darby as Trelane from Star Trek: The Original Series.

Trelane was originally played by William Campbell in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1's "The Squire of Gothos." In Strange New Worlds' prequel timeframe, the 8,020-year-old cosmic trickster poses as a meddlesome wedding planner to marry Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush).

Trelane is never named in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - and it's possible the young space god doesn't choose to call himself "General Trelane, retired" until "The Squire of Gothos" - but Rhys Darby's hair and costume make him unmistakable. Also unmistakable is the surprise guest voice who plays Trelane's "dad."

John de Lancie’s Cameo In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Explained

Is He Playing Another Member Of The Q Continuum?

John de Lancie voices Trelane's father in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, "Wedding Bell Blues." Of course, de Lancie is best known for his 22 appearances as the omnipotent Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Picard.

Trelane's father appears as a non-corporeal energy entity to stop his son from killing the entire crew of the USS Enterprise. The ending of "Wedding Bell Blues" is a copy of how Trelane's parents stopped him from killing Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Squire of Gothos."

John de Lancie's guest spot as the voice of Trelane's father is also Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' nod to the long-discussed idea that Trelane and his race were members of the Q Continuum all along. Strange New Worlds doesn't confirm or deny this, and neither Trelane nor his father identify themselves as Q.

John de Lancie’s Strange New Worlds Cameo Made Star Trek History

For The First Time, John de Lancie Can Say, "Q Who?"

John de Lancie voicing Trelane's father in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 2, marks the first time the celebrated actor plays a character other than Q in Star Trek. Since 1987, de Lancie has played his omnipotent trickster exclusively. Strange New Worlds is also John's second Star Trek voice-over role after voicing Q in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1's "Veritas."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cannily didn't answer Trelane's long-held mysteries, but John de Lancie was a wonderful shout-out to fans of Q and Star Trek: The Next Generation.