The romance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds which has proven to be controversial among fans is actually an established canon event from the 1960s. When the spin-off series of Star Trek: Discovery was revealed to be a prequel to the beloved 1960s era of Star Trek, many people were skeptical about the show's ability to capture the essence of Star Trek: The Original Series characters. However, Strange New Worlds quickly became a hit thanks to the portrayal of legacy Star Trek characters like Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Spock (Ethan Peck), Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush).
A romance between the younger versions of Lieutenant Spock and Nurse Chapel was introduced fairly early in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and the pairing received mixed reviews. Seeing a softer side of Spock was endearing to some, but others claimed it was out of character. Nurse Chapel's romantic feelings for the Vulcan, which came under fire for being oddly placed in the show's narrative, are further complicated by Spock's engagement to T'Pring (Gia Sandhu). However, Spock and Christine's romance isn't a new one – in fact, it's been around ever since the Star Trek timeline was established.
Spock & Nurse Chapel Have Been Linked Since Star Trek: The Original Series
Nurse Chapel's feelings for Spock have been canon since the 1960s
Nurse Christine Chapel's feelings for Spock aren't at all new, and neither is the romantic tension between the characters. In Star Trek: The Original Series, Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) was infatuated with Starship Enterprise's Vulcan Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy). When Spock was affected by the Vulcan blood fever pon farr, Chapel doted after the Vulcan and prepared plomeek soup, a traditional Vulcan dish. Chapel insisted that Spock use her first name, but he only did it a few times – including after the nurse was coerced into confessing her love for the Vulcan in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Naked Time."
Although Star Trek breaks established canon occasionally, Christine Chapel and Spock share a storied romantic history. Spock quickly rejected Chapel's confession of love for him, but he still showed a sign of affection by addressing her as "Christine." Additionally, several members of the crew, including Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), openly referenced the nurse's feelings for the Vulcan Science Officer throughout the series. Spock and Chapel even shared a kiss, albeit under the influence of the Platonians, cementing their romance as part of Star Trek canon.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Will Continue Setting Up TOS Canon
Dr. Roger Korby will appear in season 3 and bring more TOS canon events for Spock and Chapel
By Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's end, Spock and Chapel's breakup is well underway. After Christine accepts a three-month fellowship in archaeological medicine and refrains from telling Spock, their relationship quickly falls apart. This fellowship will be with Dr. Roger Korby, who will one day be Nurse Chapel's fiance. Cillian O'Sullivan will portray the doctor in Strange New Worlds season 3. Dr. Korby's arrival means that Star Trek's original canon is still being closely followed by the prequel series, which is on track to set up Nurse Chapel's continued feelings for Spock after her fiance's tragic disappearance.
Chapel broke up with Spock through her song, "I'm Ready," in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' musical episode, "Subspace Rhapsody."
Star Trek has recently rewritten canon a few times – with the Gorn, for example – but has remained canon-compliant with the romance between Spock and Chapel. The pairing might not be a widely loved fan favorite, but it nonetheless works to set up an otherwise confusing romance in Star Trek: The Original Series. Introducing Dr. Korby furthers the show's endeavor to remain as close to canon as possible while allowing for a love triangle. Without the backstory that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is giving them, Spock and Chapel's future canon romantic plot wouldn't make sense.
