Star Trek: Strange New Worlds It wouldn’t have worked if the show hadn’t updated the character of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Anson Mount’s Captain Pike made his debut in Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, when he took command of the USS Discovery to investigate a series of mysterious red explosions. Mount’s take on Pike ended up being so appreciated that fans began clamoring for a spin-off following his adventures on the USS Enterprise. That’s why, Strange new worlds he was born.
The character Christopher Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter) debuted in 1966, in the only Star Trek: The Original Series two-part episode, “The Menagerie”. Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike was originally intended to be Star Trek protagonist, but NBC passed on the show’s original pilot, “The Cage.” Pike joined Star Trek Canon as the captain of the Enterprise before Kirk, but his story remained largely untold until Strange New Worlds. However, while the show is a welcome addition to the saga, it wouldn’t have worked with the original version of the character for one important reason.
Strange New Worlds wouldn’t have worked with Star Trek’s original version of Captain Pike
Jeffrey Hunter’s Captain Pike Feels Out of Date
Jeffrey Hunter’s take on Captain Pike was temperamentally different from Anson Mount’s and would not have worked as well with the tone of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Hunter’s Pike was intense and austere, never letting his guard down in front of his crew. Pike from “The Cage” doesn’t seem like the kind of captain who would host dinner parties to his crew in their personal quarters. Anson Mount’s Pike, on the other hand, is likable from his first appearance and comes across as open, honest and personable.
On Strange New Worlds, Captain Pike treats his crew like family and is always willing to listen to everything they have to say. When strange occurrences happen on the Enterprise, such as when the crew suddenly starts singing, Pike moves on, while ensuring your ship and crew are safe. It’s hard to imagine Jeffrey Hunter’s Pike joking with his crew, let alone singing with them. Strange new worlds became one of the modern Star Trek most beloved shows, and it simply wouldn’t have worked as well without this updated, emotionally available version of Captain Pike.
Strange New Worlds’ Captain Pike Is Actually Closer to Kirk
Pike clearly loves being a starship captain as much as Kirk does
Although Captain Pike has a decidedly different command style than Captain Kirk, the two also have a lot in common. They both have a certain sparkle in their eyes that signifies how much they love being captains of the Enterprise. Pike and Kirk know that a starship’s greatest strength is its crew, but Pike is a little more collaborative than Kirk and Kirk is more willing to take risks. Still, both men were obviously meant to be starship captains. Not only do they both excel at their jobs, but they also have a lot of fun doing it most of the time.
After “The Cage” was shown to NBC studio executives, some complained that it was “very cerebral”, then Gene Roddenberry livened up the show with the more dynamic Captain Kirk. This clearly proved to be a success and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stuck to the same basic formula. When doing Pike is a more dynamic character and a little more like Kirk, Strange new worlds balances out its more serious stories. Anson Mount’s Pike can be contemplative and serious in times of crisis, but he also takes the time to recognize how strange and fun life on a starship can be.
How Many Strange New Worlds Really Rewrite Star Trek’s Original Captain Pike
Anson Mount’s updated version of Pike is perfect for the modern era
Jeffrey Hunter was a great actor, but his Pike doesn’t convey the bright, hopeful energy that Mount’s Pike does. Yet, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds did not completely rewrite the character of Captain Pike, keeping much of his basic story the same. Pike is still destined for a tragic future after a terrible accident leaves him disfigured and paralyzed. Even though he knows that this destiny awaits him, Anson Mount’s Pike maintains hope and stays strong for his crew. The fact that Pike has prior knowledge of his future redefines the character, making him even more of a tragic hero.
“The Cage” only offered a brief glimpse into Pike’s character, and he clearly wasn’t at his best. He was still struggling with the ramifications of a previous mission and was even considering leaving the Enterprise. Since “The Cage” caught Pike on a bad day, so to speak, Anson Mount and the creators of Strange new worlds had a little freedom when developing his character’s personality. In a way, Pike’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds still looks like the same character from “The Cage,” but Anson Mount has updated him to be a hero perfect for the modern era.
- Release date
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May 5, 2022
- Seasons
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2