By: R.J. Melby

As season three of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” unfolds this year, it is easy to get lost in the mire. So far in the series, fans have seen the return and revamp of the monstrous Gorn, unique episodes like the musical “Subspace Rhapsody,” and the exploration of characters both old and new. Its episodic format (reminiscent of The Original Series) has received much praise from longtime fans.

With larger-than-life characters with almost 60 years of history behind them, it is imperative to note how well the writers, in collaboration with actors and actresses like Ethan Peck, Jess Bush and Celia Rose Gooding, expand upon established icons.

Captain Christopher Pike was originally introduced in the pilot for “The Original Series”, titled “The Cage.” The character was initially played by the blue-eyed Jeffrey Hunter (and later by Sean David Kenney when footage from the pilot was repurposed for the two-parter story, “The Menagerie”). In the beginning, Pike was depicted as a basic, bare-bones Western hero, much different from his suave replacement James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner). With only “The Cage” and “The Menagerie” to go off of, there is little to be gleaned for the character of Christopher Pike.

Anson Mount had his work cut out for him when he first portrayed Pike in “Star Trek: Discovery”. Needless to say, his first appearance in the episode “Brother” in the 2019 season two premiere must’ve been a welcome shock for many. “Discovery” showed Pike’s story carried on after “The Cage,” and fans were met with a sensitive captain with a certain paternal charm. He became a layered, believable individual audiences could sympathize with. Thus, Captain Christopher Pike went from a flat sci-fi hero to a dramatic cornerstone for the series.

With the premiere of “Strange New Worlds” in 2022, the character has been expanded further. The character was revealed to be a rounded cook, hosting dinners in his quarters. Even his command style transformed with the reintroduction, turning from a cold leader into a father figure for the crew of the Enterprise (and, surprisingly, a man with a damned-good singing voice, as revealed in “Subspace Rhapsody”).

As fans catch up with the third season, one can only imagine what awaits Christopher Pike.

“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and “Star Trek: Discovery” can be found on Paramount Plus.