How Captain Pike will change in S2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds wrapped its first season all too quickly. 

A hit with fans, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds garnered a second season immediately and flew through its first season with a finale that showed Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) what would happen if he were to choose to change his fate. With a little help from an older version of himself in the future, Pike heads to an alternate timeline where he discovers that his life can be spared at the expense of someone he holds dear…Mr. Spock. That knowledge makes up Pike’s mind about his future. He won’t try to change, and he accepts that it is what is ahead for him.

In an interview with Esquire, Anson Mount confirms that Pike will be resolute from this point forward. He understands there’s no way out from the future that awaits him, and, in some ways, it’s a relief. He doesn’t have to try to change his fate anymore. He has all the answers he needs, and that will guide him in the days ahead.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will return in 2023 for its second season.

Mount feels Pike will make the very best of the days ahead and make every day count. He believes there’s freedom in that, but that won’t stop fans from wanting the captain’s destiny to change.

"I would say he’s more resolute after the finale of Season One. He tried out the idea of having his cake and eating it too. It didn’t work, and strangely, when he realizes there’s no honorable way out, that’s a relief. The older Pike made it very clear: you still have a choice. But to somebody like Pike, it isn’t a choice. So this is a choice that almost makes itself, and it is a tremendous relief. He doesn’t have to worry about it anymore. His job now is to make every day count as much as possible. There’s a lot of freedom in that."

Strange New Worlds has already made some changes, but mostly in the characters’ past, like eliminating Dr. Roger Kirby from Nurse Christine Chapel’s life. (He could still show up.) But changing the future would be another thing altogether, and, if that were to happen, then Captain Pike would have to have another reason to resign his command of the Enterprise. Captain Kirk, after being promoted to Admiral, regretted his decision to do that, and I can’t see Strange New Worlds having a second captain make that choice.

If we’re fortunate, the series will get a seven-season run. But that will, most likely, lead up to the tragedy that essentially strips away Captain Pike’s life. But that’s seven years in the future. So, for now, we’ll take this ride along with Pike and try not to think about what lies ahead for him.