Can Star Trek: Strange New Worlds make Sybok matter?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has a large task remaking Sybok.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ended on a major season two hint, suggesting that Spock’s more emotionally unstable brother Sybok will be making his official debut in the series. We saw him for a brief moment as season one came to a close, looking out at an alien landscape, ominous and foreboding. Yet, that was all.

So it’s now looking very much like the man who would go on to be the main villain of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier will get a second shot at making a first impression by appearing in the prequel series, Strange New Worlds.

His arrival will likely put Spock on edge, and shake up the status quo of the show going forward, at least for the season, but will his arrival be able to retroactively redeem the film as well? I mean probably not, but can it redeem Sybok in the film?

Can Star Trek: Strange New Worlds make Sybok a more interesting character?

Making Sybock and in turn, Star Trek V better retroactively is a huge task. Showing the beginning of Sybok’s unorthodox descent into his religious fanaticism would be a great start for making his turn in The Final Frontier feel heavier upon repeat viewings.

Maybe put a bit of lore into the show that helps build up the concepts, themes, and eventual ideas explored in the film. While on the topic, maybe the show can do something about exploring some of the backstories of the alien con artist Sha Ka Ree. After all, Sybok had to hear about the alien from someone, so why not depict that in the show as well?

We’re not entirely sure what Star Trek is going to do with Sybok in Strange New Worlds, or if his appearance is going to be of any great significance. Yet, if it is, recontextualizing and redeveloping the character’s significance has to be tantamount.