Spock and Chapel still have a strong connection in Star Trek: The Animated Series

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds established a romance between Mr. Spock and Nurse Chapel, making the connection between the pair make even more sense on episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series

Though Mr. Spock and Nurse Chapel’s romance may be coming to an end on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: The Animated Series, in the third episode of the first season, makes it clear that the two share an unbreakable bond. The episode “The Lorelai Signal” has Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and another crewmember stranded on a planet controlled by immortal women who feed off the energy of men.

Having been lured to the planet by a signal sounding much like a siren’s song, the captain and his crew fall prey to the women’s need, leaving Lt. Uhura to take over command of the ship to perpetuate a rescue. On the planet, though, Lt. Uhura and her team, including Nurse Chapel, are unable to locate the crew on their own. But Spock, even in a weakened state, manages to reach out to Nurse Chapel with his mind, eventually callling her “Christine.” Nurse Chapel hears the call, and Spock is saved.

Star Trek: The Animated Series didn’t offer much of a connection between Spock and Nurse Chapel

But this small moment solidifies the connection the couple have built in Strange New Worlds. It makes sense that Spock would reach out to Christine Chapel over anyone else. They have a bond that begins in Strange New Worlds and continues, though underutilized in Star Trek: The Original Series. Of course, the writers of The Original Series didn’t know at that time there would be a future for the Vulcan and the nurse, and the series wasn’t about romance as much as it was about adventure and exploration.

Strange New Worlds has taken an unrequited love story and created a unique romance that, though it won’t last, will have lasting effects well into Captain Kirk’s command of the Enterprise.