Captain Kirk's brother, Sam Kirk, was never a major player on Star Trek: The Original Series. The viewers didn't know much about him, and the first time we saw him, he was deceased. Now, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has brought him, played by Dan Jeannotte, aboard the Enterprise. And because his brother, Lt. Kirk, played by Paul Wesley, is part of the recurring cast, the two do share some scenes together. But should that be where it ends?
Star Trek fans are sticklers for keeping the series within the bounds of canon so, technically, Strange New Worlds has already bent that somewhat as there was never any mention of Sam having served aboard the Enterprise. On top of that, in The Original Series, according to the script notes in Operation Annihilate!, he was at least ten years older than James Kirk , and yet, he's a lower ranking lieutenant on Strange New Worlds. If you add in that fact that this Sam isn't married or has children, we have even more issues with the canon.
Apparently, the team behind The Original Series never saw a reason to bring Kirk's brother into the picture so they opted to leave him out. Strange New Worlds has brought him back, but for what purpose? Is he there simply to play off his brother when needed? Or is his role destined to become a bigger one?
One of my favorite writers at Screenrant, John Orquiola, has suggested that both Kirk brothers need to have an onscreen team-up where they share some action together. While it would be great to see the pair working together, if Sam doesn't have a major role, will Strange New Worlds write an episode that gives him such major screen time?
With the Strange New Worlds not being focused on James Kirk, I don't see it as likely that Sam will get much more time than he's already been given. Still, it's been good seeing the brothers together.