Without Star Trek: Discovery, there would be no Star Trek: Strange New Worlds now

Even though it ended this year, Star Trek: Discovery remains one of the most contenious shows among Star Trek fans and probably will for years to come. Some fans saw it as too dark while others saw it as trying too hard to be Trek. And the list of reasons that folks hate it goes on and on, but there is one inescapable reason why Discovery should be applauded. Because of this series, we now have Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Captain Pike [Anson Mount] was introduced in the second season of Discovery as the interim captain and with him came the mystery of Spock's [Ethan Peck] supposed killing of several people while inside a medical facility. When Spock was finally brought aboard Discovery, the chemistry between him and Captain Pike was umistakeable. Even the brief interaction we saw with Pike and his Number One [Rebecca Romijn] clearly showed a connection that would prove to be continued in Strange New Worlds. Add in the Enterprise, and you have the makings for a brand new series that would follow Captain Pike and his crew as they "go where noone has gone before."

Would we have Strange New Worlds without Discovery? We may have gotten something similar eventually, but perhaps not with these actors. That is one of the reasons that makes the series so successful, and it was Discovery fans that began the cry for a spin-off. They saw something in Pike's leadership abilities and Spock's dedication to both Starfleet and his crew.

There will always be fans who disliked the connection Discovery made between Captain Burnham [Sonequa Martin-Green] and Spock. Connecting her as his adopted sister wasn't welcomed, and many fans feel it violates canon; however, one thing you can't argue with and that's how much Strange New Worlds is liked among fans. And had Pike not beamed aboard Discovery, we might not have the Enterprise crew we have now on Strange New Worlds.