Khan Noonien Singh is at the very heart of what makes the must-listen Star Trek: Khan podcast so wonderfully nostalgic. However, while the majority of the nine-episode audio drama focuses its storytelling on the events which took place between the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Space Seed” (1967) and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), the log entries revealing what happened to Khan and his people on Ceti Alpha V — before the USS Reliant arrived — are being reviewed in the time period after James T. Kirk died in Star Trek Generations.
Specifically, Dr. Rosalind Lear is sifting through and reviewing all of the logs recorded primarily by Khan’s wife, Marla McGivers, which were recovered from Ceti Alpha V. Lear performs her work as a guest aboard the USS Excelsior, commanded by Captain Sulu as the Starfleet vessel orbits the famed Trek planet.
In edition to Sulu, Ensign Tuvok is included in the podcast, nostalgically referencing the time he served under the captain of the Excelsior from Star Trek: Voyager’s season 3 episode, “Flashback.” George Takei, who reprises his role as Sulu in the audio drama, discussed his commanding character and the Vulcan ensign Tuvok working together, while also comparing society to that of the Vulcans in a new interview. Takei said (via StarTrek.com):
"Tuvok is an unusual Vulcan. He's a member of Starfleet so he's one of the most brightest, most competent, with a great sense of responsibility and terrific Vulcan rationale. I occasionally see the human part of Tuvok appearing... like when he says that he feel[s] such and such about a situation. I catch that. It's, 'Oh, you're supposed to be Vulcan, and you're not quite behaving as Vulcans are supposed to.'"
Takei, who has portrayed the character of Sulu since Star Trek: The Original Series’ first season almost 60 years ago, also made a connection between society and the Vulcans during the same interview. Takei continued by saying:
"But in many ways, the rest of our society has a stereotype image of Vulcans. Vulcans are supposed to be humorless, and we accept that as who they are. We are not evolved. We can't see the possibility that Vulcans can also feel in this script."
Tim Russ reprises the role of Tuvok in the Star Trek: Khan podcast, but his character is much more fascinated by what Dr. Rosalind Lear is trying to accomplish than his blindsided captain.
However, Captain Sulu can't help but be blinded by the past. Unlike many of the characters in the audio drama, Sulu is the only one who sees Khan as solely being a madman and killer. Sulu's bias is justified, though, after encountering the vengeful leader of the Augments in The Wrath of Khan — and that meeting truly jaded Sulu's perspective. Fortunately, it didn't completely inhibit Sulu's judgement.
However, Tuvok’s ability to be "totally" logical about the Ceti Alpha V situation seems to have given him enough insight to deduce what he suspects might be the true identity of Dr. Lear, to say nothing of her actual intentions. No spoilers here, but it appears Lear is a SIGNIFICANT character from Khan's enduring story.
What do you think about Sulu and Tuvok being back together again on the Excelsior? How about the nostalgic nod to Star Trek: Voyager’s “Flashback” episode? Have you listened to the podcast yet? If not, you simply can’t miss out on what might be the best Star Trek content produced since the first two seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies!