Yes, Doug is coming back for "more episodes" of SNW.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3’s “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans” is a very funny and vastly underrated episode that primarily dealt with the hilarious consequences of temporarily transforming Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), La’an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong), Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) into Vulcans.
However, the episode also introduced fans to Patton Oswalt’s memorable character Doug, and the actor has officially revealed that the lovable Vulcan spiritualist will return to SNW before the series concludes with its fifth and final season. Oswalt casually revealed the news while discussing his character on an episode of the Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend podcast, in which the actor and comedian said (per the Team Coco YouTube channel): “You know what, I’m doing some more episodes.”
Most of Doug’s time spent on the USS Enterprise involved learning more about human behavior from Mr. Spock (Ethan Peck). In order to transform his new Vulcan crewmates back into humans, Spock needed the assistance of someone who was a master of Vulcan katras, aka the soul or living spirit. Doug agrees to help Spock, who graciously shares more about the human condition in return, which includes a hilarious high-five exchange between the two characters, among other funny teachable moments.
I also loved how Oswalt’s Vulcan character and Number One/Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) shared such an uncomfortable yet explosive sexual chemistry that effectively rendered both of them powerless around each other, which Una fought tooth and nail throughout the episode.
So, it was a wonderful payoff — after all the awkward moments Doug and Una endured in “Four-and-a-Half-Vulcans” — to witness the first officer of the Enterprise finally caving in and going out on a date with her ex, Doug, to revisit and perhaps rekindle their love at the episode’s conclusion.
Given that Oswalt has revealed he will return in “some more episodes,” I hope there will be plenty more interactions between Doug, Una, and Spock, as well as other members of the crew, whom he didn't have the changce to meet in "Four-and-a-Half" Vulcans.
So, are you excited to see Patton Oswalt return as Doug in Strange New Worlds? Or are you among those who had problems with the season 3 episode “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans?” Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: SNW season 4 debuts Thursday, July 23, on Paramount+.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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