Star Trek: Strange New Worlds repeated two great, groundbreaking character ideas that originated on Star Trek: The Next Generation. After being introduced in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Anson Mount's take on Captain Christopher Pike became so popular that he went on to lead his own spinoff series as Captain of the USS Enterprise. Set just before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds may take place about a century before Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the show nevertheless draws inspiration from the adventures of the USS Enterprise-D.
Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced the world to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew, who soon became just as popular as Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his Star Trek: The Original Series crew. From the blind Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) to Whoopi Goldberg's long-lived bartender, Guinan, TNG introduced diverse and compelling new characters who would shape the future of the Star Trek franchise. Strange New Worlds followed in TNG's footsteps, introducing its own blind engineer in Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak) and a Guinan-like figure in Commander Pelia (Carol Kane).
Star Trek: TNG & Strange New Worlds Both Had Blind Chief Engineers
The Enterprise-D Had Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge, While Pike's Enterprise Had Lt. Hemmer
Geordi La Forge did not begin Star Trek: The Next Generation as the USS Enterprise-D's Chief Engineer, but this was the role he ultimately became most known for. Born blind, Geordi wore a VISOR that allowed him to see "much of the EM spectrum," and he adapted to this form of vision throughout his life. Geordi became one of the best engineers in Starfleet and rarely met an engineering problem he couldn't solve. Geordi's blindness never slowed him down, and his VISOR often proved to be an asset both in engineering and on away missions.
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, Lt. Hemmer served as the Chief Engineer aboard the USS Enterprise, and his blindness never hampered him, either. As a member of a subspecies of Andorians known as the Aenar, Hemmer was also born blind, but his other senses were heightened, and he possessed telepathic abilities. Like Geordi, Hemmer was a brilliant engineer who helped save the Enterprise on numerous occasions. Tragically, Hemmer sacrificed himself to save his crew near the end of Strange New Worlds' first season, which led Commander Pelia to take over as Chief Engineer in Strange New Worlds season 2.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Created Its Own Version Of TNG’s Guinan
Commander Pelia Takes On Guinan's Role In Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 introduced Carol Kane's Commander Pelia as the new Chief Engineer of Captain Pike's Starship Enterprise. Pelia, however, has more in common with Star Trek: The Next Generation's enigmatic bartender, Guinan, than she does with any of Star Trek's engineers. While Pelia is undoubtedly a great engineer, she has also taken on the role of a wise advice giver thanks to her centuries of lived experiences. As a Lanthanite, Pelia has an extremely long life span, although she appears physically indistinguishable from a human.
Like Pelia, Guinan also has an extremely long life and appears human, but she's a member of the El-Aurian species. A close friend to Captain Picard, Guinan served as the bartender aboard the USS Enterprise-D, offering advice and wisdom to anyone who needed it. The El-Aurians are said to be a "race of listeners" who have a certain ability to sense alterations in the timeline or other disturbances in the space-time continuum. Both portrayed by accomplished and award-winning actresses, Guinan and Pelia always bring a level of sophistication (and fun) to their respective shows.
Why Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Killed Off Hemmer In Season 1
Tragically, Hemmer Was Doomed From The Start
In a 2022 interview with ScreenRant, Strange New Worlds executive producer Henry Alonso Myers said that Hemmer's death was meant to illustrate that not everyone is safe. The audience already knows that characters like Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) survive, but Hemmer's death proved that the stakes were still high. Myers also stated that the writers had no idea how popular Hemmer would become, but thankfully, his spirit lives on within Uhura. Hemmer became a mentor to Uhura, encouraging her to remain in Starfleet and ultimately helping her find her place on the Enterprise.
Commander Pelia Will Return In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
Pelia Has Been Confirmed As A Recurring Character In Season 3
