Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Has Already Spoiled What Happens To Pike’s Girlfriend, But I Don't Care

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds already spoiled the fate of Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) in season 3, but I don't care. After a two-year wait, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 finally premieres July 17 on Paramount+, and lucky New York City audiences will get to see the first episodes at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 14. Even before that happened, Paramount+ let the cat out of the bag about what happens to Batel after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's finale cliffhanger.

Captain Marie Batel was left at death's door at the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. Batel was infected with Gorn eggs on Parnassus Beta, and she only had hours to survive after Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) rescued Marie and brought his girlfriend aboard the USS Enterprise. As Captain Pike faces the Gorn's starships, Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) has to find a way to save Marie's life. Chapel's job is even more difficult because Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) was abducted by the Gorn.

I Don't Care That Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Spoiled Captain Batel Survives

Batel's Survival Has Been Made Clear By Paramount+

Captain Batel's survival was a cliffhanger for two years, but before Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's premiere, Paramount+ undercut Marie's outcome with the new season's promotional materials. First, Captain Batel received a Strange New Worlds season 3 character portrait, which is unusual if Batel is killed off. Paramount+ also touted Melanie Scrofano as a guest star in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, a hint that she would play Batel past the premiere. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's full trailer also has plenty of footage of Batel from episodes that aren't the premiere, leaving no doubt that Marie makes it through her Gorn crisis.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest that Captain Batel is assured to survive in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. I didn't want Batel to die, especially since Strange New Worlds season 1 previously killed off Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak) from a Gorn infection. Batel dying would have been the predictable move, and a lazy creative decision, as well. Rather than seed doubt about Marie surviving, the fascinating part of her story in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 is how Nurse Chapel saves her and what toll that medical miracle will take on both of them.

Captain Batel’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Future Becomes More Interesting In Season 3

What Happens Next To The Former Captain Of The USS Cayuga?

Killing off Captain Batel and having Captain Pike mourn her would have been uninspired. Batel's survival creates more compelling story options for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds going forward. Since no human is known to have lived through a Gorn infection, there's no telling if there are side effects or how Batel will adjust to her survival. Surely, Marie wouldn't be immediately up and about as if nothing had happened. Batel's ordeal is, in a way, worse than Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh's (Christina Chong) childhood abduction by theGorn.

Perhaps being infected by the Gorn gives Captain Batel insight into the alien reptiles, and this could be how Captain Pike ultimately outwits the Gorn, along with the technology Lieutenant Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn) developed against their cannibalistic enemies. Further, once the Gorn crisis is over, what happens to Captain Batel now that her starship, the USS Cayuga, was destroyed? Does Starfleet assign her a new ship? Given how much she appears in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's trailer, does Batel somehow join Pike's USS Enterprise crew?

Batel Makes Captain Pike's Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Story Better

Batel Gives Pike A Story That's Rare In Star Trek

Captain Batel's survival benefits Captain Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, and possibly beyond. Pike is the only Captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek who breaks the mold of being 'married to his starship' and is forced to be single and lonely while he explores the galaxy. Though they have relationship issues, Batel is an ideal romantic partner because she knows Chris' burdens as a starship captain. Strange New Worlds season 3's trailer hints that Marie stays aboard the Enterprise so that she and Pike can get quality time together.

Ultimately, Captain Pike will be seriously injured in a delta-ray accident and confined to a wheelchair, and Captain Batel is never mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series. Pike's future is inevitable, but there is no rush to get there. Strange New Worlds is coming back for season 4, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will end with season 5, giving plenty of time to explore and potentially end Pike and Batel's love story. I'm glad Captain Batel survives in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 so that Marie and Chris can enjoy some happiness now.