The Real Captain Kirk Returned To Star Trek In Strange New Worlds' Epic Time Travel Episode

   

Paul Wesley and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds brought the real Captain James T. Kirk back to Star Trek. Wesley portrays Lieutenant James T. Kirk, the younger version of the Captain Kirk originated by William Shatner in Star Trek: The Original Series. Lt. Kirk is a recurring character on Strange New Worlds, and Wesley previously played two different alternate timeline versions of Captain Kirk on the Star Trek prequel series. Paul Wesley not only brought Kirk back to Star Trek's Prime timeline, but he also brought back Kirk in his prime.

William Shatner's Captain Kirk died in Star Trek Generations, which hit movie theaters in 1994. Kirk's demise was the canonical end of the Captain of the Enterprise who was the centerpiece of Star Trek: The Original Series and the six movies that followed. 15 years later, Chris Pine was cast as the younger Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), a role he played for three movies. However, Pine's Kirk existed in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. In Star Trek's Prime timeline, Kirk was dead and hadn't been seen since Star Trek Generations - until Paul Wesley.

Paul Wesley’s Kirk In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 Was The Return Of Shatner’s Classic Captain

James T. Kirk Returned To Star Trek's Prime Universe

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" marked the long-awaited return of the Prime James T. Kirk. Paul Wesley portrayed an alternate reality Captain Kirk, who had to reset the broken Prime Timeline alongside Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) on a time travel mission to 21st century Toronto. At the end of "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," Lieutenant Kirk officially debuted when La'an contacted him through her PADD, as Kirk was stationed on the USS Farragut.

Paul Wesley's first portrayal of Captain Kirk was in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 finale, "A Quality of Mercy." In an alternate future timeline where the United Federation of Planets was locked into a forever war with the Romulans, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) remained aboard the Starship Enterprise while Kirk was Captain of the Farragut. However, Wesley's inaugural version of Kirk was a grim and serious take fitting for his darker reality, and lacked the easygoing charm William Shatner brought to Captain Kirk.

Paul Wesley met William Shatner on an airplane shortly after he was cast as Kirk on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and he got Shatner's blessing to take over the iconic role.

By contrast, Paul Wesley infused Shatner-esque qualities into his alt-Captain Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." This Kirk was more roguish, had a playful sense of humor, and was a genuine romantic foil for La'an, which are qualities Wesley carried over into Lieutenant James T. Kirk in his next two appearances in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

 

La’an Became A Better Character Because Of Kirk

Kirk Is The Catalyst For La'an's Character Evolution

Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh is an original character introduced in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Christina Chong quickly made La'an into one of the prequel's most endearing and fascinating faces. La'an is a descendant of Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), and she is defined by fear of becoming like Khan, as well as the trauma from surviving a Gorn abduction as a child. La'an closes herself off from personal interactions and counted only Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) as a close friend.

Related

However, La'an fell in love with Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." La'an then tragically lost Kirk when he was killed a Romulan temporal saboteur named Sera (Adelaide Kane). Yet La'an' all-too-brief time with Kirk inspired her to "change her paradigm." La'an now looks to become a more open person, and the possibility of a romantic pairing with Lt. James T. Kirk exists in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. La'an's personal evolution is an exciting prospect, and it's directly tied to Kirk.

 

Kirk Was Missing For Years Until Strange New Worlds & Paul Wesley Brought Him Back To Star Trek

Chris Pine's Kelvin Timeline Captain Was Star Trek's Only Kirk