Summary
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 is about to shed new light on a testy exchange between Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) inStar Trek: The Original Series. InTOSseason 1, episode 7, “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”, Spock and Chapel briefly clash over the apparent discovery of her erstwhile fiancé, Doctor Roger Korby (Michael Strong). Now,Strange New Worldsis about to add further depth to the classicStar Trek: TOSepisode, by introducing Korby as a recurring character in season 3.
The casting of Cillian O’Sullivan as Roger Korby inStrange New Worldsseason 3will drastically impact the relationship between Spock and Chapel going forward. By depicting Chapel’s love story before her fiancé inevitably goes missing on Exo III,SNWcan make Korby’s fate in “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” even more tragic. Roger Korby joiningStrange New Worlds' cast of characterscan also make thisTOSexchange between Spock and Chapel even more loaded:
KIRK: The man making it is Doctor Roger Korby.
SPOCK: You’re certain you recognise his voice?
CHAPEL: Have you ever been engaged, Mister Spock? Yes, it’s Roger.
Nurse Chapel’s Star Trek Fiance: Roger Korby In Strange New Worlds Explained
Spock and Chapel’s Strange New Worlds romance faces a big challenge with the introduction of Roger Korby - but who is Spock’s Star Trek love rival?
Strange New Worlds Makes A Spock And Chapel Star Trek: TOS Argument More Painful
Now thatStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas practically confirmed that Nurse Chapel will leave Spock for Roger Korby, his skepticism in “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” takes on new meaning. Although Spock is good at suppressing his emotions, they can sometimes manifest in other ways. When the episode starts, Roger Korby has been missing for five years, and nobody expects to find him alive. Watching the episode in the 2020s, Spock coldly and logically questioning Chapel’s belief in her fiancé could be reflecting his own conflicted feelings.
Chapel knows perfectly well that Spock was engaged, because his feelings for her torpedoed his engagement to T’Pring (Gia Sandhu).
Nurse Chapel also doesn’t come off well in light of whatStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas revealed about her relationship with Spock. Chapel knows perfectly well that Spock was engaged, because his feelings for her torpedoed his engagement to T’Pring (Gia Sandhu). What was originally a clash of cold Vulcan logic and human passion in theTOSepisode, is now a painful reminder ofSpock and Chapel’s romanceafter the events ofStrange New Worlds.
At the time of writing “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” theStar Trek: TOSwriters hadn’t decided that Spock was engaged to T’Pring. This would be revealed in the season 2 episode, “Amok Time”.
How Will Roger Korby Affect Spock And Chapel In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3?
While Spock and Chapel separated inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, there wasn’t an official break-up. The Gorn crisis inSNW’s season 2 finale brought Spock and Chapel back together, and appeared to give them a second chance at love.TOShas established that this cannot happen, and it appears as if Roger Korby will end Spock and Chapel’s romance once and for all. And yet, various episodes ofTOSsuggest that Spock and Chapel never completely got over each other. All of which sets the stage for a complicated love triangle inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3.
Vulcan or not, Spock can’t just turn off his feelings like a tap, meaning that we may see a new side of the belovedTOScharacter as he watches the woman he loves get engaged to another man.
Maybe Roger Korby sweeps Nurse Chapel off her feet while she’s trying to reconcile with Spock, or maybe the couple decide to call it a day after defeating the Gorn in the season 3 opener. However, Vulcan or not, Spock can’t just turn off his feelings like a tap, meaning that we may see a new side of the belovedTOScharacter as he watches the woman he loves get engaged to another man. Perhaps that pain is what convinces Spock to shun emotions once and for all inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Cast
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
