A harsh reality about Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was exposed inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, but this trait also makes the Captain of the USS Enterprise admirable. Directed by Valerie Weiss and written by Dana Horgan,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 2, “Ad Astra Per Aspera” dealt with the court-martial of Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) AKA Number One. Una was nearly drummed out of Starfleet and imprisoned for lying about being a genetically engineered Illyrian.
One of thebestStar Trekcourtroom episodesever,Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' “Ad Astra Per Aspera” began with Captain Pike taking it upon himself to save Number One. Pike recruitedNeera Ketoul (Yetude Badaki)as Una’s defense counsel. Despite her reluctance after her childhood falling out with Una, Neera took on the United Federation of Planets' tribunal on Number One’s behalf. Thanks to Neera, and Una’s forthrightness on the stand, charges were dropped, and Number One resumed her post aboard the Starship Enterprise.Captain Pike’s defiance of Starfleet and loyalty to Una helped make this happen.
After Strange New Worlds Season 2, Captain Pike’s Two Most Trusted Officers Have Been Court Martialed
Spock & Number One Have Faced Starfleet Disciplinary Action
Remarkably, both of Captain Pike’s most trusted senior officers, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck, Leonard Nimoy) are court-martialed and exonerated inStar Trek. Number One’s harrowing ordeal inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 2, “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” led to a victory that gave her credence in Starfleet as an Illyrian. By recruiting Neera Ketoul and taking a stand against his own girlfriend, and Una’s prosecutor, Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano),Captain Pike’s dedication to saving Una resulted in Number One no longer needing to hide who she truly is.
Every Time Kirk Was Court-Martialed In Star Trek (& Why)
Star Trek’s Captain James T. Kirk is known for breaking the rules, but here are the times when his daring to disobey resulted in a court-martial.
InStar Trek: The Original Series' two-parter, “The Menagerie,“Spock risked his Starfleet career and court-martial out of loyalty to Fleet Captain Pike(Sean Kenney), Spock hijacked the USS Enterprise to bring the gravely injured Pike to Talos IV, defying Starfleet’s General Order 7 and inviting the death penalty. However, it was ultimately revealed that the hearing was an illusion created by the Talosians. InStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, however, Spock stood byAdmiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) for his crimesagainst Starfleet that led to Kirk’s demotion to Captain in command of the USS Enterprise-A.
Strange New Worlds Has Established Pike As One Of Star Trek’s Most Rebellious Captains
Pike Does What’s Right Whether Starfleet Likes It Or Not
Captain Pike lives up to his reputation as one of the greatest starship Captains of the 23rd century, but it’s also true that Pike has a rebellious streak.The Captain of the Enterprise has and will defy Starfleet’s ordersif he believes there’s a better course of action, or if Chris thinks the rule is unfair. Some examples include Pike hiding the truth about the USS Discovery afterStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, and breaking the Prime Directive on Kiley 279 inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’series premiere. Captain Pike is defined by doing what’s right above blindly following orders.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3begins with Captain Pike finding a way out of a no-win situation with the Gorn. As seen in a preview clip fromStrange New Worldsseason 3’s premiere,Pike chooses to follow Starfleet orders and retreat only after he and the USS Enterprise crew find a way to track the Gorn shipthat kidnapped their friends, including Lt. La’an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) and Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia). Starfleet may not always like it, but Captain Pike will break ranks whenever he has to inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.
