Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas the unique opportunity to do a Kirk storyStar Trekhas never done before. WithStrange New Worldsseason 3 in post-production, and season 4 filming in 2025, the hitStar Trekprequel series has 20 more episodes on the way to Paramount+.Strange New Worlds' castis stacked with newer faces who have become popular with audiences, as well as numerousStar Treklegacy characters, including bothLt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) and his older brother, Lt. Sam Kirk(Dan Jeannotte).
One ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’earliest swerves is revealing thatLt. Sam Kirkis stationed aboard the USS Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). While Lt. James Kirk is the newly-minted First Officer of the USS Farragut, Sam serves on the flagship of the United Federation of Planets. A xenoanthropologist, Sam is part of the Starship Enterprise’s Life Sciences division, and his immediate superior is Chief Science Officer Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). Amusingly,Mr. Spock is no fan of Sam Kirk, a sharp contrast to the Vulcan’s burgeoning friendship with Sam’s younger brother, Jim.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Can Team Up Sam & James T. Kirk For The First Time
It’s time for the Kirk brothers to see some action together
For the first time ever,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3or 4 could tell a story teaming up Lt. James T. Kirk and Lt. Sam Kirk. Sam was introduced inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 1’s “Operation - Annihilate!”, but the mustachioed elder Kirk (played by William Shatner) was already deceased.Strange New Worlds, set years beforeStar Trek: The Original Series, has the benefit ofboth Kirk brothers alive and well,with James making regular visits to the USS Enterprise.
Star Trek Strange New Worlds’ 4 Versions Of Kirk Explained
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has Paul Wesley playing 3 versions fo Captain Kirk and Dan Jeannotte portraying yet another Kirk on the Enterprise.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 6, “Lost in Translation,” was the first time Sam and James Kirk shared the screen together (alive). James beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise to see his brother, and it didn’t take long for Jim and Sam to start sparring verbally. It was an entertaining look at the Kirk siblings' dynamics, thanks to clever writing and the chemistry between Paul Wesley and Dan Jeannotte.Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseasons 3 or 4 must jump on the opportunity tosend the Kirk brothers on a mission together,perhaps with Lt. Spock caught in the middle as their unwilling Vulcan referee.
Strange New Worlds Can Set Up Sam Kirk’s Star Trek: TOS Fate
Sam isn’t meant to stay aboard the Starship Enterprise
Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas intriguingly created a scenario where Lt. Sam Kirk belongs on the Starship Enterprise, while his younger brother, Lt. James T. Kirk, is an interloper. After all, Jim does curiously make regular visits to Sam’s home vessel despite being First Officer of his own starship. Sadly,Star Trek: The Original Seriescanon dictates the clock is ticking on Sam Kirk. Inevitably, James T. Kirk takes over asCaptain of the Enterprise, and Sam leaves the flagship. Just a couple of years later, Sam and his family are killed by flying parasites on the planet Deneva.
By teaming up Sam and James Kirk,Star Trek: Strange New Worldscan begin setting up why Sam chooses to leave the USS Enterprise rather than serve under his little brother as Captain.Strange New Worldscan also establish that Sam has a family, including a wife named Aurelan, and three sons.Star Trek: The Original Seriesis years away, and there isvast potential in exploring the relationship between Sam and Jim Kirk. The Kirk family beyond James has been little explored byStar Trek, butStar Trek: Strange New Worldshas all of the ingredients to tell the story of James and Sam Kirk in a way the franchise hasn’t done before.
