Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 3 - "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"Paul Wesley explains his "brainier" version of Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. Wesley's Kirk takes center stage with Christina Chong's Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" as they team up to save the timeline in the 21st century. Among the many twists in the episode, however, is Wesley's Captain Kirk comes from an alternate timeline, and James and La'an romantically fall for each other before a tragic conclusion.
In an interview with Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, as James shows off his expertise at playing chess, labeling the non-three dimensional version of the game "idiot's chess," and Wesley details his approach to playing the iconic Star Trek hero. Read his quote below:
That’s it exactly. I totally took that “stack of books with legs” line and I actually based my Kirk on that line. I didn’t want him to be a complete stack of books with legs, because that would have been like watching paint dry. But I wanted to incorporate that brainier aspect of Kirk into my version of the character... I thought this was a really good opportunity to start from a different place and watch Kirk build into the character that he’s known for in pop culture history. A lot of that has to do with maybe creating a bit less brawn and a little more brains, for lack of a better phrase. Having him still finding his footing. A little less self-assured. At this point, he’s trying to understand who he is and who he wants to be, and what kind of leader he wants to be. Because, ultimately, he’s not a captain yet.
Paul Wesley Plays 3 Different Kirks In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Paul Wesley actually portrays three versions of James T. Kirk (so far) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, two Captains from alternate timelines, and the younger Lieutenant Kirk. In season 1 finale, Wesley played Captain James T. Kirk from a now-deleted future when Kirk was Captain of the USS Farragut because Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was never horribly disfigured and turned over the USS Enterprise to Kirk. Surprisingly, Wesley plays yet another alternate reality Captain Kirk in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." This Kirk was Captain of the Enterprise in a timeline where the United Earth Fleet (not Starfleet) was losing a forever war against the Romulan Star Empire.
The conclusion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3 also finally introduces Paul Wesley as Lt. Kirk, the younger version of the same man who will become the Captain Kirk played by William Shatner in Star Trek's Prime Timeline. Tragically, the young Lt. Kirk isn't the same James La'an fell in love with and lost in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." But Paul Wesley manages to smoothly juggle three versions of Kirk and make them all distinct yet recognizably Kirk all the same. Wesley will fully present his "brainier" but "less self-assured" version of James T. Kirk when he returns later in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.
Source: Esquire