Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 6 - "Lost in Translation"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cleverly set up the first scene between Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek: The Original Series. Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, "Lost in Translation" not only features the first meeting of Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) in Star Trek's Prime Timeline, but the episode also concludes with Uhura introducing Kirk to Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). All three will become legendary for their voyages aboard the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: TOS.
In season 2, episode 6, Lt. Kirk beams aboard the Starship Enterprise to see his brother, Lt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). But the Kirk brothers' reunion quickly goes south, and James is left alone until his curiosity is piqued by Uhura, who is in emotional distress. Despite Uhura accidentally punching Kirk in the face, he teams up with the Ensign to solve the mystery of her horrific waking nightmares and how it ties into Starfleet's deuterium mining station in Bannon's Nebula. However, along with Uhura, Kirk is also intrigued by the Vulcan he watches playing 3D chess at the Enterprise's Port Galley, and Strange New Worlds ingeniously nods to Spock and Kirk's first scene together in Star Trek.
How Strange New Worlds Set Up Spock & Kirk’s First Star Trek Scene
After NBC rejected "The Cage" which introduced Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), Star Trek: The Original Series' second pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," opened with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock playing 3D chess together. Kirk is distracted by the USS Enterprise's journey toward the Galactic Barrier, and Spock continuously reminds the Captain that it's "your move." Kirk then tells his Vulcan Science Officer that he plays an "irritating game of chess." In Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, Kirk observes Spock playing 3D chess with Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and irritatingly reminding her that it's "your move." Kirk then tells Uhura to her "Vulcan friend to protect his Queen" because Chapel almost check-mated her, just as Kirk will when he plays Spock in Star Trek: TOS.
Technically, the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series to air on NBC was "The Man Trap." This is due to the visual effects for "Where No Man Has Gone Before" not being ready, and the network choosing the more action-packed "The Man Trap" to be the first episode to hit the airwaves. But the first moment of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock fans were meant to see was them playing 3D chess in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," which deftly established their friendship and banter. Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" also established that Kirk is an expert in chess when he hustled people for cash in 21st century Toronto.
Spock & Kirk’s First Meeting Is Better Than J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek
Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6 ends with the surprise moment of Ensign Uhura introducing Lt. Kirk to Lt. Spock, and the trio sits down to share a drink. It's a simple and elegant meet-cute for this iconic Enterprise trio that is the polar opposite of the dramatic way J.J. Abrams depicted James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) meeting in his 2009 Star Trek reboot movie. Cadet Kirk cheated in the Kobayashi Maru scenario at Starfleet Academy, which was programmed by Spock, and their relationship worsened when they boarded the USS Enterprise.
In Star Trek 2009, Kirk and Spock's first mission together was a roller coaster of them coming to blows, Spock exiling Kirk from the Enterprise, and Kirk returning to trick Spock into surrounding command so Kirk could become acting Captain. Together, however, Kirk and Spock made an effective team that saved the Earth. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds knows that Kirk and Spock's most dramatic moments are still to come, and the prequel ingeniously built up to their low-key first meeting by evoking the 3D chess scene in Star Trek: The Original Series.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.