Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 revisits the Illyrians, a genetically augmented species that played a role in one of Star Trek: Enterprise's darkest episodes. A technologically advanced humanoid race, the Illyrians had a novel approach to colonization. Rather than altering the makeup of colonized planets, the Illyrians altered themselves so they would be able to adapt to virtually any environment that could life.
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While their intentions were not malevolent, the Illyrians' use of genetic augmentation went against the rules of the United Federation Of Planets in the wake of the Eugenics Wars on Earth that saw the rise of augmented superhuman tyrants like Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). That position by the Federation would prove to be long-lasting and controversial, stretching into the 24th century as experienced by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds made the Illyrian issue deeply personal for Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) by revealing his Number One, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), to be a member of the species.
The History Of The Illyrians In Star Trek
The Illyrians debuted in the Star Trek: Enterprise season 3 episode "Damage." After a harrowing battle, the badly damaged Enterprise NX-01 was assisted by an Illyrian ship. Desperate to thwart the Xindi attack on Earth, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) pleaded with the Illyrians to trade them their warp coil, but the Illyrians refused, as that would leave them stranded three years away from home. With no other options, Archer and his crew took the warp coil by force, compromising their moral authority out of sheer desperation.
It's one of the darker moments in Star Trek: Enterprise, an unusually hostile decision by the usually amiable Archer. "Damage" was the Illyrians' only appearance in Enterprise, seemingly relegated to being a minor presence in Star Trek canon. However, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has revisited the Illyrians in a new, fascinating context.
Strange New Worlds Made Number One An Illyrian
In the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 episode "Ghosts Of Illyria," the crew of the USS Enterprise begins suffering from a bizarre, light-based virus resulting in mental incapacitation. Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley - commonly referred to as Number One - is strangely immune to the effects of the virus. She eventually confesses to Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) that she's not suffering from the virus because she herself is an augmented Illyrian.
Dr. M'Benga and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) are eventually able to cure the crew via Number One's blood. She its the truth to Captain Pike, who vows to keep her secret. Unfortunately, Number One was arrested in the season 1 finale "A Quality Of Mercy," with her ultimate fate unresolved heading into season 2. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has managed to make a fairly minor Star Trek: Enterprise species into one of modern Star Trek's more compelling alien races.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 premieres June 15, 2023, on Paramount+.