The arrival of Sybok in Star Trek: The Original Series. Sybok, using the pseudonym Xavarius, was revealed to be a prisoner of the Ankeshtan K'Til Vulcan Criminal Rehabilitation Center overseen by T'Pring in Strange New Worlds episode 7, "The Serene Squall." T'Pring doesn't seem aware of who this mysterious Vulcan heretic really is, but Spock deduced it by the end of the episode.
Spock and T'Pring's love story is in full swing in Strange New Worlds season 1 but less than a decade later, it's over for good. In the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "Amok Time," Spock returned to Vulcan to end their betrothal as T'Pring was now romantically involved with Stonn (Lawrence Montaigne). One of T'Pring's grievances with Spock was his choosing his career in Starfleet over their relationship, which is also a theme addressed by the younger T'Pring and Spock in Strange New Worlds. But injecting Sybok into this scenario could be what leads to the end of his younger half-brother's Vulcan romance.
How Sybok Could End Spock & T'Pring's Romance
Sybok could be what instigates T'Pring's decision to break it off with Spock. The reason Spock's criminal half-brother is a prisoner in a Vulcan rehabilitation center is that he denies Vulcan logic and embraces his emotions, which makes him a danger to Vulcan society. When he was introduced in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) used his Vulcan telepathy to make others face their innermost pain, which would turn them into his followers. This is precisely why Sybok meeting T'Pring is such a threat - especially if he knows his jailer is the fiancée of his younger brother, Spock.
If Sybok is able to influence T'Pring and use his telepathy to make her "face her pain," he could learn that T'Pring fears Spock will choose Starfleet over her. T'Pring has already broached this subject in Strange New Worlds, and she knows of Spock's dedication to Starfleet, the USS Enterprise, and their friend, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Further, T'Pring harbors suspicions over the brewing affections between Spock and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). She saw them ionately kiss, after all. Sybok's powers could be what pushes T'Pring over the edge and results in her ultimate decision to choose Stonn (Roderick McNeil) over Spock.
What Happens To Sybok's Wife Between Strange New Worlds & Star Trek V?
If Sybok does break up Spock and T'Pring's relationship in Strange New Worlds season 2, it would finish what was started by his wife, the space pirate Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel). Angel escaped custody after they briefly hijacked the Starship Enterprise as part of their plan to free Sybok from Vulcan custody. Angel is poised to return, likely in Strange New Worlds season 2. And, since their gambit against Spock ultimately failed, it makes sense that they would target his better half, T'Pring, who may be more vulnerable because she harbors her doubts about Spock and their future together.
Captain Angel and Sybok as a married couple is a new wrinkle introduced in Strange New Worlds, but they are nowhere to be found in Star Trek V. Sybok never mentions his wife in the film (of course, the reason is that Angel was invented 30 years later), but Strange New Worlds now has to explain what happened to Captain Angel. It's possible the fate of Captain Angel could be what drives Sybok into his mad quest to find God in Sha Ka Ree. As for Spock and T'Pring, Sybok may prove to be the wrecking ball that smashes their relationship in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.