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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) may not be the sort of infamous lothario that Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was, but he’s had a few important romantic relationships. Originally played by Jeffrey Hunter, Pike was the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise in the first pilot episode for Star Trek: The Original Series, “The Cage.” Hunter declined to return for the second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” and was replaced by Shatner’s Kirk. Pike – played by Sean Kenney under heavy makeup – played an important part in the TOS season 1 episode “The Menagerie,” but otherwise became a Star Trek footnote.
Captain Pike’s stature in the franchise grew exponentially when Mount took over the role in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, which took place about a decade before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. Discovery‘s version of Pike became so popular that Paramount granted him his own spinoff, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is now arguably the flagship Star Trek show after its dazzling first season. While his romantic exploits have not been a major focus on the show so far, he has enjoyed a few romantic entanglements, though they’ve tended to end poorly for the good captain.
3 Vina
Vina (Melissa George) hasn’t actually appeared in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds yet, but she’s a crucial part of Pike’s story. Vina first appeared in the initial Star Trek: The Original Series pilot “The Cage,” played by Susan Oliver. She was part of a scientific expedition surveying the Talos star system; the survey ship crashed on Talos IV, with a critically injured Vina the only survivor. The inhabitants of Talos IV, the telepathically powerful Talosians, saved Vina’s life, but she was severely disfigured, as the Talosians had no frame of reference for how humans were put together.
The Talosians took a special interest in Vina and humanity in general, eventually luring Pike and the USS Enterprise to the planet in an effort to find Vina a mate. The Talosians decided Pike was a suitable mate for Vina, and attempted to compel him to stay on Talos IV with Vina through a series of elaborate illusions. Though Pike clearly had feelings for Vina, he ultimately refused to stay on the planet under the Talosians’ influence, and left Vina on Talos IV so she could continue to indulge in her illusory life.
Three years later, while Pike was serving as Captain of the USS Discovery, Vina appeared to him on the ship, where she revealed the Talosians were harboring Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), the latter of whom was suffering from a deeply fractured psyche. After the Talosians healed Spock’s mind, Vina attempted to convince Pike to let Burnham and Spock escape from Section 31 operatives with nefarious intentions. Pike agreed to help his Vulcan friend, a favor Spock would one day return.
Pike’s final canonical appearance so far was in the Star Trek: The Original Series two-part episode “The Menagerie.” Shortly after being promoted to Fleet Captain and ceding command of the USS Enterprise to Captain Kirk, Pike was critically injured in an accident on a training vessel. Pike was horrifically disfigured, unable to move or speak, and only able to communicate through an advanced wheelchair synced to his mind. After visiting the impaired Pike, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) commandeered the Enterprise and set a course for Talos IV, resulting in a court-martial and his possible execution.
The events of “The Cage” are recounted through a mysterious video source aboard the USS Enterprise, which is eventually revealed to be a projection from the Talosians. Spock’s plan is eventually revealed – he intended to take Pike back to Talos IV so that the Talosians could create an illusory life for him in the wake of his devastating injuries. After Kirk confirmed Pike wished to return to Talos IV, Spock escorted Pike, his former Captain and friend, off the ship, where he was instantly restored physically and reunited with Vina so they could live out their lives together in relative happiness.
2 Minister Alora
Alora (Lindy Booth) was a Majalan Minister whom Pike was involved with a decade before the events of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He reunited with her in the season 1 episode “Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach,” when the USS Enterprise rescued her shuttle, which was under attack from unknown assailants. Alora asks for Pike’s help in protecting a young boy who has been designated to be Majalis’ First Servant during an upcoming Ascension Day ceremony.
Pike and Alora rekindle their romance, with Pike even confiding in Alora that he has knowledge of his tragic future that haunts him. Alora offers to let Pike stay on Majalis to avoid his fate, but those plans crumble when Pike learns the young boy designated as the First Servant is to be inserted into the planet’s power system, which will eventually kill him. Unable to save the boy and facing a potential diplomatic catastrophe, Pike leaves Alora and Majalis in disgust.
1 Captain Batel
After glimpsing his own tragic future through a Klingon time crystal on the planet Boreth in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Pike takes a leave of absence from Starfleet, unsure if he’ll ever return. In the first episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Pike is seen living on Earth, enjoying a casual romantic relationship with fellow Starfleet officer Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), who commands the USS Cayuga. Unaware of his future vision, Batel gently encourages Pike to return to the USS Enterprise. Heeding her advice, Pike accepts his fate and returns to duty.
While their relationship seemed warm and comfortable, Pike and Batel would eventually come into conflict. After Starfleet becomes aware Pike’s First Officer Commander Una-Chin Riley (Rebecca Romijn) is a genetically augmented Illyrian, Batel is ordered to board the USS Enterprise and arrest her, much to Pike’s fury. The status of the strained relationship between Pike and Batel figures to be an important aspect of the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.
