Star Trek: Strange New Worlds needs to bring in one iconic Original Series character

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds needs to bring in one iconic Original Series character

As a longtime Trekkie with memories of the original series etched deeply into my mind, I must say that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been a breath of fresh air for the franchise. It’s like revisiting old friends and discovering new depths to their stories. The way they’ve fleshed out characters like Captain Pike and Nyota Uhura, giving them more significance and weight, is nothing short of remarkable.


Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has significantly enriched the original series by delving deeper into beloved characters, themes, and alien adversaries. This expansion gives these elements a greater sense of depth and importance. When Captain Kirk squares off against The Gorn commander, even though it’s just a suit, the stakes will be crystal clear to viewers.

In simpler terms, Captain Christopher Pike and Nyota Uhura are becoming increasingly significant characters due to the detailed storytelling in the Strange New Worlds prequel series. This show is enhancing and reinforcing many original series elements, leaving us eager for more character development.

As we eagerly approach Season 3, we’re hoping to see the return of Janice Rand, a character who was portrayed by Grace Lee Whitney in the initial series. For those unfamiliar, she was an integral part of the crew during the first 12 episodes. In contrast to other secondary characters like Nurse Christine Chapel, it seems we might be seeing more of Janice Rand.

Originally portrayed by Gene Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett, the character of Chapel is now a significant element in Strange New Worlds, with Jess Bush stepping into the role this time around. Fan response to Chapel in the series has been overwhelmingly positive, praising her contributions to the show. Given the character development we’ve seen with Chapel, it seems reasonable to speculate that similar growth could be applied to the character of Rand as well.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that Rand’s character doesn’t get the screen time she truly deserves. But it’s not just about the character; it’s about the actress who brought her to life, Whitney. You see, it seemed like Gene Roddenberry was dead set on letting Whitney go from the show. Allegations of drug and alcohol issues only escalated after an unfortunate incident involving a Star Trek executive producer. Whitney herself has said she sensed the dismissal was imminent, but when it happened, it still left a heavy impact on her.

As stated in The Fifty-Year Mission by Roddenberry (as reported by Slashfilms), he admitted to replacing Whitney from the series because the network desired a fresh dynamic each week with a new young actress alongside William Shatner’s character, Captain Kirk. Reluctantly, Roddenberry obliged and dismissed her. However, it was a move he later regretted as he considered her an integral part of the show.

In 2015, Whitney sadly passed away at the age of 85. Despite her initial return to Star Trek for the unrealized TV series “Phase II” and later the first movie, her character, Rand, didn’t end up playing a significant role in any subsequent narratives. Now is the perfect opportunity to delve into that untold story. Strange New Worlds could honor Whitney by expanding upon a character thought to have more depth yet to reveal, giving her the spotlight she deserved.

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2024-09-28 01:23

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