Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 2, “Wedding Bell Blues.“Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 just delivered a wedding episode that channels bothStar Trek: The Original SeriesandStar Trek: The Next Generation. In its third season on Paramount+,Strange New Worldscontinues to embraceStar Trek’ssense of fun and adventure, as it experiments with a wide range of genres and themes.
Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his Enterprise crewremain as delightful as ever,as they prepare for a surprising wedding inStrange New Worldsseason 3’s second episode. “Wedding Bell Blues,” which was written by Kirsten Beyer and David Reed and directed by Jordan Canning, begins with a personal log from Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) as he prepares forNurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush)to return from her fellowship.
Unfortunately for Spock,Chapel arrives with new beau Dr. Roger Korby(Cillian O’Sullivan) in tow. As Chapel and Korby share their love story with the Enterprise crew,Spock retreats to the bar, where the new bartender (Rhys Darby) mixes the Vulcan a special drink. The next morning, Spock wakes up in his bed next to Chapel, with their friends preparing for their upcoming wedding.
“Wedding Bell Blues” Feels Like Strange New Worlds’ Answer To Star Trek: TNG’s “Data’s Day”
Spock & Data Each Take Center Stage In These Wedding-Centric Episodes
Star Trek: The Next Generationalso delivered a wedding-centric episode in season 4’s “Data’s Day.” Just asStrange New Worlds'“Wedding Bell Blues” opens with a personal log from Spock, “Data’s Day” begins withLt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner)dictating a letter to Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy).
Throughout “Data’s Day,” Data helps Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meany) and Keiko (Rosalind Chao) prepare for their upcoming wedding. As part of this preparation,Data takes dancing lessons from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden).Spock, too, practices his dancing with Lt. La’an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong), and he struggles to relax into the music just like Data.
Both “Data’s Day” and “Wedding Bell Blues” are lightheartedStar Trekwedding episodestold from the perspective of beloved characters. Data and Spock could both be considered the outsiders on their respective shows, andthese episodes offer insight into their struggles to relate to and interact with the humansaround them.
Trelane Wreaks Havoc In Both “Wedding Bell Blues” & TOS’ “The Squire Of Gothos”
Rhys Darby Seems To Be Portraying Trelane From “The Squire Of Gothos”
Rhys Darby’s"cosmic trickster"alters reality in “Wedding Bell Blues,” making everyone believe that Spock and Chapel are getting married. AlthoughDarby’s character is not named in the episode,all signs point to him being the same character who once messed withCaptain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his Enterprise crewonStar Trek: The Original Series.
In theTOSseason 1 episode, “Squire of Gothos,” a cosmic being namedTrelane (William Campbell)beams the Enterprise crew down to his planet as his"guests.“Trelane proudly shares his knowledge of Earth’s history (which is 400 years out of date), but he refuses to let Kirk and his crew leave. Kirk eventually grows impatient and stands up to Trelane, slapping him.
In the end,Trelane’s parents appear and scold him for his treatment of his so-called"pets.“InStrange New Worlds,Trelane’s father (voiced by John de Lancie) also puts a stop to his son’s shenanigans, ensuring that everyone’s proper memory is restored and admonishing Trelane for his misbehavior.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Doesn’t Confirm If Trelane Is A Q
Strange New Worlds Leaves The Question Up For Debate
Although John de Lancie voices Trelane’s father in “Wedding Bell Blues,” the episode does not reveal whether Trelane and his family are members of the Q Continuum. Still,Trelane behaves more like a Q than ever,snapping his fingers to alter reality and taking obvious delight in his meddling.
John De Lancie’s Qmade hisStar Trekdebut in the premiere ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,developing a particular fondness for Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Since Q’s introduction,Trekfans have long speculated that Trelane may also be a member of the Q Continuum,as he has similar powers as well as a fascination with humanity.
The 1994 novelQ-Squaredby Peter David suggests that Trelane is, in fact, a member of the Q Continuum and hints that John de Lancie’s Q may be Trelane’s father.
John de Lancie voicing Trelane’s father could merely be a shout-out to the characters' similarities, or it could mean that Trelane is a Q after all (and perhaps thatTNG’sQ has more children than we know about). It’s a fun cameo either way, and serves as another connection betweenStrange New Worldsand theStar Trekshows that came before it.
In its third season,Star Trek: Strange New Worldscontinues to referenceStar Trek’slong history, and “Wedding Bell Blues” is an incredibly fun example of that.
