Captain Pike’s Greatest Love In Star Trek Is Still Waiting For Him After Strange New Worlds Ends

Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) greatest love story happens after the events of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. As a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds depicts Captain Pike’s time in command of the USS Enterprise before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) takes over. While many of Pike’s adventures were uncharted territory before Strange New Worlds, his unfortunate fate has been sealed since the TOS two-part episode, “The Menagerie.” That story reveals that Pike will suffer a horrific injury in 2266 that will leave him paralyzed, disfigured, and bound to a wheelchair.

“The Menagerie” incorporates flashbacks from Star Trek’s original rejected pilot, “The Cage,” depicting Captain Pike’s (Jeffrey Hunter) previous mission to Talos IV where he and his crew encounter the powerful Talosians. Pike also meets Vina (Susan Oliver), a young woman whose ship crash-landed on Talos IV years before, and the two form a connection. The Talosians use their telepathic abilities to try to convince Pike to stay, but he ultimately escapes, leaving Vina behind.

Captain Pike Will Ultimately End Up With Vina After Strange New Worlds, Not Batel

Pike First Met Vina On Talos IV In “The Cage” & They Had An Instant Connection

In Star Trek: The Original Series’ “The Menagerie,” which takes place in 2267, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) hijacks the Starship Enterprise and risks his Starfleet career to take Pike to Talos IV. Having seen how powerful the telepathy of the Talosians is, Spock knows that they can give Pike a normal life, and perhaps even a happily ever after. Spock successfully gets Pike to Talos IV, where the Talosians create the illusion that he is whole again, allowing him to live out the rest of his life with Vina.

Captain Pike briefly reunited with Vina (Melissa George) in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 8, “If Memory Serves,” and the two clearly still shared a connection.

While Star Trek has not revealed whether Pike actually remains on Talos IV for the rest of his life, this particular future does not bode well for him and Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2’s finale ended in a cliffhanger with Captain Batel’s life hanging in the balance after she is infected with Gorn eggs. Batel may not survive , although this would be a particularly tragic turn for Strange New Worlds and Captain Pike. Still, even if Batel does survive, Pike is ultimately destined to end up with Vina.

Why Captain Pike Hasn’t Told Batel About His Tragic Future

Pike Sometimes Struggles To Share His Feelings With Batel

Captain Pike learned about his tragic future in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, but he has only shared this information with a select few. Pike confided in his Number One, Lt. Commander Una-Chin Riley (Rebecca Romijn) and Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), but he has not shared his future with Captain Batel. While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has not fully explained why Pike has yet to tell Batel, the show has provided some hints. In the Strange New Worlds musical episode, Pike and Batel have an argument (via song) about Pike’s tendency to avoid difficult conversations.

Captain Pike clearly cares deeply about Batel, and he does not want to burden her with the knowledge of his dark future. He may fear that Batel would treat him differently if she knew his future, and he likely doesn’t want her to feel sorry for him. Pike does not know that he will eventually end up on Talos IV with Vina, and he may still be hoping for a future with Batel even after his injury. Pike has likely been waiting for the right time to tell Batel the truth, but her injury at the end of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 may force the issue.