Star Trek legend finally returns in Strange New Worlds – and answers decades-long mystery
Look who's here!
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 2.
With its first two episodes out now, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 has officially kicked off with a bang.
After the first episode resolved that major cliffhanger that we were left on at the end of season 2, episode 2 brought back an actual Star Trek legend in the form of John de Lancie – and seemingly confirmed a long-held fan theory.
The episode saw the USS Enterprise turned upside down by a mysterious trickster and, while he wasn't named, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Trelane, who originally appeared in the original series, played by William Campbell.
This time, played by Rhys Darby, he upends reality to make everyone believe that Spock (Ethan Peck) and Christine (Jess Bush) are getting married – everyone except her actual date, Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan), that is.
Eventually, Trelane is persuaded to end the charade – only to be confronted by his father, who fans will find very familiar.
We hear the disembodied voice of De Lancie, who's known for his role as Q in the franchise, scolding the trickster, and actually answering a decades-long mystery, all but confirming that Trelane is, in fact, of Q origin.
This appearance marks De Lancie's sixth Star Trek series, after he appeared in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Lower Decks and Picard.
For years, fans have speculated about a connection between Q and Trelane, with De Lancie even previously saying: "The character of Trelane has a lot of characteristics that are very much like Q."
However, this is the first time an explicit connection has been made between the pair in the Star Trek canon.
As for what else Strange New Worlds will hold as it beams up for season 3? Only time will tell.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is available to stream on Paramount+.
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Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
