Ambassador Sarek (James Frain) isn’t expected to appear inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, butStar Trek: The Original Seriesset a canonical timeframe for when Lieutenant Spock’s (Ethan Peck) father can appear in theStar Trekprequel. The highly anticipatedStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3premieres July 17 on Paramount+.Strange New Worldsseason 3 continues the genre-bending voyages of Captain Christopher Pike’s (Anson Mount) Starship Enterprise, where Spock plays a central role.
InStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' timeframe,Spock and Sarekare not on speaking terms.Star Trekcanon established that by the timeAmbassador Sarek (Mark Lenard)and Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt), came aboard the USS Enterprise inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2’s “Journey to Babel,“Spock and his father had not spoken to each other in 20 years. This is due toSarek’s disappointment that Spock chose to join Starfleetinstead of the Vulcan Science Academy.
Amanda Grayson (Mia Kirshner)appeared inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 5, “Charades,” but there’s less of a chance of Spock’s father beaming onto the Starship Enterprise. However,Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas challengedStar Trekcanon already, and there are ways for Sarek, who hasn’t been seen sinceStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, to appear. Alternatively, there is also alreadya rough date for whenStrange New Worldscould introduce SarekinStar Trekcanon.
Star Trek: The Original Series Set A Timeframe For Sarek Appearing In Strange New Worlds
Here’s When Sarek Can Appear
InStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 10, “Journey to Babel,“which was Sarek and Amanda’s first appearance,Spock’s mother said that he hasn’t visited them on Vulcan in four years.“Journey to Babel” took place in 2268 inStar Trek’s timeline, so four years prior is 2264 - the year before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) takes over the USS Enterprise from Captain Pike. This means Sarek has a window to potentially appear towards the end ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' run, if the prequel continues until Kirk replaces Pike as Captain of the Enterprise in 2265.
Star Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3 takes place in 2261, which is the centennial anniversary of the founding of the United Federation of Planets.Strange New Worldsdoesn’t follow the one season = one year formula of the 1990sStar Trekseries, and time is more elastic. Indeed,Strange New Worldsseason 3 will have a time jump, moving the timeline forward from the cliffhanger ending and resolution ofStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2.
It’s also possible that a Sarek appearance could be in the cards forStrange New Worldsseason 3 or 4.
Paramount+ greenlitStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 4, which is in production now. What happens inStrange New Worldsseason 4 is top secret, as are the events ofStrange New Worldsseason 3. Given thatthere’s no guarantee thatStrange New Worldswill continue past season 4due to the uncertainty surrounding Paramount Global’s sale to Skydance Media and how it will affectStar Trek’s future, it’s also possible that a Sarek appearance could be in the cards forStrange New Worldsseason 3 or 4, regardless ofStar Trek’s canon or timeline.
Star Trek: Discovery Got Around Spock & Sarek’s Original Series Canon
Sarek & Spock Were Both In Star Trek: Discovery Season 2
Star Trek: Discoveryseasons 1 and 2 were set from 2256-2258, a few years beforeStar Trek: Strange New Worldsbegins, and the former flagship Star Trek on Paramount+ series found a way to feature Ambassador Sarek and Lieutenant Spock.Star Trek: Discovery’s first two seasons were notorious for breaking canon by reimagining the Klingons and introducing anachronistic technology like theUSS Discovery’s spore drive, butSarek and Spock’s estrangement was maintained byStar Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek: Discovery,which retconned Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as an adopted member of Sarek’s family, used Michael as the ‘middle man’ of sorts between Spock and Sarek. InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, Lt. Spock was emotionally damaged by an encounter with the Red Angel, and Burnham helped her adoptive brother recover. While Sarek was inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2,Burnham and Amanda Grayson interacted with Spock in lieu of Sarek, thereby preservingStar Trekcanon.
Star Trek: Discovery
James Frain
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2’s premiere, “Brother,” even included a meta commentary on the series bringing in Spock and Sarek, when the Vulcan Ambassador told Burnham,“I had not expected to see Spock again.“It’s very possibleStar Trek: Strange New Worldscould also dance around Spock and Sarek technically not speaking to each other while still featuring a comeback of Spock’s father.
How Else Spock’s Father Can Appear In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Spock Doesn’t Have To Be Involved
Star Trek: Strange New Worldscould also potentially introduce Ambassador Sarek while never having him and Spock interact.One way for Sarek to return involves Sybok, who was reintoduced inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 1, episode 7, “The Serene Squall.” Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) debuted inStar Trek V: The Final Frontieras the previously unheard-ofolder brother of Spock(Leonard Nimoy), who was a criminal on a mad hunt for the God of Sha Ka Ree.Strange New Worldsshockingly revealed Sybok’s whereabouts over 25 years beforeStar Trek V.
InStar Trek: Strange New Worlds’timeframe, Sybok is a prisoner of a Vulcan rehabilitation center, and his warden is T’Pring (Gia Sandhu). It’s possible forStrange New Worldsto bring in Ambassador Sarek, who could visit his eldest son.Strange New Worlds' retcon revealed that Sybok was imprisoned under the name Xaverius, and he was married to aspace pirate named Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel).Perhaps Xaverius' true identity is revealed, and Sarek comes to see Sybok, as well as speak with T’Pring about her broken engagement to Spock. Sybok must also eventually escape prison, which could happen in a futureStrange New Worldsepisode.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’mid-23rd century galaxy is tumultuous, with the Gorn and the Klingons as recurring threats. There are ample ways to involve Ambassador Sarek inStrange New Worldsand still maintain canon by not having him speak to Spock.Strange New Worldscontinually takes risks with the form and content of its episodes, including comedy, drama, action, and evenStar Trek’s first-ever musical. IfStar Trek: Strange New Worldswants Ambassador Sarek to appear. there are ways to include the legendary Vulcan and still keep him away from Spock.
