Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 7 - "Those Old Scientists"
Summary
- Ensign Boimler proves himself capable and resourceful aboard Captain Pike's Enterprise, challenging 23rd-century assumptions and changing the crew's views on the Orions.
- Boimler's 24th-century knowledge is instrumental in helping track the Orion ship, and his encouragement uplifts Captain Pike, showing him the meaning in his life.
- While it may be a while before Boimler becomes a captain, he has the potential to be one of Starfleet's best, having learned important lessons from Captain Pike and other commanders. #StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds
After Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover, Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) from Star Trek: Lower Decks is primed to climb the ranks and become Starfleet's next great Captain. Ensign Boimler serves on the USS Cerritos under the command of Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis). Though Boimler tries to follow the rules, he often ends up in perilous situations thanks to his best friend, Ensign Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome). While Boimler has an anxious personality, he is also extremely intelligent and enthusiastic about his duties as a Starfleet officer.
In Strange New Worlds, season 2, episode 7, "Those Old Scientists," Boimler, and later Mariner, get sucked into a time portal and find themselves in the past on the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). While Boimler understands the importance of not affecting the timeline, he cannot help but geek out over meeting iconic Starfleet legends like Pike and Spock (Ethan Peck). Boimler has extensive knowledge of Starfleet history, and he is a competent officer who strives to do the right thing. Despite his overeagerness, he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the iconic Captain Pike.
Why Boimler Is Star Trek’s Next Great Captain After Strange New Worlds’ Crossover
Other than revealing a few minor things about the future, Ensign Boimler handled himself remarkably well aboard Pike's Enterprise, all things considered. As Captain Pike and his crew are working to send Boimler back to his time, an Orion vessel appears over the planet Krulmuth-B. Though Pike and his crew assume the Orions to be pirates, Boimler challenges their 23rd-century views and remarks that future Orions consider that assumption offensive. Though there are a few hiccups along the way, Boimler changes the way Pike and his crew view the Orions, which can only be a positive change for the future.
Boimler also proves instrumental in helping the Enterprise track the Orion ship. He uses his 24th-century knowledge to update the Enterprise, while Pike and his crew turn their backs. (Because if they "don't look," then there are no temporal violations.) Boimler encourages Pike by pointing out his strengths (including his "really great hair"), and helps Pike to see that his life still has so much meaning despite his tragic future. After Mariner arrives in the past, she and Boimler both come up with the solution that ultimately helps them get back to their time when they realize a piece of the NX-01 Emetrprise built into Pike's Enterprise has the horonium they need to send the Ensigns back to the future.
What Boimler Learned From 3 Great Star Trek Captains
In addition to serving on the USS Cerritos, Boimler also briefly transferred to the USS Titan, where he served under the command of Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes). One thing Captains Riker, Freeman, and Pike all have in common is their bold assurance in their own abilities. Ensign Boimler could learn something from their confidence and their ability to remain calm in a crisis. Like Freeman, Boimler has a tendency to take things too seriously, and unlike her, he cares too much about what other people think of him.
Though his time on the Titan suggests Boimler may not be ready to ascend the ranks just yet, he cannot climb too quickly, anyway, without changing the entire premise of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Captain Boimler will likely not happen for many years, perhaps in the next generation of Star Trek series. Still, Boimler has the potential to be one of Starfleet's best captains - just like Pike, who inspires people in the far future to dress as them for Halloween. While it will be a long time before Boimler makes it to the captain's chair, he has learned some important lessons from the captains he has served under, including Captain Pike on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.