Spock (Leonard Nimoy) had the most famous death in Star Trek history, and Star Trek: The Original Series. Spock's romance with his Vulcan fiancée, T'Pring (Gia Sandhu), and his burgeoning relationship with Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), have been some of the most compelling aspects of Strange New Worlds.
Spock's death in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is legendary, and has been rehashed numerous times throughout the franchise. When the Starship Enterprise was doomed because Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán) detonated the Genesis Device, Spock sacrificed himself by repairing the Enterprise's radioactive warp core so that his starship could escape destruction. Spock was soon resurrected, but the impact of his death endures. Other characters have died throughout Star Trek, including Kirk, and have been resurrected, including Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), but Spock is forever the gold standard of noble Star Trek deaths.
How Strange New Worlds Set Up Spock's Wrath Of Khan Death
Strange New Worlds episode 2, "Children of the Comet," hinted at Spock's mortality in a fascinating way. When the Enterprise away team was trapped on a rogue comet named M'hanit, Spock gave a frightened Cadet Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), who was in her first life-threatening situation, his version of a pep talk. Building the foundation of how close Spock and Uhura will become, the Vulcan told the Cadet, "Confrontations with our own mortality often cause us to see ourselves as if from the outside. Such perspectives can be a unique opportunity... Today, you are quite simply, the only person for the job. Will you rise to see it through?”
Spock's words were prophetic for himself. In Star Trek II, Spock was "the only person for the job" of fixing the warp core because his Vulcan physiology allowed him to endure the radioactivity in the desperately short amount of time the Enterprise had to escape. Spock rose to the occasion and performed the ultimate act of heroism. With his dying breath, Spock also assured Kirk that "I have been, and always shall be, your friend." Spock lived up to the wisdom he imparted to Uhura in Strange New Worlds, and this was a fine example of how the prequel series can enhance and add context to established canon.
Why Spock Is Already Thinking About His Mortality In Strange New Worlds
Although Spock's death in The Wrath of Khan is over 25 years in the future, Spock is understandably contemplating his own mortality. Strange New Worlds takes place just months after the ending of Burnham and the Discovery are now thriving in the 32nd century, Spock doesn't and will never know what happened to his sister. To the Vulcan, Michael is gone forever, and Spock mourns her loss as if she died.
Michael also taught Spock a lesson in sacrificing oneself for "the needs of the many," which became a hallmark of the Vulcan. "The needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one," is why Spock gave up his life to save Kirk and the Enterprise in Star Trek II. Strange New Worlds is well-aware that Spock is a character of cosmic importance who will impact the fate of the galaxy. Spock's pep talk to Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode 2 is a subtle and tacit nod to how the heroic Vulcan will live up to his own words in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.