What Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) learned about Spock (Ethan Peck) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1's finale explains Pike's (Sean Kenney) emotional reaction to Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) mutiny in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Menagerie." Spock risked his Starfleet career to deliver Fleet Captain Pike to Talos IV in "The Menagerie." The telepathic Talosians used their powers to allow Pike to live out his days in an illusion after he was horribly disfigured in a delta ray accident.
Star Trek: Discovery season 2 introduced the fascinating wrinkle that Pike knows about the terrible future awaiting him, thanks to a Klingon time crystal. Strange New Worlds expanded on this knowledge, revealing that Pike learned the full details, exact date, time, and even the names of the Starfleet Cadets he saves when he's bombarded by crippling delta rays in 2266. In Strange New Worlds season 1's finale, "A Quality of Mercy," Admiral Pike from the future visits Chris to show him what would happen if he tried to change his fate. One of the tragic outcomes is Pike's destiny would transfer to Spock, who would be maimed by the Romulans when they attack the USS Enterprise.
Strange New Worlds Explains Pike's Emotional Reaction To Spock In "The Menagerie"
In Star Trek: TOS' "The Menagerie," Spock executed his plan to hijack the Enterprise to bring Pike to Talos IV. When Spock told Pike what he was up to, his former Captain repeatedly beeped the light on his wheelchair twice, signifying "No!" It logically plays so that Pike doesn't want Spock to risk his career for his sake, but the context added by Strange New Worlds season 1's finale goes deeper: Pike knows that Spock is crucial to the galaxy. The Vulcan has "important" work to do in his life - "fate of the galaxy stuff." Factoring this into the scene, it explains Pike's fear that Spock would ruin his career and, thus, jeopardize not just the Vulcan's future but that of the galaxy as well.
Of course, Fleet Captain Pike was robbed of his speech by the accident, and he couldn't vocalize any of what he knows to Spock, save to resort to the only means he had: his beeping light repeatedly pleading "No!" Ultimately, everything worked out as it should in "The Menagerie." But Strange New Worlds' revelations and added context now enhance the experience of watching "The Menagerie." It's especially poignant that Pike decided to accept his fate in "A Quality of Mercy," in large part to protect Spock and his future, hence his emotional reaction when Spock mutinied to bring Pike to Talos IV.
What's Canonically Supposed To Happen To Pike & Spock In Star Trek
As far as Star Trek canon has revealed, Captain Pike's story ends on Talos IV. He was reunited with his love, Vina (Susan Oliver), and Pike spent the rest of his days living out a lifelike illusion that he was still the handsome, dynamic man he was in Strange New Worlds before the accident. Strange New Worlds' prequel story further enhances what's known about Captain Pike, filling in the details of his amazing voyages as Captain of the Enterprise, as he also potentially grooms Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) to eventually succeed him in Strange New Worlds season 2.
As for Spock, his story is Star Trek legend. The Vulcan is destined to literally better the galaxy by serving as Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) First Officer aboard the Starship Enterprise. In his later years, Spock will die saving his friends from Khan (Ricardo Montalbán), get resurrected, and become an Ambassador who brokers peace with the Klingons, and sparks the unification of Vulcans and Romulans in the 24th century. Spock will finally travel to the 23rd-century Kelvin Timeline where he will live out his final days. Thanks to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' added compexity, it's understandable why Captain Pike didn't want Spock to jeopardize his important work to come in Star Trek: The Original Series.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.