Vulcan Starfleet Officer Saavik (Kirstie Alley/Robin Curtis) from the Star Trek: The Original Series films just received a major canonical update prior to Star Trek: Picard season 3. Saavik was introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan as a Lieutenant mentored by Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy). She got a quick and intense education when the USS Enterprise was forced into a battle with Admiral James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban).
What happened to Lt. Saavik after her brief and final appearance in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home has been an unanswered question for 37 years but the official @startreklogs Instagram entry about the USS Titan in Star Trek: Picard season 3 unexpectedly dropped a huge revelation about Saavik's Starfleet career.
After a brief farewell to the TOS crew at the beginning of Star Trek IV, Saavik remained on Vulcan, never to be seen again. She was an important figure in what is arguably the very best Star Trek movie, and it was always a bit baffling that she never got a proper follow-up story. However, @startreklogs is considered canon as the updates the Instagram feed provided during Star Trek: Prodigy was official backstory for season 1.
Star Trek Reveals Saavik Became Captain Of The USS Titan
Saavik's mention in @startreklogs Instagram confirms that years after Star Trek IV, she took command of the Shangri La Class USS Titan, NCC-1777, the first Starfleet vessel to bear that name, in 2290. Saavik's Titan was apparently known for its many run-ins with the Klingons, which would make sense given how volatile a time that was for relations between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire prior to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Further, the Titan commanded by Captain Saavik was named the Federation flagship at the suggestion of Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), her fellow Enterprise alum who would go on to a storied career as the commanding officer of the USS Excelsior.
Though seen very early in her career in the TOS films, Saavik always seemed destined for greatness. She made a strong impression on Kirk in The Wrath Of Khan, reminding the Admiral of Starfleet protocols whenever he inevitably went a bit rogue with his strategy. Saavik was instrumental in reviving Spock in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock. @startreklogs also notes that it was due to the legacy of Captain Saavik and Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) that the USS Titan became a legacy ship, with the USS Titan-A serving as the hero ship of Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Why Saavik Was Played By Kirstie Alley & Robin Curtis
The part of Lieutenant Saavik was originated by Kirstie Alley in The Wrath Of Khan. Alley was a standout performer in Star Trek II who won over audiences as a new female character on the Enterprise bridge. When she was approached to return for The Search For Spock, Alley and the studio, Paramount, entered a contract dispute, with Alley ultimately deciding not to return.
Alley was replaced by Robin Curtis in The Search For Spock and The Voyage Home. Curtis does solid work in the role, but she wasn't nearly as dynamic as Alley. Director Nicholas Meyer contemplated bringing Alley back as Saavik for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, but she had become one of TV's highest-paid actresses on the hit sitcom Cheers, and her price and schedule made a return impossible. Saavik was replaced by a new character, Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrall). Star Trek: Picard season 3 promises to continue the stories of many franchise legacy characters, but that Saavik is one of them is a delightful surprise.