The young Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) will join Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, but his tentative relationship with Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) already bodes better than how it was depicted in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. An alternate future version of Captain Kirk appeared in Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale, and Pike was impressed by Kirk, who was the Captain of the USS Farragut. But in Strange New Worlds season 2's timeframe, Kirk is still a young Lieutenant serving on the Farragut who Pike has his eye on.

In Star Trek 2009, Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) was instrumental in James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) joining Starfleet. Pike dared Jim to do better than his father, Lt. George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), who was Captain of the USS Kelvin for 12 minutes and heroically saved hundreds of lives at the cost of his own. 3 years later, Cadet Kirk rocketed up the ranks when he led the USS Enterprise to defeat Nero (Eric Bana) and save the Earth. Pike turned over the Starship Enterprise to Kirk, its new Captain. In Star Trek Into Darkness, Admiral Pike was murdered by Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Kirk sought revenge against the genetically engineered madman. Of course, none of this happened in Star Trek's Prime Timeline.

Related: Star Trek Into Darkness Ending & Problems Explained

Pike's Strange New Worlds Relationship With Kirk Is Better Than Abrams'

Pike Kirk Strange New Worlds Season 1 Finale

Before Strange New Worlds season 2 even begins, the upcoming Pike and Kirk relationship is already an improvement over the Abrams Star Trek movies. The Kelvin Timeline's Kirk was defined by the death of his father, and he grew up without a male role model. Captain Pike became Kirk's father figure in Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, and the death of Pike drove Kirk to the brink of betraying his Starfleet principles as he hunted Khan. However, the Prime Timeline's Kirk has no such daddy issues. William Shatner and Paul Wesley's Kirk grew up with a father and a brother, Lt. Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte), who also serves on Pike's Enterprise, so Jim has no need of a surrogate father in Captain Pike.

Instead of a substitute parental relationship, Pike's interest in Kirk is more of a mentorship role. In the now-deleted alternate future where Pike accidentally started the Romulan War, Chris worked with Captain Kirk of the Farragut, who took bolder chances and had a more reckless command style. Pike learned that it was Kirk's risk-taking and daring that actually defeated the Romulans and prevented a war, which Pike failed to do with his more cautious, peace-driven approach. In a way, Pike wants to learn from young Lt. Kirk as much as he wants to teach Jim in Strange New Worlds season 2.

SNW Is The Origin Of How Kirk Becomes Captain Of The Enterprise

Paul Wesley as Kirk and the USS Enterprise

A fascinating aspect to look out for in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 is that it could be the origin of how James T. Kirk becomes Captain of the Enterprise. After Pike worked with the alt-Captain Kirk in Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale, he began to consider the young Starfleet Officer as his potential successor. After all, Pike is well-aware that he is doomed to suffer a debilitating accident that will be the "death of the man he is" in 2266. It's very likely Pike now knows Kirk is the man who will command the Enterprise after him and lead the United Federation of Planets' flagship to make history.

The potential for Pike mentoring Lt. Kirk in Strange New Worlds season 2, and the younger man brashly rejecting or conflicting with the living legend, is going to be a great deal of fun for audiences to witness. Lt. Kirk will eventually become the swaggering, heroic Captain played by William Shatner, and how much influence Pike will have on him going forward will be very telling. Meanwhile, it's a positive that Lt. James T. Kirk doesn't have daddy issues and isn't looking for a father figure in Pike, which puts them on a better footing in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.

More: Strange New Worlds Has A Secret Kirk & Nurse Chapel Connection

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.