La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) embracing her Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) side in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 could be how the Starship Enterprise defeats the Gorn. The ruthless reptilian aliens emerged as major threats to the United Federation of Planets in Strange New Worlds season 1. Meanwhile, La'an was revealed to be a childhood survivor of a Gorn abduction. Yet within La'an's DNA is aspects of Khan, which could be the key to matching the Gorn's barbarity and beating them.
As the descendant of Khan Noonien Singh, La'an could do what she's avoided her entire life and tap into his savagery to fight the Gorn. La'an claimed she is not an Augment like her genetically-engineered Illyrian mentor and friend, Lt. Commander Una-Chin Riley (Rebecca Romijn), but even if she can't equal Khan's physical prowess, within her lurks his capacity for violence and extremism. As a Gorn survivor, La'an already innately understands their society and tactics. Tapping into her Khan side and breaking Starfleet's usual rules of engagement could be the key to the USS Enterprise saving the Federation from the Gorn menace - at least until they return on Cestus III in Star Trek: The Original Series.
The Gorn Probably Won't Be Back After Strange New Worlds Season 2
The Gorn have already been announced to return in Strange New Worlds season 2. Similarly, Christina Chong has hinted that La'an does unleash more of her Khan side in Strange New Worlds season 2. This seems like an ideal confluence that will lead to a pivotal confrontation between La'an, when she returns to the USS Enterpise, and her lifelong enemies, the Gorn. Strange New Worlds will likely resolve the ongoing Gorn storyline in season 2, and La'an letting loose the Khan within her could be the key to driving the alien reptiles back to their region of space. The ramifications of La'an embracing Khan would also show new dramatic facets of the Enterprise's Security Chief.
Strange New Worlds will likely have to resolve the Gorn storyline in season 2 in order to set the paradigm for Star Trek: The Original Series. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is unfamiliar with the Gorn, who aggressively make new inroads into Federation space in TOS. Of course, the Gorn could continue to recur in Strange New Worlds after season 2, but given the series' mandate of meeting new aliens and exploring new planets, it may move onto a new alien threat once the Gorn story is wrapped up.
Strange New Worlds Has To Make Sure Kirk Doesn't Meet The Gorn
Because Kirk battles the Gorn for the first time in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "The Arena," Strange New Worlds has to ensure that the younger Lieutenant Kirk (Paul Wesley) doesn't encounter the Gorn when he joins season 2. Lt. Kirk is currently stationed on the USS Farragut but Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) has taken an interest in the future Captain, and Jim likely comes aboard the Enterprise. Leaked set photos also show Kirk and La'an together in Strange New Worlds season 2. Perhaps this involves a battle with the Gorn, which could clash with canon. But it's relatively simple for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to not have Kirk in any season 2 episodes with the Gorn so that Jim has never seen one of the reptiles until Captain Kirk fights a Gorn on Cestus III.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 is expected to return in 2023 on Paramount+.