The presence of Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán) will continue to be felt in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 even if the genetically-engineered super villain doesn't appear. Strange New Worlds season 1 ended with the two Starfleet Officers who have ties to Khan, La'an Noonien Singh (Christina Chong) and Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley AKA Number One (Rebecca Romijn), leaving the USS Enterprise. La'an voluntarily stepped away for a personal reason while Number One was arrested by Starfleet. However, both will be back in Strange New Worlds season 2, and Khan will continue to impact both of their lives and the show.
La'an Noonien Singh is a blood descendant of Khan, who fled the Earth along with dozens of his genetically-engineered followers in the 1990s. Khan and his people are floating in the galaxy in suspended animation aboard the SS Botany Bay, and they will eventually be discovered by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the USS Enterprise in 2266. However, in Strange New Worlds' time, roughly 6-7 years prior to Star Trek: The Original Series, La'an knew who her ancestor is, and she endured being feared and ridiculed as an "Augment" her entire life, even though she did not display any enhanced abilities in Strange New Worlds season 1. However, La'an's mentor, Una, is an Augment. Number One kept the fact that she is Illyrian, a race banned by the United Federation of Planets for practicing eugenics, a secret so that she could join Starfleet. Somehow, Starfleet discovered Una's deception, and she was apprehended. Even Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was powerless to stop his First Officer from being arrested by Starfleet Security.
Khan's legacy will continue to loom over La'an and Una's lives in Strange New Worlds season 2. Una's legal dilemma will be about the fact that she lied to Starfleet about being genetically engineered. This will allow Starfleet and Strange New Worlds to confront how the Federation views Augments and the galaxy's prevalent fears about creating another Khan. As for La'an, Christina Chong hinted at San Diego Comic Con 2022 that her character might show a different side of herself in Strange New Worlds season 2 that could reflect a different set of Khan-inspired traits. Khan may be feared for his physical superiority to normal humans but the warlord's enhanced intellect, cunning, and ruthlessness are what truly make him fearsome. It's evident even in Strange New Worlds season 1 that while La'an is a compassionate person who acts nobly, she also struggles with inner demons. Perhaps that's the Khan-inspired side of La'an always burning to be let loose, which may finally happen in Strange New Worlds season 2.
Why Star Trek Is Still So Focused On Khan
Khan has only made two appearances in Star Trek - in the 1966 TOS episode, "Space Seed," and as the titular villain in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - but Ricardo Montalbán's charming yet terrifying superman has made an indelible mark on the franchise. Indeed, despite perishing in Star Trek II, Khan continues to be mentioned with startling frequency in Paramount+'s current Star Trek TV series. Along with Khan's ties to La'an and Una in Strange New Worlds, he has also been name-dropped on Star Trek: Lower Decks. Meanwhile, the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Picard left viewers stunned when Dr. Adam Soong (Brent Spiner) revealed a folder labeled "Project Khan." As a matter of routine, Khan's name is evoked whenever any new Star Trek villain is created.
Khan continues to be the gold standard for every Star Trek villain because of his combination of intelligence, charisma, and intimidating physical power. Only the Borg Queen rivals Khan in the upper echelons of Star Trek villains, but Khan's archetype is more versatile and far more influential. Much of Khan's appeal lies in Ricardo Montalbán's unparalleled portrayal, and it says something that there has been no attempt to recast Khan (at least, not yet). Instead, Khan's legacy will continue through La'an Noonien Singh and Number One in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, which will offer dueling ways to look at Khan's lasting impact.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.