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Love and Star Trek are a pairing that is as multifaceted as a temporal paradox. Though the franchise is renowned for its future technology, interstellar diplomacy, and legendary starships, its emotional resonance and its humanity (that extends to the realm of non-humans, too) make it truly timeless. Across decades of storytelling, Star Trek has explored the complexities of attachment: obligation vs. passion, reason vs. emotion, and the cultural, cosmic, or psychological obstacles that keep relationships from occurring. Among warp drives and away missions, a number of romantic prospects cooked just beneath the surface, never quite boiling over into full-blown love stories.
These are the "almost" far-flung connections with undeniable chemistry that never developed into canon romances, leaving fans shipping and weeping over what could have been. Whether it was the undeclared passion between a captain and his physician, the tension-filled undercurrent between a spy and a scientist, or moments of tenderness between members of vastly different crews, these near-romances became intrinsic strands in the Star Trek fabric.
In this list, we're examining seven Star Trek love stories that unfortunately never came to fruition but left an indelible mark all the same. Because sometimes, the loves that don't happen are just as strong as the ones that do.
Into nothingness: 7 Star Trek love stories that sadly never happened
1) Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher – A Love Lost in Protocols
Few Star Trek relationships are as hotly anticipated and perpetually deferred as that of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher. Throughout The Next Generation (1987-1994), their relationship emitted emotional richness, yet Starfleet responsibilities and earlier sorrow kept them distant. Though Star Trek: Picard Season 3 finally revealed they had a son named Jack, and demonstrated a love that did exist, just largely off-screen. The conflict rising from their sense of responsibility and personal feelings made this near-romance so painfully real. Fans waited decades for a resolution, only to discover that even in the 25th century, timing is everything.
2) Spock and Christine Chapel – Unrequited Love and Vulcan Logic
One of the most heartbreaking stories of love in Star Trek is that of Nurse Christine Chapel for Spock. From the very beginning of The Original Series (1966-69), one could see Nurse Chapel carrying a torch for the ever-controlling Vulcan; however, logic stayed ever on Spock's side, creating distance between them. Chapel's love was one-sided, yet it gave more inner flesh to the characters in question. The romance between the two was highly alluded to, especially in Amok Time, but the intricacies of Vulcan's emotional unavailability and Spock's repression ruled it out as another regretful "could have been." Chapel's love went unspoken and to date, remains at the heart of their dynamic.
3) Garak and Julian Bashir – A Subtle, Unspoken Connection
The relationship between Garak and Julian Bashir on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) is one of the most interesting, with an undeniable undertone of emotional passion. Although never developed to a complete extent, their relationship was full of tension, with Garak's enigmatic nature and Bashir's romantic ideals proving the ideal contrast. Actor Andrew Robinson has explained that he interpreted Garak as having romantic feelings for Bashir, although they were never explicitly stated. Audiences loved their chemistry and nicknamed the couple "Garashir." This "will-they-won't-they" relationship extended beyond the series, particularly when Lower Decks (2020-) cemented their relationship in a light-hearted tribute.
4) Kira Nerys and Julian Bashir – Missed Opportunities in Deep Space Nine
Although Julian Bashir's crush on Kira Nerys was apparent from the start, Kira's complex emotions established that she was not looking for a romantic involvement. Their relationship, though, was an intriguing aspect of Deep Space Nine's dynamic character development. Even after Kira's rejection, Bashir stayed committed, and their developing friendship was evidence of the expansion of both characters. Fans tended to speculate on a "what-if" situation where they might have found love, but the show eventually settled on their friendship, creating a subtle and poignant missed-romance opportunity.
5) T’Pol and Trip Tucker – Love Interrupted by Duty and Tragedy
T'Pol and Trip Tucker's on-again, off-again romance in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005) was one of the most romantic and emotionally involved relationships in the franchise, though also one filled with sorrow. The tension between them was palpable, each of the two characters at first unwilling to recognize the other as more than an acquaintance. Still, by the series' end, they shared a kiss, which was indicative of the love that had developed between them. Unfortunately, Trip's death at the end of Enterprise's last episode ruined any opportunity for a complete romance, with fans left guessing what could have been. His unrealized potential is an added reminder of the way love can be cut off by duty and fate.
6) Nyota Uhura and Montgomery Scott – The Subtle Chemistry That Never Blossomed
While Star Trek tended to hover over the high-energy romance between Spock and Uhura, there was also a subtle connection between Uhura and Scotty. Their teasing exchanges and instances of mutual respect indicated something more, but nothing more was ever done. The fleeting displays of affection, like Scotty's protectiveness over Uhura, implied a romantic undertone that existed only subtly. Star Trek's emphasis on other relationships and general non-engagement in a full-on romance between the two left readers wondering about the love that never quite happened.
7) Harry Kim and Seven of Nine – Missed Romance Across Species
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Harry Kim's emotions toward Seven of Nine on Voyager (1995-2001) were as obvious as they were one-sided. During the course of the series, Harry showed a strong affection for the ex-Borg, but Seven, concerned about her own humanity, never responded. Their interactions were always tinged with longing and reservation, as Harry wished for more while Seven was emotionally unavailable. Harry's vulnerability and Seven's identity crisis also heightened the sense of their almost romance. Though they had chemistry, their relationship never blossomed into a romance, and fans can't help but speculate how their relationship could have developed had Seven let herself embrace what she felt.
Star Trek has always reached for the stars to investigate the human condition, and that means love in all its messy configurations. These seven unrequited love stories remind us that not every tale requires a happy ending to be significant. Sometimes, longing, restraint, and lost opportunities tell us more about a character than fulfilled love ever could. Whether because of obligation, timing, or the sheer enormity of space itself, these near-relationships haunt the imagination of the fandom. They may have dissipated into nothingness within the canon, but for fans, they are indelible sparks in the universe of Star Trek and its storytelling.
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