Star Trek: Strange New Worlds finally took us to the mysterious planet of Rigel VII and it was worth the wait

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 took fans to the much-speculated planet in the galaxy, Rigel VII. The planet is the homeworld of a pre-warp species referred to as the Kalar. We first get acquainted with Rigel VII in Star Trek: The Original Series’ unaired pilot episode, The Cage. Captain Christopher Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter) had a violent encounter with Kalar warriors, which resulted in the death of three USS Enterprise crew members. The incident left him deeply distressed.

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 4, titled Among the Lotus Eaters, Captain Pike (played by Anson Mount) and crew visit the planet five years after the events of The Cage. They learn that the Kalar were using the Starfleet insignia on the planet, which amounts to cultural contamination as per Starfleet’s Prime Directive. The Enterprise was tasked to rectify the mistake made during the original visit. However, what awaits them on the planet is much deadlier than they anticipated.

What happened on Rigel VII in Star Trek: The Original Series?

Weeks before the USS Enterprise encountered the Talosians on Talos IV in the unaired pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, titled The Cage, Captain Pike and his crew arrived on Rigel VII for routine exploration. During the mission, they encountered the natives, referred to as the Kalar. The pre-warp species had an impressive warrior class.

However, the Enterprise crew was ambushed and unwillingly engaged in a violent conflict with them. They lost three crew members, and even Spock was injured. Captain Pike was filled with guilt about the mission and sought help from the Enterprise doctor to overcome the trauma. While on Talos IV, the Talosians used illusion to return Captain Pike to Rigel VII. Pike reluctantly fought a Kalar warrior and escaped.

Captain Pike and crew visit Rigel VII in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

In Season 2 Episode 4, titled Among the Lotus Eaters, First Officer Una Chin-Riley (played by Rebecca Romijn) informed the crew that during a recent photographic survey of Rigel VII by Starfleet, they discovered that the Kalar were using the Starfleet insignia. This grave error on the part of the Enterprise’s original landing crew was an oversight of Starfleet’s Prime Directive, which states that Starfleet will not interfere with other cultures or influence other civilizations, allowing them to evolve on their own.

In an undercover operation, Captain Pike, Dr. Joseph M’Benga (played by Babs Olusanmokun), and La’an Noonien-Singh (played by Christina Chong) arrived on Rigel VII to address the cultural contamination. La’an started showing symptoms of memory loss as they navigated through the rough plains of the planet. They spotted the Starfleet symbol on a palace and saw that the gate was guarded by people with Starfleet phasers.

When they were brought before the “Kalar leader,” Pike was shocked to meet his yeoman, Zac Nguyen (played by David Huynh), whom he had believed was killed five years ago. Zac was bitter toward his former captain, as he believed Pike left him behind. He revealed that the Kalar accepted the Starfleet insignia as their symbol when he became their king.

Zac explained that the planet was unlike anything they had experienced before, as radiation from an asteroid on the planet’s surface affected their brains, causing people to experience gaps in memory and lose track of time. He also told Pike that the Enterprise in orbit would face the same issue, and their memories would eventually be erased.

Pike, M’Benga, and La’an had lapses in their memory as they struggled to make sense of their identity or what they were doing on the planet. Even aboard the Enterprise, crew members experienced memory loss. Spock (played by Ethan Peck) commanded helmsman Erica Ortegas (played by Melissa Navia) to move into the debris field, believing it might shield them from the radiation.

On the planet, it was revealed that the radiation could not penetrate the palace where Zac lived, ensuring that his memory remained intact. Pike and M’Benga managed to overpower the guards and headed to the palace to restore their memories and help an injured La’an. Pike told Zac that though he was regretful for having left him behind, Zac’s actions toward him and the crew were unforgivable. Pike informed him that Starfleet would determine his fate.

On the Enterprise, Pike decided that the only way the Kalar could thrive was if the asteroid was removed from the planet’s surface. Although it was technically against Starfleet’s Prime Directive, the asteroid was a hindrance to the planet’s natural development. Using two shuttles and the Enterprise’s tractor beam, the asteroid was flung away from the planet, ensuring that Rigel VII would no longer be affected by radiation.

It was established that the Kalar knew about Starfleet. It will be interesting to see how Rigel VII develops and whether it will be visited again in future Star Trek ventures.

Season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will premiere on July 17, 2025 on Paramount+.

ALSO READ: “Still the charming Kirk we know” - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Paul Wesley on taking on the role of James T. Kirk

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