This is how Star Trek: Strange New Worlds addressed Spock and Chapel’s scene from The Original Series

Star Trek has seen several bromances and romances that have stood the test of time. But not every story has a happy ending. In Star Trek: The Original Series episode titled ‘The Naked Time’, the USS Enterprise is threatened by a strange infection that lowers the inhibitions of the crew members.

Nurse Christine Chapel (played by Majel Barrett) emotionally shares her romantic feelings for Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy). For viewers, it was just an incoherent confession, but Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gave it a whole new perspective, foreshadowing the tragic fate that awaits their short-lived romance.

The audience first saw Nurse Chapel working alongside Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley). She would go on to appear in several episodes of The Original Series and even the subsequent movies.

However, a young Nurse Chapel (played by Jess Bush) in Strange New Worlds has a more substantial role, where we get insight into the romantic relationship between her and Spock (played by Ethan Peck) set years before the events in The Original Series.

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Mr. Spock and Nurse Chapel in Star Trek: The Original Series

We first see the intimate interaction between the two in The Original Series Season 1, episode 4 titled ‘The Naked Time’. When the USS Enterprise crew under Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) land on the dying planet Psi 2000, one of the members is infected by a mysterious virus. Though Dr. McCoy does not find anything out of ordinary, the crew members slowly start acting out of character.

Before the crew member dies of a wound, he unknowingly affects other crew members as well. Under the effects of the virus, everyone starts acting odd. Nurse Chapel, who was attending to the patients, is also infected by the virus. When Spock comes to the sickbay looking for Dr. McCoy, Nurse Chapel confesses her love for him. She tells him,

“I’m in love with you, Mr. Spock. The human Mr. Spock. The Vulcan Mr. Spock.”

Chapel also ends up infecting him when she touches him. She would tell him that he must feel things afterall, he is half-human. But Spock tells her that he is in control of his emotions. Spock is seen struggling with his emotions for her, while Nurse Chapel is still deeply in love with him.

Spock would tell her sorry and leave the sickbay. The rejection hurts not only Chapel but also Spock. By this point, Spock has completely embraced the Vulcan ideology of subduing emotions, and the effects of the virus were making him reflect on the relationship he once had with her foreshadowed in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

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How the relationship between Spock and Chapel is explained in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

The half-human, half-Vulcan Science Officer has always chosen logic above emotions in The Original Series. In Strange New Worlds however, we see a young Spock still struggling to find a balance between his human and Vulcan side. He forms a close relationship with Chapel, who would even offer him relationship advice.

In Season 2, episode titled ‘The Broken Circle,’ when Chapel and M’Benga (played by Babs Olusanmokun) plan to airlock themselves with an EV transponder, they are beamed aboard the Enterprise by Spock. While M’Banga is fine, Chapel is initially unresponsive. An emotional Spock will be seen trying to revive her, urgently begging her not to die. When she finally starts breathing, Spock appears grateful.

They have the ‘will-they won’t-they’ air around them from the start. But things between them hit a pause in the Season 2 episode titled ‘Subspace Rhapsody’, where they realize that their relationship may not have a future. The reason being Spock’s predicament between his Vulcan and human side. Spock and Nurse Chapel knew that his Vulcan way of living will eventually hinder their future.

Though T’Pring (played by Gia Sandhu) as seen in Season 1 was more attuned to Spock’s Vulcan side, their engagement was a rocky affair. Around Chapel, Spock is often seen displaying emotions that he would otherwise refrain from showcasing.

By the time, the events of Star Trek: The Original Series take place, Spock has completely moved on from his human side and even goes through the Kolinahr, a ritual that Vulcans undergo to suppress their emotions. Even the occasional emotional slip-ups are gone as seen in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Though we know that the relationship between Spock and Chapel is doomed, it is still delightful to see them share the screen together in an intimate setting, adding context to their scene in The Original Series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is going to premiere Season 3 on Paramount+ on July 17, 2025.

ALSO READ: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds explains the surprising reason Spock started playing the Vulcan lute

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