The new era of Star Trek shows on Paramount+ has paid particular attention to developing the relationships between characters in the final frontier, and some love stories stand out as the best. Star Trek: Discovery is dedicated to wider representation, including depicting LGBTQ+ characters in stable relationships. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Picard introduced brand-new characters and breathed new life into familiar ones, and even the animated shows, Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy, are dedicated to maintaining continuity, leading to richer storytelling opportunities for long-term relationships between characters.
Romance is nothing new to Star Trek, but the wide range of tones and genres explored by the new Star Trek TV shows means that new characters’ love stories can share that diversity of style. There are sweet beginnings laced with uncertainty, complex problems faced by long-term couples, and the racing hearts of pairs finding physical connections to match their emotional bonds. The Star Trek approach to love stories shows the depth and breadth of humanity, focuses on people bonding over their similarities despite their differences, and centers on the need for communication and trust to forge true relationships.
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11 Honorable Mention: Lt. Spock & T’Pring
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
An honorable mention goes to Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and T’Pring (Gia Sandhu) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Although T’Pring appears to be party to a loveless arranged marriage in Star Trek: The Original Series, the TOS prequel shows Spock and T’Pring are a real couple that genuinely cares about each other, despite the obstacles in their way. Spock must prove himself to T’Pring’s disapproving family, while T’Pring has to contend with Spock’s Starfleet career. T’Pring and Spock are really trying to make their relationship work, but the clash of T’Pring’s values and Spock’s wavering commitment can’t hold up to the external challenges.
Important Moments in Spock and T’Pring’s Relationship | |
|---|---|
T’Pring proposes to Spock | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 1, “Strange New Worlds” |
Spock and T’Pring swap bodies | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 5, “Spock Amok” |
Spock and T’Pring’s V’shal engagement ceremony | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, “Charades” |
T’Pring suggests she and Spock go “on a break” | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, “Charades” |
T’Pring invokes kal-if-fee, dumping Spock for good | Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 1 “Amok Time” |
10 Dal R’El & Gwyndala
Star Trek: Prodigy
Dal R’El (Brett Gray) and Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) have a rocky start in Star Trek: Prodigy, since Dal sees everyone as a potential enemy, and Gwyn being the Diviner’s (John Noble) daughter makes her extra suspicious in Dal’s book. Of course, once Dal and Gwyn start actually talking (and more to the point, listening) to one another, Gwyn and Dal find they have more in common, making the solid foundation of a great friendship. Dal’s awkward approach to something more with Gwyn is completely realistic for a teenager fumbling through a crush, making Dal and Gwyn kind of sweet, and wholly relatable to Prodigy‘s younger target demographic.
9 Lt. Shaxs & Dr. T’Ana
Star Trek: Lower Decks
When it comes to the sordid details of Lt. Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) and Dr. T’Ana (Gillian Vigman), Star Trek: Lower Decks’ main characters are probably thrilled they don’t always know what’s going on with the upper deckers. Shaxs and T’Ana’s are a prime example of the USS Cerritos being “the horniest ship in the fleet”, but there’s more to T’Ana and Shaxs than their shamelessly robust sex life. Shaxs is perceptive enough to give T’Ana the genuine care that she’s too proud to admit needing, and T’Ana is unfazed when Shaxs’ past in the Bajoran resistance haunts him. The kinky holodeck programs are just a bonus.
8 Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh & Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
The love story of Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) from an alternate timeline begins and ends in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3 “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”. Taken back in time, La’an and Jim are unencumbered by infamous names or wartime responsibilities and easily connect as their authentic selves. The palpable chemistry between Chong and Wesley makes this ultimately doomed relationship all the more devastating, even before their impossible romance is cut short. Upon returning home, La’an can’t talk about Kirk, but La’an’s “Subspace Rhapsody” song, “How Would That Feel”, reveals the true depths of her heartbreak.
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7 Ensign Adira Tal & Gray Tal
Star Trek: Discovery
Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) and Gray Tal (Ian Alexander) show a surprising level of commitment and persistence for teenagers, but Adira and Gray both benefit from the wisdom of the Trill symbiont Tal. Gray was Tal’s host until a fatal accident left the human Adira as Tal’s only hope of survival. The procedure should have killed Adira, but Gray’s love meant Tal accepted Adira, regardless of biology. Gray persisted as an individual personality, determined to keep pushing Adira out of their comfort zone, and Adira helped transfer Gray into a synthetic body. Adira and Gray do more than support each other; they literally keep each other alive.
6 Lt. Spock & Nurse Christine Chapel
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
In Strange New Worlds, Lt. Spock is still figuring out the balance between his human and Vulcan halves, and indulges his human side by romancing Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). Spock and Chapel are equally passionate, but Christine is adventurous and impulsive, without much filter, and Spock is practically all filter, tempering emotions with Vulcan logic. Chapel and Spock clearly care deeply for one another, and could balance each other out, but they’d have to work on communicating and trusting each other more. Even with Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) spilling spoilers all over Christine’s uncertainty, there are still future possibilities for Spock and Chapel’s relationship.
5 Captain Seven of Nine & Commander Raffi Musiker
Star Trek: Picard
Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) both carry heavy baggage, so Seven and Raffi have to reconcile their pasts to make their relationship work. Seven needs to overcome a fear of connection to others, while Raffi fears being abandoned again, and both are trying to escape the ways they harmed people for reasons beyond their control. It’s not an easy path, but Raffi and Seven see each other as far more than just the former drone and the addict others do and can help each other heal from the hurt they’ve suffered when they just trust each other.
4 Commander Paul Stamets & Dr. Hugh Culber
Star Trek: Discovery
Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) couldn’t seem more different, with Stamets inclined to push people away and Culber willingly inviting others in, but both are deeply, almost dangerously, dedicated, whether that’s to work or to each other. The love between Stamets and Culber was never more apparent than when Paul’s tremendous grief and connection to the mycelial network brought Hugh back from the dead in a brand-new body. Culber’s resurrection came with a fresh new set of challenges, but the strength of their partnership carried them through Hugh’s rebirth and on into the USS Discovery’s jump to the future.
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3 Captain Saru & President T’Rina
Star Trek: Discovery
Captain Saru (Doug Jones) and President T’Rina of Ni’Var (Tara Rosling) share a relationship that’s sweet and delicate, as both navigate through their own surprising new feelings, and the incredulous possibility that they may just like each other. Saru and T’Rina find themselves in each other’s frequent company for political reasons, but from there, the personal relationship moves in small, careful steps, as though both are afraid a wrong move might shatter the fragile connection between them. It makes sense, given T’Rina’s Vulcan heritage and Saru’s identity as a Kelpien 900 years out of time, and it’s delightfully wholesome.
2 Captain Christopher Pike & Captain Marie Batel
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
As Starfleet captains, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) understand the demands that come with commanding a starship, and are still determined to carve time out for one another. When Pike isolated himself after learning his fate, Pike still maintained his relationship with Batel. A gift from Marie remains Christopher’s link to his identity when Pike’s memories are erased, and their relationship is the focus of an almost-duet between the two in SNW season 2, episode 9 “Subspace Rhapsody”. Pike’s willing to put a lot on the line for Marie, especially after Batel is kidnapped by the Gorn in the Strange New Worlds season 2 finale “Hegemony”.
1 Captain Michael Burnham & Cleveland Booker
Star Trek: Discovery
Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) finds herself alone in the 32nd century at the start of Star Trek: Discovery season 3, and courier Cleveland Booker becomes Michael’s unlikely guide to the future. Book’s empathy is rare in a galaxy that’s turned harsh after the Burn, but Michael shares it, as a “true believer” in the Federation. Michael and Book help each other survive, and bring out the best in each other as partners. Even when the dedication to core beliefs that initially united Burnham and Book drives a wedge between them in Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Michael and Book still love each other in the end: truly, wholly, and deeply.
Star Trek is excellent at holding a mirror to humanity to reflect reality with a sci-fi twist, and that remains true of the way that all of these new couples are depicted. Queer stories use death and rebirth as a metaphor for discovering and living as one’s true identity. Time travel represents a test for partners thrown into new circumstances. Interspecies dating requires understanding and respecting cultural differences, especially when courting Vulcans. As humanity’s understanding of the variety of ways love can be expressed grows, the variety of love stories on Star Trek does, too.
