Despite mixed audience opinions and a fate doomed by canon, I think Star Trek: Strange New Worlds should continue the relationship between Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Science Officer Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck). Their romance started as Nurse Chapel’s crush on Spock, mirroring the unexplored feelings between the two officers in Star Trek: The Original Series. Although the Spock and Chapel pairing hasn’t always been popular, their relationship should be explored to discover how it can develop the characters individually in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.

Set before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, the characters in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have a unique opportunity to set up their future counterparts. This helped Strange New Worlds make a name for itself by exploring recognizable characters and familiar narratives from bygone Star Trek eras. I know Majel Barrett’s Christine Chapel is destined to be engaged to Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong), and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock engages in Vulcan romance traditions with T’Pring (Arlene Martel). Still, I think Strange New Worlds should keep Spock and Chapel together for a little while longer.

Spock And Chapel’s Relationship Gives Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Sex Appeal

The Vulcan and Nurse give Strange New World a steady romantic subplot

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has given most of its romantic subplots to the USS Enterprise’s Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), who has been romantically involved with two separate characters in Strange New Worlds seasons 1 and 2. Captain Pike’s love interests include one-episode guest star Minister Alora (Llindy Booth) and the recurring Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano), but neither of them are from Star Trek: The Original Series. Despite Pike’s occasional relationships, I think Strange New Worlds benefits from a more stable romantic subplot through Christine and Spock’s connection.

Throughout Strange New Worlds‘ first season, there’s definitely will they or won’t they tension between the Vulcan Science Officer and Medbay’s lead nurse. However, Strange New Worlds season 2 takes Spock and Chapel to the next level by making them more or less an official Star Trek couple. Although Christine is hesitant about commitment because of her desire to accept an archeological medicine fellowship, Spock defies his Vulcan commitments and explores his distinctly human feelings for the nurse. I think Strange New Worlds should see Spock and Chapel’s relationship through for a season or two to give these characters room to grow together—and, eventually, apart.

Strange New Worlds’ Romance Lets Chapel And Spock Shine Individually

Their romance provides context for their individual development

Lt. Spock and Nurse Chapel’s relationship mainly explores their growing feelings for each other, but their connection also allows for the individual development of their characters. Due to her connection to Spock, Christine is depicted outside of performing her duties as the ship’s head nurse. We see heartbreaking flashbacks of Chapel and Dr. Joseph M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), who fought in the Klingon War. Spock showcases his human side thanks to his relationship with the nurse, and we get to see his sense of humor shine through his usually stoic Vulcan facade.

The time-traveling Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) shares blame for the breakup between Lt. Spock and Nurse Chapel in Strange New Worlds season 2, though Christine is partly responsible because she accepted a fellowship with Dr. Roger Korby, who will become her fiancé if the show follows Star Trek: The Original Series canon. However, Strange New Worlds season 2’s finale hinted at a rekindling of their romance in the highly anticipated Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, and I hope Spock and Chapel have more time together so we can see them flourish together and separately thanks to their unorthodox but fascinating relationship.