Star Trek: SNW’s Ethan Peck and Paul Wesley Discuss the Birth of Kirk and Spock’s Legendary Friendship

Bold Adventures with a Dash of Friendship

At the heart of Star Trek lies a vision of a bright and optimistic future for humanity, where we set aside our quarrels to boldly explore the great unknown. The original series kicked off a vibrant universe filled with spinoffs and movies, showcasing different crews and their unique escapades, while also inviting us into countless philosophical debates. Yet, let’s be real: what gets fans hooked is the dynamic between the classic duo, James T. Kirk and his loyal first officer, Mr. Spock, originally brought to life by iconic actors William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

Kirk and Spock – The Starting Line

In the prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Kirk and Spock haven’t entirely hit their stride in buddy-cop territory just yet. But for Ethan Peck (Spock) and Paul Wesley (Kirk), the foundation of this legendary friendship is being meticulously constructed. “We’ve got a lot of our off-screen chemistry spilling onto the screen,” Ethan shares during a lively chat at the San Diego Comic-Con with the Den of Geek crew. “I enjoy diving deep into Kirk’s impulsive and brash personality!”

“I think you just like having fun at Paul’s expense,” chimes in Christina Chong, who plays the ever-sassy La’An Noonien-Singh. Ethan nods in agreement, “Absolutely! I bring that energy from our behind-the-scenes antics straight into our scenes!”

Aboard the USS Enterprise

Set on the USS Enterprise as Kirk gears up for his future command, Strange New Worlds features Captain Christopher Pike, played by Anson Mount, leading a motley crew of explorers including the ever-reliable first officer Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) and the lively helmsman Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia). Interestingly, while Kirk is still doing his thing on the USS Farragut, he drops by the Enterprise every now and then, slowly discovering the warm, unpredictable soul that is Spock. And boy, do they have personalities that bump into one another in the best way!

Ethan elaborates, “Kirk immediately trusts Spock, which is a bit amusing given Spock’s skeptical and uncertain nature.” Paul adds, “Kirk feels a strange gravitational pull towards Spock, and he has no clue why — just like our friendship!”

Diving into Kirk’s Vulnerabilities

For Paul, exploring Kirk’s relationship with Spock is a key element in understanding the future hero of sci-fi. “This prequel dives into Kirk’s vulnerabilities, the ‘why’ behind his confident choices on the Original Series. He’s portrayed as a decisive leader, almost perfect, but we want the audience to see what shaped him into that person. We expose the layers that underlie the bravado!”

The second episode, “The Griffin Incident,” is a great example where Kirk faces some heavy emotional stuff regarding his relationship with his infant son, David, which shakes him to his core.

More Than Just Kirk and Spock

While Kirk and Spock are enthralling to watch, they’re not the only characters who’ve experienced growth over the series’ four seasons. For instance, Ortegas is about to embark on a wacky adventure with one of the franchise’s favorites, engineer Montgomery Scott, portrayed this time by the charming Scottish actor Martin Quinn.

“We’re gearing up for a little beef between the pilots and engineering!” teases Melissa. “Everyone’s gonna love seeing Erica and Scotty mixing it up, as I totally dig getting her off the bridge for a change!”

The Chaos of Emotions

This means fans will also get to explore the tougher side of her character, especially as she processes the emotional fallout from season 3’s standout episode “Terrarium.” In that nail-biting ride, Ortegas only survived by forming a bond with a Gorn. “The PTSD and grief she faced in season 3 linger on — you’ll see how it colors her actions and decisions moving forward!” Melissa observes. “But hey, that’s the essence of Star Trek, isn’t it? Discovering oneself amidst the chaos!”

The Fun and Struggles of La’an

La’an has also been on quite the emotional rollercoaster, grappling with her lineage as a relative of the infamous Khan Noonien Singh, her Romulan transformation, and her evolving relationships with Kirk and Spock. Despite it all, Christina describes the journey as simply: “Fun!” She continues, “In season 1, La’an was all about emotional repression, but as we move into season 2, she’s started to let her guard down — even dabbling in a romance with Spock in season 3! As I hone my craft as an actress, I’m excited to explore her character more!”

“Stay tuned to see where this character arc heads by episode nine!” Christina teases.

The Fluidity of Storytelling

Every episode of Strange New Worlds has its unique flair, keeping showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers on their toes. Whether they’re crafting courtroom dramas, hilarious alien encounters, or even musical episodes, they remind us that each story fundamentally revolves around human experiences.

According to Myers, “We kick off each episode with Star Trek at its core. We reflect on the classic series and take mental notes from the rich tapestry of storytelling throughout the franchise. The key is two-fold: A) Make it Star Trek, and B) Ensure there’s a deeply human story at play!”

“Regardless of the wildness or the laughter, we strive to keep the emotional heart of the characters front and center. By the time the credits roll, we want viewers to feel as if they’ve taken a meaningful human journey alongside our characters!”

Bye-Bye for Now

Goldsman’s thoughtful remarks shine a light on the show’s purpose, while Myers cleverly tosses in a joke, “Hey, we wrapped up the last season partly to save Ethan and Paul from becoming emotional wrecks when it ended!” So while Kirk and Spock’s profound friendship is still a work in progress, off-screen, these two are already more than just comrades.

This season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams fresh episodes every Thursday on Paramount+!