6 Ups And 3 Downs From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3.6 — The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail

4. UP — Check, Mate

Star Trek Strange New Worlds The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail Spock Kirk
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In an episode that relies on it, one of the best examples of foreshadowing came via a quieter moment in the ready room of the Farragut. Colleagues for time being, these are the premises of the greatest on-screen friendship. The vast majority of the destiny of Kirk and Spock is already written. Like in The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail, some of it features death and destruction. Some of it just involves chess.

There is no need for the less-than-subtle one-liners when two beloved characters can simply be allowed to interact. After a heated exchange on the bridge, Spock simply goes to talk to Kirk (as only he can, and especially will be able to, do). 3D chess in the ready room of the Farragut becomes 3D chess on the Enterprise in Charlie X, and yet all the dramatic irony in the world can't temper the immediacy of the scene itself.

The interaction is played expertly by Ethan Peck and Paul Wesley, who must surely feel the weight of it. Spock's more custom stoicism is on display around his current and future captain. Kirk has moved from posturing self-assuredness to poignant self-doubt — not for the last time.

Contributor
Contributor

Jack has been a content creator for TrekCulture since 2022, and a Star Trek fan for as long as he can remember. He has authored over 170 articles, including one of TrekCulture's longest, and has appeared several times on the TrekCulture podcast. He holds a first-class honours degree in French from the University of Sussex, a master's with distinction in Language, Culture and History: French and Francophone Studies and a PhD in French from University College London (UCL). He has previously worked in the field of translation. His interests extend to science-fiction television and film more widely. His favourite series is Star Trek: Voyager, followed closely by Stargate SG-1.