Star Trek: Strange New Worlds offers an exciting opportunity to showcase a remarkable capability of Captain Christopher Pike’s USS Enterprise. Since the inception of Star Trek: The Original Series, the USS Enterprise has been more than just a starship; it has developed into a character in its own right within the expansive Star Trek narrative. As advancements in special effects technology have come to fruition, Star Trek has been able to display a wider array of the Enterprise’s functionalities. However, Strange New Worlds has yet to utilize one significant feature that both Captain Pike’s and Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s (played by Patrick Stewart) vessels share: the ability to perform a saucer separation.
Captain Pike’s USS Enterprise and the Need for Saucer Separation in Strange New Worlds
The saucer separation maneuver was first demonstrated by the USS Enterprise-D in the Star Trek: The Next Generation premiere, “Encounter at Farpoint.”This innovative technique involved detaching the ship’s stardrive section from the larger saucer section. Due to the high costs associated with visual effects, the Enterprise-D only separated three times throughout TNG and once in Star Trek Generations. While the original USS Enterprise from The Original Series never visually portrayed this separation, it was indeed cited in the original writer’s guide as a feature of the 23rd-century ship.
The Visual Impact of Saucer Separation in Strange New Worlds
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Captain Pike commands the same USS Enterprise that James T. Kirk will command in the future, warranting the inclusion of this iconic feature. Given that in the 23rd century, saucer separation is typically regarded as a last-resort measure employed during dire emergencies, this addition could elevate the stakes within the narrative. Such a maneuver permits most crew members and any civilians aboard to escape in the saucer, while the stardrive section confronts potential threats head-on.
Throughout Strange New Worlds, Captain Pike’s Enterprise has encountered numerous perilous situations, yet it has not yet performed a saucer separation. This season, however, presents a unique chance to visualize this dramatic move. The stunning visuals of the Enterprise could highlight this feature beautifully. The ability to separate is historically one of the most thrilling aspects of the Enterprise’s design, and it would be a fantastic addition to the show.
Chris Pine’s Starship Enterprise: A Saucer Separation in Star Trek Beyond
In the cinematic universe, Chris Pine’s portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk showcases a saucer separation early in Star Trek Beyond. As the USS Enterprise faces the antagonist Krall (Idris Elba) and his formidable swarm of ships, the need for this procedure becomes evident. A rescue mission unfolds as the Enterprise aims to save Kalara (Lydia Wilson) and her stranded escape pod on the planet Altamid.
As Kirk and his crew arrive, they are soon confronted by an assault from swarms of small, armed vessels that severely damage the Enterprise’s systems before it can retaliate effectively. When the enemy destroys the ship’s neck section, Captain Kirk initiates a saucer separation. Although Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldaña) successfully executes the separation amidst chaos, it ultimately leads to Kirk and his crew needing to abandon ship due to extensive damage—a high-stakes moment that doesn’t end in success.
Unlike Kirk’s dire experience, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has the potential to portray this separation maneuver with a more favorable outcome, capitalizing on the excitement and drama it can bring to the storyline.