Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 2 - “Wedding Bell Blues"A familiar actor fromStar Trek: The Next Generationmakes a shocking voice cameo inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3, episode 2. Directed by Jordan Canning and written by Kirstin Beyer and David Reed, “Wedding Bell Blues” is a comedic masterpiece guest starring Rhys Darby as Trelane fromStar Trek: The Original Series.
Trelane was originally played by William CampbellinStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason1’s “The Squire of Gothos.” InStrange New Worlds' prequel timeframe,the 8,020-year-old cosmic trickster poses as a meddlesome wedding plannerto marry Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush).
Trelane is never named inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds- and it’s possible the young space god doesn’t choose to call himself"General Trelane, retired"until “The Squire of Gothos” - but Rhys Darby’s hair and costume make him unmistakable. Also unmistakable isthe surprise guest voice who plays Trelane’s “dad.”
John de Lancie’s Cameo In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Explained
Is He Playing Another Member Of The Q Continuum?
John de Lancie voices Trelane’s fatherinStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3, episode 2, “Wedding Bell Blues.” Of course, de Lancie is best known for his22 appearances as the omnipotent QinStar Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Lower Decks,andStar Trek: Picard.
Trelane’s father appears as a non-corporeal energy entity to stop his son from killing the entire crew of the USS Enterprise.The ending of “Wedding Bell Blues” is a copyof how Trelane’s parents stopped him from killingCaptain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)inStar Trek: The Original Series' “The Squire of Gothos.”
Q isn’t known to have any children untilStar Trek: Voyagerin the 24th century.
John de Lancie’s guest spot as the voice of Trelane’s father is alsoStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' nod to the long-discussed idea that Trelane and his race were members of the Q Continuumall along.Strange New Worldsdoesn’t confirm or deny this, and neither Trelane nor his father identify themselves as Q.
John de Lancie’s Strange New Worlds Cameo Made Star Trek History
For The First Time, John de Lancie Can Say, “Q Who?”
John de Lancie voicing Trelane’s father inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 3, episode 2, marksthe first time the celebrated actor plays a character other than QinStar Trek. Since 1987, de Lancie has played his omnipotent trickster exclusively.Strange New Worldsis also John’s secondStar Trekvoice-over role after voicing Q inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 1’s “Veritas.”
Then again, it’s possible John de Lancie is playing Q, or a different Q, inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, if Trelane and his race are, indeed, retconned to be members of the Q Continuum byStar Trek.John playing a different version of Q would also be a firstfor the legendary actor. (Unless the Q at theend ofStar Trek: Picardseason 3is a different Q from the one who died inStar Trek: Picardseason 2.)
Star Trek: Strange New Worldscannily didn’t answer Trelane’s long-held mysteries, but John de Lancie was a wonderful shout-out to fans of Q andStar Trek: The Next Generation.
