In last week’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode, “Among the Lotus Eaters,” the crew of the USS Enterprise returned to a planet they’d previously visited. Furthermore, the episode served as a sequel to the original pilot for Star Trek: The Original Series, “The Cage.”
Star Trek is no stranger to sequels. In fact, some of the most famous stories in the Franchise are actually sequels to preceding stories. One important thing to remember: sometimes a sequel is best served cold. This Trek Tuesday, GGA is bringing you 7 great Star Trek sequel stories. Did we include your favorite?
Spock, Spock
Spock2.
Most Trek fans remember the TOS season 1 episode “The City on the Edge of Forever.” This story introduces the Guardian of Forever. A sentient time portal, the Guardian made a major return in the second episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series season 1, “Yesteryear.” In this story, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) must re-enter the Guardian and revisit a tragic incident from his childhood involving his pet sehlat. In a sense, this also makes the episode a sequel to TOS season 2’s “Journey to Babel,” in which Spock’s pet is first mentioned.
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This isn’t the final appearance of the Guardian, either. In the Star Trek: Discovery season 3 two-part episode “Terra Firma.” This story is also a sequel to TOS season 2’s “Mirror, Mirror.”
The Path of Khan
KHAN!
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a direct sequel to the TOS episode season 1 “Space Seed.” However, many of those who have watched and enjoyed Wrath of Khan have not watched the episode, if they are even aware it exists. The influence of this movie is so great, it may be the source of the exact phrase “revenge is a dish best served cold.”
But as Trekkies already know, “Space Seed” is also the original source of the Augment storyline. Encompassing episodes of many different Trek shows, including Star Trek: Enterprise, SNW, and Star Trek: Prodigy, humanity’s relationship with Augmentation is one of the Franchise’s most wide-spanning ongoing storylines.
“It’s Naked Time!”
What if these two had a kid OMG can you imagine???
In the TOS season 1 episode “The Naked Time,” the crew of the USS Enterprise encounters a complex chain of molecules that eradicate their inhibition. This leads to chaos, debauchery and behavior unbefitting of a Starfleet crew.
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This story gets a sequel in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 episode “The Naked Now.” When the crew of the USS Enterprise-D encounters a similar phenomenon, they experience similar chaotic results. Fortunately, Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) is able to use notes from Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) to inform an effective solution.
Trilogy of Tribble
Spock will remember this moment forever.
The TOS season 2 episode “The Trouble with Tribbles” has spawned several Star Trek sequels. This is fitting for the eponymous creatures, who are problematic for their propensity to reproduce. The first sequel to the episode is TAS season 1 episode “More Tribbles, More Troubles.” Still not enough Tribble? In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s “Trials and Tribble-ations,” the crew of the USS Defiant visited the Enterprise during these Tribble-ing events.
All three of these episodes are collected on a single disc included in the TOS season 2 Blu-ray set. This is notable because, since the series has yet to be released in high definition, this is the only episode of DS9 to be officially released on Blu-ray. Let me tell you, friends and fellow Trekkies: DS9 looks good in hi-def. For more Tribble time, check out the Star Trek: Short Treks season 2 episode “The Trouble with Edward” and the Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode “The Bounty.”
Sera was Right!
Old Man Cochrane warned us about this.
In the 1996 movie Star Trek: First Contact, The Borg Queen (Alice Krige) travels back to Earth in the 2060s in an attempt to assimilate humanity before first contact with the Vulcans transpires. Fortunately, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is able to put an end to her plot. Furthermore, the historical first warp flight by Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) is restored.
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But was history really restored? A sequel to the movie suggests the restoration may have been strictly superficial. This takes place in the Star Trek: Enterprise season 2 episode “Regeneration.” In “Regeneration,” an Arctic research team discovers corpses of several Borg left on Earth after First Contact.
Coming Back to “The Cage”
Just like “Among the Lotus Eaters,” Disco season 2 episode “If Memory Serves” is a sequel to the unaired TOS pilot “The Cage.” However, “Among the Lotus Eaters” focuses on the Rigel VII element of “The Cage.” Meanwhile, “If Memory Serves” is more centered on the story elements more directly related to Talos IV. And of course, it’s worth noting that the episode that first introduced most viewers to Captain Christopher Pike was TOS season 1’s “The Menagerie,” which could be considered a sequel or remake of “The Cage” as well.
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However, “If Memory Serves” emphasizes its status as a sequel with a special “previously on” segment. Featuring footage from “The Cage” and a singular aesthetic, this memorable opening is a nice overture for the return to Talos IV.
Pandronian Problems
“A Starfleet classic. Yeehaw!” Photo: PARAMOUNT+ ©2021 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved
In the TAS season 2 episode “Bem,” the crew of the Enterprise is visited by a Pandronian. The purpose of this visit is to allow Ari bn Bem (James Doohan) to determine whether or not his species will join the Federation.
This episode gets a sequel in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2’s “I, Excretus.” However, the stakes are not so high when a Pandronian visits the USS Cerritos. Nevertheless, the future of our favorite Cali class ship is threatened by the assessment of Shari yn Yem (Lennon Parham).
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