As we boldly go into 2023, Star Trek continues to have no fewer than five ongoing shows. Since each of them will be getting new episodes in 2023, we will once again get nearly all the Trek our hearts desire. But what can we expect out of the Paramount Plus shows in this strange new year?
Here are 8 predictions about what Trek will bring us in 2023, from the assured to the outlandish. What are your personal predictions for Trek in 2023?
Everyone Will Adore Picard Season 3
This one hardly seems like a prediction at all. Star Trek: Picard season 3 is bringing back the bridge crew of the USS Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E. This means fans who haven’t gone boldly since Star Trek: The Next Generation was on the air in the early 1990s are already champing at the bit.
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This season is helmed by Terry Matalas. He also worked on Picard season 2. While that season proves he has the chops, he’s vowed this climactic season takes an especially cinematic approach. The clips of the soundtrack he’s Tweeted in support of this supposition are impressive. Plus, in addition to the stacked deck of the announced cast, there could be more surprise legacy appearances.
And this is without even mentioning confirmed appearances by the Enterprise-F and the Titan-A! All of this adds-up to a surefire crowd-pleaser. This prediction seems sure to come to pass.
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A Musical Episode
What started as a fringe inquiry has become a lowest-denominator question: when will Trek get a musical episode? Our calculations suggest it could be in the cards this year! In an interview conducted as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 was being released and season 2 was being filmed, Christina Chong (La’An Noonien-Singh) was asked directly about the possibility we could get a musical episode of the series.
“Maybe… maybe,” Chong (who has musical experience) answered before laughing. This year, the SNW cast will include Carol Kane as the Enterprise‘s new Chief Engineer, Pelia. And just like SNW cast member Celia Rose Gooding (Uhura), Kane has Broadway experience.
Maybe the question is less about whether we’ll be getting a SNW musical episode, and more about whether or not Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) can sing. Let’s hope we find out!
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Unexpected Prodigy
While we were on board with Star Trek: Prodigy from day one, some viewers had to be won over by the show. But after the conclusion of Prodigy season 1 at the end of 2022, everyone has discovered this all-ages animated gem!
Although there isn’t an official release date yet, Prodigy season 2 is meant to start in late 2023. However, given the excitement around the show, is it possible we will see more from the youngest Trek crew before then?
Based on nothing, we predict: maybe!
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The Black Mountain
It’s been a while since we’ve had a major character in mortal peril. Although Lt. Shax (Fred Tatasciore) died at the conclusion of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1 in 2020, we didn’t realize he was such a major character until after he’d returned. And while the loss of Chief Engineer Hemmer (Bruce Horak) was tragic, he was always billed as a guest star rather than a main bridge crew member.
This means we’re overdue for a Locutus-level event! It probably won’t be Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), since we know he must survive for another six years.
This one’s tenuous at best. It could happen, though.
Live-Action Cerritos
Speaking of Lower Decks: just a few minutes on social media make it clear that this series is a darling of those who make Trek. In particular, the creators and actors behind Prodigy and SNW are outspoken fans of the show.
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It has already been confirmed that an episode of SNW season 2 will feature a Lower Decks crossover. But will the Cerritos appear in live-action in that story?
We don’t know… but even if it doesn’t, we’re predicting at least one California Class ship will be seen in live action in 2023. How likely is it? Let’s just say if I hope hard enough, I’m confident I can manifest this personally. However please feel free to add your efforts to mine.
Captain Burnham Visits the Kelvin Timeline
The fourth season of Star Trek: Discovery alluded to the existence of other timelines and universes. Specifically, universes besides the Mirror Universe, which the crew of Discovery has already visited. This is quite the Chekov’s Phaser to leave unexplored. It seems reasonable to assume we will see more of this concept in 2023’s Discovery season 5. And while that hopefully means some strange new timelines, it makes sense to visit some established parallel worlds, too.
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Enter the Kelvin Timeline! While Star Trek 4 may be in dubious development, this version of the Enterprise crew has spent too much time sitting on the sidelines. Could Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) pay them a visit?
This prediction is not all that likely, given that we have new versions of several Enterprise crewmembers on SNW.
Trek “Avengers” Announcement
At the conclusion of Picard season 2, an interdimensional tear has appeared. While the new Borg Queen Jurati (Alison Pill) guards this portal, she has been confirmed to not appear in Picard season 3. So where will this spacetime rip come into play? Because Picard is set further ahead on the timeline than most of the current shows, and Discovery is so far in the future, it seems unlikely to appear in any of them.
Therefore, we predict the impending announcement of an “Avengers-style” crossover for the Trek universe. This could be set up by the conclusion of Picard, and might feature a legacy character like William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) or Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) in the lead role.
This prediction could come true, but currently, there is very little evidence to support it.
Badgey Versus Discovery
The funny thing about computer programs: they don’t have short lifespans like us carbon-based beings! This means that Badgey (Jack McBrayer) could appear in the distant future covered by Discovery‘s upcoming season. Furthermore, he could be accompanied by Agimus (Jeffrey Combs) and Peanut Hamper (Kether Donohue), each having the ability to outlive our human heroes.
While these characters were introduced on Lower Decks, they are all advancing towards A-List trouble. This could mean they “level-up,” out of the Cali Class and into the “major leagues” of the flagship Trek show on Paramount Plus, Discovery. Furthermore, each of them could translate to live-action, especially if Badgey mostly stays confined to viewscreens (or “possesses” a ship) instead of appearing as a hologram.
This prediction seems unlikely, as Badgey will probably be seen as “too comedic.” But trust us, that sentient Starfleet delta is scary. If this one comes to pass, remember: you heard it here first!
You can stream every Star Trek episode on Paramount Plus.
The first episode of Picard season 3 will be available beginning Thursday, February 16, 2023.
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