Paul Wesley Reveals Why Kirk Genuinely Loves Spock in ‘Strange New Worlds’ Season 4

Star Trek fans can expect more Kirk and Spock moments in Strange New Worlds Season 4, even as the show continues to give Captain Christopher Pike his due in the franchise. The prequel series is refreshing because it has now put Pike at the forefront and in full command of the USS Enterprise. That’s a compelling premise, because it gives fans insight into Pike’s leadership, and hopefully, the events leading up to his tragic fate before Kirk took over. It’s also great to see a version of Spock before the original series, which portrayed him as a stoic, logical leader. Season 4 will lean heavily on that arc as Kirk becomes a prominent part of the series.

Speaking with MovieWeb, Paul Wesley hinted at his character, Kirk, and Spock’s (played by Ethan Peck) deepening friendship in the upcoming season. Strange New Worlds faced the tough challenge of building up its ensemble into the iconic versions fans love in the original series, without making the transition abrupt or feeling forced.

Younger Spock in Strange New Worlds is in touch with his emotions, which makes sense because of his half-human, half-Vulcan heritage — he has yet to adopt the emotional discipline demonstrated by Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. Wesley said Kirk’s admiration for Spock will only deepen, offering a glimpse of their unbreakable bond:

“I think Kirk has always respected Spock for his incredible insight into logic, which Kirk can sometimes lack. The human side of Spock is the part of Spock that Kirk, maybe deeply, gosh, can I use the word ‘loves’ as a friend? I think that’s what makes Spock such a special character.”

That human side of Spock surely came out in fits of rage and unchecked emotions throughout the show. It’s jarring to see a Vulcan lose control, but Spock is half-human, and that makes the outbursts believable. That also makes for tense moments in the entire franchise, like when Kirk (played by Chris Pine) provoked Spock (Zachary Quinto) to rage in 2009’s Star Trek. That version of Spock recognized he had been emotionally compromised after their scuffle, and voluntarily relinquished command to Kirk.

Wesley teased that Kirk and Spock’s storyline will continue to overlap in Season 4, ensuring their eventual friendship feels earned instead of rushed. The show has so far successfully built up the characters as works in progress, far from the composed, older versions of themselves in the original series. A fifth and final season has been confirmed, so it’s interesting how Strange New Worlds ends and bolsters the Star Trek canon.

Wesley has previously expressed his interest in reprising Kirk in a new series after Strange New Worlds. Showrunner Akiva Goldman recently referred to that potential sequel series as Star Trek: Year One. Goldman said he already pitched the show to Paramount and Skydance — he also asked Star Trek fans to have Year One greenlit with an overwhelming petition.