‘I Said God Bless’: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Writer Shared How Season 3’s Big Q Twist Came To Be

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Fans of both the original *Star Trek* and *The Next Generation* have long observed the similarities between the powerful beings Trelane and Q. A novel called *Q-Squared* even suggested Trelane was a member of Q’s species, though this wasn’t considered official *Star Trek* history. However, that changed with Season 3 of *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds*. The episode “Wedding Bell Blues” officially made this connection canon, and writer Kirsten Beyer recently explained to TopMob how this surprising twist involving Q and Trelane came about.

The connection became clear when John de Lancie, famous for playing Q in Star Trek, provided the voice for Trelane’s father in Strange New Worlds, a character played by Rhys Darby. Showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Meyers later confirmed this connection in an interview with Inverse. However, writer and producer Julie Beyer, who co-created the Star Trek: Khan podcast and previously worked with David Reed on “Wedding Bell Blues,” revealed that this wasn’t a deliberate plan from the beginning.

We didn’t start with a pre-defined overarching narrative. The core story always focused on the relationships between Spock, La’an, Chapel, Korby, and Pike. The later storyline felt like an addition – something that could have been included or left out. However, the team really wanted to tie it in, and I supported their decision.

In the episode “Wedding Bell Blues,” a mischievous being named Trelane altered reality, causing Spock to believe he was about to marry Christine Chapel, a former love interest now involved with Dr. Roger Korby. Korby immediately realized something was wrong, and Spock eventually recovered his memories. Together, they worked to restore Chapel’s true memories as well. After their plan was thwarted, Trelane’s father, appearing as a glowing green entity, scolded him for his childish behavior.

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It’s now confirmed that Trelane is a Q, and even more surprisingly, his father is the same Q who showed up in multiple Star Trek series – *The Next Generation*, *Deep Space Nine*, *Voyager*, *Lower Decks*, and *Picard*. Knowing this, and considering Trelane next appears in the *Original Series* episode “The Squire of Gothos,” I wondered if the episode “Wedding Bell Blues” actually takes place later in his timeline. I asked writer Kirsten Beyer to clarify, and here’s what she said:

I don’t have a preference. It’s really up to each individual to decide what they believe, as both interpretations are valid. Ultimately, choose whichever one resonates with you and makes the story feel better for you personally.

It’s understandable, considering *Star Trek* often leaves room for fans to create their own interpretations. Still, it’s exciting to see Q appearing alongside classic Starfleet characters like Christopher Pike and James T. Kirk. Now, fans are eager to find out if Q will appear in future *Star Trek* series, such as *Starfleet Academy*.

The third season of *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* ended with an episode reminiscent of *The Next Generation*, focusing on the connection between Captain Pike and Marie Batel. The show has been renewed for two more seasons on Paramount+, with Season 4 – which will include an episode featuring puppetry – expected in 2026. Season 5 will be the final season, consisting of six episodes.

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2025-09-15 02:38