Just a heads up for fellow Star Trek: Strange New Worlds fans! I wanted to let everyone know that this article does reveal a few small details about the first episode of season 4, “Valles Marineris,” so be careful if you want to go in completely unspoiled.
The series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has surprised fans with another connection to Doctor Who. As the latest season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds begins, it’s quickly becoming known for its adventurous, standalone episodes. The first episode alone is packed with exciting elements – including a civilization on Mars, dinosaurs from prehistoric times, and a major plot twist that changes how we view the entire history of the Star Trek universe.
The return of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds this year has been a fantastic boost, especially considering the recent struggles of other long-running science fiction series. Doctor Who, which premiered three years before Star Trek, has faced some challenges since its 2025 season finale. While fans are waiting for updates on Doctor Who, Star Trek is cleverly honoring the franchise with subtle references – little Easter eggs that you might miss if you aren’t paying close attention.
The show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has made several nods to the adventures of the Doctor from Doctor Who. For example, in season 3, episode 6, “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail,” the Doctor’s time machine, the TARDIS, appears briefly alongside the USS Enterprise. Later, in season 3, episode 10, “New Life and New Civilizations,” Commander Pelia mentions to Spock that she once knew a ‘time-traveling Doctor’.
These two series have teamed up in comic books before. For example, Captain Picard from The Next Generation once joined forces with the Eleventh Doctor to battle the Borg, and the crew of The Original Series fought the Cybermen alongside the Fourth Doctor. The people making the new Strange New Worlds show have even talked about the possibility of a crossover episode with Doctor Who, potentially working with former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. This isn’t a new idea – the two franchises have a history of connecting.
Strange New Worlds Season 4’s Premiere Reveals Another Secret Star Trek & Doctor Who Crossover
Even with a large, multi-part story kicking off season 4, there was still space for some of the time-bending strangeness fans expect from Strange New Worlds in the first episode. During a briefing about a dangerous, rare interstellar storm, Commander Pelia reveals to the Enterprise crew that she has encountered one before.
I saw one a long time ago, but never this close up. I remember being in a phone booth when it happened.
The Doctor’s time machine, the TARDIS, famously looks like an old British police box – much bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. If any character from Star Trek could plausibly encounter the Doctor, it would be Commander Pelia. Pelia, who debuted in season 2 of Strange New Worlds, is a Lanthanite, a humanoid species, and is around 5000 years old. Given her long life and Star Trek‘s exploration of multiple universes, it’s entirely possible the Enterprise’s chief engineer could have met one of the Doctor’s many versions.
Star Trek & Doctor Who Face Similar Questions About Their Franchises’ Futures
Despite fan hopes, a team-up between Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Doctor Who is very unlikely, particularly right now. Doctor Who‘s future is currently unstable; even the planned 2026 Christmas special has been cancelled. The BBC is now seeking new partners for the show after Disney decided not to continue their agreement, and Russell T Davies, the showrunner, along with his production company, have moved on. Considering the shocking ending to season 2/15 – where Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor transformed into former companion Billie Piper – the show’s uncertain path looks especially concerning.
Even though Star Trek is still being made, its long-term future is uncertain. A new Star Trek movie is planned, but the popular series Strange New Worlds will conclude after a shorter fifth season of just six episodes. The other current Star Trek show, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, has been canceled, although its already-filmed second season will still air next year alongside the final season of Strange New Worlds.
If we don’t hear about any new Star Trek series soon, next year will mark the end of an era for the shows that began with Star Trek: Discovery in 2017 – often referred to as ‘Nu-Trek’. While Star Trek has faced gaps in its television history before, like the twelve years between Star Trek: Enterprise and Discovery, this pause feels more definitive. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy was planned for four seasons, but recent changes at Paramount – including their merger with Skydance and potential purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery – are likely to cause big shifts in how television is made.
Both Doctor Who and Star Trek have significantly influenced science fiction and popular culture, and fans deserve more from these beloved shows. If they both take a break, let’s hope they return even better, similar to how Doctor Who successfully came back in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll even see a Doctor Who and Star Trek crossover someday – you never know what could happen!
Season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns with new episodes every Thursday, only on Paramount+.
2026-07-24 20:38