WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 9, "Subspace Rhapsody".Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has finally confirmed that Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was a father throughout Star Trek: The Original Series. In Star Trek's first-ever musical episode, Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) beams aboard the USS Enterprise to shadow Number One (Rebecca Romijn) ahead of his promotion to Commander. Kirk's return to the Enterprise allows Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) to come clean about her tragic romance with his alternate reality counterpart, something she hopes may lead to a relationship with Prime Universe Kirk. Sadly for La'an, Kirk is already committed to Dr. Carol Marcus, who is pregnant with his child.

Dr. Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch) and her son David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) were introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It was heavily implied that Kirk and Carol were in a relationship some time prior to him taking command of the USS Enterprise, and this fact has now been confirmed by Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode. The revelation was always expected, and it casts Kirk's romantic exploits in Star Trek: The Original Series in a new and tragic light. Kirk's revelations about Carol and the unborn David Marcus also teases some powerful material for Paul Wesley to perform in future episodes of Strange New Worlds.

Strange New Worlds Confirms Carol Marcus & Kirk's Son David

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode "Subspace Rhapsody" takes place seven years before Star Trek: The Original Series, which confirms that David Marcus was born in late 2259 or early 2260. This roughly lines up with the real-life age of actor Merritt Butrick in The Wrath of Khan, as he was in his early to mid 20s when he starred as David in the 2285 set movie. This means that, throughout his time in command of the USS Enterprise, Kirk was an absent father to David. Wrath of Khan established that, some time after David's birth, Carol was fearful she would lose her son to the same stars that claimed his father, so asked Kirk not to be part of their lives.

Judging by the response to Wrath of Khan's revelations about Kirk's son, it's clear that he kept this information secret from his crew. Only Spock knew about Kirk's son, and given the Vulcan's intensely private nature, it's likely that he would have kept Jim's secret for decades until the Marcus family reunion. The fact that he turned his back on a potential happy family life could be the answer to Kirk's devil may care attitude that made him one of Starfleet's most legendary Captains. However, it's clear from Wrath of Khan that he ultimately regretted his decision to leave Carol and David behind decades earlier.

Will Carol Marcus Appear In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

It's likely that future episodes of Strange New Worlds will set up Wrath of Khan and its revelations about Carol and David Marcus. It's telling that Kirk refers to Carol as a "sometimes" girlfriend in "Subspace Rhapsody", teasing that their eventual estrangement is on the horizon. Strange New Worlds season 3 will likely explore this further, depicting the fateful moment that Kirk agreed not to play an active role in David's upbringing. This may also be what bonds Kirk and Spock (Ethan Peck) for life, given that Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) appeared to be the only member of the Enterprise crew who knew about Kirk's son in Khan.

Given Kirk's suggestion that Carol and La'an would get along with each other, it feels inevitable that Carol Marcus will appear at some point in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. However, it will be difficult to keep finding new ways of bringing Kirk aboard the Enterprise. It's possible instead that a future episode could take place aboard the USS Farragut, or explore the very early stages of Carol's research into terraforming, leading to the eventual construction of the Genesis Device. This would allow Strange New Worlds to explore Kirk and Carol's relationship without having to find new ways to bend Star Trek canon when it comes to his service aboard the Enterprise.

What Happens To Carol & David Marcus In Star Trek TOS Movies

Carol and David Marcus were responsible for creating Star Trek's Genesis Device, which was stolen - and later detonated - by Khan Noonien-Singh in Star Trek 2. The Wrath of Khan reunited Kirk with his ex-girlfriend and son, but their reunion would be tragically cut short in the very next movie. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, David teamed up with Lieutenant Saavik (Robin Curtis) to investigate the planet that was created by the detonated Genesis Device. When they were attacked by Klingons, David was killed protecting Saavik and a teenage Spock, making the Vulcan's resurrection incredibly bittersweet.

Kirk carried David's death, and a hatred of Klingons, with him until Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, when he played a role in the peace process with the Federation. It's heartbreaking that Kirk finally got a second chance to become a father, only for his son to be taken from him. More tragically, Star Trek never explores the effect of David's death on his mother Carol. Perhaps in bringing Carol Marcus and the newborn David into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the franchise can better explore their relationship.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale streams Thursday, August 10th on Paramount+.