Warning: This article contains spoilers for Strange New World's "Subspace Rhapsody"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has altered the way Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) know one another. In the two-part episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, "The Menagerie," Captain Kirk (William Shatner) says that he met Captain Pike when Pike was promoted to Fleet Captain. This holds true in Strange New Worlds, as the first time Pike meets the Prime Universe version of Kirk happens in "Lost in Translation" when Pike has been temporarily promoted to Fleet Captain.

The way Kirk talks about Pike in "The Menagerie" suggests that the two do not know one another very well, but Strange New Worlds would seem to suggest otherwise. In Strange New Worlds' phenomenal musical episode "Subspace Rhapsody," Kirk spends a relatively small about of time with Pike, instead working with other members of the crew. Still, Kirk says - or rather sings - that he is learning how to be a great captain from Pike and the crew of the Enterprise. Though Pike and Kirk have not grown close in their two meetings, they have developed more of a familiarity than TOS ever suggested they had.

Strange New Worlds’ Musical Retcons Kirk & Pike’s Star Trek Canon

While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has more or less tried to stay true to established Star Trek canon, there are a few instances where it has altered things. Characters may meet each other or learn certain information earlier than they did originally, but the show could still offer many explanations for these apparent discrepancies. In "Subspace Rhapsody," Lt. Kirk comes aboard the Enterprise to shadow Number One (Rebecca Romijn) before his official promotion to First Officer of the USS Farragut. Una's main piece of advice for Kirk - delivered via song - is that he should connect to his crew and be as authentic as possible.

Over the course of the episode, Kirk works with Una, Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), and his brother, Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte). Though Kirk does not spend any one-on-one time with Pike, he seems to be spending more time on the Enterprise in Strange New Worlds than TOS implied. He clearly knows several members of the crew fairly well and respects Captain Pike, who he has developed a certain cordiality with, if not outright friendship. In TOS' "The Menagerie," Kirk does address Pike by his first name, which suggests some familiarity, but then, it seems odd that Kirk would suggest he only met Pike once.

Strange New Worlds’ Musical Partly Confirms Star Trek’s Biggest Kirk & Pike Theory

Captain Pike may not be directly preparing Kirk to be the next captain of the Enterprise, but Kirk still seems eager to learn from Pike and his crew. In the final musical number of "Subspace Rhapsody," Kirk sings: "I have to give credit when due. And if I make captain, it'll be thanks to all of you." Kirk spent time observing and learning from many of the Enterprise crew members, not just Captain Pike. Clearly, Kirk has inspirations to be captain, but there's no indication yet that he has his eyes on the Enterprise or that Pike is eyeing him to be his replacement.

"Subspace Rhapsody" proves to be a major episode for character development, as most of the characters get their moment in the spotlight. James Kirk is already looking forward to becoming a captain, and he acknowledges that his time on the Enterprise can only help him grow as an officer. Though Captain Pike does not directly mentor Kirk, Kirk clearly learns from Pike throughout the episode and will take that knowledge with him when he becomes captain. While Star Trek: Strange New Worlds may be rewriting the history between Captain Christopher Pike and James T. Kirk, Kirk now gets to learn from some of the best officers in Starfleet.