Strange New Worlds Season 2 Makes The Gorn Even Scarier
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 is making the Gorn even scarier than they were in season 1. While the Federation did not officially have First Contact with the Gorn until the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Arena,” Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seems to be making some changes to that timeline. Not only did they introduce the Gorn much earlier, they have also made significant changes to the Gorn as a species. In Strange New Worlds, the Gorn have been reimagined into truly evil villains, attacking civilizations without provocation.
The Chief of Security on Captain Pike’s (Anson Mount) USS Enterprise, Lt. La’an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) recounted her terrifying encounter with the Gorn in Strange New Worlds episode 4, “Memento Mori.” Her colony ship was attacked by the Gorn when she was a child, and she was the only survivor. La’an is a strong and seemingly fearless character, so her understandable dread of the Gorn is especially telling. Strange New Worlds season 1 made the Gorn a more formidable foe than they had been before, and by the looks of the trailer, season 2 makes them even scarier.
How Strange New Worlds Season 2 Makes The Gorn Even Scarier
With their updated backstory in Strange New Worlds season 1, the Gorn have become an even more frightening foe. Of course, one reason for this is that modern CGI and special effects give the Gorn and much scarier and more realistic look, but Strange New Worlds has updated more than just the Gorn’s appearance. In Strange New Worlds season 1, it is revealed that the Gorn can lay their eggs in humanoid hosts, much like the aliens in Ridley Scott’s Alien films. The Gorn see warm-blooded species as their food source and hunt humanoid species for sport, rarely leaving survivors. Now, it seems, the Gorn can also survive in the vacuum of space.
In the Strange New Worlds season 2 trailer, Spock is seen on a spacewalk, while a Gorn approaches from behind him. This hints at a tension-filled scene of Spock fighting a Gorn in space. If the Gorn can survive in the vacuum of space, this opens a whole new avenue of ways they can terrorize unsuspecting humanoids. As a genuinely terrifying reptilian species that cannot be reasoned with, the Gorn make an intimidating enemy for the Enterprise crew to go up against. With their updated backstory and fearsome appearance (and the addition of their ability to survive in a vacuum), Strange New Worlds has made the Gorn something to be truly feared.
Will Kirk Meet A Gorn In Strange New Worlds Season 2?
Perhaps one of the biggest questions regarding the Gorn is whether or not Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) will meet one of the alien reptiles. In the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Arena,” Captain Kirk (William Shatner) says in his Captain’s Log: “I face the creature the Metrons called a Gorn. […] I must fight to remember that this is an intelligent, highly advanced individual, the Captain of a starship, like myself, undoubtedly a dangerously clever opponent.” This statement implies that Kirk and his crew have never encountered a Gorn before. But Strange New Worlds could conceivably show Lt. Kirk face a Gorn when he comes aboard Pike’s USS Enterprise.
However, Strange New Worlds is carving out a new canon between Starfleet and the Gorn that will hopefully still line up with TOS. Strange New Worlds’ redesign of the Gorn updates the alien lizards, but it’s possible there are multiple species of Gorn and Captain Kirk encounters a different kind in TOS. Whatever the answer, by now being able to survive in the vacuum of space, the Gorn have become an even more terrifying new enemy for the crew of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to stand against.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 premieres Thursday, June 15, on Paramount+.
