Sarek (James Frain) and Amanda Grayson (Mia Kirshner) need to return in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, especially now that the series has reintroduced Sybok. The Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his human wife, Amanda, are the parents of Spock (Ethan Peck). All three appeared in Star Trek: Discovery seasons 1 and 2, which retconned Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as Sarek and Amanda’s adopted daughter who was raised on Vulcan as Spock’s older sister.
Star Trek: The Original Series established that Sarek (Mark Lenard) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) have an estranged relationship, which sadly lasted into the 24th century of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sarek was disappointed that Spock decided to forego the Vulcan Science Academy and join Starfleet instead. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier revealed that Sarek had a son before Spock named Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill), who rejected Vulcan logic and became a heretic. Sybok’s mother was a Vulcan princess Sarek romanced before Amanda. Star Trek: Discovery‘s addition of Michael Burnham to Sarek’s family further complicates matters, especially since Sarek and Michael were closer than Spock ever was to his father.
Why Spock’s Parents Should Return In Strange New Worlds
Sarek and Amanda haven’t been seen since Star Trek: Discovery season 2 when both joined Michael to search for Spock and heal his mind that was broken by the Red Angel (Sonja Sohn), who turned out to be Michael’s birth mother, Dr. Gabrielle Burnham. Meanwhile, Strange New Worlds has reintroduced Spock’s Vulcan fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu), but there’s never been any canonical indication of what Sarek or Amanda felt about Spock’s relationship with T’Pring. Strange New Worlds is a perfect opportunity to fill in these gaps in Spock’s family life and shed new light on Sarek, Spock, and Amanda’s relationship. Especially as all three continue to cope with Burnham traveling to the 32nd century, never to return.
Meanwhile, the return of Sybok also needs to be addressed. Outside of verbal hints, there has been no canonical indication of how Sarek feels about his firstborn son, or how Amanda feels about Sybok, who left home when Spock was very young. Sybok is a prisoner of the Ankeshtan K’Til Vulcan Criminal Rehabilitation Center overseen by T’Pring and her aide, Stonn (Roderick McNeil), but Sybok’s wife Captain Angel (Jesse James Keitel) is actively working to free him. Strange New Worlds can now fully address the questions surrounding Spock’s family and how Sybok affects them.
Sarek Was Closer To Michael Burnham Than Spock (Or Sybok)
Star Trek: Discovery‘s retcon of Sarek established that he was extremely close to Michael Burnham, and showed her more attention (and affection) than he did Spock. After her parents were presumed killed by Klingons, Sarek adopted the ten-year-old Michael and raised her in Vulcan logic. Despite Michael’s intelligence, the Vulcan Science Academy wouldn’t accept a human, so Burnham was placed in Starfleet, and she eventually became the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). Michael’s relationship with Sarek, who she was even mind-melded to, was a fascinating wrinkle to the first two seasons of Discovery.
The fact that Burnham and Sarek were so close was a contrast and a rebuke of Spock, in a way. Sarek didn’t forgive his son for also joining Starfleet instead of the Vulcan Science Academy, which he didn’t hold against his adopted human daughter. The addition of Sybok in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds only creates a further need for Sarek and Amanda to finally return, in order to give full weight and clarity to the complexities of Spock’s expansive family.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.
