Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 Episode 9 Ending Explained: La’an’s Happily Ever After
John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.
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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 9 - "Once La'an a Time"Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) gets her happily ever after, of sorts, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Directed by Sydney Freeland and written by Onitra Johnson, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 9, "Once La'an a Time," brings the crew of the USS Enterprise into the fairy tale world from season 1's "The Elysian Kingdom" (also penned by Johnson), made real.
Of course, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's fantastical, penultimate episode comes down to the USS Enterprise literally fighting a dragon. Lieutenant Nyota Uhura's (Celia Rose Gooding) fantasy doppelgänger, Queen Neve, was magically turned into a fire-breathing beast to fight the "Iron Dragon," i.e. the Enterprise. Amazingly, Sir Amand Rauth (Anson Mount) channeled Captain Christopher Pike, his exact double that the cowardly villain impersonated, and defeated the dragon.
Meanwhile, La'an faced off with her fairy tale counterpart, Princess Thalia. Realizing they were two sides of the same coin, La'an and Thalia used the magic in the cauldron brewed by Nurse Christine Chapel's (Jess Bush) fantasy double, Lady Audrey, to help bring down the dragon Queen Neve. All was well in the Kingdom of Elysian once the villains were defeated, and La'an received an unexpected gift and a new chance at happiness.
La'an Reconciled Her Dark (Khan) Side
La'an is happier at the end of "Once La'an a Time," and she deserves it. Dueling with Princess Tahlia, La'an experienced the love inside her, personified by her doppelganger, while Tahlia experienced the anger La'an always carried with her. Not unlike Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) fusing his good and evil sides in Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Enemy Within," La'an accepted her light and dark side, and 'changed her paradigm' again towards embracing joy.
|
USS Enterprise Crew |
Kingdom of Elysian Counterpart |
|---|---|
|
Christopher Pike |
Sir Amand Rauth |
|
Una Chin-Riley |
Z'ymira the Huntress |
|
Spock |
Pollux the Wizard |
|
La'an Noonien-Singh |
Princess Thalia |
|
Nyota Uhura |
Queen Neve |
|
Joseph M'Benga |
King Ridley |
|
Christine Chapel |
Lady Audrey |
|
Erica Ortegas |
Sir Adya |
|
Pelia |
Duchess Benny Russell |
|
James T. Kirk |
Prince Dashing |
|
USS Enterprise |
The Iron Dragon |
After she was turned into a Vulcan (or, more accurately, a devious Romulan) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3's "Four-and-a-Half Vulcans," La'an felt the recessive augment DNA she inherited from Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalbán) surfacing, and she feared it was changing her for the worse. La'an isolated herself from the USS Enterprise's crew, broke up with Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), and her behavior became angrier and more erratic.
La'an's tipping point was her horrific experience in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 2, "The Griffin Incident," when the malevolent entity that possessed the USS Griffin ghost ship took control of her. La'an stabbed and nearly killed Lt. Commander James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), and her infection by the Griffin's evil was left unresolved after the ghost ship was towed away to Division 12 headquarters.
Although La'an seemed to have settled her fears of becoming another Khan after meeting the young Khan (Desmond Sivan) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," season 4 walked it back with La'an dreading the Khan within her once more. "Once La'an a Time" is certainly an unusual and, perhaps, unsatisfying way to seemingly resolve La'an's deep-seated issues, but if anyone is worthy of being happy, it's La'an.
La'an & James Kirk Will Try A Relationship
La'an and James Kirk decided to give a relationship a go at the end of "Once Upon a Time." James harbors no ill will for La'an stabbing him in "The Griffin Incident," and she also doesn't hold a grudge over Kirk stunning her with a phaser in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 8, "Orders of Magnitude."
The attraction between Kirk and La'an has been palpable since she fell in love and lost with James' alternate reality doppelgänger in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow." However, Kirk demurred from his mutual attraction to La'an in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' musical episode because his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Carol Marcus, was pregnant. However, it's now a couple of years later; Kirk is now a father, and he's open to seeing whether La'an is a love match, and vice versa.
The odd man out in La'an and James pursuing a relationship is Spock. La'an has only recently ended her relationship with Spock, who was still nursing that wound in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' soap opera, "Like Chronitons Through the Hourglass." Similarly, La'an seemed attracted to Spock's 'evil twin,' Sybok (Ethan Peck), but she has firmly decided that her non-committal "fun times" with Spock are over.
Making Kirk and La'an extra awkward is that James is Spock's "human best friend," and their bond has only strengthened in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4. Spock was always aware that Kirk and La'an fancied each other, but it remains to be seen how the Vulcan will feel about this relationship. Perhaps it will become even more incentive for Spock to submerge his human side and further embrace Vulcan logic.
Overall, the La-an/Kirk/Spock love triangle and musical chairs feel like a whirlwind after three seasons, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' limited episode count leaves the whole affair feeling rushed and unearned. Yet, with only 7 episodes left in the remainder of season 4 and season 5, if Strange New Worlds is going to make Kirk La'an's endgame, it's now or never.
Runa Joins The USS Enterprise
Princess Thalia sent La'an a parting gift: her dog, Runa (played by Runa Ewok, Christina Chong's real-life pet). With the defeat of Queen Neve, Princess Thalia is free to marry her true love, Prince Dashing (Paul Wesley). However, Thalia's handsome prince is allergic to dogs, so the princess chose Dashing and gave Runa to La'an.
Runa canonically becomes the first dog aboard the Starship Enterprise since Captain Jonathan Archer's (Scott Bakula) beagle, Porthos.
In Star Trek's Prime timeline, Runa canonically becomes the first dog aboard the Starship Enterprise since Captain Jonathan Archer's (Scott Bakula) beagle, Porthos. A century before Strange New Worlds, Porthos went "where no dog has gone before," living aboard the NX-01 Enterprise with Archer, and occasionally visiting alien worlds.
In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Christina Chong said Runa joining the USS Enterprise was the idea of executive producers and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers. Runa Ewok was already a popular, furry presence at Christina's comic con appearances, and the adorable little Cavapoo could play a bigger role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 5.
Did Carol Kane's Commander Pelia Just Exit Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
A huge unanswered question at the end of "Once Upon a Time" is whether Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) exited Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Pelia posed as "Duchess Benny Russell" in the Kingdom of Elysian and was put to work by Princess Neve to write her story. Once the USS Enterprise's evil fairy tale doubles were captured and beamed back to the Kingdom of Elysian, it was revealed that Pelia stayed behind to "guide" the errant fantasy world "back home." Pelia also ran off with Max, Queen Neve's unseen cook.
Stardate 47988.1 · Crew Assessment
The Final Frontier
Trivia Challenge
🚀ShipsEnterprise!
⭐CrewMake it so
☠EnemiesResistance is…
⚡TechWarp speed!
📖LoreLive long…
01
The USS Enterprise is the most iconic starship in science fiction. What is the registry number of Captain Kirk’s original Enterprise from The Original Series?
✓ Correct! NCC-1701 is the registry of Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise. The “-D” suffix belongs to Picard’s Galaxy-class ship, NX-01 is Archer’s Enterprise, and NCC-74656 is Voyager.
✗ Red alert! The answer is NCC-1701. Kirk’s original Constitution-class Enterprise carried this now-legendary registry. NCC-1701-D is Picard’s Enterprise from TNG, NX-01 is Captain Archer’s, and NCC-74656 belongs to Voyager.
02
Kirk’s most trusted officer is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer famous for his logic and iconic salute. Who is this legendary character?
✓ Correct! Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, is the half-Vulcan science officer whose “Live long and prosper” salute became a cultural icon. His struggle between logic and emotion defines the heart of the Original Series.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Spock. Data is an android from TNG, Tuvok is Voyager’s Vulcan tactical officer, and Sarek is Spock’s Vulcan father. Only Spock is the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer of Kirk’s Enterprise.
03
Starfleet’s most important regulation forbids interference with the natural development of alien civilizations. What is this guiding principle called?
✓ Correct! The Prime Directive (also known as General Order 1) is Starfleet’s most sacred law. It prohibits interfering with less-developed civilizations — though Kirk, Picard, and Janeway have all famously bent or broken it when lives were at stake.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Prime Directive. While “General Order One” is technically another name for it, the Prime Directive is the universally known term. The Omega Directive and Temporal Accord are separate, more specialized Starfleet protocols.
04
“Resistance is futile.” This chilling declaration belongs to a cybernetic collective that assimilates entire civilizations into its hive mind. What is this fearsome species called?
✓ Correct! The Borg are Star Trek’s most terrifying villains — a hive-mind collective that forcibly assimilates species and technology. Captain Picard was famously assimilated and transformed into Locutus in the landmark TNG episode “The Best of Both Worlds.”
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Borg. The Dominion is the Gamma Quadrant empire from DS9, the Romulans are a rival empire, and Species 8472 is actually one of the few species that the Borg themselves fear. Only the Borg declare “Resistance is futile.”
05
Captain Jean-Luc Picard commands the Enterprise-D in The Next Generation and later received his own series, Star Trek: Picard. Which acclaimed actor portrays him?
✓ Correct! Sir Patrick Stewart brought gravitas, Shakespeare, and Earl Grey tea to the captain’s chair for seven seasons of TNG, four films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard. His “Make it so” is one of TV’s most iconic catchphrases.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Patrick Stewart. William Shatner plays Captain Kirk, Avery Brooks is Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine, and Scott Bakula captains the NX-01 Enterprise. Only Sir Patrick Stewart portrays the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.
06
Starfleet vessels travel faster than light by bending space around them using a matter-antimatter reaction. What is this propulsion system called?
✓ Correct! Warp Drive is the standard faster-than-light propulsion in Star Trek, powered by dilithium-regulated matter-antimatter reactions. Zefram Cochrane invented it in 2063, which led to humanity’s first contact with the Vulcans.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Warp Drive. Transwarp is an advanced Borg technology, Slipstream is an experimental quantum drive, and the Spore Drive uses mycelial network navigation (from Discovery). Standard Starfleet vessels use Warp Drive.
07
At Starfleet Academy, cadets face a notorious no-win scenario designed to test their character under impossible circumstances. James Kirk is the only cadet who ever beat it — by cheating. What is this test called?
✓ Correct! The Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable rescue simulation that tests how cadets handle certain death. Kirk reprogrammed it so he could win — earning a commendation for original thinking. It was memorably featured in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
✗ Red alert! The answer is the Kobayashi Maru. The Corbomite Maneuver is a TOS episode, not an Academy test. The Kobayashi Maru is the famous no-win scenario that Kirk defeated by reprogramming the simulation — because he doesn’t believe in the no-win scenario.
08
In the widely regarded greatest Star Trek film, a genetically enhanced superhuman from Earth’s past seeks revenge against Captain Kirk. “KHAAAAN!” Who is this iconic villain?
✓ Correct! Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalbán, is Star Trek’s greatest villain. First appearing in the TOS episode “Space Seed,” he returned in The Wrath of Khan (1982) for a devastating revenge plot that cost Spock his life.
✗ Red alert! The answer is Khan Noonien Singh. General Chang is a Klingon from Star Trek VI, Q is TNG’s omnipotent trickster, and Gul Dukat is DS9’s Cardassian antagonist. Only Khan inspired Kirk’s legendary scream across the cosmos.
Mission Complete Your Starfleet Record
/ 8
Are you an Admiral — or still a cadet on deck-scrubbing duty?
It's unclear whether this was, indeed, Carol Kane's last appearance as Commander Pelia. If it is, it's a weird way for Pelia to exit Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, via a throwaway line of explanation by Captain Pike, who didn't seem to mind losing the USS Enterprise's Chief Engineer. Yet such a bizarre decision is totally in keeping with Pelia's eccentric character.
Of course, if Pelia has, indeed, said farewell, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has brilliantly set up Scotty (Martin Quinn), who can easily slide into his destiny as Chief Engineer. Pelia has personally mentored Scotty to become a "miracle worker."
However, it's just as possible that Pelia simply took the Elysian planet to its unknown destination and will return to the Enterprise for season 4's finale and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' fifth and final season. Time will tell whether the 5,000-year-old Lanthanite will also live happily ever after.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4 is streaming on Paramount+
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2027-00-00
- Network
- Paramount+
- Showrunner
- Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman
- Directors
- Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman
- Writers
- Onitra Johnson
-
Captain Christopher Pike
-
Spock
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
- Creator(s)
- Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet
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