Summary

• Captain Pike's history and future have been explored in Star Trek, revealing his time at Starfleet Academy, his home in Montana, and his relationship with Captain Marie Batel.
• Pike served as a test pilot and security officer before becoming the Captain of the USS Enterprise, showing his diverse skills and experiences.
• He had a close relationship with Number One and Lieutenant Spock, viewing them as trusted friends, and he has been to Talos IV, where he encountered the Talosians and Vina.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) is a legendary Captain of the USS Enterprise, but he was already an accomplished Starfleet Officer long before. Between Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Discovery, and Strange New Worlds, viewers have learned quite a bit about Captain Pike's history (and future). Star Trek fans first met Captain Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter and Sean Kenney) in the TOS two-part episode "The Menagerie," when Spock (Leonard Nimoy) embarked on a mission to help his former captain. Pike then became little more than a footnote in Star Trek history until his reintroduction in Discovery season 2.

Anson Mount's portrayal of Captain Pike proved to be so popular that he was quickly tapped to lead a show about his adventures aboard the USS Enterprise. Strange New Worlds was born and has proven to be a worthy and extremely popular addition to the Star Trek universe. Before his appearance in Discovery, not much was known about Pike's history before becoming Captain of the Enterprise. But Discovery and Strange New Worlds have remedied that and begun filling in the gaps in his backstory. Here are 10 things we have learned about Captain Pike's time before Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

10 Captain Pike Got An F In Astrophysics At Starfleet Academy

When Captain Pike first arrives on the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, he scans his DNA before taking over command. Ensign Silvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) inadvertently displays Pike's Starfleet file on the main viewscreen. As she frantically tries to turn it off, Pike discusses his time at Starfleet Academy and his commendations. He reveals that he scored an F in Astrophysics at the Academy, although the rest of his grades appear to be As. He also reveals that he had asthma as a child and explains to the crew of the Discovery why he has been asked to take over command.

9 Captain Pike Lives In Montana And Rides Horses

Although Christopher Pike was born in Mojave, California, he now has a home in Bear Creek, Montana where he spends his downtime after the events of Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Pike has been riding horses for much of his life, and he continues to spend time riding at his home in Bear Creek. Though it's unclear exactly how much time Pike spends at this house, it's clearly been some time since the events of Discovery season 2 if Pike's rather impressive beard is anything to go by. His self-imposed exile soon comes to an end when his former Captain, iral Robert April (Adrian Holmes) arrives to let him know that his friend and First Officer, Number One (Rebecca Romijn), has gone missing.

8 Captain Pike Was Already Dating Captain Marie Batel

As established in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Captain Pike was dating Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) before the show began. After the events of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Pike takes some time off from Starfleet and spends it at his house in Bear Creek, Montana. For at least part of this time, he is ed by Captain Batel before she has to return to duty as Captain of the USS Cayuga. Pike reunites with Batel several times over the course of Strange New Worlds' two seasons. Although Pike occasionally struggles with opening up, he and Batel weather their troubles and make it work as a couple who are also starship captains. Unfortunately, Captain Batel ends Strange New Worlds season 2 infected by Gorn eggs with her survival ultimately up in the air.

7 Captain Pike Was A Test Pilot & A Security Officer Before He Was A Starship Captain

Christopher Pike's first assignment after graduating from Starfleet Academy was as a test pilot, and his flying skills occasionally come in useful during missions with the Enterprise. When he and his crew revisit Rigel VII in Strange New Worlds season 2's "Among the Lotus Eaters," Pike must fly the shuttle to the planet when pilot Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) has to steer the Enterprise through a debris field. As an ensign, Pike also served as a security officer, although he was not a very good one. In SNW season 1's "Children of the Comet," Pike shares a story about a time he tripped and fell when chasing pantsless Nausicaan, after which his commanding officer suggested a career change.

6 Captain Pike Served As First Officer Under Captain Robert April

Before becoming Captain of the USS Enterprise, Pike served as its First Officer under the command of Captain Robert April. While serving together, Pike and April became friends, and Pike continued to refer to April as "Bob" even after his promotion to iral. When Number One goes missing on a mission just before the pilot of Strange New Worlds, iral April personally visits Pike to ask him to lead the rescue efforts. April also helps Pike avoid repercussions for his actions on multiple occasions and continues to provide orders and advice to his former First Officer.

5 Captain Pike And The Enterprise Sat Out The Klingon War

Star Trek: Discovery's war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire began in 2256, while the USS Enterprise was engaged in its historic five-year mission. Because of the importance of the Enterprise itself and its mission of exploration, Captain Pike and his crew were ordered to stay out of the war unless they were called in as a last resort. Pike and many of the crew struggled with guilt over being unable to help with the war efforts. By the time of Pike's return to the Enterprise after the events of Discovery season 2, several of the new crew had served in the Klingon War, including Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), and Lt. Erica Ortegas.

4 Captain Pike Met Number One At Starfleet Academy

Captain Pike trusts his First Officer, Una Chin-Riley, more than just about anyone. Professionally, Una goes by the title of Number One, and she has proven to be an invaluable member of the Enterprise crew. Una first met Christopher Pike after he gave a particularly inspiring speech at Starfleet Academy and the pair have been friends and confidants ever since. Una is one of the few people who knows about Pike's tragic future, and he often goes to her when he needs advice about both professional and personal matters. Pike doesn't view Una any differently since finding out she's a genetically enhanced Ilyrian, and he stands up for her when she is court-martialed for lying to Starfleet.

3 Captain Pike Was Already Close With Spock And T’Pring

Besides Number One, Pike views Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) as another one of his closest and most trustworthy friends. As established in the pilot of Strange New Worlds, Pike and Spock have a fairly familiar friendship and Pike is also close with Spock's former Vulcan fiancée, T'Pring (Gia Sandhu). When Pike s Spock in the pilot, T'Pring calls Pike "Chris," suggesting the two know each other fairly well. Pike and Spock share a bond of mutual respect and iration, and Spock will eventually risk being court-martialed (and worse) to help give Pike a better future.

2 Captain Pike Has Been to Talos IV

As depicted in the unaired TOS pilot, "The Cage," as well as "The Menagerie," Captain Pike was the first Starfleet Captain to visit the planet of Talos IV. During this visit, he and his crew encounter the Talosians, an advanced alien species who can craft realistic illusions in people's minds. The Talosians trap Pike in their menagerie and introduce him to the lone human inhabitant of the planet, Vina (Melissa George). Pike eventually finds his way off Talos IV, and Starfleet bans anyone from visiting the planet under penalty of death. After Pike's horrific accident, Spock risks his Starfleet career and delivers Pike back to Talos IV, where he can live out the rest of his days with Vina.

1 Captain Pike Learned Of His Future In Star Trek: Discovery Season 2

Star Trek fans have known about Christopher Pike's tragic fate since Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Menagerie," but Chris himself learns about his future in Star Trek: Discovery's "Through the Valley of Shadows." Pike learns that he will be horrifically injured in an accident as he rescues several Starfleet cadets from an explosion. This knowledge leads Pike to take a break from Starfleet and it clearly still affects him after he returns to the Enterprise. In the season 1 finale of Strange New Worlds, Pike attempts to avoid his eventual fate by ing the families of the cadets involved in the accident.

However, a version of Pike from an alternate future visits the Pike of the past to let him know that his fate cannot be avoided without disastrous consequences for someone else, in this case, Spock. So Pike resigns himself to his fate but continues to fight every day to be the best possible Captain of the Enterprise. It remains to be seen whether Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will find a way for Captain Pike to avoid his tragic future, but either way, he has proven to be a comionate and capable starship captain.