Spock and Nurse Chapel’s romance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and continued unrequited in The Original Series, but we never saw closure.

Dr. Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) only appeared in two Star Trek movies, which didn’t resolve her romantic feelings toward Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Chapel and Spock served together on the USS Enterprise under two Captains, Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek: The Original Series. By the time Chapel and Spock were part of Kirk’s crew, their romance had become an unrequited love on the part of Christine toward the Vulcan Science Officer.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has provided a crucial new context to the love story of Spock and Chapel, which began with their younger selves on Captain Pike’s Starship Enterprise. Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck) sparked a mutual attraction, although, at first, the Vulcan was trying to make a long-distance relationship with his fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu), work. In Strange New Worlds season 2, however, Spock and Chapel could no longer deny their feelings, and they became romantic. Sadly, their relationship didn’t last long, and Christine pulled away to pursue her career aspirations outside the Enterprise, leaving Spock dejected.

Spock & Chapel’s Romance Never Got Closure In Star Trek Movies

Chapel and Spock went in different directions.

Mr. Spock and Nurse Chapel had a handful of moments in Star Trek: The Original Series that addressed their underlying feelings, but by that point, Spock had devoted himself to Vulcan logic and denied his human side. This left Christine pining for Spock, but Star Trek didn’t pursue or explore their relationship further, certainly not to the extent that Strange New Worlds has. The prequel has been vital in illuminating Spock and Chapel’s backstory as friends, colleagues, and lovers, which fills out the unanswered questions between them in Star Trek: The Original Series.

Unfortunately, the Star Trek movies didn’t give any real closure to Spock and Christine Chapel’s love story. Doctor Christine Chapel only appears in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in minor roles. Chapel did welcome Spock back to the USS Enterprise and provide him with medical care when the Vulcan was injured by his mind-meld with V’Ger, but they didn’t address their past romance or any lingering feelings. Dr. Chapel’s brief cameo in Star Trek IV was in support of her former Enterprise crew mates, but she had no one-on-one conversation with Spock. While the torrid part of their romance happened over two decades prior in Strange New Worlds, the Star Trek movies offer no resolution for Spock and Chapel, and audiences are left to infer that their feelings are settled in the past.

What’s Next For Spock & Chapel In Strange New Worlds Season 3?

A new love triangle looks to be forming.

Spock saved Chapel, who was trapped in the derelict bridge of the destroyed USS Cayuga with a Gorn, at the end of Strange New Worlds season 2. They mutually agreed to table their personal issues until the Gorn crisis is resolved. Strange New Worlds season 3 should still see Christine pursue her fellowship in archaeological medicine with Dr. Roger Korby. Star Trek: The Original Series canon dictates that Chapel will get engaged to Korby, which could happen in Strange New Worlds season 3.

Spock, Chapel, and Dr. Korby would be a new iteration of Strange New Worlds‘ love triangle, which could also become even more complicated if T’Pring returns in Strange New Worlds season 3. T’Pring and Spock took a “break” from their engagement, but that could start up again before the canonical demise of their own relationship. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is setting the stage for many years of Spock and Nurse Chapel’s tumultuous romance, but it seems to peter out and there’s no closure to look forward to decades later in the Star Trek movies.