Star Trek Just Ended Its 1 Chance To Fix a 43 Year Old Plot Hole For Good

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A curious continuity error in *Star Trek* comes from a line spoken by the villain Khan Noonien Singh. In *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*, Khan immediately recognizes Ensign Pavel Chekov and chillingly states he “never forgets a face.” This was intended to connect to Khan’s first appearance in the *Original Series* episode “Space Seed.” However, Chekov didn’t appear on the show until a year *after* Khan was sent away, creating a timeline problem. This inconsistency has become a well-known issue among fans, who have often hoped for an explanation.

With *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* bringing back characters from the original *Enterprise* crew and connecting to the era of Captain Kirk, many fans hoped the show would finally address the long-standing issue of how Chekov and Khan knew each other. The series offered a chance to explain their connection, maybe by showing them meeting during an earlier adventure. However, the show’s creators have now confirmed that Chekov won’t be appearing on Pike’s Enterprise, effectively ending any possibility of resolving this plot hole in *Star Trek* history.

Strange New Worlds Skips Chekov for Continuity

According to showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, keeping Chekov consistent with established timelines presented a problem. Canon states he was born in 2245, meaning he’d be a teenager during *Strange New Worlds* – far too young to be serving on Pike’s Enterprise, especially in a key bridge position alongside experienced officers like Spock, Uhura, and Number One. While it could have been interesting to see characters like Ortegas and Uhura interacting with a much younger crew member, it wasn’t realistically feasible.

The decision makes sense when considering the show’s overall consistency. *Star Trek: Strange New Worlds* has done well by including enjoyable nods to the past while generally staying true to established storylines, and forcing Chekov into Pike’s timeline might have been a bit of a reach. However, this also means the show missed a good chance to explain a strange inconsistency in Khan’s backstory.

Khan’s famous line in *Star Trek II* – that he remembers Chekov – has sparked decades of debate among fans. Theories range from Chekov secretly being on the ship in a minor role, to him having encountered Khan before the events of the film. Most likely, though, it was just a mistake in the show’s timeline that the writers overlooked.

The show *Strange New Worlds* could have easily explained why Khan knew Chekov by including him, even in a small role like a cadet or junior officer. A young Chekov serving quietly aboard the ship, and not seen in previous episodes, would have been a natural fit. This would have been especially helpful considering the J.J. Abrams films completely disregarded established Star Trek history by portraying Chekov as a 17-year-old Russian prodigy serving directly on the bridge of the Enterprise.

As a lifelong Trek fan, I’ve noticed the show’s been doing a lot of tweaking to established history. They’ve filled in backstory gaps – like showing how Kirk and Spock became friends – which is fine, but then they’ve gone further. Take Uhura, for instance. She wasn’t in the original pilot, ‘The Cage,’ and wasn’t even *on* the Enterprise with Pike! It got me thinking, if they can retroactively add her in, why not bring back Chekov somehow? But it looks like that ship has sailed, sadly.

There Is Still a Chance to Fix Chekov’s Plot Hole

Though the show *Strange New Worlds* doesn’t appear to be including the character of Chekov, there’s still a possibility for his backstory to be explored. Paramount has been expanding the *Star Trek* universe through podcasts and other related media, like the new scripted podcast *Star Trek: Khan – Ceti Alpha V*. This podcast, written by Nicholas Meyer, delves into Khan’s years of exile on Ceti Alpha V, before the events of *Wrath of Khan*. A story like this could be a good way to establish that Chekov served on the Enterprise in a minor role before joining Captain Kirk’s main crew, explaining why Khan recognizes him without changing the current storyline of *Strange New Worlds*.

That fix feels a little forced. It would require viewers to believe Chekov was working alongside Pike and early Kirk without ever actually being shown on screen. For a lot of fans, it wouldn’t be a satisfying solution – it would just be a temporary cover-up rather than a real answer.

As a longtime Trek fan, I was relieved to see Chekov absent from *Strange New Worlds*. It really cemented for me that the showrunners are dedicated to respecting established Star Trek history, even if it means acknowledging a few minor inconsistencies. Honestly, it’s a good reminder that after so many years, Trek is bound to have a few quirks and contradictions – and many of us wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s part of what makes the franchise so endearing.

Chekov not being included highlights what *Strange New Worlds* is trying to do. The show has succeeded by creating opportunities for fresh characters like La’an and Ortegas, instead of just bringing back the original *TOS* crew. Although some fans might wish for more familiar faces, keeping those characters separate allows *SNW* to tell its own distinct story during Pike’s time.

The mystery surrounding Khan and Chekov continues to linger, and it might stay that way forever. That actually seems appropriate, though. Throughout its run, *Star Trek* has always focused on exploring the future, with only a few exceptions where the timeline itself was altered.

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2025-09-21 16:10