After a season opener that paid homage to classic Star Trek and a chilling horror installment, Strange New Worlds delivers its first outright comedy with "Human Best Friend." The USS Enterprise crew gets some well-earned shore leave on a pleasure planet where even the air gets you tipsy. While Scotty (Martin Quinn) and Ortegas (Melissa Navia) try to become the next Geordi and Data, Spock (Ethan Peck), La'an (Christina Chong), and a very real Kirk (Paul Wesley) steal the show with their comedic timing.
In an exclusive chat, Peck, Chong, and Wesley unpacked the episode's comedic turns and the deeper implications for Kirk and Spock's relationship. The trio also discussed the now-famous slap at the episode's climax, when Kirk tries to prove he's not a hallucination. Plus, Chong shared her excitement about learning new fight choreography and letting La'an embrace her sillier side while processing her pent-up anger. And yes, they all had thoughts on Rebecca Romijn's Klingon rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Kirk and Spock: A Friendship Forged in Vulnerability
Peck and Wesley delved into how this intimate experience on the pleasure planet lays the groundwork for the iconic friendship fans know from the original series. "There might be a bit of reticence and withdrawal from Spock because he's been so exposed," Peck said. "And then Kirk is so warm and welcoming of him. So that's what I anticipate."
Wesley added, "It becomes a part of canon, right? We sort of begin to understand why these two have such a connection. It's because they shared these intimate moments together, revealing things about one another. Or maybe it was just you revealing things to me, and I didn't say anything." Peck laughed, "It was mostly just me revealing things to you." Wesley joked, "I was like your therapist."
When asked what other games they might play besides 3D chess, Wesley didn't hesitate: "Twister!" Peck agreed, "Definitely Twister."
La'an's Journey: From Security Officer to Gang Leader
Chong reflected on La'an's arc in the episode, where her "journey" involves teaching a gang of thieves to stand up for themselves—a stark contrast to her fear of becoming a monster in the previous episode. "For La'an, because she is ultimately a security officer, her job is to look after her family and keep them safe," Chong explained. "On the planet, the gang becomes her family. And because she's dealing with a lot of anger right now, that's why that comes out with the drug exposure. It's something she's working through throughout the season."
The Slap Heard 'Round the Galaxy
At the end of the episode, Kirk slaps Spock to prove he's real—a moment that required careful choreography. Peck recalled, "I remember it so well because you, Paul, were like, 'Is this funny? Does this work?' Because you don't often do things like that. It's Three Stooges-ish. We don't work in that sort of clownish way too often. I thought it was awesome, and it worked so well. You were so funny."
Wesley admitted he hadn't seen the final cut yet. "I actually didn't see that. So I—" Peck assured him, "I think you'll like it." Chong chimed in, "It's very funny." Wesley asked, "Did I get close to slapping you in real life?" Peck replied, "It looks like you slapped... Did you actually slap me? I don't know, I guess you didn't. Because it looks like it does look real."
Jumping Genres: The Challenge and Reward
Chong also shared her favorite part of showing La'an's funnier side: "I think for me it was the stick, learning that stick fight routine. She goes over and completely gets the guy on the floor with the stick and then comes back and becomes the leader of the gang. That was a really cool element. And just going full on rage. She's never really gotten to do that before." Peck added, "I remember the table read being really funny with your performance, hearing that for the first time."
For the cast, jumping between genres is both challenging and rewarding. "You just never know what you're going to get," Chong said. The ability to pivot from horror to comedy within consecutive episodes showcases the versatility of the cast and the show's willingness to take risks.
As Strange New Worlds continues to explore the early days of the Enterprise crew, moments like these not only entertain but also enrich the lore that fans have cherished for decades. The slap heard 'round the galaxy is more than a comedic beat—it's a foundational stone in the legendary friendship between Kirk and Spock.
