Is Captain Pike canonically polyam in Strange New Worlds?
In the episode "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach" he sleeps and discuses future plans with an alien lady called Alora while he is in a relationship with Captain Batel. The relationship with Alora ends because of some horrible revelations about her planet, but at no point are the two parallel relationships presented as potential for conflict. It think it's therefore safe to assume that Pike and Batel's relationship does not contradict other, parallel romantic or sexual relationships.
However if Pike is indeed canonically polyam, it's strange that I never found that topic in any discussion about queerness in modern Star Trek.
Edit: Typos
Questa voce è stata modificata (2 settimane fa)
scy
in reply to Cato • • •lol wtf how did I never notice that
I don't remember season 1 that well; could his relationship with Batel have been more casual back then?
Cato
in reply to scy • • •Batel and Pike's relationship is one of the first things we learn about in Strange New Worlds. In the very first episode we see them sharing breakfast after having shared a bed during the night. The scene implies some routine to this arrangement. Generally when discussing Pike people seem to agree that she is his girlfriend.
Sure, it is possible that their relationship actually is just this one super casual encounter between friends that becomes a romantic relationship later. However, I don't see why this is a more likely explanation than them just not having a problem with each other having other romantic or sexual relationship/encounters.
The show just showing us a polyamorous character would also fit in with how they introduced other queer characters in modern Star Trek. They mostly just are what they are without any discussion or explanation. I belive the only exception to this is Adira Tal in Discovery who has a very undramatic coming out moment with Paul Stamets (when they correct him on their pronouns).
scy
in reply to Cato • • •Okay, I've now spent two hours or something rewatching parts of some episodes.
I agree that it _can_ be seen as a polyam relationship, but that's not the way I'm interpreting it. To me, it seems as if it's more of a "friends with benefits" kind of situation in S1, evolving throughout S2 and becoming much more committed in S3.
Now, would I love some polyam representation in Trek? Absolutely. But it seems like The Expanse is where that's gonna stay for now.
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scy
in reply to scy • • •The major clue to me was their interaction at the beginning of 1x10. Batel asks him "how have you been holding up", which implies they haven't really talked between 1x01 and 1x10. I'd expect more (subspace comms) interaction in a committed polyam relationship.
And also, she says she's having a "date" with someone, and the way Pike reacts just doesn't _feel_ polyam to me. It's less "interesting, tell me" and more like "yeah sure, go have fun".
I could be wrong of course.
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Cato
in reply to scy • • •> The major clue to me was their interaction at the beginning of 1x10. Batel asks him "how have you been holding up", which implies they haven't really talked between 1x01 and 1x10. I'd expect more (subspace comms) interaction in a committed polyam relationship.
In general I would agree with you, but they are also in a setting where subspace communications is not always possible. Maybe they just did not have the opportunity to talk for longer than usual.
> And also, she says she's having a "date" with someone, and the way Pike reacts just doesn't _feel_ polyam to me. It's less "interesting, tell me" and more like "yeah sure, go have fun".
That's a good point. I would probably be more like "interesting, tell me" and less like "yeah sure, go have fun", if my partner told me about dating someone else, too. But maybe that's just not their dynamic.
To be honest, I think the two of us might have already been spending more time thinking about this than the writers. It wouldn't be the first time that Star Trek is inconsistent between different episodes, because they have different writer involved.
I guess, I will chose to see Pike and Batel as polyam as a fun head canon for me. I think it can be at least interpreted that way.
Cato
in reply to Cato • • •I would love to rewatch it with our conversion in mind.
scy
in reply to Cato • • •The same one, 1x10, at 3:05.
Batel: "Well. Much as I love you being mysterious, I've got a date on the far side of the Neutral Zone. [kisses Pike]"
Pike: "Anyone I know?"
Batel: "Not that kind of date, actually."
Pike: "You know, I'm making osso bucco next week, if you're interested."
So, it's not a real date, but Pike doesn't know that when he asks the question. It's just … the way that he asks it is very casual and more like a quip than genuine curiosity.
scy
in reply to Cato • • •> I think the two of us might have already been spending more time thinking about this than the writers.
Don't know about that, but you have certainly given me an interesting question, should I ever talk to the writers, or Anson, or Melanie.
> I guess, I will chose to see Pike and Batel as polyam as a fun head canon for me. I think it can be at least interpreted that way.
I agree, it can 😀 Enjoy!
Sören
in reply to scy • • •@scy
> To me, it seems as if it's more of a "friends with benefits" kind of situation in S1, evolving throughout S2 and becoming much more committed in S3.
That was my read as well. Weren’t there “how could we possibly make it work?”scenes in late S1?