Strange New Worlds cast talks Chapel’s growth and Scotty’s grumpiness.
The crew of the USS Enterprise is boldly going into Season 3 with plenty of surprises. Jess Bush, who plays Nurse Christine Chapel, and Martin Quinn, who recently joined the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast as the legendary Scotty, opened up about what’s ahead for fans, how they keep things fresh on set, and what they’d love to see the series tackle next.
Keeping It Real in a Galaxy of Genres
For Bush and Quinn, the series’ unique blend of sci-fi, drama, romance, and even comedy keeps them constantly on their toes as actors.
“Constantly, constantly without break,” Bush shared. “It’s such a gift as a performer to have that variety and constant challenge. It keeps things fresh and you’re always discovering new things about your character—and yourself.”
Quinn agreed. “You think you know your character, then they put you in a completely different scenario or genre. It’s great because you’re kind of like that in real life, aren’t you? You don’t really know how you’d react, so it keeps it real in a weird way.”
The Holodeck Files: They’d Snoop On
If given the chance to peek at anyone’s holodeck files, the duo didn’t hold back. “Maybe Sam Kirk,” Bush joked. “Feel like he’s hiding some cheeky stuff.” Quinn laughed. “Yeah, he’s up to something. He’s got a dark side. He’s too nice — something’s in there.”
Chapel Steps Up, Scotty Stays Grumpy
Fans can expect to see more sides of Nurse Chapel this season. “She’s called upon to really step up to the plate and lead in certain situations, to think on her feet and come up with solutions to intense problems,” Bush said. “It shows a side of her that’s strong and commanding that we haven’t seen before. And she gets to venture out of Sick Bay — you get to see her explorer side, which is really cool.”
As for Scotty, Quinn admitted he’s happy to keep the engineer’s prickly side intact. “I want him to stay grumpy because I find that fun to play. But what’s probably good for him is if he could not be such a control freak. But nah, I want to see the grumpy side.”
Navigating Iconic Relationships
Chapel’s on-screen dynamic with Spock brings its own challenges, considering his place in sci-fi lore. “I hadn’t thought about it until you said that, so thanks so much,” Bush joked. “But no, Chapel can’t think about that — she’s not aware of that. I do my hardest to just connect to the intimate humanity of it and stay with that because that’s where you get the truthful version of the story unfolding.”
What Works (and Doesn’t) On Set
When it comes to Starfleet tech, some things just can’t be replicated. “Guys, I didn’t even know we had a coffee machine,” Bush admitted.
Quinn added, “They’ve got the presser thing on set. But the transporter? Obviously doesn’t work.”
Bush said one of the simple but fun details is that “the doors all open for us. You march with purpose, and it opens for you.”
Bringing Authenticity to Scotty
Quinn also talked about balancing his own voice with Scotty’s iconic traits. “I was worried that being around Americans and Canadians, I’d lose my accent trying to be understood,” he said. “So I really wanted to bring that authenticity. Sometimes I go too far and I don’t know if people can understand me, but the writing keeps true to the old Scotty, so I feel covered.”
When it comes to Pelia, Carol Kane’s fan-favorite character, Scotty isn’t exactly thrilled. “He finds it so annoying because he can’t spread his wings with this teacher breathing down his neck. It’s like someone always there who remembers how uncool you were. But maybe he should listen up — there are lessons to learn.”
Finding Family Among the Crew
As the newest face on the bridge, Quinn said he couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome. “They were really nice. It’s quite overwhelming — you uproot your life for months at a time — but the cast and crew were so open and positive. It was such a safe space for me.”
New Worlds, New Dreams
Looking ahead, both stars would love to see even more genre-bending in future episodes. “Western would be awesome,” Bush said, with Quinn adding, “Psychological thriller. Buddy cop. Or a one-shot episode done like a play — that would be really hard but cool.”
The two also mused on how the holodeck concept feels like an early take on AI. “That’s actually a really good point,” Bush said. “Maybe that was what the writers were talking about — it taking a mind of its own and evolving beyond what we asked it to do.”
When it comes to crafting emotional arcs, both prefer to keep the process personal. “On the day, you might meet up to talk things through,” Bush said, “but largely everyone’s process is very personal.” Quinn added, “If I intellectualize it too much, it doesn’t work for me. So I like to keep it mysterious.”
If they ever did a Strange New Worlds podcast? Bush would pick Celia Rose Gooding as her co-host, while Quinn agreed she’d be great — but might secretly prefer a sit-down with Carol Kane for her endless stories.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 premieres with two episodes on Thursday, July 17, on Paramount+. New episodes drop weekly through the season finale on September 11. The series has already been renewed for a fourth season, now in production.
Critically acclaimed and adored by fans, Strange New Worlds continues to bring a fresh twist to the Star Trek universe while staying true to the spirit that’s inspired generations.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
