star trek mbenga daughter

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Just Revealed A Heartbreaking Twist Involving Dr. M'Benga

Oof, where are the tissues?

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “Ghosts Of Illyria.” Read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had another dynamite episode for Paramount+ subscribers with “Ghosts of Illyria,” and it came with the saddest revelation about one of the show’s most cryptic characters . Once the light virus was solved, Una later realized that the whole thing might’ve never happened had Dr. M’Benga allowed for upgrades to the medical transporter. She confronted the Chief Medical Officer about the situation and asked what he was holding in the pattern buffer that he had to prioritize over the lives of everyone else on board. The answer, as viewers found out, was his daughter. 

Dr. M’Benga has a daughter, and she suffers from a terminal illness with an average 12-week prognosis. As M’Benga mentioned, as the Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer, he should have all the skills he needed to cure his daughter. When he exhausted all other options, he realized he could eventually find a cure via exploration in Starfleet if only he had more time for research and learning more about what might be out there. 

The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds character revealed that he could hold his daughter in the medical transporter’s pattern buffer indefinitely, which would buy him all the time he needed. While in the buffer, she will not age, nor will her disease progress. All he has to do is regularly materialize her, and he’ll have all the time he needs to try and search the cosmos for a cure. 

M’Benga was ready to be sent to the brig and removed from Starfleet for his actions, but instead, Una decided to get a dedicated power source for the medical transporter so that he’d never have to worry about someone shutting down the transporter again. Una then said she hoped to meet his daughter someday, and the episode ended with M’Benga reading his young daughter a story. I’ll admit I shed a tear for the first time watching this series during that scene, and I’m sure it won’t be the last time.

It hit me right in the feels and made me desperately hope that M’Benga finds that cure. Obviously, this feels like a character arc that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will keep tabs on, and I’m hoping it has a happy ending. Thankfully, the series tends to skew more on the optimistic side of Trek (as Rebecca Romijn noted to us once before ), even if it doesn’t honor all the elements of the original series. In short, I think we’ll see M’Benga’s daughter cured one day, and maybe she’ll become the next iconic kid wandering around a Starfleet ship! We haven’t seen many of those in live-action Trek lately, so I certainly wouldn’t mind it. 

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams new episodes on Paramount+ on Thursdays. It’s one of many Trek shows airing in 2022 , so be sure to keep tabs on what all is going on. 

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’: Rebecca Romijn & Babs Olusanmokun on Una and M’Benga’s Secrets

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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 3 “Ghosts of Illyria.”]

Both Number One, Una Chin-Riley ( Rebecca Romijn ), and Dr. M’Benga ( Babs Olusanmokun ) must confront secrets they’ve been keeping in the latest episode of  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

Following a mission at an abandoned Illyrian colony, the  Enterprise crew becomes infected with a mysterious contagion that draws the infected to light, eventually incapacitating everyone on board — Pike ( Anson Mount ) and Spock ( Ethan Peck ) are stuck on the planet, in their own trouble — except for Una, whose immune system does what it was bioengineered to do and cured her. She tells M’Benga and Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) she’s an Illyrian, but unfortunately, they can’t use her blood to synthesize a cure because her immune system burnt out the infection immediately. Una later tells Pike the truth and is ready to resign her commission, but he won’t let her. She’s an example to all of them, and he’ll worry about Starfleet when they find out. (Genetically modification is forbidden by the Federation.)

So would Una have told anyone if she didn’t have to? “Maybe Pike eventually,” Romijn tells TV Insider. “But it’s obviously the thing that she’s most shameful of that she has been hiding and I think it’s why she’s so good at what she does. I think she hides behind work and being meticulous and being fastidious and it’s something that’s deeply shameful. So she keeps her distance from people a little bit to cover it up.”

Anson Mount on That 'Strange New Worlds' Bridge Surprise

The situation with the crew also alerts Una to the fact that M’Benga’s medical transporter hasn’t been updated because the doctor is keeping something in the pattern buffer. His daughter is in there, he confesses. A year ago, she was diagnosed with cygnokemia, a “brutal disease” and given a 12-week prognosis. In the pattern buffer, she doesn’t age and her disease can’t progress. He’s hoping to find the cure he needs somewhere, but he knows he can’t endanger the crew for one life. Though he’s willing to say goodbye to his daughter and turn himself in, instead, Una says they’ll just make sure it’s not a problem again.

But if it came down to it, could he say goodbye or choose Starfleet over his daughter? “I think if he has to,” Olusanmokun says. “I think his sense of duty would force him to let her go, not because he would choose work over her, but because in this way, he’s already broken the trust of work. He’s already broken the trust of Starfleet and Pike having him on the ship. So to have broken that trust, I think he’s the type of man that would pay unfortunately the ultimate price.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Thursdays, Paramount+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds where to stream

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Babs olusanmokun, rebecca romijn.

Strange New Worlds just fixed Star Trek canon — and set up a Season 2 villain

Dr. M'Benga’s character feels a little closer to The Original Series now . But did somebody say Klingons?

Dr. M’Benga’s story is suddenly wide open. Although Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gave M’Benga personal baggage in Episode 3, “Ghosts of Ilyria,” in Episode 8, “The Elysium Kingdom,” a big twist pushes him closer to the version of the character who first appeared in The Original Series . Here’s why the heartfelt reveal in Strange New Worlds Episode 8 was also a Star Trek canon game-changer, and why M’Benga’s next journey will reboot a classic Trek villain. Spoilers ahead for Strange New Worlds Episode 8, “The Elysium Kingdom.”

In Star Trek: The Original Series , Dr. M’Benga (Booker Bradshaw) only appears in two episodes, “A Private Little War,” and “That Which Survives.” In both cases, M’Benga is a physician equal to, if not better than, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. Canonically, this always made M’Benga’s position in The Original Series odd. Why was this excellent medical officer playing second-fiddle to Bones? In Strange New Worlds , Dr. M’Benga ( Babs Olusanmokun ) is the chief medical officer of the Enterprise , which implies some kind of demotion between the show’s 2259 setting and 2268, when M’Benga first appears in TOS.

But throughout Strange New Worlds Season 1, and in “The Elysium Kingdom” in specific, we see hints that M’Benga doesn’t want to be the chief medical officer. And now the ending of Episode 8 sets up a very different path.

Rukiya (Sage Arrindell) says goodbye to her father Dr. M’Benga.

The fate of M’Benga’s daughter, Rukiya

In “Ghosts of Ilyria,” we learned that M’Benga has been keeping his daughter Rukiya (Sage Arrindell) in stasis inside of a transporter beam to keep her alive, because she has an incurable illness called “cygnokemia.” But in “The Elysium Kingdom,” Rukiya is cured. Thanks to a sentient nebula she also becomes a timeless being of pure energy who appears to her father as an adult (Makambe Simamba) at the end of the episode. Hey, it’s Star Trek.

Essentially, this allows M’Benga to become the character we know from The Original Series . The adult Rukiya even says “You have to live your own life now. Create your own stories.”

This seems to establish who M’Benga will become in The Original Series , and it also corrects a canon hiccup Strange New Worlds created for itself. M’Benga’s daughter doesn’t exist in TOS because she became a space god.

But what’s next for M’Benga might be even more interesting.

Dr. M’Benga (Booker Bradshaw) and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) in Star Trek: The Original Series , Season 2, “A Private Little War.”

M’Benga and the Klingons

Speaking to Wil Wheaton on the aftershow The Ready Room, Babs Olusanmokun teased that Dr. M’Benga’s path will now be completely different from what we’ve seen so far. In The Original Series , he’s a bit tougher and more direct than he is in Strange New Worlds , and some of Olusanmokun’s comments to Wheaton could indicate we’re headed in that direction for Strange New Worlds Season 2, where we’ll explore “a darker side of him.”

And then, Olusanmokun unexpectedly said that Strange New Worlds Season 2 will feature “an exploration of [M’Benga’s] contentious relationship with the Klingons.”

This is huge. Strange New Worlds takes place directly after Discovery Season 2, which puts it about a year after the Klingon War from Discovery Season 1. In Discovery, the depiction of the Klingons is quite different from any other iteration of the franchise, and very different from the smooth-headed Klingons of The Original Series .

Captain Pike with Klingon Chancellor L’Rell (Mary Chieffo) and human-looking Klingon Ash Tyler, formally known as Voq (Shazad Latif) in Discovery Season 2.

The idea that Klingons will return for Strange New Worlds Season 2 is a gamechanger. What will these Klingons look like? A hybrid between Discovery and TOS Klingons? Will they have an entirely new look?

In May, 2022, when Inverse spoke to designer Bernadette Croft about the costumes of Strange New Worlds, she hinted that a “redesign” for one big alien species was coming, and insinuated it might be the Klingons.

Dr. M’Benga isn’t the only Strange New Worlds character who has history with the Klingons. Throughout Discovery Season 2, while temporarily the captain of the Discovery , Pike had several encounter with the Klingons. Among other incidents, he learns that Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif), a Klingon surgically altered to look human, was serving on the ship, and he was shown his grim future by the Klingon time keeper Tenavik (Kenneth Mitchell).

So, when the Klingons return for Strange New Worlds Season 2, Dr. M’Benga won’t be the only person on the Enterprise who has a contentious relationship with the famous Trek baddies.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 has two episodes yet to air.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 6 Quotes

M’Benga: So, in theory, your implants might realign peptide bonds within any degraded protein. Gamal: At the bare minimum. M’Benga: If this is true, disease and suffering will be things of the past. Gamall: On Majalis, we have a saying, ‘Let the tree that grows from the roots of sacrifice lift us where suffering cannot reach.’ We have no disease of any kind. Permalink: On Majalis, we have a saying, ‘Let the tree that grows from the roots of sacrifice lift us... Added: June 06, 2022

Pike: Are you the boy’s father? Gamal: Strictly in the biological sense. Permalink: Strictly in the biological sense. Added: June 06, 2022

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 6 Photos

6/9/22 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 6 Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach

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Breaking news, n.y. appeals court overturns harvey weinstein rape conviction, ‘star trek: strange new worlds’ actor babs olusanmokun talks classic throwback episode and those emotional father-daughter moments.

The film and TV actor was thrilled when he landed the role of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph M'Benga, a character previously played (albeit briefly) by the late Booker Bradshaw on 'The Original Series.'

By Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker

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[This story contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds episode “The Elysian Kingdom.”]

There was a moment when Babs Olusanmokun found himself slightly perplexed about his involvement in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds after he read the first two scripts for the Paramount+ series. But the feeling immediately evaporated when he dug into the third.

The film and TV actor was thrilled when he landed the role of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph M’Benga, a character previously played (albeit briefly) by the late Booker Bradshaw on The Original Series .

Olusanmokun’s wise, forthright and stoic Dr. M’Benga had a small introduction in the series premiere and then was absent in the next episode. But in the series’ third episode, “Ghosts of Illyria,” the character made his mark with a heartbreaking revelation. In “Ghosts,” it is learned Dr. M’Benga is using an outdated transporter to house his terminally ill daughter, Rukiya (Sage Arrindell), as he desperately tries to find a cure for her cygnokemia.

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In this week’s episode, “The Elysian Kingdom,” the arc is further explored when an alien presence (hilariously) takes over the Enterprise and befriends Rukiya in a classic Star Trek throwback of delightful absurdity. However, the end proves to be perhaps the most emotional moment of the series thus far.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter , Olusanmokun discusses the beauty and complexity of M’Benga in those heart-wrenching scenes with his daughter. The actor also recalls how much fun the crew had making “Elysian Kingdom,” during which several takes were ruined by outbursts of laughter.

How did you become cast in the show?

My team told me they were getting in touch directly with casting because it was secretive. I put two sides on tape and a few weeks later, I was told the showrunners wanted to Zoom. We had a meeting, and I did the scenes again along with a lovely conversation. It was all very nice. And a few weeks after, I got a call saying I had the job. And of course, it was a wonderful piece of news.

How did you develop your reserved, but insightful and often profound, Dr. M’Benga? Did you look to Booker Bradshaw’s work on TOS as a point of reference? 

Knowing that he had been played before by Booker Bradshaw, I did look up the two episodes that he was in. Unfortunately, Booker was not given a lot back then. So, it was a matter of crafting something anew. It was setting this guy on a new journey and making sure I gave life to something Booker could smile down upon. The unearthing of the character is ongoing.

I always feel the weight of the responsibility of trying to convey a message through the vessel of the character. It is always a wonderful challenge for an actor. It is a show that carries messages of inclusion and optimism. It is a good thing to be playing a character who gets to speak to some of that. You do your best to make sure it is all coming from a truthful and honest place.

I absolutely loved this week’s episode, “The Elysian Kingdom.” It’s such a wonderful Star Trek throwback episode. Please tell me everything. What were those epic costumes like? How did you all ever get through a take with all the hilarious performances?

( Laughs .) Those costumes were amazing. We had been hearing about the costumes for months before we shot that particular episode. When I finally started doing fittings, it was just amazing, the robe and even the undergarments and beads. It was just magnificent. It’s why I do the job, to play. It was a real thrill and blessing. I am the type of actor who, when I read material that is strong and asks something of me, I am just flooded and very grateful. And I approached it with that sense.

There were two days when it was non-stop laughter on the bridge. It was crazy — which is kind of unusual for me. I can be quite a serious guy. ( Laughs .) But there were a few destroyed takes. It was just too much. I don’t think words can do it justice. I was squeezing my face to get the words out — and then I would burst out laughing. I was like, “Oh, my God. I am a professional. What is going on?” ( Laughs .) We had a lot of fun, and I am glad it came across.

As a dad, I get super emotional when I see M’Benga interact with his daughter, Rukiya, especially in “Ghosts of Illyria” and this week’s episode. Can you tell me about delivering two such powerful performances that run the emotional gamut, especially for us parents?

I remember doing episode one when we were in Toronto, which was an introduction, and then I wasn’t in episode two. And as an actor, insecurities start bothering you, like, “Am I really in this thing?” ( Laughs .) So, when I saw the script for “Ghosts of Illyria,” it touched me greatly. I felt the weight of it. I thought it was beautifully written. There are certain monologues that you read again and again and again because every time you do, it becomes truer and truer. When the writing is that strong, it never gets to a place where you’re like, “OK. I am tired of saying these words.” You can’t help but approach it with an open heart. It can’t become boring. It is so true and heartbreaking. And I really connected to that. So, it was beautiful to have that experience for “Ghosts of Illyria.”

What then takes place in “Elysian Kingdom” is a massive continuation of that arc.  I embrace the fragility of it all; there is the vulnerability that he has to have as he is staying as strong as he can through it all. He is brave as he goes throughout the universe to try and find something to heal her. Underneath, he is carrying that horrible sense of “What will be of my child, and how can this be?” So, that was the work, the emotional work of staying in touch with that vulnerability that is deep within him.

I am not assuming anything about what will occur in the future of the series, but did you feel that story arc arrived rather quickly? I ask because I assumed the search for the cure would be a major component of M’Benga’s story, so we got there kind of fast.

I don’t know if I would disagree with you, but the other thing you said is the reason I have not been strident about it in any kind of way. I know it’s a show where we can swing in different directions quite credibly. So, what we think is resolved, I wouldn’t say is resolved. It is an ongoing and living situation. He carries that. And in season two, he is carrying that. Even if it is not present on the surface, it is present within. So, I guess what I am trying to say is I can’t tell you that we wouldn’t come back to it in some fashion.

I think I copy. Well, on that same topic, I have to ask about Sage Arrindell. She is just wonderful and you two appear to have such a strong rapport. What has that relationship been like?

Sage has a wonderful presence and was great to work with. She is really on top of it. She is a beautiful little actor. She responds, she looks you in the eyes. She has her work down. It was fantastic interacting with her. We were doing this at the height of COVID, and we had masks. So, I tried to form a bond beyond the mask that would serve us within the scenes. It was beautiful to work with her.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams new episodes Thursday on Paramount+.

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Why Dr. M'Benga From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Looks So Familiar

When "Star Trek: Discovery" premiered in 2017, it ended the franchise's 12-year television drought and opened the floodgates to a world of new "Star Trek" stories, with showrunner Alex Kurtzman establishing the Star Trek Universe and launching the series "Picard," "Short Treks," "Lower Decks," and "Prodigy" all in a few short years. "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is the latest entry in the long-running franchise. The series, which premiered on May 5 on Paramount+, ties together Trekkies old and new, bringing back franchise favorites like Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Spock (Ethan Peck), and Number One (Rebecca Romijn), while also introducing new characters in the spirit of boldly going where no one has gone before.

Dr. M'Benga was introduced in "Star Trek: The Original Series," where he appeared in the 1968 episode "A Private Little War" and the 1969 episode "That Which Survives." Originally played by Booker Bradshaw, M'Benga is a physician who serves as a medical officer on the Starship Enterprise. For "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," M'Benga received the coveted update from guest character to series regular, with a fleshed-out backstory and a new actor to portray him: Babs Olusanmokun. Here's where you may have seen the actor before.

Babs Olusanmokun got his start on Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Like so many working actors, Babs Olusanmokun got his start on the "Law & Order" franchise, making his first television appearance in a 2006 episode of "Criminal Intent." Over the next four years, the actor would appear in four episodes of the spin-off as three different characters, including a two-parter in Season 9 in which he plays an assassin. Olusanmokun wouldn't limit his talents to "Criminal Intent." He can also be seen in a 2008 episode of "Special Victims Unit," in which he plays a Gambian cab driver named Mr. Marong.

Beyond the world of "Law & Order," Olusanmokun spent much of the next decade racking up single episode credits in various British and American crime procedurals and dramas, including "The Blacklist" and "Gotham." He appeared in a 2007 episode of "Veronica Mars" that highlighted the organization Invisible Children, Inc. He also got to put on his villain cap in a Season 2 episode of "Blue Bloods," in which he plays a menacing shooter named Phantom.

Olusanmokun played Kunta Kinte's father on Roots

In 2016, History debuted a remake of the acclaimed miniseries "Roots." Based on Alex Haley's novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," the 1977 miniseries adaptation quickly became a cultural touchstone. Its finale drew a groundbreaking 100 million viewers, a feat that wouldn't be topped until the "M*A*S*H" finale in 1983, and it remains one of the most-watched series finales of all time (via BBC ). Although the 2016 remake didn't attract the same kind of national attention, it did receive near-universal praise and culled together the talents of Malachi Kirby, Forest Whitaker, Regé-Jean Page, Anna Paquin, and Laurence Fishburne (via Metacritic ).

In the remake, Babs Olusanmokun plays Omoro Kinte, the father of Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) and patrilineal specter to generations of his descendants. Indeed, an early speech of Omoro's to Kunta echoes throughout the entire miniseries: "You must always honor your ancestors. Your name is your spirit. Your name is your shield." In later episodes, Omoro appears in dreamlike visions, at one point appearing in front of his granddaughter, Kizzy (Anika Noni Rose), who he never met. Still, his words travel through her as she invokes a Gambian naming ritual: "Behold the only thing that is greater than you."

Olusanmokun electrified audiences on Black Mirror

In the aftermath of "Roots," Babs Olusanmokun would make a number of single-episode appearances that were notable despite their brevity. One role for which he is perhaps best known is a 2017 episode of "Black Mirror." The Season 4 finale, titled "Black Museum," includes Easter eggs from the series' previous 18 episodes in an effort to bring the anthology together. "Black Museum," however, is decidedly a horror episode, and explores unsettling medical technologies in the form of authentic criminological artifacts. Olusanmokun plays Clayton, a hologram condemned to repeatedly relive his execution by electric chair for museum spectators. This being an episode of "Black Mirror," twists and turns abound.

Olusanmokun also appeared in one episode of "The Night Of," the HBO crime drama starring Riz Ahmed, John Turturro, and Michael K. Williams. Like "Black Mirror," Olusanmokun's character Marvin is entrenched in the horrors of prison, albeit with a less sci-fi-inflected tone.

Olusanmokun made his MCU debut on The Defenders

Babs Olusanmokun got his beefiest bad guy role yet in Marvel's "The Defenders." Following the individual successes of "Daredevil," "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage," and "Iron Fist," Netflix had the heroes join forces for "The Defenders." The eight-episode miniseries sees the motley crew of heroes join forces to defeat The Hand, an underground villain organization led by Alexandra (Sigourney Weaver). Upon making the jump from Netflix to Disney+, the entire slate of "Defenders" shows was rebranded as "The Defenders Saga," allowing fans new and old to revisit the sometimes vulgar, always bingeable characters.

For Olusanmokun, the series marked his first outing in the MCU, making him part of a rarified group of actors to appear in both DC ("Gotham") and Marvel titles. In "The Defenders," Olusanmokun plays Sowande, one of the Hand's five "fingers." When Sowande starts recruiting Harlem teens to do his bidding, it draws the attention of Luke Cage. Before long, the man known as White Hat loses his head and becomes the first finger to fall.

Olusanmokun showed off his jiu-jitsu skills in Dune

Over the course of Bas Olusanmokun's career, the actor has had various minor roles on the big screen, including Alex Ross Perry's "Listen Up Philip" and "Deceit" (also known as "Where Is Kyra?"), starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kiefer Sutherland. In 2021, Olusanmokun had a small part in Guy Ritchie's heist thriller "Wrath of Man" as Moggy, one of Jason Statham's henchmen. That same year, Olusanmokun landed his biggest film role to date in "Dune."

As the pugnacious Fremen warrior Jamis, Olusanmokun plays an integral role in the climactic fight scene with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). While Paul may have received training from Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) and Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), Olusanmokun is a real-life black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (via BJJ Tribes ). Olusanmokun's accelerating acting career is especially meaningful to those who follow his championship-winning fighting. "I used to train under Babs," writes u/Israfel on the r/bjj subreddit. "I remember him sharing how difficult it was to get breakout roles as an actor so it's been great hearing about his success!"

Everything We Know About Dr. Joseph M'Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Strange New Worlds does a great job exploring its characters in depth, but one character that is still stepped in mystery is Dr Joseph M'Benga.

The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Season 2, Episode 8, "Under the Cloak of War," now streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is made up of a colorful cast of characters, old and new. The series highlights some lesser-known figures from The Original Series, such as Captain Pike and Una Chin Riley, formerly known as Number One. It takes a deeper look at these characters, exploring and expanding their backstairs while introducing them anew to fresh eyes that enter the franchise for the first time. Throughout the second season's first half, there has been a pretty in-depth look at most of the series' main characters.

Still, one character that is pretty steeped in mystery is Dr. Joseph M'Benga. Featured in two episodes of The Original Series , M'Benga really only comes into the spotlight during Strange New Worlds. His character has been through a lot during the show, notably losing his daughter to an incurable illness and going through many of the traumas of war, but there is also much implied about him that is yet to be fully explained. This began when the Season 2 premiere saw him, La'an and Nurse Chapel deal with the Klingons, and M'Benga seemed to show signs of trauma from the Klingon war , which took place at the end of Star Trek: Discovery.

RELATED: How Strange New Worlds Centers Spock's Development in His Romantic Conflicts

The Butcher of J'Gal

His PTSD was finally explored in Season 2, Episode 8, "Under the Cloak of War." The episode followed the complicated story of a war-criminal turned diplomat and established how Nurse Chapel and M'Benga met, revealing them both to be veterans and survivors of a huge conflict on a Federation colony planet, J'Gal. M'Benga's history as a fierce, brutal combatant and his move into medicine were canonized, as well as revealing the substance 'Protocol 12' is a steroid developed by M'Benga to level the playing field for Federation soldiers engaged in Klingon warfare. His reputation as the Butcher is known only to him and the audience, though Nurse Chapel may also know, at the end of the episode. It also reveals that he learned how to suspend injured and dying patients in transporter logs, a trick he would go on to use on his daughter in the Enterprise's logs in Season 1.

"Under the Cloak of War" keys audiences into the keen fighter and war veteran in M'Benga's character. It also reveals that he suffers from panic attacks, which may explain the depth of the bond shared between him and Captain Pike. His tendencies up to this point in the show have been largely pacifistic, choosing to fight only when necessary or to spar with La'an. His morality, shown to lean towards fighting for the greater good as shown in the episode, make him a great candidate for the crew of the Enterprise, as he proves his ability to do what he feels is necessary but also to remain calm. Even his final confrontation with Dak'Rah keeps him eerily calm as he gears up for a fight.

RELATED: Strange New Worlds Sheds Light on Star Trek's Weirdest Invention

Characters M'Benga Bonds With in Strange New Worlds

M'Benga is the ship's Chief Medical Officer and, as such, is rarely shown engaging in conflict and combat compared to the other members of his ship. In moments when he does have to engage in violence, he shows an incredible amount of combat strength, which points to some serious training and experience. An element of this can be attributed to Babs Olusanmokun, the actor who portrays M'Benga in Strange New Worlds' martial arts is skilled as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion. Still, there is a narrative explanation as well. In Season 2, Episode 1, "The Broken Circle," M'Benga and Nurse Chapel are caught in a Klingon tap , and M'Benga reveals he was a doctor during the Klingon war. Although he was also a medical professional during this time, there is no doubt he had to fight in the war, a theory revealed to be true in the eighth episode.

This episode also brought back a shared gesture between him and La'an from the show's pilot, repeated in Season 2, Episode 4, "Among the Lotus Eaters." The camaraderie and symbol between the two points to a deeper history and friendship that is yet to be explored in the series. Fans are clued in pretty heavily to a lot of La'an's backstory, specifically her childhood as an Augment and the loss of her family at the hands of the Gorn before being saved by Una. What is yet to be looked into, however, is the time after she joined Starfleet's Academy. With the series taking place just two years after the end of the Federation-Klingon war, there is a good chance M'Benga and La'an crossed paths during this time, and creators have teased that their hand gestures will be explored in the future ( via ScreenRant ).

RELATED: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Just Delivered a Masterclass in Time Travel Romance

M'Benga's Time Serving Under Captain Kirk

Although not a staple of The Original Series , M'Benga did appear in a few episodes of the franchise's first entry. Most notably, he appeared to help Spock recover from an injury in Season 2, Episode 19, "A Private Little War." This appearance is notable as he slaps Spock, a risky depiction for a Black man to slap a white man on screen at the time. In the episode, he is said to have special experience treating Vulcans as he spent time on the planet researching their medicine. This piece of lore remains canon in Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 5, "Spock Amock."

Over the course of the episode, M'Benga is shown to be capable, attentive and caring. These qualities are also present in Olusanmokun's portrayal of the character. Not much can be gleaned about M'Benga from his appearances in the '60s, but the core of his character stays the same , which is a good sign for the doctor's future. With Strange New Worlds' masterful explorations of character, story and genre, it's comforting to know that there is still so much to know about the Enterprise crew and so many backstory mysteries to solve still.

New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stream every Thursday on Paramount+.

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Published Aug 12, 2022

A Lesson in Parenting From Dr. M’Benga

'He has to let it go. Even though it means he won’t be happy anymore.'

StarTrek.com

As parents, we demonstrate love for our children in a number of different ways. We provide for them. We teach them right from wrong. We protect them from harm. That’s really just the beginning of it all. The Star Trek universe is full of memorable parents. Benjamin Sisko, Miles O’Brien, Beverly Crusher, and B’Elanna Torres are just a few of the names that come to mind. Sure, not all of Trek ’s parents may necessarily be worthy of example; however, there certainly are more than a few folks out there who work hard to keep their children on the straight and narrow, while doting upon them with all of the love and attention they can possibly muster.

Not an easy task while seeking out new life and new civilizations, so I am told.

One such example of positive parenting within the final frontier comes in the form of Dr. M’Benga . Serving as the Chief Medical Officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike, this skilled and forthright physician may indeed be the newest dad to grace the franchise, but it’s pretty clear that he knows a thing or two about looking after a little one. Especially when you look at his actions across three rather notable episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

Let’s take a look at some lessons in parenting from Dr. M’Benga...

"Ghosts of Illyria"

I’ll start things off with a look at the doctor’s actions in “Ghosts Of Illyria.” In this episode, we learn that he has an 11-year-old daughter named Rukiya. Sadly, she has been diagnosed with a rare and terminal disease known as cygnokemia for which there is no known cure. Now, being the Chief Medical Officer on the flagship of Starfleet, you’d think a man like M’Benga would be able to handle any illness that came his way. Yet this is simply not the case.

However, instead of losing hope, this loving father risks his own career within the ranks of Starfleet to place his little girl within the pattern buffer of the medical transporter on the Enterprise . While there, she is protected from the effects of the illness, which cannot progress while in stasis. Additionally, M’Benga is afforded some more time in his search for a cure, one that he is convinced they will find somewhere out there among the stars. His actions here would keep his little girl comfortable during what would no doubt be an otherwise painful prognosis, while at the same time reaffirming to Rukiya that the one person she loved most in the world was looking out for her and wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to her. It is not lost on me that this may very well be more an example of the needs of the one outweighing the needs of the many, but I highly doubt that there isn’t a parent out there reading this essay right now who wouldn’t do the exact same thing.

As parents, we must show our children through word and action that we are there for them and will not allow anything bad to happen. Whether they cry out in the night from a bad dream, or need someone to comfort them when they are sick, it is important that our little ones are assured we will always watch over them. And that we are never too far away to help allay their fears.

"Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach"

Next up, let’s move over to the events of “Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach.” It offers another glimpse into Dr. M’Benga’s superb parenting skills when it came down to pursuing a treatment for Rukiya’s illness.

The Starfleet physician encounters a Majalan doctor named Gamal, who also happens to be a ‘father’ himself to The First Servant. Gamal informs Dr. M’Benga that his little girl’s illness could very well be cured back on his home planet of Majalis where there is no sickness of any kind. However, M’Benga’s hopes are soon dashed to pieces when Gamal informs him that certain policies on his world prevent such information from being shared with outsiders, even with respect to medical intervention.

As events transpire revealing the cold-hearted truth behind his society, Gamal changes his mind and begins to help Dr. M’Benga develop a treatment for Rukiya’s condition — a glimmer of hope for this little family, and one that definitely had me smiling, at least for the moment. However, Dr. M’Benga learns that this concoction will not completely eradicate the illness. Despite this, the hopeful Enterprise physician believes this may very well be a first step in curing his daughter once and for all. The above really demonstrates the doctor’s loving commitment to his little one. Desperate to search out some sort of solution, M’Benga never wavers in his quest to locate a means to heal Rukiya, even if it be something as simple as a first step in the process.

Our children must likewise come to know that we will never waver in our commitment to help them through the trials and tribulations of life. It may not always be easy, and will oftentimes come at the expense of our time and energy, but it is certainly an important part in both the development of our children and their ability to trust us as the years progress. It will stand as proof that we are lovingly standing by to help them whenever and wherever they may need us.

"The Elysian Kingdom"

Finally, we come to “The Elysian Kingdom.” After the Enterprise ends up stuck in a nebula that serves as the home to a rather lonely alien consciousness, Dr. M’Benga finds himself in a fantasy world that mirrors one of Rukiya’s favorite fairy tales. It is here, among a crew that believes themselves to be wizards, guardsmen and knights, that he must eventually make a difficult decision regarding his daughter and confront the very real possibility of saying goodbye.

While what unfolds here ends up becoming one of the most emotionally charged scenes in the history of the franchise, M’Benga’s final choice to let Rukiya go and become part of the sentient nebula is perhaps his grandest expression of love toward his little girl. No parent wants to say goodbye, but in M’Benga’s case, he soon comes to realize that letting Rukiya go is the best choice for her, even if it may not be the one he wants to pick.

As we have seen across these three episodes, he toiled day and night in an effort to save his daughter from the effects of her disease. He never stopped, even putting his career and his fellow crew members second given the possibility of a breakthrough. Sadly, this was to no avail. Upon learning that Rukiya’s sickness would end upon her joining with the consciousness, there was no question as to what Dr. M’Benga should do next. While it may have been the choice that hurt him most, a decision he never hoped to make, this brave, loving and selfless father put his own desires to the side and did what was best for Rukiya, based on her wants and what he knew to be the best course of action.

Letting go is not easy. In fact, as parents, it is one of the things that we fear most of all in this world. The very thought of our children daring to venture outside of the carefully constructed sanctuary that is the family home to stake a claim on the outside can create feelings of anxiety that most parents are not prepared for. At the same time, letting go creates a degree of loss for parents that can include such things as communication, closeness and companionship.

Add to this the fact that we have been there for them since the very beginning, feeding them, clothing them, putting a roof over their head, and there is no denying that it is much easier said than done to let your children go. Whether you feel the time is right or not.

However, the fact remains that, sooner or later, we will have to let them branch out on their own. It may not be what we want. It may not be something that we are ready for. Yet, by doing so, we are in fact acting in the best interests of our children. Allowing them to spread their wings and write their own story, as it were. No matter how very painful the end result might be for us as parents.

As I mentioned at the outset, the Star Trek universe is chalked full of memorable parents. However, if you ask this writer, none hold so much as a PADD to Dr. M’Benga. Like all parents out there, he’s far from perfect. But there is little denying that no one matters more to him than Rukiya. This is evidenced through his unwavering commitment to finding a cure, his constant affirmation of love, and his willingness to make decisions that are based upon what is best for her above all else.

Thanks for these powerful lessons in parenting, Dr. M’Benga! And also for hitting us right in the feels!

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John DeQuadros (he/him) is a professional toy photographer and freelance writer based out of Ontario, Canada. In addition to StarTrek.com, he contributes to a range of pop culture outlets including Toy Tales Canada, 8-Bit Pickle, Kaiju Ramen, Retro Format & Toy Collectr Magazine. Find John across numerous social media platforms at @RipRocketPix.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition, the series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada and on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Screen Rant

Strange new worlds has made dr. m'benga a core star trek character, improving his 2 tos episodes.

Nigerian-American actor Babs Olusanmokun breathes new life into the character of Dr. Joseph M'Benga on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

• Babs Olusanmokun brings depth and warmth to the character of Dr. M'Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, adding more depth and likability compared to his previous appearances in TOS.
• In Strange New Worlds, Dr. M'Benga is portrayed as a highly-skilled fighter and combat medic with a complicated history, including his involvement in the Klingon War and Starfleet special forces.
• The creators of Strange New Worlds incorporated Olusanmokun's real-life Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills into the character of Dr. M'Benga, adding an additional layer of authenticity and depth to the character's abilities.

Nigerian-born actor Babs Olusanmokun plays Dr. Joseph M'Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Dr. M'Benga was first introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episode "A Private Little War," where the character was played by Booker Bradshaw. M'Benga would only make one more appearance in TOS season 3's "That Which Survives." In Strange New Worlds , Dr. M'Benga serves as the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Dr. M'Benga has a complicated history not only as an excellent healer but also as a highly-skilled fighter.

By the time of Star Trek: The Original Series , Dr. M'Benga has stepped down as Chief Medical Officer and was replaced by Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley), though M'Benga still serves as a general physician on the Enterprise. The only significant piece of information learned about Dr. M'Benga in TOS was that he had extensive knowledge of Vulcan physiology because he completed his medical internship on the planet Vulcan. With not much to go on, Strange New Worlds and Babs Olusanmokun have managed to reinvent the character in a fascinating way.

Babs Olusanmokun & Dr. M'Benga In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Explained

Prior to his time as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer, M'Benga served as a combat medic in the Klingon War, which is where he first met Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush). At some point during his service, M'Benga was an operative in the Starfleet special forces where he earned the nickname "Ghost" and held the record for the most confirmed hand-to-hand kills. M'Benga was also stationed on the front lines at J'Gal, where he reluctantly took up a weapon again despite his decision to focus on medicine. M'Benga became the CMO of the Enterprise in the late 2250s alongside Nurse Chapel. He has a daughter named Rukiya (Sage Arrindell), who suffered from an incurable illness and eventually joined an alien entity to become a being of pure consciousness.

Babs Olusanmokun has been acting since 2004 and has appeared as a guest star on episodes of several popular television shows, including Veronica Mars, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, and Gotham . He starred in the History Channels 2016 reimagining of Roots as Omoro Kinte. Olusanmokun also appeared in Marvel's The Defenders as Sowande and in the Black Mirror episode "Black Museum." He played General Azikiwe in Prime Video's The Widow , and Damian in the miniseries Too Old to Die Young. Olusanmokun appeared in Guy Ritchie's Wrath of Man and Denis Villeneuve's Dune in 2021. Babs Olusanmokun has a third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu , which the creators of Strange New Worlds incorporated into the character of Dr. M'Benga.

How Strange New Worlds Changed Dr. M'Benga From Star Trek: TOS For The Better

Since he only appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series , not much was known about Dr. M'Benga prior to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . In the TOS episode "A Private Little War," Dr. M'Benga used his knowledge of Vulcan physiology to help Spock after he was shot with an old-school firearm. M'Benga does not get much screen time, but he proves to be an extremely competent doctor, if a bit detached. M'Benga's subsequent TOS appearance, in "That Which Survives," is even briefer as he supervises the autopsy of an Enterprise crewman who died mysteriously.

Babs Olusanmokun's portrayal of M'Benga has brought more depth to the character and Strange New Worlds has given him a fascinating backstory. Olusanmokun plays Dr. M'Benga with a warmth that the character lacked in TOS . Despite his violent background, M'Benga's compassion and care for his patients is obvious. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has not only filled in Dr. M'Benga's background, but Olusanmokun's portrayal has also made him a more compelling and likable character.

Interview: Babs Olusanmokun Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’s Dr. M’Benga talks about character & craft

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds welcomes a new doctor to the pantheon of Chief Medical Officers who have consistently been some of the strongest characters across every show in the Star Trek cinematic universe: McCoy, Crusher, Bashir, Phlox, Stamets and now M’Benga. Played with so much warmth, and even a little humor by Babs Olusanmokun , Dr. M’Benga is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Awards Radar spoke with Babs about his career and what it’s like to be a part of the cultural juggernaut that is Star Trek.

Lucas Longacre : Babs, you play Jamis in Dune , Dr. M’benga in Strange New Worlds . So needless to say, you’re in two of my favorite science fiction franchises of all time. Were you a science fiction fan growing up as a kid?

Babs Olusanmokun : Yes, yes. You know, but I didn’t think of it as Sci-Fi. I just watched them because they were adventurous and exciting and showed new worlds and possibilities. So I always found them special. It was only of course, later in life that you then put, you know, a name to it. “Sci F”. It was just about adventure for me, always.

Lucas Longacre : And so how and when did you get introduced to Star Trek?

Babs Olusanmokun : As a child, I mean, syndication. I started watching them and Mr. Spock was always a very special character to me. Then, to go into the different planets and all of that. I would say I was like, 12 or so when I first started watching them. And yeah, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it very much. But it was a big part of my consciousness.

Lucas Longacre : So how did you originally get into acting and performance? Is that something that was like, at a young age, you were like, this is for me? Or was it just something you kind of discovered on your journey?

Babs Olusanmokun : It was really high school. Some of my family have told me was actually earlier, I sort of performed even when I was in elementary school and I was watching a lot of film. I wasn’t until high school that I did a musical. I went away on theater performance competition in high school.

Lucas Longacre : Do you remember what you performed?

Babs Olusanmokun : Lenny. From Of Mice and Men . We ended up doing Oklahoma my last year of high school. And, I played all the hockey and, of course, between that and watching films from 9pm to 4am.

Lucas Longacre : Really doing homework, right?

Babs Olusanmokun : Yes, literally it hit me and I walked up to my dad one day, I’m like, Yeah, I got it. I’m going to be an actor.

Lucas Longacre : And where was this?

Babs Olusanmokun : I grew up all over. Sometimes it’s a difficult question. I was born in Nigeria but then we lived in France, Paris for few years and then Brazil. So I actually graduated high school in Brazil, out of an American School in Brazil. Then right after that I was in New York as a teenager, taking acting classes here and there and over the years. But really without any guidance or mentorship I probably needed. So I was always, start/stop. I started training Jiu-Jitsu and that sort of took quite a bit of my time. But I always knew where I was supposed to be, acting wise. It was always my North Star.

And I would always go back to class. So I ended up studying with various studio teachers in New York City, few years at a time. Stop, start again. And then eventually, I started doing theater and going off off Broadway. Performing on the Lower East Side, and then performing at all the little New York spots, and, you know, eventually somebody was actually paying me a bit of money to do it. And not just the metro card.

Lucas Longacre : As independent filmmaker in New York, I’m guilty of having paid my actors in Metro cards for sure. That’s incredible, though. Did you ever try your hand at the commercial circuit? Was it really just doing theater and performance?

Babs Olusanmokun : No, I did a commercial years ago. And I went out for a bit. But they were never my thing. And it was one of those first steps in cutting away things in terms of realizing, yes, commercials pay money and whatnot, but it’s just not me. And it took me a while to realize that.

Lucas Longacre : I mean, it’s a lot of hard work. I don’t think people who aren’t on that side of it realize the amount of auditioning and just getting rejected over and over. So I’m fascinated that you’re in Jiu-Jitsu. So tell me a little bit about that journey with martial arts. How did you get into Jiu-Jitsu?

Babs Olusanmokun : I started with karate as a child. I got head butted by a kid when I was like, 11 or so in Paris. The next day, my dad put me in karate.

Lucas Longacre : Do you remember what style?

Babs Olusanmokun : I would say Shotokan. And I did like one or two competitions, you know, flying kicks right into some other kids chest.  And was not good. But yeah, then I started doing Jiu-Jitsu. And that really took over and I spent quite a bit of time doing that training and competing. Teaching. For a long time in New York.

Lucas Longacre : Does that inform your your acting or your performance at all using that kind of physicality?

Babs Olusanmokun : Yeah, I would say.I think I’m a naturally physical person. I remember I was in a method acting class and  that teacher, he had a specific kind of warm up, that really seemed to get me more tense. Subsequently, after I found another teacher, a great guy called John Nucor, he was actually Tennessee Williams’ personal assistant, years back. I spent a long time with him, I was able to speak to him a bit more forthrightly, more directly. And I’m like, ‘You know, we used to do this warm up, and it really gets my shoulders tense. It just does not help me.’ And he’s like, ‘Babs, what did you say you do apart from this?’ I’m like, ‘I do Jiu-Jitsu’. Alright, how do you prepare for that? How do you limber up? And he was like, ‘okay, just use that. You can bring it together’. And that really helped me. It really sort of set me free, in a way. You can prescribe your own warmup, you know, as long as it gets you to the place where you need to be, then set forth within the scene, that emotional work.

Lucas Longacre : Any chance we’re gonna get to see Dr. M’Benga do some Jiu-Jitsu in Strange New Worlds .

Babs Olusanmokun : We will see. As I said, we’re finishing up a second season, right?

Lucas Longacre : Tell me about the audition process for Strange New Worlds . How did that unfold for you?

Babs Olusanmokun : I got the appointment, actually the information was sent to me directly. The agents weren’t even allowed to see the sides and whatnot. I had to prepare two scenes. It was strong, and I took to them immediately. I’m like, okay, ‘I could do this’. I was sort of like, just a guy on a mission, who actually still keeps his cool. And then the next one was a very short scene, but went from A to Z very quickly, emotionally. And so that was quite a challenge, a lovely challenge to embrace. Because, the scene is literally just a few lines.

I sent in tape. They wanted to meet with me, and I met with show runners Akiva and Henry, and the cast. And it was just so beautiful and comfortable. We spoke for, I don’t know, 20-25 minutes for a good while before they then asked me to do the scene again. And they gave me notes. And then I did it again. Or it was like, ‘do it in this accent’. And I played with it, because I’m quite sure I did it in American accent initially. But they were very, very generous with our time, very generous with our energy. For years, living in New York and auditioning, I sort of handicapped myself by not being just 100%? But the idea of going to meet these people and, like God, all of that was not present. My focus was just on the work. I already had gotten to the point I’d worked enough and gotten to the point like, ‘I’m just going to give the work. Trust the work’. And that’s it. If they are attracted to it then something will happen. So I was at peace for this project. I was already at that point. So I could just chat with them, you know, ask questions, and just enjoy it. And then when we were done, it was just like, All right, cool. That was lovely.

Lucas Longacre : It’s like falling in love, right? Like, if if you try to force it to happen, it’s never gonna happen. But if you’re relaxed and yourself, that’s where the magic happens. Well, how did it feel getting the call that you got the part? Was it a long time between when you audition and when you got it?

Babs Olusanmokun : You know, it feels like it was shorter than I think it was? Because again, I wasn’t hyper focused on it. But I felt good about it. It took a month and a half to two months in between the audition, And then it got to the point where I had to re tape the scenes, because now they were gonna give it to more people. Like, it’s gonna go through the gauntlet again.

Lucas Longacre : The studio exec circuit.

Babs Olusanmokun : Exactly. The unnamed ones. behind the curtain. So that was wonderful, to do that again, I just did not mind tackling the work over and over again. And that really, I think served me well. My agent called, and I was sitting in London, and I was like, ‘really?’ I was quite thrilled. I was quite thrilled. Because it’s Star Trek , you know. There’s nobody that I can say that too, that no matter how jaded you are, it meant something to all of us in some way. Or it meant something to your dad, or your uncle, or your aunt.

Lucas Longacre : I’m sure you’re still processing some of those thoughts.

Babs Olusanmokun : All of us. I am still processing. We could be on set. And another actor, one of my castmates would be like, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe we’re doing this’. Like really. We’ll be in the chairs waiting for the next scene and somebody will bump the other and be like, “right?”. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. Because it just demands that of you, the community. The people that appreciate it, that truly, truly appreciate it. You know, you have to serve them. Also. It’s not that kind of job that you do and throw away in any kind of way.

Lucas Longacre : You have to give it your all. How has that been, the fan reaction? I imagine this is something you’ve never really had to deal with before. What’s it like being in the in the maelstrom?

Babs Olusanmokun : I’ve not gone out to meet people. I see the onrush of it.I think it’s a beautiful thing. I think Star Trek fans are mostly, they’re not looking to tear it down. They’re not looking to tear others down. They demand something of the show, of the producers, but they’re not coming from a place of trying to belittle or be above what the piece is. If the piece speaks to them, they will embrace it fully. I see that. I have a dear friend, older than I, calls me like, ‘Man, I’m enjoying this’. I mean, he’s one of the most cynical people I know. Like a super, super cynical New Yorker dude. He can’t stop calling me. ‘Man, I’m just watching this episode. Oh, my God! Oh, my God!’

Lucas Longacre : So I think a huge part of that is that Star Trek does speak to these higher ideals we’re supposed to possess. And so even as like, the fans, like me, when we approach the show itself, try to have those ideals in mind, which I think is really powerful for a piece of entertainment.

Babs Olusanmokun : Absolutely, absolutely. Because, without that, there’s not much more. Whether it’s Star Trek, whether it’s Dune , whether it’s another piece of work that touches us in a different genre.If it grips us, if it speaks to us, if it exposes something in us, that’s the work. That’s art, right? So ultimately, that’s why we want to be artists, doing it as beautifully as possible within these parameters that are forced upon us.

Lucas Longacre : Dr. M’Benga, one of the reasons he’s so relatable is not just your performance, but he’s on a mission not just explore the universe, he has a very specific reason which is to save his daughter. How did you approach playing that character?

Babs Olusanmokun : Wow, I mean, really, just tapping into tapping into love. And the love of a child, the love you have for a family member. We can’t be comparing grief, but that is one of those sacred things, like your child is gravely ill. Your child may leave this world before you. That is something none of us ever, ever want to go through. So really, this was already presented to me at the meeting we had with the producers before we started filming. And so just started building his emotional life, and that end, the battle, the journey of having this child, having this family loving this child and taking care of her raising her and all of a sudden, as she’s still a child, and you now have to start pondering and dealing with her possible loss or possible death. So it was it was more emotional work, creating that and laying down a soil for that. And, of course, also keeping him brave enough and desperate enough to bring her on the ship, and really go against his sworn duty. And so, yeah, the work was to sort of lay the ground for that for that emotional journey. For that journey of doing what I have to do, what he has to do to save this child. The places we’ll have to travel to, the the people he will have to negotiate with, to discover some new medicines. So really going back the sides. You know, the asides for the audition was him, sort of haggling with another individual in terms of getting this, what he thought could be the life saving medicine. And at first, it means not much to him. But really, we find that it’s actually very, very important. So for me, it’s that, keeping him brave, keeping him focused on the goal he needs to achieve. And making sure the vulnerability is there. But that’s the chunk of the journey that I was working to craft for him for the season.

Lucas Longacre : Well, I just watched the episode last night in anticipation for this interview, the fantastical one where it becomes a storybook.

Babs Olusanmokun : The Elysium Kingdom.

Lucas Longacre : Exactly, Elysium Kingdom . And I’ll tell you, it snuck up on me because it’s a very silly episode in many ways, such a throw back to original Star Trek series, where they would have these very plot driven reasons why they would suddenly be in another genre. So I didn’t realize there was this emotional sledgehammer coming. By the end I was tearing up over the interaction you had with the daughter, it was just a beautiful. A beautifully done scene. But that’s transitioning into my question, which is in Strange New Worlds , It’s like every episode can be a different genre completely. It can be an action movie, it can be a Western. It can be a drama. It can be a comedy. So are there any genres you haven’t explored that you actually really looking forward to being allowed to play in?

Babs Olusanmokun : Oh, man, I feel if I say that then I’m giving too much away.

Lucas Longacre : Yeah, let’s reverse it. Let’s say, what are the ones you’ve done so far, first season that you’re allowed to talk about that have been really just a pure joy to play in the series?

Babs Olusanmokun : I would of course say The Elysian Kingdom which you just watched because it is that fantasy. It’s the fantasy episode essentially. And as you know, as heavy as it became, at the end, it was really fun. It was really like, as an actor, it felt it felt like it was a chance to just spread the wings and explore and sit in moments and just enjoy playing this King Ridley, even though I would still M’Benga. And keeping my wits about me. But I had to sometimes become him to compel the other characters who were fully in the mode of the Elysian Kingdom. It was a beautiful thing to play with. And that’s one thing I love about the show that we can be really silly one moment, and then we can be adventurous and badass the next moment, I think it’s just, it’s a wonderful playground to be on.

Lucas Longacre : Definitely, and some of these Star Trek shows, they’ll go for four or five, six, even seven seasons, are you in it for the long haul? Are you excited to be on this potential journey?

Babs Olusanmokun : Absolutely, I will be around as long as they’d have me. I’m quite sure everybody’s invested in keeping it strong and interesting. And not just putting something out to put something out. Ultimately, we want to do things that we’re proud of, and that we care about and that others can connect to. So I think we’re all have that in mind, we all want to make it meaningful. So, yeah, as long as we can keep doing that, you know, why not?

Lucas Longacre : Well, I hope so. For me, Star Trek has been such an integral part of my life since I was a child and so Strange New Worlds , I think really taps into all of that like positivity, that wonder of adventure and exploration. So I’m really hoping that you at least get a few more seasons, maybe a feature film or two. Any chance you’re going to be at New York Comic Con this year?

Babs Olusanmokun : I don’t know. I’d like to be I’d like to be, but maybe so hopefully somebody gets a clue and makes that happen. And I will be there.

Lucas Longacre : People from Awards Radar are on a podcast are actually going to be there doing coverage of it. So I’ll make sure if you’re there we’ll cover whatever panel you’re on.

Babs Olusanmokun : Excellent. Thank you so much.

You can follow the Babs Olusanmokun’s adventures as Dr. M’Benga and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise on Star Trek: Strange New World ’s streaming on Paramount+. 

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A Short History Of Dr. M'Benga In The Star Trek Universe

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" might be taking us to strange new worlds, but it's also relying on re-introductions to characters already known by "Star Trek" fandom. Spock and Uhura are mainstays from the original "Star Trek" series, while characters like Christopher Pike and Nurse Chapel made themselves known in their brief appearances on the classic '60s series. And alongside the new and returning crew members on the Enterprise, there is one face that may be less known than the rest.

That would be Doctor M'Benga, the chief medical officer on Captain Pike's Enterprise. Played by Babs Olusanmokun, M'Benga is a new face for many folks, stepping into a space normally occupied by Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the original series, sequel films, and subsequent reboots. As such, it's worth taking a look back at where the character came from in the first place.

That which survives

Doctor M'Benga was actually a character from the original "Star Trek" show. The Enterprise's second doctor was played by Booker Bradshaw, an actor, voice actor, and writer. Bradshaw had guest-starring roles on "Tarzan" and "The Mod Squad," was a series regular on the original "Alvin and the Chipmunks," and even wrote episodes for "Columbo," "The Rockford Files," and "The Richard Pryor Show."

His first appearance on "Star Trek" is in the second season episode "A Private Little War." In the episode, M'Benga is one of the doctors working on the medical team under Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy. When Commander Spock is wounded by small arms fire on the planet Neural, M.Benga is the one who treats Spock, having acquired extensive experience treating Vulcans during an earlier internship.

M'Benga appears again in only one more episode, a third season standalone entitled "That Which Survives." In this episode, he performs an autopsy on a dead away team member. The overall role is much smaller this time around, and it marks the last time that M'Benga is seen on the Enterprise.

A second chance for the nameless

You've probably noticed that I haven't referred to M'Benga's first name yet. That's because the character does not have one in his original incarnation. The character was created for an unproduced "Star Trek" script entitled "Shol," which was ultimately shelved for being too similar to the season two episode "The Apple." In that script, his first name was Joseph, but that information never made it into a produced episode.

M'Benga was likely not used because the ship already had a series regular in Doctor McCoy and recurring medical personnel in Nurse Chapel. The latter appeared earlier and remained tied to the series for the rest of its run.

This means that Babs Olusanmokun and the creative team behind "Strange New Worlds" have far more leeway in crafting Dr. M'Benga. In the first episode, he appears as a warm, wry person who already knows Spock and other crew members. Teaser trailers also highlight a doctor who's willing to use low-tech alternatives if it can help his patients. We're looking forward to seeing how Olusanmokun, a Nigerian-American actor, is able to add some depth to the Starfleet officer of African descent.

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Pop culture with a different perspective.

Babs Olusanmokun on Playing Dr. M’Benga on ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds takes us back to the original Star Trek era where Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) led the Enterprise and her crew on daring missions to explore the vastness of Space and make new discoveries and advancements on behalf of the Federation. The crew of the Enterprise is has a vast range of experience and skill they bring to their mission, and one Dr. M’Benga, played brilliantly by Babs Olusanmokun, gets his own featured episode this week.

We had the opportunity to speak with Olusanmokun ahead of his featured episode this week, “The Elysium Kingdom,” asking him what Star Trek means to him, how Dr. M’Benga deals with his current struggles, what viewers can anticipate, and much more.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

NOC: What’s it like filming on Strange New Worlds and what’s the dynamic like on set?

Olusanmokun: All of the dynamic is fun. It’s been a brilliant time. We’re towards the very end of shooting the second season. So we’re very excited and a bit tired but love it, and it’s just been really a beautiful experience all around. Everybody is really committed everybody’s there to do what they need to do to serve the piece. And it’s been fantastic. It’s been really, really fantastic. Everybody behind the scenes together, we get along and enjoy each other and we’re very supportive of each other and yeah, is literally just beautiful times.

And it really comes across that way while we watch the show and it’s just it’s such a beautiful show in so many different ways. I’m curious on a more broad level, what does Star Trek mean to you and what do you personally think its most important lessons are?

Star Trek means it means, to me, peace. It’s a project that demands more than just the work, so to speak. It’s your representative of something. And that assumption is hope, optimism, which sometimes in this world of ours, it can be quite difficult to hold on to. But it’s a show that demands that our view the message of the show historically has always been that that’s been its legacy. Also a legacy of inclusion. In a world where people want to punch down, like those that are better finding trying to find themselves in our world. I think Star Trek urges us to live. The fact that we are all one and without each other. So we have to take care of each and every one of us. And I think that is I believe that is the most powerful message of the show of the series in general, and I think that is enough. So to be on a show to be doing a piece of work that has that reach and and seeks to have that reach and is does it forthrightly, I think that’s a beautiful thing. There are many actors that will do lots of different projects and, they might end up doing not even one that would resonate the way this resonates and has resonated historically with people from all walks of life. So it’s quite a special thing to to be a part of that.

Dr. M’benga has this kind of really tragic situation with his daughter who has this terminal illness. He’s secretly keeping her aboard the Enterprise and he’s probably doing some things that are outside of Starfleet protocol. But I suppose in general what do you think think leads him to be so secretive about his personal life with others on the enterprise? Maybe even besides the like, breaking up protocol?

He’s a very responsible man. And he takes his duty as a Starfleet Deputy very seriously. And realize and knowing I think it’s it’s a there’s a massive conflict. Of course where he’s got is he has to invest in it has to save his child. As much as he adores or respect Starfleet, he has to say this time, so he knows it’s wrong, according to Starfleet, and he is ready to pay the price. for that. But there is no way he would involve anybody else. Because of what he knows it entails it really is going against the code of Starfleet. So therefore, I think it’s just a matter of responsibility and shield and others from having to carry that burden. That is why he kept it from from all the others.

Leading up to your centered episode, which will be airing this week. We get to see Dr. M’banga, we get to see you leading what is ironically despite this tragic situation, a more a classic Star Trek “silly premise” episode. We’ve seen these before and what was it like for you filming that and how is it different from what you usually shoot on set?

I mean, there’s a lot more of me. So it demands the demands. You’re essentially, anytime one of us has to be sort of like, a center of the episode, you’re shooting a film, and you’re sort of taking the lead and you have to sort of be the through line for this piece. And so, it was a lot of work in over this one in particular, I got the script like the day before we started shooting but it was a beautiful challenge. I loved it. I loved working on it. We had a lot of fun. It was, it was the set was just beautifully, beautifully designed. And the art department was just amazing. Every room I walked into is quite different. And I was just taken by the artistry of all of that. And then I just put this nice guy through this journey.

Dr. M'Benga will see you now. #StarTrek : #StrangeNewWorlds premieres May 5th. ✨ https://t.co/ypHgRphrr9 pic.twitter.com/FxaJlsfHYh — Star Trek (@StarTrek) March 31, 2022

And so it was really, really beautiful to play. All the rest of the cast was just fantastic. And we had a we had a great time. Definitely it’s my favorite episode so far. I’ve yet to see it. I probably won’t see it anytime soon. But yeah, it was definitely it was definitely to just live sort of in this other world was really special. And I think that’s, that’s the great thing about our, our show. Every episode we get to play in a different playground. And as an actor, that is just really really, really wonderful to experience and explore. And fantastic costumes. It was beautiful. It was really being being on a playground and enjoying himself. So yeah, it was really wonderful.

You can watch “The Elysian Kingdom” this Thursday, June 23 and you can watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds every Thursday on Paramount+.

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Swara is a data analyst and a co-host of The Middle Geeks. He loves talking about politics, animals, nature, and all things Star Trek and DC. View all posts by Swara Salih

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Debra was a 23rd century Human , the wife of Joseph M'Benga , and mother of Rukiya .

In 2248 , Debra gave birth to her daughter Rukiya. ( SNW : " Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach ")

In 2259 when the USS Enterprise encountered an entity believed to be a Boltzmann brain in the Jonisian Nebula , Rukiya named the entity Debra after her mother. Interacting with the entity meant Rukiya aged rapidly compared to her father , and when she appeared to him as an adult , he commented that she looked much like her mother. ( SNW : " The Elysian Kingdom ")

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

• Memory Beta articles sourced from comics
• Memory Beta articles sourced from novelizations
• Memory Beta articles sourced from short stories
• Starfleet personnel
• Starfleet personnel (23rd century)
• Vanguard residents
• USS Excelsior personnel
• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel
• Starfleet medical personnel
• Humans (23rd century)
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• 23rd century births

Joseph M'Benga

• View history
• 1.1 Early career
• 1.2 Aboard the Enterprise under Captain Pike
• 1.3 2260s Starfleet service
• 1.4.1 The Modala Imperative
• 1.4.2 The Vulcan Science Academy murders and the IDIC epidemic
• 1.4.3 Re-Assignment to the Enterprise
• 1.5 Death's Angel
• 1.6 Later life
• 1.7 Alternate timelines
• 2.1 Connections
• 2.2.1 Appearances
• 2.2.2 References
• 2.3 External link

Biography [ ]

Early career [ ].

Doctor M'Benga graduated from Starfleet Medical School in the 2250s , and was assigned to Vulcan , where he interned in a Vulcan ward for several years, increasing his knowledge of Vulcan physiology and psychology . ( TOS episode : " A Private Little War ")

Aboard the Enterprise under Captain Pike [ ]

By 2259 , M'Benga was assigned to the USS Enterprise as chief medical officer under Captain Christopher Pike , with Nurse Christine Chapel as part of his staff. ( SNW episode : " Strange New Worlds "; SNW comic : " The Illyrian Enigma ")

2260s Starfleet service [ ]

Late in the year 2264 , M'Benga was assigned to Starbase 47 (aka Vanguard ) in the Taurus Reach where he studied under long-time veteran, Dr. Ezekiel Fisher . The two doctors became good friends, but Fisher kept trying to test M'Benga's Vulcan-like reserve and manner, and the two often attended rugby games on the space station .

In 2265 , the USS Enterprise docked at Vanguard seeking repairs following the mission to the galactic barrier . At this time, M'Benga was looking to further his career, and a chance meeting with the Enterprise' s chief medical officer , Dr. Mark Piper , resulted in him promising that he would put in a good word for him to be assigned to the Enterprise . ( VAN novel : Harbinger )

By 2266 , M'Benga had officially applied for transfer to ship duty. While awaiting word on his transfer, he began treating the comatose Lieutenant Commander T'Prynn , who had finally succumbed to her decades-long val'reth condition. Despite his background interning on Vulcan, M'Benga was unable to revive T'Prynn. Accompanied by journalist Tim Pennington , M'Benga escorted his patient to Vulcan for treatment by the healer Sobon . Following T'Prynn's recovery, he was ordered to the Vulcan capital of Shi'Kahr to receive new assignment orders. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets )

Aboard the Enterprise under Captain Kirk [ ]

The modala imperative [ ].

At some point in mid- 2267 , very likely not long after getting new billeting orders from Starfleet Command, M'Benga served aboard the USS Enterprise during the Modala recontact-mission, when Captain Kirk and Ensign Chekov were arrested by the Modalan authorities planetside. ( TOS - The Modala Imperative comic : " Tools of Tyranny ")

The Vulcan Science Academy murders and the IDIC epidemic [ ]

Later in 2267, M'Benga returned to Vulcan to further his studies of Vulcan medicine. A few months after returning to Vulcan, a deadly plague broke out on the Vulcan colony Nisus . M'Benga and a Vulcan medical team was transported to the colony aboard the Enterprise , to help find a cure for the plague.

Upon arrival at Nisus, Dr. McCoy and M'Benga strived for weeks to find a cure, while attempting to treat the thousands of victims, but eventually a cure was found, in the form of blood from a half Klingon - half human child. However, McCoy was so impressed with M'Benga's devotion to duty and knowledge of Vulcan anatomy during the crisis that he offered M'Benga a full-time position aboard the Enterprise again, and he accepted. ( TOS novels : The Vulcan Academy Murders , The IDIC Epidemic )

Re-Assignment to the Enterprise [ ]

A few weeks after his re-assignment to the Enterprise , Spock was badly injured after suffering a gunshot wound on Neural . M'Benga operated to remove the bullet but knew that Spock had to bring himself out of a coma, and both he and Christine Chapel had to violently slap Spock to bring him around. ( TOS episode : " A Private Little War ")

In 2268 , during the encounter with Losira on the Kalandan outpost , M'Benga performed an autopsy on Ensign Wyatt and concluded that he died from complete cellular disruption. Shortly after, M'Benga and the entire Science and Medical divisions worked to find a cure to a disease that had struck Captain Kirk 's landing party on the outpost, preventing them from being transported up. ( TOS episode : " That Which Survives "; ST - Gateways novel : One Small Step )

Death's Angel [ ]

In 2269 , Dr. M'Benga accompanied Captain Kirk and a survey team to planet Delta Gamma IV on the border of Klingon space . All of the survey team became infected with plant spores and fell ill, but M'Benga was among the survivors who were later treated aboard the Enterprise and apparently made a full recovery.

A few weeks later, the Enterprise was assigned to transport a group of Federation ambassadors, led by Ambassador Sarek , from Starbase 7 to Detente Station 1 for peace talks with the Romulans . En route, several Federation ambassadors were murdered in a set of bizarre circumstances. A thorough investigation revealed the murderer to be Dr. M'Benga. He could not be held responsible, however, because he was under the influence of the psionic-boosting spores still present from Delta Gamma IV. M'Benga could not live with the murders on his conscience and left the Enterprise to undergo psychiatric treatment. ( TOS novel : Death's Angel )

Later life [ ]

Following his recovery from the events aboard the Enterprise , Dr. M'Benga returned to Starfleet duty, and in late 2270 , he was working as a pathologist at the Stanford Medical Center . ( TOS novels : The Lost Years , Traitor Winds )

In early 2286 , after James T. Kirk and his command staff were exonerated of charges stemming from the Genesis Incident , M'Benga was assigned to serve aboard the brand-new USS Enterprise -A as surgeon alongside Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy. ( TOS comic : " When You Wish Upon a Star...! ")

In 2293 , M'Benga attended James T. Kirk 's memorial service in the grounds of Starfleet Academy , along with many other former Enterprise crewmembers. ( TOS - Crucible novel : The Fire and the Rose )

After serving many years in Starfleet, M'Benga settled down on Vulcan, in the Voroth Sea region, and became a plomeek farmer, and also raised a family. His great-granddaughter, Andrea M'Benga , would serve in Starfleet as a doctor in the 24th century . ( TOS novel : Avenger )

Alternate timelines [ ]

In an alternate timeline in which the Vulcans had remained a violent and emotional species, M'Benga served as the chief medical officer of the IUES Enterprise I , a Charter -class starship of the Interstellar Guard in service during the late 23rd century . He was preceded by Leonard McCoy . ( ST - Myriad Universes novel : The Tears of Eridanus )

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances and references [ ], appearances [ ], references [ ].

• TOS novel : A Contest of Principles

External link [ ]

• Joseph M'Benga article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 The Chase
• 3 Preserver (race)