Although we are months away from seeing the 2024 Pike ornament it is never too early to look for the artist’s inspiration. The captain’s chair is a huge part of Star Trek mythos and it is welcomed that Pike (and chair) is being immortalized in ornament form. Hallmark has sculpted a captain in the captain’s chair three previous times (unfortunately, Janeway, Sisko and Burnham were not “caught” sitting down).

The inspiration of Pike’s pose predates Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and comes from Season 2, Episode 14 of Star Trek: Discovery. Pike is seen (below) with his legs crossed and take notice of the distinct positioning of his hands. It is nearly identical to what can be found on the ornament.

In the Discovery episode (above), Pike is is not wearing the uniform that he will don in Strange New Worlds and his hair has not yet become the sculpted masterpiece we will come to know and love. It appears Hallmark kept the pose from Discovery but changed the uniform and hair details to match the Strange New Worlds publicity photo (below).

I’m always impressed by your eagle eye, pal! Yep, those were the precise references.

But what episode did I pull the audio from? Huh? 🙂

-Kevin Dilmore

Here’s my guess…

“Maybe that’s why I’m here, to remind you of the power of possibility. Maybe that’s the good in seeing my future, that I might remind you that right up until the very end, life is to be worn gloriously because, until our last moment, the future’s what we make it.”

-Pike, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 Episode 1

I’m guessing it is safe to say it’s not from Subspace Rhapsody.