Sorry if this has been discussed already but I haven’t had much time to read all the posts. I’m wondering why they decided to create the character of La’an Noonien Singh. or more specifically, why they gave her that name? They could have called her something else, kept the Gorn backstory and still had an interesting character. I like her so far, and figured there’s a reason to make her Khan’s descendent that goes beyond just an easter egg. I’m thinking maybe to generate enough interest to go forward with a Khan spinoff? Obviously in Space Seed, Spock never says (at least on screen), “His descendant served aboard this very ship.” Something you thought would’ve come up. Yes, we all know why, but I’m curious why the writers felt the need to create the character of La’an, which some may find controversial. I’m ok with it but was just wondering if it’s a setup for a Khan series, which has been rumored for years.
The season isn't even over yet. We'll probably find out eventually. It also created tension with Una in Episode 3, and added to her backstory with the bullying.
I have no doubt that her name will make her a particularly significant character. I’m still trying to figure out why they made her look like Camina Drummer from The Expanse.
Why make La'an a Khan descendant? Because fans and professionals involved with Star Trek just can't leave Khan in the past. <Ricardo Montalban voice> Do you not remember, my old friends, how week after week Khan ran circles around James . . . T . . . Kirk? Do you also not remember how the prodigious thespian talents and magnetic charisma of the Magnificent Montalban blew poor William Shatner off the stage? It is no wonder that Khiirk was reduced to yelling out Khan's name in frustration every week. Whenever Khan is not on screen, the audience should be asking, "WHERE . . . is Khan?" and "WHY . . . isn't he here?" A STAR TREK without Khan is no STAR TREK at all. </Ricardo Montalban voice> Watch for STAR TREK KHAN, coming in 2025, streaming exclusively on Paramount+.
Khan-frequently listed as the top villain in Trek of all time. The Wrath of Khan: consistently listed as the best Star Trek film of all time. Space Seed: listed as a top TOS episode, and among the "must watch" of Star Trek episodes. Nope, no reason at all why producers would want to use Khan. The mind is a mysterious playground...
<Ricardo Montalban voice> Exactly. Thank you, Admiral, for so aptly proving the point. Star Trek is THE KHAN SHOW. Khan's gravitational field is so great, there is no escaping it. Fandom loves Khan. Producers would be stupid not to exploit that. *sharp intake of breath* The Canon demands this void be filled. (sharply, declaratively) WE PROMISE THE WORLD MORE KHAN! Hey, would I Khan you? </Ricardo Montalban voice>
One does have to wonder, given the infamy associated with the Noonian-Singh name, why is it still around in the 23rd century? In the real world, everyone named Hitler changed their name after WWII, and after 9/11 Osama bin Laden's law abiding relatives changed their name. Why didn't the Noonian-Singhs do likewise after the Eugenics Wars? Or at the very least, given how much grief the name has given La'an, why didn't she just drop the Noonian part and just go by Singh?
Could be she just wants the attention. Reminds me of a guy I used to work with. He had a funny middle name which he wrote on his toolbox in big letters for everyone to see. We started calling him by the funny name and he would get mad and say "Hey! I don't like that!" We all figured he did it so people would talk to him. He was a bit....strange.