Christina Chong was the first recent cast member to publicly mark the end of her journey, sharing that she had wrapped work on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ fifth season and that it would be her last as La’an Noonien-Singh.
Her Instagram post, taken outside her trailer, framed the moment as the end of a five-year chapter playing the security chief who became one of the series’ breakout characters.
Reports note that season 5 is designed as the finale for the show, which explains why Chong’s farewell comes as filming winds down in Toronto, and the production prepares to close the book on this version of the Enterprise.
Paramount+ previously renewed Strange New Worlds for a shortened final run after earlier seasons earned critical praise and strong fan engagement, so her goodbye fits into a larger planned exit rather than a surprise departure.
Just days after Chong’s announcement, Celia Rose Gooding let fans know that her time as Nyota Uhura had also reached its end. She posted a trailer photo and a shot of herself with Uhura’s Starfleet delta badge, explaining that she was “retiring” it after completing her work on the series.
Gooding had previously spoken at New York Comic Con about how emotional it would be to wrap , saying the cast would probably only feel the full weight of it when the cameras finally stopped rolling.
Fan communities quickly picked up on both farewells, with discussion threads tracing how La’an and Uhura had evolved from their season 1 introductions into key pillars of the ensemble.
La’an’s trauma, lineage, and guarded vulnerability gave Strange New Worlds a grounded emotional anchor, while Uhura’s arc from cadet to fully confident communications officer felt like a loving bridge between classic Trek and a modern character drama.
As more posts from the cast trickled out, viewers realized these were not isolated exits, but part of a coordinated goodbye as the series approaches its final season.
“We’ll Cry Later”: Why Strange New Worlds Is Ending On Its Own Terms
News of these wrap announcements landed against the backdrop of a franchise shuffle that had already confirmed Strange New Worlds would not continue beyond a fifth season.
Popverse’s coverage of Celia Rose Gooding’s appearance at New York Comic Con highlighted how the cast has been balancing sentiment with work.
She said they were still “saving the universe” and barely had time to process the looming finale, noting that the real wave of emotion would probably arrive once they were all standing together on the final day.
That attitude mirrors the show’s tone, which has often blended earnest optimism with clear-eyed awareness of danger and loss.
From a business perspective, Strange New Worlds was one of the centerpieces of Paramount+’s push to make Star Trek a streaming flagship, but corporate strategy has shifted toward tighter spending and fewer overlapping series.
With multiple Trek projects moving through development and production, including shows like Starfleet Academy and other spinoffs, ending Strange New Worlds after five seasons allows the franchise to free budget and creative bandwidth while still delivering a full, planned arc for Captain Pike’s Enterprise.
ScreenRant notes that when season 3 launched, Paramount+ quietly locked in a shortened final season, setting up a controlled landing instead of a cliffhanger future in doubt.
The show reportedly filmed its fourth season earlier in 2025 and then rolled almost directly into the fifth, which is now wrapping, giving the creative team room to seed long-term payoffs and character endings across two back-to-back years of production.
Christina Chong (Credit: BBC)
For the cast, that means the last days on set are not about wondering whether they’ll return, but about closing stories they already know are heading toward a finale.
What These Exits Mean For Trek’s Future And The Fans Who Showed Up
As more Strange New Worlds actors post farewell photos and messages, it is clear that Chong and Gooding are part of a wider wave of goodbyes.
Jess Bush, who plays Christine Chapel, has also celebrated the end of season 5 filming with behind-the-scenes images, and social feeds track other core cast members marking their own wrap days as the final episodes finish shooting.
A Facebook update shared by ScreenRant even points out that Martin Quinn, who joined later as Montgomery Scott, has now “beamed out” after completing his work on the final season, reinforcing the sense of a crew-wide sendoff.
Fans are reacting with a mix of sadness and gratitude, especially across Reddit threads where viewers share favorite La’an and Uhura scenes and speculate about where the characters’ journeys might end.
Discussion often circles back to how Strange New Worlds revived a more episodic style of Trek while still weaving in serialized emotional arcs, something many longtime fans felt the franchise had been missing.
La’an’s complicated family history, Uhura’s early career, and Pike’s foreknowledge of his future all exemplified that balance, giving the show both nostalgia value and fresh storytelling energy.
Behind the scenes, interviews and convention panels hint that the cast’s departure from the series does not necessarily mean they are finished with Star Trek forever. Chong has acknowledged that there are hopes for potential future projects centered on Paul Wesley’s James T.
Kirk, even as she has said La’an would not logically be part of his eventual Enterprise crew, leaving the door open for guest spots elsewhere rather than ongoing duty under Kirk.
Gooding, meanwhile, has talked about continuing to represent Trek at conventions and events, emphasizing that their “chapter of filming” may be closing, but their connection to the fandom is not.
For Paramount, these farewells help tee up a final-season marketing campaign built around closure and celebration.
With Strange New Worlds season 4 expected to arrive on Paramount+ in 2026 and the fifth and final season likely to follow around 2027, the streamer has a clear runway to position the show as a completed, bingeable package while other Trek projects roll in behind it.
As more cast members share their final photos from the Enterprise sets, the series’ legacy is starting to crystallize: a show that bridged eras, restored a classic Trek flavor, and gave a new generation its own crew to cheer for, even as those actors now step away from the bridge for the last time.
Cobra Kai, the Netflix series that brought a new generation to the world of The Karate Kid, is closing its dojo for good. At the heart of its emotional farewell is Xolo Maridueña, who has played Miguel Diaz since the show’s debut.
Maridueña’s journey with the series has been nothing short of remarkable, as he grew up alongside his character, transforming from a shy, bullied teen into a confident young man and martial arts champion.
The final season of Cobra Kai is split into three parts, with the last batch of episodes set to release in 2025. Maridueña has spoken openly about the bittersweet nature of wrapping up the series, sharing that his last day on set was especially memorable.
The episode he filmed on his final day was directed by William Zabka, who plays Johnny Lawrence. Maridueña described the experience as cathartic, praising Zabka for being a guiding light throughout the show’s run.
Fans have followed Miguel’s evolution closely, from his early struggles with bullying to his leadership of the Miyagi-Do dojo and his relationships with friends and rivals. Maridueña’s portrayal has earned him widespread acclaim, including a Saturn Award for Best Young Performer.
His connection to the role is deeply personal, and he credits the show’s supportive community and his family for helping him grow both on and off the screen.
As the final episodes roll out, viewers can expect an emotional send-off that honours the legacy of the characters and the friendships formed over six seasons.
Maridueña has expressed pride in what the cast and crew have accomplished, hoping that fans will feel the same sense of warmth and nostalgia when the series comes to an end.
From Karate Kid to Pirate King: Xolo Maridueña’s Next Adventure
While fans say goodbye to Miguel Diaz, Xolo Maridueña is stepping into a bold new role as Portgas D. Ace in Netflix’s One Piece Season 3 . The announcement has generated significant buzz, as Maridueña joins a cast that brings the beloved manga and anime series to life in a live-action format.
Portgas D. Ace is a fan-favourite character known for his fiery personality and powerful abilities. Maridueña’s casting is seen as a perfect fit, given his experience with action roles and his ability to bring depth to complex characters.
Production for One Piece Season 3 is set to begin in Cape Town, South Africa, marking a major transition for Maridueña from the dojo to the deck of a pirate ship.
Xolo Maridueña (Credit: NBC)
In interviews, Maridueña has shared his excitement about the new challenge, noting that stepping into the world of One Piece is both thrilling and intimidating. He has also spoken about his pride in representing diverse stories on screen, a theme that has been central to his career.
His journey from Cobra Kai to One Piece highlights the versatility and ambition that have defined his rise in Hollywood.
Maridueña’s move to One Piece is not just a career milestone but also a sign of the growing crossover between different genres and franchises on Netflix.
As the streaming giant continues to expand its catalogue with adaptations of popular manga and comics, Maridueña’s casting underscores the platform’s commitment to bringing fresh talent to global audiences.
What Cobra Kai’s End Means for Fans and the Future of Martial Arts TV
Cobra Kai’s conclusion marks the end of a significant chapter in martial arts television. The show revitalised the legacy of The Karate Kid, blending nostalgia with modern storytelling and a diverse cast.
Its success has inspired a wave of new martial arts series and spinoffs, proving that there is still a strong appetite for action and drama rooted in classic themes.
For fans, the final season is an opportunity to celebrate the characters and moments that have defined Cobra Kai. Maridueña’s farewell as Miguel Diaz is a poignant reminder of how much the series has grown over the years, both in terms of production quality and emotional depth.
The show’s legacy will likely endure through its influence on future martial arts TV and its impact on a new generation of fans.
Looking ahead, the move of key cast members like Maridueña to other high-profile projects reflects the changing dynamics of streaming entertainment. As actors move between franchises and genres, the boundaries between different types of shows continue to blur.
This trend is likely to shape the future of TV, with more crossovers and collaborations that bring together fans from different worlds.
Cobra Kai’s journey may be coming to an end, but its influence will live on. For Xolo Maridueña, the future holds new adventures and challenges as he steps into the role of Portgas D. Ace and continues to inspire audiences around the world.
The legacy of Cobra Kai and the characters it brought to life will remain a touchstone for fans of martial arts and storytelling alike.
