The images evoke a horror tone with its dark setting and mysterious premise regarding the whereabouts of the missing crew of the crashed Federation star ship. Samuel is featured prominently as one of the key members of the landing party. He will most likely be assisting Spock as he is one of the science officers aboard the USS Enterprise, specifically recruited for the ship's life sciences department by Captain Pike earlier in the series.

Not much of Samuel's career in the Federation is known. He was previously seen briefly in The Original Series as a civilian research biologist, living on a distant planet with his wife and kids. With only six years difference between episode 9 of Strange New Worlds and his civilian appearance in The Original Series, the upcoming episode may provide the impetus for Samuel's eventual departure from service in the Federation.