View source for Christine Chapel

{{short description|Star Trek character}}
{{lead rewrite|reason=Lead focuses solely on TOS Chapel with no coverage of SNW Chapel except "younger version appears"|date=February 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox character
| series      = [[Star Trek]]
| image       = Christine Chapel Promotional Image.jpg
| caption     = Promotional image of [[Majel Barrett]] as Christine Chapel in ''Star Trek: The Original Series''
| first       = {{ubl|'''[[Majel Barrett]]:'''|"[[The Naked Time]]" (1966)|(''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]'')|'''[[Jess Bush]]:'''|"[[Strange New Worlds (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds)|Strange New Worlds]]" (2022)|(''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'')}}
| last        =
| creator     = [[Gene Roddenberry]]
| portrayer   = [[Majel Barrett]] (1966–1986)<br>[[Jess Bush]] (2022–present)
| voice       = Majel Barrett (''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'')<br>Jess Bush ("[[Those Old Scientists]]")
| title       = Nurse<br>Doctor<br>Commander
| origin      = [[Earth]]
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]]<br>[[Starfleet]]
| full_name   = Christine Chapel
| species     = Human
| significant_others = [[What Are Little Girls Made Of?|Roger Korby]] (ex-fiancé; deceased)<br>[[Spock]] (love interest)
}}

'''Christine Chapel''' is a fictional character who appears in all three seasons of the American science fiction television series ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', as well as ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' and the films ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' and ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]''. She also appears in all seasons of ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]''. Portrayed by [[Majel Barrett]], she was the ship's nurse on board the [[Starfleet]] starship [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']]. The younger version of Chapel appears as a more prominent character in the 2022 series ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'', portrayed by [[Jess Bush]].

Barrett had previously been cast under her real name as [[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]] in the first pilot for the series, "[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]", during her romantic relationship with the series creator [[Gene Roddenberry]]. But following feedback from network executives, she was not in the cast for the [[Where No Man Has Gone Before|second pilot]].

She made her first appearance in "[[The Naked Time]]" following a re-write of the script by Roddenberry. He had been inspired after Barrett dyed her hair blonde for a potential role in the episode "[[What Are Little Girls Made Of?]]", which convinced him that [[NBC]] executives might not notice if he recast Barrett as a different character in ''Star Trek''. However, the executives immediately recognized Barrett. Chapel was featured in several episodes covering several broad themes, such as showing her feelings for [[Spock]] ([[Leonard Nimoy]]) and why she joined [[Starfleet]]. By the time of ''The Motion Picture'', Chapel was shown as a fully trained Starfleet doctor, and by ''The Voyage Home'', she was stationed at Starfleet Command.

Executive producer [[Robert H. Justman]] was initially critical of Barrett's performance as Chapel, but recanted this opinion after her appearance as [[Lwaxana Troi]] in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. Barrett herself was not fond of the Chapel character, and [[David Gerrold]] felt that she only served to demonstrate Spock's emotionless behavior. Critics saw Chapel as being a degradation for Barrett compared to her first character. While the position of nurse was seen as a stereotype, her promotion to doctor was praised. Certain episodes featuring her were criticized, such as "Amok Time", where the plot prevented her from having a relationship with Spock, and "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", where it was suggested she was featured to the detriment of other characters. Among fans, she was initially unpopular due to her feelings for Spock, but prior to the 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'', there was a desire to see her return.

In ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'', Chapel is given much more character development; she is career-focused and builds her confidence as a medical officer on the Enterprise. Prior to being on the Enterprise, she was a nurse during the Klingon War, serving on the moon of J'Gal with [[Dr. Joseph M'Benga]], and is shown to have combat fighting experience.

==Concept and development==
[[Image:Majel Barrett in 2006 cropped.png|thumb|upright|alt=A dark haired woman looks at the camera.|Majel Barrett ''(pictured in 2007)'' originally met Gene Roddenberry while he was developing pilots for Screen Gems.]]
Prior to working on ''[[Star Trek]]'', [[Gene Roddenberry]] had been developing a variety of [[television pilot]]s for [[Screen Gems]]. One actress he auditioned was Majel Leigh Hudec, later to use the name [[Majel Barrett]].<ref name=cush52>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 52</ref> Later when he created the drama series ''[[The Lieutenant]]'', he cast her in the episode "In the Highest Tradition". They quickly became friends, and entered into a romantic relationship although Roddenberry was married at the time.<ref>[[#shatnerkreski1993|Shatner & Kreski (1993)]]: p. 14</ref><ref>[[#alexander1995|Alexander (1995)]]: pp. 54–55</ref> During the development of the first pilot for ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' ("[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]"), Roddenberry wrote the part of [[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]] (the ship's second in command) specifically for Barrett.<ref name=cush52/><ref name=alex210>[[#alexander1995|Alexander (1995)]]: p. 210</ref> There was reluctance from the [[NBC]] executives to agree to an actress who was almost unknown.<ref name=cush53>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 53</ref> Roddenberry did see other actresses for the part, but no one else was considered.<ref name=alex210/>

Executive producer [[Herbert Franklin Solow]] attempted to sell them on the idea that a fresh face would bring believability to the part, but they were aware that she was Roddenberry's girlfriend. Despite this they agreed to her casting, not wanting to upset Roddenberry at this point in the production.<ref name=cush53/> After the pilot was rejected,<ref>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 65</ref> a second pilot was produced.<ref>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 69</ref> While it was generally explained that the network disliked a female character as the second-in-command of the ''Enterprise'', Solow had a different opinion of events. He said, "No one liked her acting... she was a nice woman, but the reality was, she couldn't act."<ref>[[#engel1994|Engel (1994)]]: p. 65</ref> "[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]" successfully took ''Star Trek'' to a series order.<ref>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 101</ref> Barrett had been given the role of voicing the computer on the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']], but was demanding that Roddenberry write her into the main cast.<ref name=solow224>[[#solowjustman1996|Solow & Justman (1996)]]: p. 224</ref>

After seeing the initial proposal for "[[What Are Little Girls Made Of?]]", Barrett felt that she could play the woman who went into space to find her fiancé. She dyed her hair blonde in an attempt to fit the role.<ref name=cush225>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 225</ref> Barrett sought to surprise Roddenberry at his office, but he walked right past her, not recognizing who she was. It was only when he came back out to give his secretary some papers that he realized it was Barrett. They had the idea that it might get her past the NBC executives and back onto the show.<ref>[[#dillardsackett1994|Dillard & Sackett (1994)]]: p. 21</ref> The character of Christine Ducheaux was subsequently changed to Christine Chapel by Roddenberry, as a play on the [[Sistine Chapel]]. No other actresses were considered for the role.<ref name=solow224/>

At the same time, story editor [[John D.F. Black]] wrote the initial script for "[[The Naked Time]]", also early in the [[Star Trek: The Original Series season 1|first season]].<ref>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 178</ref> The story featured a virus being transmitted among the ship's crew, which removed their inhibitions.<ref>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 179</ref> One element of Black's story featured the addition of a nurse in sickbay, working with Doctor [[Leonard McCoy]].<ref name=cush183>[[#cushmanosborn2013|Cushman & Osborn (2013)]]: p. 183</ref> Chapel was written into both these episodes by Roddenberry.<ref name=cush225/> The deception did not work, with NBC executive [[Jerry Stanley]] commenting simply "Well, well – look who's back" to Solow.<ref name=solow224/> Roddenberry saw to it that the character of Christine Chapel would become a recurring one throughout the series, on-par with [[Uhura]].<ref name=solow224/> She remained unsatisfied with the role, but appreciated that since NBC had already fired her once, Roddenberry could not expand the role.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nazzaro |first1=Joe |title=Majel Barrett: The First Lady of ''Star Trek'' |journal=[[Star Trek Monthly]] |date=May 1997 |issue=27 |pages=42–47 }}</ref>

For ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'', Barrett was initially set to reprise the role of Chapel as well as voicing Uhura. Likewise [[James Doohan]] was to voice both his own [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Scotty]] as well as [[Hikaru Sulu]]. However, following the intervention of [[Leonard Nimoy]], [[Nichelle Nichols]] and [[George Takei]] were both brought back to voice their own characters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Di Nunzio |first1=Miriam |title=Animated ''Star Trek'' a blast for Takei |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1420934.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220195133/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1420934.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2016 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |publisher=[[HighBeam Research]] |date=November 24, 2006 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Barrett returned in ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' as Chapel, which she described as a "very minimal role",<ref name="womanofenterprise"/> saying that "If no one had called me Commander Chapel, the audience wouldn't really know that I was there."<ref name="womanofenterprise"/> Barrett said in the film franchise Chapel got lost along the way, not appearing in the [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|second]] or [[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|third]] films despite her view that she was a main character in ''The Original Series''. Nimoy brought back Chapel for ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', and Barrett was grateful for his decision.<ref name="womanofenterprise">{{cite journal |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |title=Majel Barrett Roddenberry: A Woman of Enterprise |journal=[[Starlog]] |date=March 1987 |issue=116| pages=16–18 |url=https://archive.org/stream/starlog_magazine-116/116#page/n14/mode/1up |access-date=February 6, 2016 }}</ref> Chapel was subsequently mentioned in the 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'',<ref name=yahoodarkness/> which saw the characters from ''The Original Series'' re-cast.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kamen |first1=Matt |title=''Star Trek'' is finally returning to television |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/star-trek-returns-to-tv |access-date=August 15, 2021 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815074902/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/star-trek-returns-to-tv |url-status=live }}</ref> Chapel was one of the suggested possibilities for [[Alice Eve]] to play in the sequel, ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]''.<ref name=yahoodarkness>{{cite news |last1=Enk |first1=Bryan |title=Does the Enterprise sink – and does Spock die – in ''Star Trek Into Darkness''? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/does-enterprise-sink-spock-die-star-trek-darkness-173527530.html |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206234635/https://www.yahoo.com/movies/bp/does-enterprise-sink-spock-die-star-trek-darkness-173527530.html |access-date=February 6, 2016 |work=[[Yahoo News|Yahoo! News]] |date=December 6, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was later revealed that she was portraying [[Carol Marcus (Star Trek)|Carol Marcus]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Matt |title=Alice Eve's Character in ''Star Trek Into Darkness'' Revealed|url=https://collider.com/star-trek-2-into-darkness-alice-eve-carol-marcus/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518131432/http://collider.com/star-trek-2-into-darkness-alice-eve-carol-marcus/|archive-date=May 18, 2015 |publisher=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=August 15, 2021 |date=December 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'' the Chapel character returned to the franchise, this time played by Australian actress [[Jess Bush]]. Bush chooses not to use her native Australian accent for the performance, a choice she states that helps her get into character physically and mentally.<ref>{{Citation |title=''Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'' interview with Jess Bush on playing Christine Chapel |date=June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdHTUk-rMbc |access-date=2023-08-01 |language=en }}</ref>

In speaking with ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' in mid-2023 about ''Star Trek: Strange New Worlds''{{'}} LGBTQ+ representation—and her portrayal of a bisexual character—Bush unhesitatingly told the interviewer, "I'm [[queer]]".<ref name="Ennis">{{Cite news |last=Ennis |first=Dawn |date=2023-06-15 |title=The 'Star Trek' Cast on the Show's Radical LGBT+ Portrayal |language=en |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-cast-on-its-radical-lgbt-portrayal |access-date=2023-08-01}}</ref> Bush said about the role: "I am so delighted that there's more representation for all expressions of sexuality and gender in ''Star Trek''. That’s really exciting to me, and I’m really proud to be a part of that representation."<ref name="Ennis"/>

In 2022 Bush was nominated for her role for a [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Television Series]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=2022-08-12 |title=Saturn Awards Nominations: ''The Batman'', ''Nightmare Alley'', ''Spider-Man'', ''Better Call Saul'' Top List |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Appearances==
In "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", it is explained that Chapel abandoned a career in bioresearch for a position in [[Starfleet]]. She had hoped that this would reunite her with her fiancé Dr. Roger Korby ([[Michael Strong]]), incommunicado following his expedition to the planet Exo III. Five years after Korby's disappearance, Chapel is assigned to the USS ''Enterprise'' where she serves as head nurse, working under Dr. McCoy ([[DeForest Kelley]]).<ref name=torlittlegirls/>

While on board the ship, she begins to develop feelings for [[Spock]] (Leonard Nimoy), admitting as much in "[[The Naked Time]]". Her actions in that episode resulted in the Psi 2000 intoxication unwittingly being further spread among the crew.<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeCandido|first1=Keith|title=''Star Trek The Original Series'' Rewatch: "The Naked Time"|url=https://tor.com/2015/04/14/star-trek-the-original-series-rewatch-qthe-naked-timeq/|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128071202/http://www.tor.com/2015/04/14/star-trek-the-original-series-rewatch-qthe-naked-timeq/|archive-date=January 28, 2016|date=April 15, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The ship reached Exo III in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?". Captain Kirk ([[William Shatner]]) and Chapel beam down and discover Korby had been exploiting a sophisticated android manufacturing technology on the planet. After Chapel is horrified to find out that Korby had transplanted his personality into an android replica, he kills himself in despair.<ref name=torlittlegirls/> Roddenberry later co-wrote in ''The Making of Star Trek'' that the actions of that episode resulted in Chapel breaking her ties to Earth and devoting herself to Starfleet service.<ref name=whitfield254/>

After Korby's death, Chapel doubts if she should stay aboard but elects to remain with the ''Enterprise'' throughout the five-year mission.<ref name=torlittlegirls/> Chapel's feelings for Spock were revisited and alluded to only a few times in the series, most notably in "[[Plato's Stepchildren]]". In the episode, the Platonians telekinetically force Chapel and Spock to kiss passionately. This humiliates Chapel despite her long-standing feelings for him.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mack|first1=David|last2=Ward|first2=Dayton|title=''Star Trek'' Re-watch: "Plato's Stepchildren"|url=https://tor.com/2010/12/09/star-trek-re-watch-platos-stepchildren/|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419032542/https://www.tor.com/2010/12/09/star-trek-re-watch-platos-stepchildren/|archive-date=April 19, 2021|date=December 9, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In the episode "[[Amok Time]]", she brings Spock some soup to help him through a sacred Vulcan ritual, the [[Pon farr]]. He angrily refuses the soup and throws it at the wall, but later thanks Chapel for her thoughtfulness.<ref name=amoktor/>

Chapel appeared in two of the ''Star Trek'' films featuring ''The Original Series'' cast. In ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'', Chapel had become a doctor on board the ''Enterprise''.<ref name="womanofenterprise"/> Her second appearance was in ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'', where she and [[Janice Rand]] ([[Grace Lee Whitney]]) were stationed in Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite AV media |last1=Meyer|first1=Nicholas|last2=Flinn|first2=Dennis Martin |year=1991 |title=Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country |medium=Film |publisher=Paramount Pictures }}</ref> In the 2009 film ''Star Trek'', a Nurse Chapel is mentioned by McCoy ([[Karl Urban]]). In the 2013 film ''Star Trek Into Darkness'', Carol Marcus ([[Alice Eve]]) tells Kirk ([[Chris Pine]]) that after being with him, Chapel left to become a nurse.<ref name="10classic">{{cite web|last1=Vary|first1=Adam B.|title=10 Classic Star Trek References In "Star Trek Into Darkness"|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/10-big-star-trek-references-in-star-trek-into-darkness#.rbnAQKeYv|publisher=Buzzfeed|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112022002/http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/10-big-star-trek-references-in-star-trek-into-darkness|archive-date=January 12, 2015|date=May 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the start of the ''Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'' series in 2022, the Chapel character has appeared in all but one of the episodes in the first two seasons.<ref>{{Citation |title=Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV Series 2022– ) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt12327578/fullcredits |access-date=2023-08-01}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Cast and crew===
Executive producer [[Robert H. Justman]] did not care for Chapel; he described her as a "wimpy, badly written, and ill-conceived character".<ref name=solow225>[[#solowjustman1996|Solow & Justman (1996)]]: p. 225</ref> He added that the additional camera lenses used by director [[Jerry Finnerman]] in that episode for close-ups of her quivering lip only "served to emphasize the lack of character written into the character."<ref name=solow225/> He had complained to Roddenberry of Barrett's acting skills, but stopped when he became aware of their relationship. It was only after Barrett's first appearance as [[Lwaxana Troi]] in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[Haven (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Haven]]", that he came to realize that it was the Chapel character he disliked, not Barrett herself, and told her that his opinion had changed.<ref name=solow225/> Barrett also did not care for the character of Chapel, saying "I've never been a real aficionado of Nurse Chapel, I figured she was kind of weak and namby-pamby."<ref name="cush225" />

Writer [[David Gerrold]], who worked with the staff of ''The Original Series'' following his work on the episode "[[The Trouble with Tribbles]]",<ref>{{cite news|last=Vinciguerra|first=Thomas|title=Nobody Knows the Tribbles He's Seen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/arts/television/16vinc.html?_r=0|access-date=February 7, 2016|archive-date=April 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415111244/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/arts/television/16vinc.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 16, 2007|url-access=subscription}}</ref> described Chapel as being one of a second-tier set of characters including Uhura, Scotty, and Sulu, who were not given as much exposure during the series as the main characters of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.<ref>[[#gerrold1974|Gerrold (1974)]]: p. 27</ref> He said that she was the only one of the second level of characters whose motivations were explored, but her primary focus on board the ship was simply to be in love with Spock. Gerrold said that there was a need to demonstrate the "aloofness" of the Vulcan character, and so this resulted in a character whose love of him needed to be rebuffed, thus giving Chapel her purpose.<ref>[[#gerrold1974|Gerrold (1974)]]: p. 29</ref> He suggested that this caused the fandom to dislike Chapel because "female fans saw her as a threat to their own fantasies and male fans saw her as a threat to Spock's Vulcan stoicism".<ref name=gerrold30>[[#gerrold1974|Gerrold (1974)]]: p. 30</ref> Gerrold added that those fans were surprised when they met Barrett at [[science fiction convention]]s, as they found her likable in person.<ref name=gerrold30/> By the time of the 2009 film ''Star Trek'', Chapel had become more popular among fans, who were asking if she would appear in the new films.<ref name="10classic" />

===Critical reception===
[[file:Leonard Nimoy Spock 1967.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=A black and white photo of a humanoid alien with pointy ears.|Chapel's feelings for Spock ''(pictured)'' have been both criticized and praised by critics and disliked by some fans.]]
In her essay "The Audience as Auteur. Women, ''Star Trek'' and 'Vidding'" in the book ''Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Original Cast Adventures'', [[Francesca Coppa]] said that she saw the switch from Number One to Chapel for Barrett as "degradation on every level: role, status and image".<ref name=coppa169>[[#coppa2015|Coppa (2015)]]: p. 169</ref> The role was described as "consolation" in Cary O'Dell's book ''June Cleaver Was a Feminist!: Reconsidering the Female Characters of Early Television'',<ref name=odel194/> but it was felt that Barrett "made the most of it".<ref name=odel194/> The position of a nurse was described by O'Dell as a traditional female role, but that Chapel would stand up to McCoy's orders when required.<ref name=odel194>[[#odell2013|O'Dell (2013)]]: p. 194</ref> Her promotion to Doctor in ''The Motion Picture'' was praised by author Gladys L. Knight in her book ''Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television''.<ref>[[#knight2010|Knight (2010)]]: p. 188</ref>

Reviewers were critical of her relationship with Spock. Jan Johnson-Smith described Chapel in ''American Science Fiction TV'' as "a woman condemned to forever lust after the elusive Vulcan" and said that she is one of several female characters in the series who are "depicted as recognizable stereotypes".<ref>[[#knight2010|Johnson-Smith (2005)]]: p. 80</ref> Coppa also discussed this, describing Chapel as a typical [[damsel in distress]], existing "merely to pine".<ref name=coppa169/> But the relationship was also seen positively. Torie Atkinson, at [[Tor.com]], said that Chapel's affection in "Amok Time" is "so transparent and sweet".<ref name=amoktor>{{cite web|last1=Myers|first1=Eugene|last2=Atkinson|first2=Torie|title=''Star Trek'' Re-Watch: "Amok Time"|url=http://www.tor.com/2009/09/01/lemgstar-treklemg-re-watch-amok-time/|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124031420/http://www.tor.com/2009/09/01/lemgstar-treklemg-re-watch-amok-time/|archive-date=January 24, 2016|date=September 1, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''The Making of Star Trek'' by Roddenberry and Stephen E. Whitfield, her feelings toward Spock are said to not be unique since they are shared by many of the female crew on board the ''Enterprise''. It is also further explained that McCoy is aware of her feelings but displays "fatherly affection" towards her and never "chides" her for this.<ref name=whitfield254>[[#whitfieldroddenberry1968|Whitfield & Roddenberry (1968)]]: p. 254</ref>

Commenting on her appearances in further episodes, Wei Ming Dariotis was critical of the single-mindedness of the plot for "Amok Time" in not allowing Spock to have sex with Chapel, or any other woman, and thus solve the problem of his Pon farr.<ref>[[#geralty2008|Dariotis (2008)]]: p. 68</ref> Eugene Myers at Tor.com praised Chapel, saying that the most interesting part of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" was that it was based primarily on her,<ref name=torlittlegirls>{{cite web|last1=Myers|first1=Eugene|last2=Atkinson|first2=Torie|title=''Star Trek'' Re-watch: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"|url=http://www.tor.com/2009/04/28/lemgstar-treklemg-re-watch-7ldquowhat-are-little-girls-made-ofardquo/|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207150101/http://www.tor.com/2009/04/28/lemgstar-treklemg-re-watch-7ldquowhat-are-little-girls-made-ofardquo/|archive-date=February 7, 2016|date=April 28, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> while [[Keith DeCandido]] said that this resulted in the episode being the "Kirk-and-Chapel show" to the detriment of the other characters.<ref>{{cite web|last1=DeCandido|first1=Keith|title=''Star Trek The Original Series'' Rewatch: "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"|url=http://www.tor.com/2015/05/12/star-trek-the-original-series-rewatch-what-are-little-girls-made-of/|publisher=Tor.com|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518011958/http://www.tor.com/2015/05/12/star-trek-the-original-series-rewatch-what-are-little-girls-made-of/|archive-date=May 18, 2015|date=May 12, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Nurse Christine Chapel was ranked as the 60th most important character of [[Starfleet]] within the ''Star Trek'' science fiction universe by ''[[Wired magazine|Wired]]'' magazine, out of 100 characters.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|date=2016-09-05|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-03-20|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=2019-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302002145/https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{relevance-inline|date=July 2025}}

''[[Heavy (website)|Heavy]]'' described Jess Bush's latest interpretation of the character as "very different [...] fun, irreverent, and a bit of a live wire". On the difference between her own portrayal of Chapel and Barrett's, Bush said: "I think that when I watched Majel's performance, what I distilled most from that, what I took from that, was her candor and her humor and her wit. But those things were just little seedlings. In the 2021 rebirth of her, there's so much more to her, I think. [...] She's got this lust for life and this mischievous nature that I love to embody. She's been through some stuff, actually."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spelling |first=Ian |date=2022-04-30 |title=Jess Bush is the New Nurse Chapel on 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/jess-bush-new-nurse-chapel/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|40em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Alexander |first=David |year=1995 |title=Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry |publisher=Roc |location=New York |isbn=978-0-451-45440-9 |ref=alexander1995 |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekcreator00davi }}
* {{cite book|last1=Coppa|first1=Francesca|editor1-last=Brode|editor1-first=Douglas|editor2-last=Brode|editor2-first=Shea T.|title=The Audience as Auteur. Women, Star Trek and "Vidding"|journal=Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Original Cast Adventures|date=2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOdyCQAAQBAJ&q=%22christine+chapel%22&pg=PA169|publisher=Lanham|location=Boulder; New York|isbn=978-1-442-24987-5|ref=coppa2015|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2021-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414090214/https://books.google.com/books?id=YOdyCQAAQBAJ&q=%22christine+chapel%22&pg=PA169|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Cushman|first1=Marc|last2=Osborn|first2=Susan|title=These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One|year=2013|publisher=Jacobs Brown Press|location=San Diego, CA|isbn=978-0-9892381-1-3|ref=cushmanosborn2013}}
* {{cite book|last=Dariotis|first=Wei Ming|editor-last=Geralty|editor-first=Lincoln|title=Crossing the Racial Frontier: Star Trek and Mixed Heritage Identities|journal=The Influence of Star Trek on Television, Film and Culture|year=2008|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, NC|isbn=978-0-786-43034-5|ref=geralty2008}}
* {{cite book|last1=Dillard|first1=J.M.|last2=Sackett|first2=Susan|title=Star Trek: Where No One Has Gone Before|url=https://archive.org/details/startrekwherenoo0000dill_d3n1|url-access=registration|year=1996|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-671-51149-4|ref=dillardsackett1994}}
* {{Cite book |last=Engel |first=Joel |year=1994 |title=Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek |publisher=Hyperion |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7868-6004-3 |ref=engel1994 |url=https://archive.org/details/generoddenberrym00enge }}
* {{Cite book |last=Gerrold|first=David|year=1974|edition=3rd |title=The World of Star Trek |publisher=Ballatine Books|location=New York|ref=gerrold1974}}
*{{cite book|last=Johnson-Smith|first=Jan|title=American Science Fiction TV|year=2005|publisher=IB Taurus & Co.|location=London; New York|isbn=978-1-86064-882-3|ref=johnsonsmith2005}}
* {{Cite book |last=Knight |first=Gladys L. |year=2010|title=Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television |publisher=Greenwood|location=Santa Barbara, CA|isbn=978-0-313-37613-9 |ref=knight2010}}
* {{Cite book |last=O'Dell |first=Cary|year=2013|title=June Cleaver Was a Feminist!: Reconsidering the Female Characters of Early Television |publisher=Jefferson, NC|location=McFarland |isbn=978-0-786-47177-5 |ref=odell2013}}
* {{cite book|last1=Shatner|first1=William|last2=Kreski|first2=Chris|title=Star Trek Memories|year=1993|publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers|location=New York|isbn=978-0-060-17734-8|ref=shatnerkreski1993|url=https://archive.org/details/startrekmemories00shat}}
* {{cite book|last1=Solow|first1=Herbert F.|last2=Justman|first2=Robert H.|title=Inside Star Trek: The Real Story|year=1996|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-671-89628-7|ref=solowjustman1996|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287}}
* {{cite Q|Q94238764|last1=Whitfield|first1=Stephen E.|last2=Roddenberry|first2=Gene|title=The Making of Star Trek|year=1968|url = https://archive.org/details/makingofstartrek0000unse/mode/2up?q=chapel |publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York|ref=whitfieldroddenberry1968}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.startrek.com/database_article/chapel Christine Chapel at StarTrek.com]

{{Memory Alpha}}

{{Star Trek: The Original Series}}
{{Star Trek: The Animated Series}}
{{Star Trek: Strange New Worlds}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapel, Christine}}
[[Category:American female characters in television]]
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[[es:Star Trek: la serie original#Personajes]]