It’s been 15 years since Star Trek: Enterprise ended and despite some fans’ lack of interest, the series has aged surprisingly well over the years.
Reading an awesome interview with Connor Trinneer (Trip) and Dominic Keating (Reed) got me to thinking about this little show. It’s been 15 years since Star Trek: Enterprise ended, and next September will be the 20th anniversary since the series premiered. After nearly two decades after, the show is still maligned by some for one reason or another.
Sure, the first season dragged on a bit, and it was a prequel at a time when everyone wanted a sequel story to the events set up by Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager. Yet, it often feels like the show is constantly being dragged by some for no other reason than just because.
No one is arguing that it’s the greatest Star Trek series ever, but it’s damn sure good enough to watch from beginning to end a few times in your life. Here are 15 reasons why Star Trek: Enterprise was a fitting Trek series.
1. It featured the beginnings of Starfleet.
It’s hard to hate seeing how something began. When we first saw Star Trek, Starfleet was long established. Questions and history surrounding its beginnings were never really explored that much until Enterprise aired. The political ideologies, the endless debates, and the desire to appease the Vulcans at every turn were constant struggles that Captain Archer had to deal with.
2. A mostly human crew
To see a mostly human crew offered up so much in the way of potential storytelling. While Vulcans were seen as necessary but unliked, the possibility of the crew having issues, conflicts, and eventually welcoming alien crew members would’ve been a wonderful set of storylines, one that fans never got to really see unfold. Though there were some anti-alien episodes later in the series but it didn’t feature the crew; just jerks.
3. Phlox was awesome.
Phlox was Denobulan, basically a mammal-like puffer fish and he was awesome. Just beyond his societal makeup on interwoven and blended families aside, his unique bedside manner and his rapport with Archer made his scenes always a delight.
4. Malcolm Reed’s position wasn’t just another bridge crew member
In Trek’s desire to make a utopian future, there’s always wars and conflicts but never a genuine security force to deal with it. Just nerds with phasers. In Enterprise people were smart and had full-on security division to protect the space navy. Because that’s what Starfleet was, a space navy. All great space navies need their own space marines. Enterprise had theirs as well in M.A.C.O. This addition gave Reed even more agency on the ship beyond just responding to Archer at his post.
5. The ship felt like a ship
One of the biggest gripes I have with the ships of Star Trek is that they feel more like Carnival cruise ships than space-subs, which is technically what they are. Oceanic ships are tight, confined, and don’t waste space. The first ship to bear the name Enterprise embraced that concept to the point where even the Captain’s room was small and tight. The helm was also incredibly close, and every room on the ship felt borderline claustrophobic. Just like a real ship.
6. The Xindi
It’s literally a space cabal (not to be confused with the Suliban) that hates Starfleet and had space monkeys as villains. This is fantastic.
7. Real consequences for Earth and Starfleet
In the season two finale, The Expanse, Starfleet and Earth are dealt with one of its deadliest attacks since Vulcan’s made First Contact with humans. The planet is rocked by the Xindi, who cut a deep swath across the central part of North America; killing millions. None more important to the story than the younger sister of Charles “Tripp” Tucker. It was not just a defining moment for the character of Tripp but for the show as a whole; recentering the focus of the series to one of more personal stakes.
8. Jeffery Combs (Weyun) returned to the franchise
Fans of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 will remember Weyun and the man who played him; Jeffery Combs. Combs returned to Star Trek again, this time to play an Andorian soldier with serious issues with Vulcans; more on them later. Combs is always perfect in any role that he’s in, and he shines brightest as a villain in Star Trek. He also played a Ferengi pirate with a laser whip named Krem. Combs appeared in 11 of the 98 episodes of the series.
9. The Orions are made into far more dangerous threats
In the ’50s, the idea of “slave girls” was very stylish for pages of pulp science fiction novels. So when Gene Roddenberry brought his Star Trek show to life, no wonder he included a lot of those pulp elements. By the 2000s, however, the awareness of human trafficking was at a then all-time high and the idea of sex slaves no longer was digestible to the standard viewing audience. So instead of maintaining past lore, it was instead refocused. They were recontextualized to feature the female Orions atop of the Orion Syndicate slave trade, using their pheromones to control those around them.
10. An episode with the Borg strengthens Trek lore
In the two-part Dark Frontier episode of Star Trek: Voyager, Seven of Nine’s father, Magnus Hansen theorized that Starfleet has known about the Borg for years. Which would predate when Q threw the Enterprise-D across the galaxy to meet them face to face. In the season two episode Regeneration, we find out that the Borg has crossed paths with Starfleet 200 years before Picard. The resulting incident sets up the events of Q Who? and First Contact perfectly without altering history.
11. Faith of the Heart was a perfect intro.
The first version was perfect, you heathens. The second was admittedly alte-trash.
12. Vulcan’s were given so much depth
There were actual episodes that featured Vulcans as actual jerks, not just perceived jerks. From their less-than-noble ways of dealing with the Andorians to their constant refusal to embrace Earth and it’s people as allies, the Vulcans were given an opportunity to be far more than just the emotionless pillars of perfection that Roddenberry portrayed them as. They have many, many dark secrets explored.
13. T’Pol and Archer’s relationship
Whatever timeline you want to embrace with these two, the T’Pol and Jonathan Archer dynamic was perfect. Two leaders of their respective people forced to get along and navigate one another’s customs, ideals, and philosophizes is always great television. Especially when the respect and love for one another is evident. It was so rewarding watching the two debate, banter, and support each other. I’d dare say no more interesting Captain/First Officer dynamic exists but that’s only because Voyager didn’t dive deeper into the Captain Janeway, Marquis Captain Chakotay dynamic more.
14. The Captain had a dog on board.
The Captain a friggin dog and its name was Porthos. There was even a Porthos centric episode or two. The episode A Night in Sickbay was perfectly representative of a pet owner dealing with an uncertain tomorrow.
15. Archer was played by Scott fracking Bakula.
Enough said.