It's been almost twenty years since Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled in 2005. It's been just as long since Jolene Blalock, who played the Vulcan T'Pol on the series, played any part in a Star Trek series or movie. But she surprised us all by making a vocal appearance in Star Trek: Lower Decks' ninth episode of the season, "Fissure Quest." Though only credited as Jolene, there was no mistaking the voice of T'Pol. The tone, the inflections, everything was just perfect.
Since Blalock has been largely away from Star Trek with the exception of an appearance at 2021's Star Trek Day, her return to a character from nineteen years ago was a surprise to everyone. Undoubtedly, it, along with the return of other Star Trek characters, will send non-regular viewers of Lower Decks scrambling to watch the episode.
Blalock hasn't acted onscreen since the 2017 television movie, A Man for Every Month. But her return to the franchise, even for this brief role, has already started fans asking if she is open to come back in any other series as T'Pol or even a descendant of the character. With Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, she could still be her original character as Vulcans have long lives, but if she's going to appear on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, that's set in the 32nd century, she'd have to be a descendant or appear in holographic form much like Robert Picardo's character, the Doctor, is going to do. There is also, of course, time travel or a parallel dimension.
We don't know if this short role in Lower Decks means she is open to rejoining the franchise, even if on a sporadic basis, but it's been made perfectly clear that her character is still wanted. Fans love T'Pol, and they would welcome her back to Star Trek with open arms.