Boldly Going Back: The Intriguing Possibilities of Star Trek: Enterprise Characters in Strange New Worlds

Summary

The potential inclusion of the cast of Star Trek: Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is tied to the admiration displayed by Captain Christopher Pike and his crew towards Enterprise.

Captain Jonathan Archer, Sub Commander T'Pol, and Commander Trip Tucker could make notable appearances in Strange New Worlds through various means such as historical recordings, temporal wars, and alternative universes. Their addition to the show would bring excitement and depth, allowing for enticing storylines and the development of characters.

The cast of Star Trek: Enterprise and the crew of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds may be separated by almost a century, but there are various ways they could come together. Captain Pike's admiration for Enterprise opens the door for a crossover, potentially healing any disappointment left by the former show's finale. Given the nature of science fiction, there are multiple imaginative approaches to make this happen.

Bringing back the characters from Star Trek: Enterprise in an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a thrilling idea. Strange New Worlds has already shown its willingness to take risks with a musical episode and an animated crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks. Although most of the NX-01 crew would likely no longer be alive during the events of Strange New Worlds, their involvement in temporal wars and the Mirror Universe presents intriguing opportunities for their return.

8 Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula)

Captain Jonathan Archer, portrayed by Scott Bakula, became Federation President in 2184 and passed away peacefully at home in 2245, preceding the timeline of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Despite this, it is conceivable for Bakula to make a return to the Star Trek universe. In the pilot episode of Enterprise, James Cromwell's Zefram Cochrane made an appearance through a historical recording of his speech. Similarly, President Archer could make an appearance in Strange New Worlds through similar means, utilizing footage from significant events in Federation history or through flashbacks.

Alternatively, considering Archer's involvement in the Temporal Cold War during his time on Enterprise, it is possible for him to be called back into service later in life. As revealed in season 2, episode 3 of Strange New Worlds, the temporal wars persist, suggesting that President Archer may need to travel to the 23rd century to address temporal interference. This scenario would provide the most gratifying opportunity for Archer to appear in Strange New Worlds, allowing him to interact with his biggest admirer, Captain Christopher Pike.

7 Sub Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock)

Vulcans, known for their longer lifespan, open the door for the possibility of featuring an older Sub Commander T'Pol (played by Jolene Blalock) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The potential for an intriguing storyline and character dynamic emerges when considering a team-up between Spock and T'Pol. As the first Vulcan to serve on a Human starship, T'Pol undeniably must have been an inspiration for a young Spock when he contemplated between joining Starfleet or the Vulcan Expeditionary Group. This critical decision led to tension between Spock and his father, which remains unresolved until the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. Consequently, T'Pol may assume the role of a mentor for Spock, especially as he experiences a breakup with Nurse Chapel (portrayed by Jess Bush) and embraces his Vulcan heritage in future episodes of Strange New Worlds.

In a noteworthy detail, T'Pol had knowledge of Spock's grandfather, Skon, as she previously presented Captain Archer with Skon's Human translation of The Teachings of Surak. Considering Sybok's presence in the background and Spock's separation from T'Pring, the timing seems ideal for a potential return to Vulcan. Upon revisiting his homeworld, Spock may come across the renowned T'Pol, whose experiences aboard the Enterprise NX-01 could provide further inspiration for him to continue his journey in Starfleet.

6 Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trineer)

Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trineer) met his demise in the controversial finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, rendering him unable to appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds through conventional means. In the Mirror Universe, Trip's last known location was aboard the USS Defiant, which was transported back in time to Star Trek's darkest timeline. Consequently, there is potential for Mirror Trip to traverse a similar interphasic rift as depicted in "The Tholian Web" from Star Trek: The Original Series.

An alternative possibility is for Prime Universe Trip to join the extensive roster of resurrected Star Trek characters in a surprise revival for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Considering the fallibility of historical recollections and holodeck simulations, it is plausible that Trip's heroic death may have been exaggerated. Another conjecture is that Star Trek: Picard's enigmatic Project Phoenix originates from the 23rd century, during a Section 31 endeavor to revive Trip Tucker for unknown motives. Bringing Trip back within the official Star Trek storyline on screen would undoubtedly elate fans, as long as it is accompanied by a compelling narrative.

5 Lieutenant Hoshi Sato (Linda Park)

The crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds revealed Ensign Nyota Uhura's admiration for Lieutenant Hoshi Sato. However, considering Hoshi's birth year in 2129, it is highly likely that she is deceased during the events of Strange New Worlds in 2259. In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Through A Mirror, Darkly," an undisclosed historical account mentions that Hoshi and her family perished on Tarsus IV. Interestingly, a young James T. Kirk resided on Tarsus IV and survived a mass murder orchestrated by Kodos the Executioner.

With the introduction of Lt. James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the connection between Kirk and Hoshi from Star Trek: Enterprise could be further explored. It is possible that Kirk could accompany the USS Enterprise on a return visit to Tarsus IV to investigate the aftermath of the massacre. This storyline would allow Linda Park to reprise her role as Hoshi Sato in flashbacks depicting the horrifying events supervised by Kodos. These flashbacks would confirm Hoshi's tragic fate and establish the resolution of Kodos in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Conscience of the King."

4 Lieutenant Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating)

In 2161, Lieutenant Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating) expressed his desire to continue collaborating with Captain Jonathan Archer on their next mission. The specifics of this assignment remain unspecified, yet it is worth noting that there is approximately an eight-year gap between the decommissioning of the Enterprise NX-01 and Archer's retirement from Starfleet. One possibility is that Reed may join Archer on a time travel expedition to the 23rd century, as his tactical prowess will surely be crucial in combatting the ongoing temporal war. Alternatively, considering Reed's involvement with Section 31, it is plausible that he may emerge in the organization's historical records in a future episode of Strange New Worlds.

3 Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery)

In the crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, it was revealed that Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) greatly admired Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery). Ortegas was born in 2233, which would make Travis 107 years old at the time, making it unlikely for him to have been present at her middle school gym's naming ceremony. However, there is an alternative way for Mayweather to make a return, as demonstrated in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Dead Stop". In this episode, a biological replica of Mayweather was created by an ancient repair station. Although the replica was destroyed by the end of the episode, the repair station was capable of repairing itself. It is plausible that the USS Enterprise could come across the repair station and unintentionally reproduce the Mayweather replica in the process.

2 Doctor Phlox (John Billingsley)

Star Trek: Enterprise's Denobulan species boasted remarkably extended lifespans, implying the potential for Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) to make an appearance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It would not be far-fetched to imagine Doctor Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) or Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) being mentored by the Denobulan physician during their time at Starfleet Academy. Perchance, an elder Phlox, like Lanthanite Chief Engineer Pelia (Carol Kane), continues to impart wisdom at the Academy during the latter half of the 2250s. With a Denobulan officer serving aboard the USS Enterprise in Strange New Worlds, the crew might even embark on a return journey to their home planet, potentially introducing them to the original Enterprise doctor.

1 The Enterprise NX-01

The inclusion of the Enterprise NX-01 in Star Trek: Picard's Starfleet museum opens up possibilities for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The unique materials utilized in constructing the NX-01 allowed Ensigns Boimler and Mariner to time travel. This suggests that the starship itself could play a vital role in helping Captain Pike and his crew resolve future challenges. By leveraging its legacy technology, they could combat a more advanced threat, similar to the USS Enterprise-D in the Star Trek: Picard finale. An alternative scenario involves Pike visiting the museum and standing on the NX-01's bridge, reflecting on Captain Archer and his Star Trek: Enterprise crew's accomplishments while contemplating his own legacy.