Enterprise's Love Affair: A Captivating Rivalry with Star Trek: Insurrection

Summary

Both Captain Archer and Captain Picard unexpectedly fall for women from pre-industrial worlds while defending them from hostile aliens.

Captain Archer's relationship with Riann bears a striking resemblance to Captain Picard's involvement with Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection. In line with the established norm among Star Trek captains, Archer's decision to part ways with Riann and refrain from making any promises of reunion reflects their unwavering dedication to their starships, rather than pursuing lasting romantic connections.

Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 has a romantic storyline similar to Captain Jean-Luc Picard's in Star Trek: Insurrection. In one episode titled "Civilization," the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise investigates the Akaali civilization, which is being affected by poisoned water supplied by the Malurans, another alien species. As Captain Archer, along with Subcommander T'Pol, Ensign Hoshi Sato, and Commander Trip Tucker, work to uncover the truth, Archer develops feelings for a local apothecary named Riann.

In Star Trek: Insurrection, Captain Picard and the USS Enterprise-E go against Starfleet's orders to protect the peaceful Ba'ku race living in an area of space known as the Briar Patch, which possesses regenerative properties. Picard stops Admiral Dougherty's conspiracy with the Son'a and their leader, Ru'afo, who plan to relocate the Ba'ku forcefully and take control of the Briar Patch. During this mission, Picard finds a new love interest in Anij, who assists the Enterprise crew in defending the Ba'ku planet from the Son'a.

Enterprise's Captain Archer Copied Picard's Star Trek: Insurrection Romance

Although the Akaali were not an immortal race like the Bak'u, there are parallels between Captain Archer's romantic involvement with Riann in episode 9 of Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 and Captain Picard's relationship with Anij in the movie Star Trek: Insurrection. Both Starfleet Captains unexpectedly developed feelings for women from pre-industrial societies that they were protecting from hostile aliens seeking to exploit their planets. Anij comes from the agrarian society of the Ba'ku, which avoids technology. Similarly, Riann belongs to a pre-industrial race and works as a healer using holistic remedies. These women are complete opposites of the space-faring starship Captains who were momentarily smitten by them.

Star Trek: Insurrection premiered in theaters in 1998, four years before the first season of Star Trek: Enterprise. It appears that the concept of Captain Picard's brief romantic involvement with Anij was reused for Archer's relationship with Riann on Enterprise. However, at the end of Star Trek: Insurrection, Picard made a promise to return to Ba'ku and spend his shore leave with Anij - a promise he seemingly fulfilled, as in season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, Captain Liam Shaw mocked Jean-Luc for disregarding the Prime Directive to engage in a romantic relationship with a village resident on Ba'ku. Archer's actions with the Akaali would also have violated the Prime Directive if it had been in effect during the 22nd century era of Enterprise. Unlike Picard, however, Captain Archer did not make any promises to Riann and their lone kiss was evidently a goodbye.

Enterprise Still Followed Star Trek's Old Captain Rules

Captain Archer bid farewell to Riann on her home planet at the conclusion of Season 1, Episode 9 of Star Trek: Enterprise. This aligns with the established pattern in Star Trek from the 1960s, where the Enterprise Captain lives a solitary life, devoid of lasting relationships or attachments, wholly dedicated to exploring new worlds and encountering new lifeforms. Consequently, Captain James T. Kirk, Captain Picard, and Captain Archer found themselves as men with minimal company, with their primary focus centered on commanding their starship. Moreover, Enterprise served as the final episodic installment in the Star Trek succession, at least during its initial two seasons, resulting in Archer adhering to the show's structure of moving on once the predicament of each weekly episode was resolved.

Although Star Trek: Enterprise possessed the potential to deviate as a prequel, the series predominantly favored the well-established and proven Star Trek formula, playing it safe. If the show were created in present times, it would likely adopt a different structure and take more daring approaches, akin to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this latest iteration, Captain Christopher Pike commands the USS Enterprise and has a girlfriend named Captain Marie Batel. However, Star Trek: Enterprise was a product of its era, drawing inspiration primarily from the highly successful series of that time, Star Trek: The Next Generation, along with its subsequent films.