Star Trek: Evolution of Bathing - Did Archer's Enterprise Really Use Water Rather than Sonic Showers?

Summary

Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 5 features Captain Archer taking a regular shower, revealing that sonic showers weren't invented yet.

In later Star Trek series, such as Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds, the introduction of sonic showers became a common occurrence. Although some Star Trek ships, like the USS Enterprise-E, are equipped with both water and sonic showers, it should be noted that sonic showers do have their limitations. For instance, they are unable to effectively remove cheese from fur.

In the opening scene of Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 5, viewers are treated to a unique sight: Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) taking a conventional shower, indicating that the 22nd century NX-01 Enterprise did not have sonic showers. As a prequel to the rest of the Star Trek series, Enterprise aimed to showcase a more low-tech and analog approach while also delving into the origins of iconic technology.

In contrast to later Star Trek series, Enterprise featured Starfleet Officers wielding phase pistols instead of phasers, and the NX-01 Enterprise relied on grapplers rather than a tractor-beam. Interestingly, bathrooms and toilets were never shown in Star Trek: The Original Series or Star Trek: The Next Generation, even though they existed on the Starship Enterprise. Despite this, Starfleet Officers frequently discussed bathing in the various Star Trek series, often mentioning the concept of sonic showers, a bathing technology that utilized pulse vibrations instead of water. Sonic showers made their first appearance in Star Trek: Lower Decks, where junior officers aboard the USS Cerritos shared communal sonic showers, and were also seen on the USS Enterprise in season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Enterprise’s Water Showers Vs. Star Trek’s Sonic Showers

In Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 5, "Unexpected," Captain Archer is showering when the gravity on the NX-01 Enterprise malfunctions. As a result, Archer finds himself floating alongside the water until the gravity is restored and he is abruptly returned to his wet shower. This comedic moment highlights the fact that characters in Star Trek were rarely shown bathing, especially with water, indicating that sonic showers were not yet invented in the 22nd century. Instead, the NX-01 Enterprise carried a supply of water for drinking and hygiene purposes since it lacked replicator technology.

In the transition from the 22nd to the 23rd centuries, sonic showers were introduced and installed on the USS Enterprise. In Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 8, "Under the Cloak of War," Dr. Joseph M'Benga enters his sonic shower, adjusting the vibrations to level 4. This demonstrates that pulse vibration technology replaced traditional water-based showers on the mid-23rd century Enterprise. Additionally, in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow," Captain James T. Kirk from an alternate timeline expresses his fascination with water showers when he stays at a 21st century hotel in Toronto with Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh, indicating that water-based bathing was a novel experience for Kirk.

Some Star Trek Ships Use Both Water & Sonic Showers

However, Star Trek: Insurrection demonstrated that the USS Enterprise-E had the capability of bathing with water in addition to its sonic shower technology. When Commander Will Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi found themselves drawn closer due to the rejuvenating effects of the Briar Patch, they opted to enjoy a bubble bath together. This suggests that one of their quarters was equipped with a traditional bathtub that utilized regular water for bathing. Of course, it is also possible that the tub and water were replicated, or that Riker and Troi engaged in their intimate moment on the holodeck.

While sonic showers provide the advantage of water conservation on starships, they do have their limitations. In the series Star Trek: Lower Decks, Dr. T'Ana, a Caitian with feline-like features, voiced her frustration that sonic showers were ineffective at removing cheese from her fur. Additionally, in Star Trek: Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway's sonic shower malfunctioned, causing her glass mirror to shatter. Malfunctioning sonic showers were also occasionally problematic on the space station featured in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In later iterations of Star Trek, sonic showers have become the norm, much like traditional water showers on Star Trek: Enterprise. Nevertheless, it appears that individuals still derive pleasure from using regular showers whenever the opportunity presents itself.