10 Times Star Trek Showed Us That There Is A Chance At A Progressive Future
8. Dr. Phlox Has A Wife, Who Has Another Husband, But Also Has Another - Wait Now How Many Are There?
Denobulans are introduced in Enterprise through the character of Dr. Phlox. While this is a little like introducing the Kelpians in Star Trek Discovery (no honestly, they've always been around, just off to the left of the screen!).
What is introduced with them is the idea of an open and frank approach to sexuality and love. While Star Trek Deep Space Nine had originated the idea of a culture with different views on monogamy (a slain Bolian officer is said to have a wife and co-husband), Enterprise went on to take this further.
Relationships and family dynamics are quite complicated with Denobulans, with each partner in a marriage having three husbands or wives, yet even then Denobulans are not monogamous. They feel free to explore their feelings for anyone they wish to, which causes Trip Tucker to get somewhat lost in tracking what he is and isn't supposed to do in reaction to Phlox's wife's advances.
This depiction of relationships flies in the face of the standard two-person marriage/relationship that is the standard in most depictions of romance. It is done in a way that respects that some people will find it unnusual or awkward, in Trip's reaction, but also that it is perfectly normal in how both Phlox and Feezal.