Star Trek: Every First Officer Ranked

Enterprise did not have the easiest journey, either on or off the screen. From its beginnings, it suffered the same issues that many prequels do - the audience knows where its eventually going to get to, so after the novelty wears off, where do you go?

It is well known that the Vulcans and Humans are founding members of the Federation. Therefore, the first deep space vessel would naturally have a Vulcan crew member. In the early episodes, T'Pol is just as acerbic as any rigid Vulcan could be. But the something quite wonderful happened. The writers, perhaps learning from the issues with Chakotay on Voyager, gave her the room to grow and gave her a character arc.

She goes from advising the mission be scrapped to one of Archer's fiercest supporters. She endures assault, illness, loneliness and the threat of exile and yet she grows close to the crew. She is a capable commander when Archer is off-ship and by the time she straightens the collar on his dress uniform, before he walks up toward the podium in that final episode, the hug that passes between them is very warm and heartfelt.

T'Pol, like the rest of the characters on Enterprise, has been somewhat lost to apathy but this is a distinct injustice. She is an excellent character, one that deserves a revival if the producers are listening!