The 10 Best Episodes Of Star Trek: Enterprise

When *Star Trek: Enterprise* debuted in 2001, it faced a tough challenge: following the popular *The Next Generation*, *Deep Space Nine*, and *Voyager* at the end of *Star Trek’s* most successful period. Despite this, the show’s premise seemed promising. As a prequel set a century before Captain Kirk, *Enterprise* aimed to depict the beginnings of Starfleet and humanity’s first ventures into deep space, offering a fresh perspective compared to previous series. Considering the success of other *Star Trek* shows, many believed *Enterprise* could also become a hit. However, interference from the network, inconsistent writing quality, and falling viewership led to its cancellation after only four seasons – making it the first modern *Star Trek* series not to reach the typical seven-season run.

After more than twenty years, fans are starting to revisit *Enterprise* and see it in a new light. What was once considered an unnecessary addition to the *Star Trek* universe is now recognized as a compelling story about the origins of the Federation. Though it wasn’t always perfect, *Enterprise* delivered some of the most daring, unusual, and heartfelt episodes in the entire franchise. By reinventing familiar enemies and setting the stage for the future Federation, *Enterprise* has quietly become an important part of *Star Trek* history. While it may still be considered the least popular spin-off, these stories show that *Enterprise* is far from insignificant.

Here are our picks for the 10 best episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, ranked.

10) “First Flight” (Season 2, Episode 24)

Before becoming Captain of the Enterprise NX-01, Jonathan Archer was a daring test pilot determined to break the Warp 2 barrier and become the fastest pilot in history. The episode “First Flight” revisits the beginnings of interstellar travel, a time when reaching Warp 3, let alone Warp 10, was a distant dream. Originally, creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga envisioned *Enterprise* capturing the excitement and competitive spirit of the 1960s space race, and “First Flight” showcases Archer competing against his rival, A.G. Robinson (played by Keith Carradine), for the opportunity to lead the Warp 5 Program. It’s amazing to consider the courage – and perhaps recklessness – these early explorers had, willing to risk everything just for the chance to push the boundaries of space travel!

This episode perfectly embodies the adventurous, groundbreaking spirit that *Enterprise* always aimed for – think resourceful engineers, risky test flights, and a new vision for space exploration. Focusing more on character development than action, “First Flight” adds layers to Archer’s personality. Though he doesn’t quite become the daring hero the writers envisioned, the episode highlights the connection between *Star Trek* and our own history, reminding us that Starfleet didn’t appear overnight – it was built by brave individuals willing to take incredible risks.

9) “Carbon Creek” (Season 2, Episode 2)

The episode “Carbon Creek” is a clever take on humanity’s first encounter with aliens. It tells the story of T’Pol’s grandmother, who, along with other Vulcans, crash-landed in 1957 Pennsylvania. It’s a fun blend of classic alien crash stories like E.T. and Roswell, with a nostalgic historical setting – a combination everyone enjoys!

As a critic, I found this installment to be a charmingly odd fish-out-of-water story, blending the dry wit we expect from Vulcans with a delightful dose of 1950s Americana. But it’s more than just a fun period piece; it cleverly reimagines the established *Star Trek* timeline. The episode suggests a secret, earlier encounter between humans and Vulcans, potentially decades before Zefram Cochrane’s famous warp flight. T’Pol’s story about a Vulcan remaining on Earth after a rescue mission, observing humanity for generations, is particularly intriguing – and ties in neatly with what we learned in *Star Trek: Picard* about humans being something of a ‘pet project’ for the Vulcans. While Captain Archer and Trip remain understandably skeptical, the final image – T’Pol holding a handbag that belonged to her grandmother from the 1950s – is a beautifully ambiguous touch that leaves you wondering just how much truth there is to her tale. It’s a wonderfully uncertain ending that I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed.

8) “Proving Ground” (Season 3, Episode 13)

The third season of *Enterprise*, particularly the Xindi storyline, received mixed reactions, but the episode “Proving Ground” is a highlight. It features a return appearance by Jeffrey Combs as Andorian Commander Shran, who previously aided Captain Archer and his crew. As Archer races to find the Xindi’s powerful weapon, Shran offers assistance. However, he’s secretly intending to take the weapon for Andoria, hoping to use it against the Vulcans, who refused to help fight the Xindi.

As a huge *Enterprise* fan, I always loved the dynamic between Archer and Shran. It was this really gripping, high-stakes partnership built on mutual respect, but absolutely no trust! Archer let his own issues with Vulcans influence things, which often led him to side with Shran. It created such a tense, compelling relationship – honestly, one of the show’s best. But when Shran betrayed that trust by trying to steal the Xindi weapon, the *Enterprise* crew totally saw through him. It was a great moment showing that while humanity is open to alliances, we won’t be pushed around. And it’s cool to remember that this episode really laid the groundwork for the Andorians eventually becoming founding members of the Federation!

7) “Regeneration” (Season 2, Episode 23)

It’s tricky to introduce the Borg into a prequel set in the 22nd century without contradicting established Star Trek history. Many fans think it would have been best to avoid it, but the Borg are so popular the writers wanted to find a way to include them. Luckily, the series *Enterprise* came up with a clever solution. In the episode “Regeneration,” scientists in the Arctic uncover frozen Borg remains from the events of *Star Trek: First Contact*. These drones reactivate, begin assimilating lifeforms, and attempt to reconnect with the Borg Collective.

As a Star Trek fan, I was really on the edge of my seat watching the NX-01 crew deal with the Borg! They were totally caught off guard, having no idea what they were up against, and it was fascinating to see them figure things out on the fly. Even though we *know* the Borg eventually become a huge threat, the episode does a great job of building the backstory and making it feel genuinely tense. It’s rare to see a prequel that actually works this well! Honestly, I always thought it was a cool idea to see the Borg take on Starfleet when their technology was still pretty basic, and this episode delivers a classic, exciting battle. I was totally into it!

6) “Borderland” / “Cold Station 12” / “The Augments” (Season 4, Episodes 4–6)

Season 4 featured several shorter story arcs, a change guided by new showrunner Manny Coto. The standout arc, consisting of the episodes “Borderland,” “Cold Station 12,” and “The Augments,” is considered a high point for the series. It includes a guest appearance by Brent Spiner, playing Dr. Arik Soong-a relative of Data’s creator-and explores the consequences of genetic engineering and the history of the Eugenics Wars.

Even though Spiner consistently delivers a great performance, it’s the Augments – villains with ties to the ‘Eugenics Wars’ and a distant connection to the famous Khan Noonien Singh – that truly make these episodes compelling. Their story explores themes of arrogance, defiance, and the dangers of humans trying to control evolution. This storyline feels like *Enterprise* finally leaning into its role as a prequel, and it signaled a definite improvement in the show’s quality – sadly, it wasn’t enough to secure a fifth season.

5) “Demons / Terra Prime” (Season 4, Episodes 20 & 21)

The final episode of *Enterprise*, “These Are the Voyages…,” is unfortunately remembered for being quite disappointing. Many fans dislike that the series ended with a holodeck simulation – a cliché ‘it was all a dream’ trope – and feel it didn’t provide a fitting conclusion. Most *Enterprise* fans actually consider the two-part episode “Demons” and “Terra Prime” to be the true finale, even though it aired right before the official last episode. This story features a guest appearance by Peter Weller as John Paxton, the xenophobic leader of Terra Prime, a terrorist group threatening to destroy Starfleet Command if Earth doesn’t expel all aliens.

The story hits close to home: a child created from the DNA of Trip and T’Pol, combining human and Vulcan traits. This sets up a powerful story about prejudice and fear, but also a hopeful message about what Starfleet stands for. It’s a crucial moment in Star Trek, happening when the Federation is still young and its fragile peace could easily crumble. The episode shows humanity stepping up, evolving from newcomers on the galactic stage to leaders in the pursuit of peace and understanding. It’s considered one of the best episodes of the series and a fitting end to the themes of *Enterprise*.

4) “Babel One / United / The Aenar” (Season 4, Episodes 12–14)

This three-episode story is significant because it finally fulfills *Enterprise*’s potential as a prequel, bringing us closer to the beginnings of the Federation than ever before. With Manny Coto as the new producer, the final season of *Enterprise* explored classic *Star Trek* ideas within the context of the 22nd century. The ‘Babel One’ trilogy – a nod to the classic *Original Series* episode ‘Journey to Babel’ which introduced Andorians and Tellarites – showed the initial efforts to create the United Federation of Planets. When the Romulans trick Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites into fighting each other, Captain Archer steps in to force them to work together.

This episode demonstrates the positive contributions humanity can make to the wider galactic community, showcasing our compassion, understanding, and logic as key to success. The story also wouldn’t be as strong without Shran, brilliantly portrayed by Jeffrey Combs, who perfectly balances his character’s suspicion with a sense of honor. Although the series ended prematurely, preventing a full exploration of the Romulan War, these episodes reveal just how close *Enterprise* came to fulfilling its initial promise.

3) “In a Mirror, Darkly” Parts 1 and 2 (Season 4, Episodes 18 & 19)

Whether you love it or hate it, the Mirror Universe is a crucial part of *Star Trek*. While many episodes only briefly visit this dark, alternate reality, the *Enterprise* two-parter “In a Mirror, Darkly” is unique. It’s set entirely within the Mirror Universe, avoiding the typical plot of characters trying to return home. We see Captain Archer become a ruthless leader, the Tholians capture the USS Defiant (a nod to the classic *TOS* episode “The Tholian Web”), and the actors clearly enjoy playing their evil versions of the familiar characters.

“In a Mirror, Darkly” is a delightful treat for fans, filled with nostalgic details like a shortened history of the Mirror universe (starting with a different take on the events of *First Contact*) and impressively accurate 1960s set designs. It’s wonderfully cheesy and over-the-top – arguably more entertaining than anything the main *Star Trek* characters experience! Surprisingly, the episode also includes events that later become officially part of the storyline in *Discovery*.

2) “Twilight” (Season 3, Episode 8)

Imagine if Captain Archer hadn’t succeeded. That’s the unsettling idea behind the story “Twilight.” In this alternate future, Archer contracts a disease that causes him to lose his long-term memories, leading to his removal from command. Consequently, the Xindi destroy Earth because the mission to eliminate their superweapon fails. Years later, after a cure for his condition is discovered, an aging Archer and T’Pol, who has been caring for him, embark on a final, desperate attempt to fix the timeline.

This episode is incredibly moving, starting with a powerful opening scene of Archer witnessing Earth’s destruction. Beyond the exciting sci-fi premise, “Twilight” succeeds because it beautifully portrays the loyalty, sacrifice, and love that are hallmarks of Star Trek. Time travel stories like this are excellent for showing what could happen if everything goes wrong, without permanently changing the show’s established history. The episode really emphasizes the importance of their mission by making the consequences of failure crystal clear for both the characters and the audience.

1) “Similitude” (Season 3, Episode 10)

Many consider “Similitude” to be the best episode of *Enterprise*. It’s a thought-provoking story that also packs a strong emotional impact. Like episodes of *Voyager* such as “Tuvix” and films like *My Sister’s Keeper* and *Never Let Me Go*, it raises difficult questions about the ethics of creating life through means like genetic engineering and designer babies. When Trip is critically injured, Doctor Phlox creates a temporary clone, Sim, to provide tissues for a life-saving transplant. However, as Sim quickly develops and connects with the crew, he struggles with the idea of being sacrificed.

This episode presents a difficult ethical question for both the characters and the audience: how do we reconcile our feelings for the original Trip with the emerging identity of his clone, Sim? At its heart, the story beautifully illustrates that even a brief life can be profoundly meaningful and leave a lasting impression. Captain Archer faces his most challenging decisions yet. Connor Trinneer delivers an exceptional performance playing both Trip and Sim, while Jolene Blalock is compelling as T’Pol, struggling with her feelings for each of them. “Similitude” is a uniquely *Star Trek* story, the kind that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching, and it’s no wonder writer Manny Coto was later brought on as a producer for season four.

You can now watch all four seasons of *Star Trek: Enterprise* on Paramount+. Which season is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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2025-09-15 16:17