Star Trek: Enterprise Actor Hated Filming Fan-Favorite Mirror Universe Episodes

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An actor from Star Trek: Enterprise recently revealed he dislikes and has never watched the popular Mirror Universe episodes from the show’s fourth season. Star Trek: Enterprise originally aired on UPN for four seasons between 2001 and 2005. The series is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, coinciding with the Star Trek franchise’s upcoming 60th anniversary in 2026.

The first couple of seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise didn’t quite hit their stride creatively. However, most fans and people involved with the show agree that it got much better after Manny Coto became showrunner. Coto, a fan of the original Star Trek, brought back familiar elements and ideas from that series. A particularly popular decision he made was introducing the Mirror Universe storyline in the fourth season.

Connor Trinneer, who played Commander Trip Tucker on Star Trek: Enterprise, wasn’t a fan of the show’s two-part Mirror Universe episodes. During a panel discussion on a Star Trek cruise with his co-stars John Billingsley, Dominic Keating, and Anthony Montgomery – led by moderator Lolita Fatjo – Trinneer openly shared his dislike for “In a Mirror, Darkly” and his experience playing a ‘pirate’ version of Trip. You can read his exact words below.

Okay, so I have to admit, I really didn’t enjoy doing those “Mirror Darkly” episodes, and honestly, I still don’t! It was a bit strange walking onto the set and seeing Jim Conway, who directed our very first episode, at the helm again. I was honestly a little lost about how to approach it. We knew we had to play our characters differently, and I thought giving Pike a scar was a really neat touch, but the whole experience just didn’t click with me.

I walked in, and Jolene was dressed as a unique character – a bit like a Vulcan pixie, with her hair pulled back and a cropped top. We started rehearsing, and I did a sort of pirate impression, making ‘arr’ sounds. Jim Conway told me he wanted more energy, explaining that we were aiming for something bigger. I asked if he meant he wanted me to really play it like a pirate, and he confirmed that was exactly what he wanted.

Okay, and… action! [Imitating pirate sounds] Cut! Great take! Wait, hold on – I was just kidding about being done! I wanted to do another take, but Jim said no. It took three weeks to finish those two episodes, and honestly, I didn’t enjoy a single moment of it. I’ve never even watched them after all that.

Watch Star Trek: Enterprise‘s panel on the Star Trek Cruise, courtesy of UltimatDJz Playz YouTube:

The Mirror Universe in Star Trek features evil versions of the show’s characters. Connor Trinneer didn’t originally plan to play his Mirror Universe counterpart, Trip, as a pirate. However, according to Trinneer, the director, James Conway, took what Trinneer meant as a lighthearted suggestion and ran with it. This led to Trinneer being dissatisfied during filming, and he admits he still hasn’t watched those episodes.

Connor Trinneer was likely already upset, but things got worse while filming “In a Mirror, Darkly.” That’s when the cast and crew of Star Trek: Enterprise found out UPN had canceled the show. Although the actors had expected Enterprise to end eventually, they were still saddened to learn their four-season run on Star Trek was coming to a close.

Connor Trinneer recently shared on his podcast, The D-Con Chamber (which he co-hosts with Dominic Keating), that he doesn’t enjoy the Mirror Universe storylines. They’re currently rewatching Star Trek: Enterprise and are still in season 2, but listeners can look forward to hearing Trinneer’s reaction to the Mirror Universe episodes and the ‘pirate Trip’ arc when they reach season 4.

If Star Trek: Enterprise had gotten a fifth season, the showrunner Manny Coto planned to revisit the Mirror Universe storyline. Most fans loved the Mirror Universe episodes, especially “In a Mirror, Darkly,” which is considered a highlight of the series, but Connor Trinneer, who played Trip, was likely the only actor who wouldn’t have enjoyed playing the character’s evil counterpart again.

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2026-03-19 05:39