A not-so-fondly remembered Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 episode predated two major stories of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 by 22 years. The 23rd-century voyages of the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) take place over a hundred years after Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and the NX-01 Enterprise pioneered humanity exploring the galaxy in the 22nd century. However, it turns out that a couple of story beats from Strange New Worlds‘ lauded season 2 went where Archer’s Enterprise has gone before.
In Enterprise season 1, episode 6, “Terra Nova,” Captain Archer and the NX-01 crew are excited to investigate the first human colony set up outside the solar system. Dubbed Terra Nova, the settlement went dark decades ago after developing an acrimonious relationship with Earth. Arriving at Terra Nova, Archer and the Enterprise crew found the colony abandoned and the descendants of the original arrivals living in caves. Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) soon determined that the Terra Novans were dying of radiation poisoning, although the Denobulan physician was able to cure the lung cancer of Nadet (Mary Carver), one of the descendants’ matriarchs. “Terra Nova” is not a highly-regarded episode of Enterprise, but two elements have been repeated in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.
Enterprise’s “Terra Nova” Did 2 Strange New Worlds Season 2 Stories
In Enterprise’s “Terra Nova,” Captain Archer and his crew soon learned that an asteroid crashed on Terra Nova not long after humans settled on the planet. The asteroid was radioactive, which the colonists were unaware of. Soon, the original group of Terra Novans died from radiation poisoning and cancer, and their descendants fled to the caves. However, the radiation infected their water supply so the remaining Terra Novans, who blamed Earth for attacking the colony and killing their forefathers, were also dying of radiation poisoning. A radioactive meteorite was also the culprit in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 4 – “Among the Lotus Eaters.” The radiation caused the inhabitants of Rigel VII, including Captain Pike and his crew, to lose their memories until the USS Enterprise disposed of the meteorite.
The concept of Enterprise‘s Terra Nova, a frontier town settled on an Earth-like Class-M planet, was also revisited in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ season 2 finale, “Hegemony.” Terra Nova was the first instance of humans colonizing a planet, but the failure of that settlement didn’t deter the United Federation of Planets from continuing that mission. In “Hegemony,” the USS Cayuga commanded by Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano) visited Parnassus Beta, a planet where Federation citizens lived in a “small town model” settlement. Unfortunately, Parnassus Beta was also hit by tragedy. In Strange New Worlds‘ case, Parnassus Beta is in Gorn space and was invaded by the carnivorous alien reptiles. The fate of Parnassus Beta and the USS Enterprise is a cliffhanger to be resolved in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3.
Why Captain Pike Hero Worships Captain Archer & NX-01 Enterprise
In Strange New Worlds‘ crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks, Captain Pike revealed to Ensigns Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) that he idolizes Captain Pike and the NX-01 Enterprise, which Boimler does as well. It’s actually not surprising that Pike has high regard for Archer and what the NX-01 accomplished. Archer’s Enterprise crew were true trailblazers, venturing into the mystery and vastness of space aboard a starship far less sophisticated and powerful than Pike’s, and without the support of Starfleet to immediately call upon. Archer’s voyages and the allies he forged were literally what the Federation was founded upon.
Captain Pike is, himself, an explorer and a diplomat. In his predecessor, Captain Archer, Pike sees a genuine hero whom history regards as the greatest explorer of the 22nd century. Star Trek: Enterprise shows that Captain Archer made many mistakes and faced awesome hardships, but he endured thanks to his fortitude and that of his crew. Unsurprisingly, Captain Pike emulates Archer’s best qualities, just as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stands on the shoulders of Star Trek: Enterprise to take the franchise higher than before.
