The showrunners of Star Trek: Enterprise had canceled plans for season 5 that could have saved the show’s legacy. The series was canceled after four seasons despite the creators being optimistic about its renewal. Jeffrey Combs’ character, who was supposed to become part of the main cast and work under Captain Archer in the crew of the Enterprise NX-01, could have changed how the show is remembered, for the better.
Enterprise is a prequel show to Star Trek: The Original Series and takes place a century before Captain Kirk leads his five-year mission. Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) captains a human crew and his Vulcan first officer on Earth’s first mission with a warp 5-capable starship. The series explores Starfleet’s early days and the animosity that festers between humans and species like Andorians or Vulcans before the Federation is formed to ally them together. Despite following a strict Star Trek-type formula, Enterprise’s reception was poor. Even producer Rick Berman remarked that the show’s cancellation was a consequence of “franchise fatigue.” It was canceled after season 4, but the creators had big plans for a potential Star Trek: Enterprise season 5.
Aside from the plans of exploring T’Pol’s relationship with her absent father and her secret past, Enterprise season 5’s biggest plan was to recruit Shran into the crew of the Enterprise NX-01. While Combs has played several characters in the Star Trek franchise ranging from the sly Vorta Weyoun to the greedy Penk on Voyager, Jeffrey Combs never became a main cast member. Although he doesn’t appear often in Enterprise, Combs succeeds in developing Shran from a reoccurring antagonist into a neutral protagonist who often allies with Archer’s crew. His originally acidic relationship with T’Pol also reflects the gradual reconciliation between their respective species, so naturally, Shran becomes an important element that gives the show its heart. If Combs became a regular cast member in season 5, there would have been many advantageous changes to the show.
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Shran would have needed a role to fit, perhaps taking over T’Pol’s role as first officer since his close relationship with Archer is the dynamic that stands out the most. Furthermore, his expertise in battles would be needed if Enterprise season 5 had been centered around the Romulan war like writer Mike Sussman claims. Shran is an immensely militarian character and might have clashed with the crew if not offered a high-ranking position. The conflict he would inspire in the crew, despite their alliance, would expand the horizons of each actor. There is conflict in Enterprise seasons 1-4, but aside from T’POL, many of the characters are often in agreement or at least do not experience friction to the extent Shran could. Andorians are known for their suspicious nature and there’d likely be comedic scenes to be derived from these fresh conflicts, especially with Jeffrey Combs’ history of character range.
Enterprise Season 5 could have further explored Shran’s relationship with the Aenar Jhamel that is only briefly touched upon in the season 4 finale. Focusing in-depth on the sympathies of each character, which the show only starts to do in its last few seasons, could have saved it from the negative backlash it received. Shows such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation, and Voyager all hold a grand legacy, which may be due to the fact that fan-favorite characters are given the time they require to develop. The plan to include Jeffrey Combs in the main cast of season 5 could have been the first step needed to receive more seasons. Shran might not have been enough to save the show, but he would have contributed to Enterprise’s new and improved reputation.
Though Enterprise gained a cult following, it never got its chance to execute the plans made for season 5. Shran being added to Archer’s crew could have made room for unique scenes of comedy and drama especially when it comes to how Andorians mingle with other species. Star Trek’s major canceled plan ruined what could have given Star Trek: Enterprise the opportunity it needed to save its legacy.