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DISCLAIMER: The following article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Lower Decks.
T’Pol
Fast Facts
In 2151, Earth launched its first warp five capable vessel, the NX-01 Enterprise. Under the command of Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), the Enterprise was primarily crewed by humans. However, thanks to the special relationship shared between Vulcans and humans after First Contact in 2063, T’Pol (Jolene) was assigned to the Enterprise as well.
This wasn’t T’Pol’s first interaction with humans. Two years earlier, she was assigned to Earth as an ambassador. There she worked as an aide under Ambassador Soval (Gary Graham). During this time, T’Pol lived in Sausalito, California. She also had the opportunity to personally visit several points of geological interest around the planet.
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T’Pol’s Earth travels also included a visit to Carbon Creek, Pennsylvania. This site was significant to her personal history thanks to her second foremother, T’Mir (Jolene). In 1957, T’Mir and several other Vulcans crash landed in Carbon Creek and had to survive for several years. In Enterprise Season 2’s “Carbon Creek,” T’Pol shared this story with Archer and Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer).
When T’Pol first joined the Enterprise two, her relationship with humans was strained. This reflected the opinions held by many Vulcans at the time. The issues were partially political: Vulcans perceived humans as too volatile to be “unleashed” on an unsuspecting Alpha Quadrant. But there were also more personal reasons, as well. The controlled and logical Vulcans considered themselves more evolved than the emotional and outspoken humans. Plus, many Vulcans state that the odor of humans is unbearable.
It’s a Long Road
But as T’Pol spent time living and working alongside her crewmates aboard the Enterprise, her perspective on humans began to shift. This perspective was further complicated by several factors. They include the dubious actions undertaken by the Vulcan High Command. And as an outsider, T’Pol sometimes clashed with the human members of the crew. Nevertheless, on more than one occasion, T’Pol’s unique physiology meant saving the crew from mortal peril was left up to her.
When the Enterprise embarked on a mission into the Delphic Expanse, the Vulcan High Command determined it to be a “human matter” and recalled T’Pol to Vulcan. Instead, T’Pol resigned her commission and continued to serve as a civilian aboard the Enterprise. Subsequently, she joined Starfleet.
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Eventually, T’Pol was exposed to trellium-D. This neurotoxin affected the Vulcan nervous system. While T’Pol was treated, she continued to experience side effects from the exposure. These included being plagued by nightmares and emotional outbursts. She subsequently microdosed trellium-D, even becoming addicted to the substance. As a result, her ability to control her emotions were permanently damaged.
Finally, T’Pol eventually became romantically entangled with Tucker. A terrorist group later stole DNA from T’Pol and Tucker, created a hybrid half-human, half-Vulcan child. This was the first known baby to be born with DNA from both species. However, tragically, the child subsequently passed away. However, the child did reveal that successful procreation between the two species was possible.
The Real Deal
T’Pol is the real deal. After the events of (most of) the series, she continued to serve aboard the Enterprise. The long road was not always a smooth one, however. Perhaps most notably, Tucker was killed in action. Nevertheless, T’Pol was present at the ceremony that heralded the founding of the United Federation of Planets in the early 2160s.
In Lower Decks Season 4’s penultimate episode, “Fissure Quest,” we meet a parallel universe variant of T’Pol. This variant lived a long life with Tucker, until he died of old age. However, this allowed T’Pol to become an expert on human emotions, a tool she utilized as a crew member aboard the U.S.S. Anaximander.
Why She Matters
Why does T’Pol matter? She shows us that a situation that seems bad at first can ultimately prove to be fulfilling and meaningful. In fact, it may even eventually supercede the destiny you once thought you were looking towards. She demonstrates that sometimes, the traits that we dislike in other people are actually the traits we have to learn to accept within ourselves. And she reveals that those who start as outsiders can eventually become just as important a member of the crew as anyone else.
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So, be like T’Pol. Don’t be afraid to put yourself in situations outside your comfort zone, because that can help you boldly grow into the person you were always meant to be. Recognize that loss, injury and illness is a part of life — but it isn’t the end of life. And never forget that if Vulcan High Command assigns you to a ship full of stinky humans, you can always ask the doctor to inject you with some nasal numbing agent to make the ride a little more bearable. Don’t worry: you’ll probably adjust (eventually)!
Star Trek: Enterprise is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
