Jonathan Archer was a 22nd century Human Starfleet officer and captain of Enterprise NX-01, United Earth's first full-fledged starship. In that role, he was responsible for greatly expanding United Earth's presence in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and making first contact with more than a dozen species, among them Klingons, Andorians, and Xindi.
Considered by historian John Gill, as the "greatest explorer of the 22nd century," Archer is widely credited with saving Earth from the Xindi and paving the way for the founding of the United Federation of Planets. He went on to become one of the Federation's earliest presidents. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
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Early life[]
Jonathan Archer was born in 2112 to renowned warp scientist Henry Archer and his wife Sally. Despite being born in Upstate New York, (ENT: "North Star", "Storm Front") Archer variously claimed to have lived "all" or "most" of his life prior to 2151 in San Francisco. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "North Star")
According to the script of "Broken Bow", the opening scene of that episode, showing Archer and his father in front of a sun porch in 2121, is placed in their apartment in San Francisco.
Jonathan Archer as a boy in 2121
One of Jonathan's earliest inspirations for space sciences was a copy of The Cosmos A to Z, which he got on his eighth birthday, in 2120, from his father. Jonathan spent hours staring at its front cover depicting the Arachnid Nebula. (ENT: "Fusion") His fascination for space led to him wanting to serve in what became the United Earth Starfleet from an early age, so, in at least one astronomy book he owned as a child, he styled his name on the ex libris as "Admiral Jonny Archer". (ENT: "First Flight") In 2121, while he and his father built and flew a remote-controlled starship model, Jonathan eagerly asked his dad when "his new starship" would be ready to fly. Henry responded that it would take many more years, but that Jonathan should not distrust the Vulcans for having held back Humanity's technical progress, as they probably had their reasons. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
Prior to Zefram Cochrane's disappearance in 2119, Henry took Jonathan on a tour of the Warp Five Complex, where he met Cochrane, Tasaki, and other scientists working at the facility. Jonathan later revealed he was not aware of the significance of his father's work at the time. (ENT: "Singularity")
Also in his youth, Jonathan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. During his time there, he earned twenty-six merit badges, including a Wilderness badge which he received in a rain forest in New Zealand. (ENT: "Rogue Planet") In school, Jonathan was called to the principal's office only once, for passing notes to Katy Bentley. (ENT: "The Council") On the day before he entered flight training, Jonathan asked his father what would happen if he failed. The elder Archer's response was, "Don't fail." (ENT: "Daedalus")
This implies that Jonathan entered flight training while his father was still alive, i.e., no later than 2124, at the young age of twelve.
Tragically, in 2122, his father started suffering from frequent hallucinations and pain for years, sometimes not even recognizing his own son, the result of Clarke's Disease, dying two years later. However, the relationship that Jonathan shared with Henry's friend, Emory Erickson, strengthened, and Emory became like a surrogate father to him. (ENT: "Cold Station 12", "Daedalus")
While in ninth grade, around 2127, Archer was chided by his teacher for waiting until the last minute to finish writing a speech, so he would have had more time to memorize it. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...") As an undergraduate in California, Jonathan was an accomplished athlete in the sport of water polo.
Stanford University is heavily implied to be Archer's alma mater. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Vox Sola")
During his senior year, he participated in the 2134 North American Water Polo Regionals. The match featured a come-from-behind victory for his team, who were down by two goals in the last minute of play. The nature of the rally became a mantra that Archer carried forward into later life, such that he always believed he could win, no matter the odds. Following the victory in the regionals, he and his team went on to participate in the championship round of the tournament that year. (ENT: "Vox Sola")
During his early 20s, Archer was on a trip to East Africa where he witnessed a gazelle giving birth. He remembered his surprise at seeing how fast the newborn managed to stand up on its feet and run along with the herd. (ENT: "Shockwave, Part II")
A few years before Starfleet was chartered, Jonathan gave serious thought to serving on a cargo ship, but decided against it. (ENT: "Horizon")
Starfleet career[]
Before Enterprise[]
Commanders Archer and A.G. Robinson in 2143
Commander Archer in 2143, observing Starfleet's first warp 2 flight
At some point in his career, Archer had a commanding officer who didn't believe that the captain ought to befriend his crew. (ENT: "Minefield")
As a commander, Archer was one of four test pilots in the NX Program in the 2140s. In 2143, he and A.G. Robinson became not-so-friendly rivals in wanting to be the first to fly the NX-Alpha. Though Commodore Maxwell Forrest ultimately gave the assignment to Robinson, Archer had spent the most time in the flight simulations and got the engines to a ninety-two-percent efficiency. Robinson, however, was determined to break warp two. He did, with Archer serving as the flight director in NX-Control, but the NX-Alpha was destroyed; Robinson managed to get out just in time via an escape pod. The incident led Starfleet to suspend the NX program at the urging of the Vulcans.
Robinson blamed the destruction of the craft on flaws in the engine Archer's late father had designed, which eventually led to the two of them coming to blows. Eventually, however, Archer reviewed the data and conceded that Robinson had been right. After devising engine modifications to compensate for the flaws, Archer and Robinson, with the help of Lieutenant Charles Tucker III, took the NX-Beta on an unauthorized field test. With Archer at the controls, the craft achieved a new speed record of warp 2.5. Archer and Robinson were grounded for three months for their actions, but were successful in convincing Starfleet to resume the program. (ENT: "First Flight")
Later in the 2140s, Archer was on Titan as part of the Omega training mission, along with Tucker. When Tucker's environmental suit malfunctioned, Archer saved Tucker's life by preventing him from taking off his helmet on Titan's surface. (ENT: "Strange New World")
In ultimately omitted dialogue from the final draft script of "Home", it was established that Archer had attended command school and that, in survival training, he had climbed a rocky mountain with Hernandez, a classmate of his from command school. The climb took nearly a week and Archer swore he would never set foot on another mountain if he could help it.
A few years prior to the launch of Enterprise NX-01, Archer was a guest aboard a Vulcan Maymora-class ship, the Yarahla, which made a run to a dark matter nebula. He helped set up the graviton telescope, and also spacewalked in a Vulcan EV suit. (ENT: "Breaking the Ice")
In 2150, the final selection for the captaincy of Enterprise took place between Captains Robinson and Archer. Vice Admiral Maxwell Forrest gave the post to the latter, although Captain Gardner was originally considered the most suitable choice by Ambassador Soval. (ENT: "First Flight", "Shadows of P'Jem") Archer's quarters aboard Enterprise were located on E Deck. (ENT: "Unexpected")
Many details about Archer's pre-Enterprise career were established in the flashback episode "First Flight". According to Brannon Braga, "showing Archer's early days in the NX program" was a long-standing goal of the ENT writing staff. Braga referred to it as something they had "always wanted to do." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 145, p. 31)
Commanding Enterprise[]
First mission[]
Captain Archer and Commander Tucker inspect Enterprise just before its launch in 2151
Jonathan Archer's mission as captain of Enterprise began in April 2151, after a Klingon officer named Klaang was attacked on Earth by Suliban who, under the leadership of Silik, were trying to start a Klingon civil war as part of the Temporal Cold War. Enterprise's historic launch coincided with the Klingon incident, and Vulcan Ambassador Soval believed the launch should be pushed off until the matter with the Klingons had been resolved.
Archer was not happy about the prospects of waiting around once again to launch the much anticipated warp five project and in fact believed that the Vulcan's suggestion to delay the launch was just another way to impede Humanity's space exploration and expansion into the galaxy. Not wanting any further delays or interferences by the Vulcans, he suggested taking Klaang back to Qo'noS himself. Despite objections from the Vulcans, who believed Humans were too volatile and provincial to take on such a matter, Archer's proposal was fully supported by Admiral Maxwell Forrest, who gave Archer three days to assemble his crew and begin the mission. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
Archer recruited Denobulan physician Doctor Phlox as the ship's chief medical officer, Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker as chief engineer, and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed was assigned as the ship's armory officer. For the position of communications officer, Archer traveled to Brazil to recruit Hoshi Sato, who was an exolinguist and had a special aptitude with alien languages. It was not easy getting Sato, who was teaching at the time, on board but the prospects of being the first Human to decipher the Klingon language were very tempting. Finally, as a concession to the Vulcans, and to have access to their star charts, Archer had to agree to have a Vulcan science officer with the name of T'Pol on board. It was expected that her assignment was temporary and that she would leave after the Klingon had been returned to his homeworld. T'Pol herself looked forward to the end of her assignment on board Enterprise.
Even though halfway through it looked like the mission was not going to be accomplished, Archer was known for finishing what he had started. Moreover, he did not believe in giving up and returning home, as that would represent failure to the Vulcans and reaffirmation of their long-held beliefs that Humans were not ready for space exploration and should never have embarked on such a "foolish mission." After Klaang was returned to Qo'nos and war averted, Archer received word from Starfleet to "keep going" instead of returning to Earth.
Realizing the mission would have failed without T'Pol's help, he offered to have her on board as his science officer and second-in-command. He admitted that, ever since he could remember, he had seen Vulcans as an obstacle which had been keeping Humans from standing on their own two feet. However, having been given the opportunity to finally begin Enterprise's missions, he realized he had to leave misgivings about Vulcans behind. T'Pol accepted his offer and made the request to her superiors personally.
Remembering his father and the dream he had envisioned, Archer gave the orders for Enterprise to finally set sail into the unknown. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
Archer's mission to Qo'Nos would be the last time a Earth starship would visit the planet until 2257 when the USS Discovery would visit it as an attempt to end the Federation-Klingon War. (DIS: "The War Without, The War Within")
Year one: into the unknown[]
Archer and his crew on their first away mission on a new M-class planet (later named Archer IV)
Archer and Enterprise made first contact with the Andorians at the ancient Vulcan monastery at P'Jem. Even though the Andorians were initially suspicious of Humans because of their alliance with the Vulcans, they gained some measure of trust, particularly in Archer, when he assisted them in exposing a Vulcan listening post hidden beneath the sanctuary. Even though the decision resulted in the destruction of the ancient monastery, it was the beginning of a close relationship with the Andorians, in particular with Thy'lek Shran, which later proved invaluable when the Andorians came to the assistance of Enterprise during the Xindi mission in the Delphic Expanse. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")
Archer's next venture concerned the discovery of a pre-industrial society populated by the Akaali. A plague was ravaging the planet, and a woman named Riaan, an apothecary, was attempting to determine the cause. Archer helped her, and found that a hidden antimatter reactor in a curio shop owned by a man named Garos had contaminated the water supply. Garos was really an alien who was mining the resources of the planet. Archer exposed him, and when Enterprise disabled his ship, Garos was forced to leave. Archer had come close to Riaan during the events and became briefly romantically involved with her. (ENT: "Civilization")
Archer, with Daniels, in the Temporal Observatory
Archer again encountered Silik when Silik, in the disguise of a pilgrim invited on Enterprise, tried to disable the ship. He also met Daniels, who he thought was a crewmember, but was in reality a temporal agent from the future. Daniels informed Archer that Silik was trying to change the future, but Silik denied this and said it was Daniels who was the culprit. When Silik was found in engineering and confronted, he escaped; it was apparent he was the saboteur. (ENT: "Cold Front")
Archer helped rescue a Klingon ship that was losing orbit and falling into a gas giant. Bu'kaH, a survivor of the accident, was convinced to cooperate with Archer in a rescue attempt after he convinced her that she would be letting her crew die a dishonorable death. Bu'kaH reluctantly let Archer take her on a reinforced shuttlepod toward her ship, along with an antidote to a neurotoxin which had rendered the crew unconscious. The Klingon crew was rescued along with Hoshi Sato, T'Pol, and Malcolm Reed, who had become marooned on the ship in a previous rescue attempt. (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs")
Archer and T'Pol were captured on an away mission on Coridanite by rebels backed by the Andorians against the government supported by the Vulcans. Shran, along with Reed and Tucker, rescued them. (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem")
Archer visited a planet where Eska engaged in hunting sentient beings, telepathic shapeshifters. When they were afraid, they emitted a chemical that gave away their location and made them easy targets. On Archer's orders, Phlox came up with a plan to mask the chemical, which shielded them from the hunter's scans. The hunters left when they could no longer use their scans, and the beings were safe. (ENT: "Rogue Planet")
Archer shackled to the bulkhead by the Ferengi
Archer made first contact with the Ferengi later that year, although the aliens in question remained anonymous; official first contact was eventually made by Jean-Luc Picard. The Ferengi captured Enterprise by rendering the crew unconscious, robbing the ship of all valuables. When Archer woke, he, along with Tucker and T'Pol, was able to play the Ferengi off against each other and retake the ship. (ENT: "Acquisition")
Archer accompanied an away team to a barren planet to salvage an abandoned ship. They had been told by D'Marr, an alien they met, about the ship and also that it was haunted. Arriving on the planet, the party found that a group of Kantare had inhabited the planet. Their behavior seemed strange, though, especially when Archer offered to transport them back to their homeworld. They learned that all but two of the Kantare were holograms created by Ezral, who blamed himself for the crash and the death of his friends. He had created the holograms to keep his daughter, Liana, company. Enterprise returned both to their homeworld. (ENT: "Oasis")
Archer, along with Travis Mayweather, was imprisoned in a Tandaran prison camp. The Tandarans were at war against the Cabal, and had interned innocent Suliban in the camp. Archer learned of the plight of innocent Suliban, who weren't involved with the Cabal but still suffered the wrath of the Tandarans by being imprisoned for years in these camps. Archer and Mayweather, along with Enterprise, escaped and released the Suliban. (ENT: "Detained")
Archer was captured by a symbiotic creature who had stowed away on Enterprise. The creature assimilated Archer's nervous system, along with others it had captured. When Enterprise offered to take it back to its home so it could be attached to its large host, it released Archer and the others. (ENT: "Vox Sola")
In February 2152, while fleeing from two hostile Mazarite ships, Archer gave the order to increase speed to Warp 5, the first time the NX-class ship's Warp 5 engine was pushed to its theoretical limit. The ship eventually reached a top speed of warp 5.2, faster than any other Earth vessel had traveled at that point. (ENT: "Fallen Hero")
During a visit to Zobral's village, Archer and Tucker got caught up in a civil war, and after an attack, they became stranded in a vast desert. With Zobral's help, Enterprise rescued them. (ENT: "Desert Crossing")
While on shore leave on Risa, Archer met a Tandaran named Keyla, who, in the disguise of a Human, tried to obtain information about the Suliban from him. (ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights")
Archer and Daniels in the 31st century
In March 2152, after it appeared his ship's mission was over because due to destruction of a mining colony on Paraagan II, Archer was transported to April 9, 2151 by Daniels, who revealed the Suliban were responsible for what had happened. Returning to the present, Archer used knowledge given to him by Daniels, including the technical skill to construct a quantum beacon, to board a Suliban stealth cruiser and prove what they had done.
As a result, Silik demanded Archer be captured. To save Archer, Daniels transported him to the 31st century, causing a major disruption in the timeline that apparently destroyed Earth. Fortunately, Archer and Daniels were able to repair the timeline, though not before Archer managed to learn that he was vital to the creation of the future United Federation of Planets. (ENT: "Shockwave", "Shockwave, Part II")
Year two: first contact[]
Archer and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed on the hull of Enterprise
Archer made a regrettable first contact with the Romulan Star Empire. When Reed tried to disarm a mine attached to the hull, a spike thrust out of the mine and through Reed's leg, pinning him to the ship's hull. Archer, with Reed's instructions, was able to disarm the mine and save Reed. (ENT: "Minefield") This led to a stop at an automated repair station that was just as dangerous as the minefield. The station used humanoid brains as co-processors in its computer by physically connecting the captive's nervous system to its network. The crew escaped, but not before Mayweather became one of the station's adjuncts and had to be saved. (ENT: "Dead Stop")
After insulting the Kreetassans during an away mission, Archer's dog, Porthos, was infected with a deadly disease. Phlox cured him, but not before Archer spent a whole night worrying about the relations with the Kreetassans and comforting his dog. Phlox not only saved Porthos, but provided Archer with advice that solved the diplomatic problem. (ENT: "A Night in Sickbay")
Archer led a team of crewmen in teaching a mining colony to defend itself against Klingons. The crewmen stayed with the miners while they drove off the Klingons. (ENT: "Marauders")
Archer helped T'Pol track down Menos, a rogue Vulcan agent who had become a weapons smuggler. When Menos played on T'Pol's guilt concerning an earlier incident in capturing another rogue agent, Archer was able to help her put her guilt aside and do the right thing. (ENT: "The Seventh")
Archer considers that he may have to die to avoid contaminating Gosis' pre-warp civilization
Archer and Reed were sentenced to death when exploring a planet. Reed had accidentally left behind a communicator, and when he and Archer tried to retrieve it, they were captured. Their captors believed they were super-soldiers sent by their enemies. Heeding T'Pol's long-offered advice on inter-species contact, Archer decided that he and Reed would have to be hanged in order to avoid contaminating the pre-warp civilization. This early, solemn consequence of the as-yet-uncodified Prime Directive was averted, however, when the crew of Enterprise saved Archer and Reed using a captured, cloaked Suliban cell ship. (ENT: "The Communicator")
At one point, the final draft script of "The Communicator" specified about Archer, "He's as close to developing the precepts of the Prime Directive as he's ever come."
Later that year, Archer granted asylum to Takret refugees. During a radiation storm, they had to take refuge in Enterprise's catwalk. The military, pursuing the refugees, boarded Enterprise and almost destroyed it when they tried to start the warp engines. (ENT: "The Catwalk")
Enterprise investigated a black hole that was part of a trinary star system. However, the radiation from the trinary system affected the crew, causing odd behavior and rendering them comatose. Though the exposure would otherwise have killed the crew, Archer was woken by T'Pol and was able to pilot the ship away from danger. (ENT: "Singularity")
Archer was once again drawn into a dispute between Vulcans and Andorians. He avoided a war when he mediated a territorial dispute between the two species. (ENT: "Cease Fire")
Archer and Tucker were arrested and sentenced to Canamar for false crimes. A fellow prisoner was able to hijack the ship with their help, but when they found out the prisoner was going to beam off the ship and crash it, killing the rest of the prisoners and guard, they foiled his plot and were rescued by Enterprise. (ENT: "Canamar")
When Enterprise discovered a futuristic vessel adrift in space, Archer ordered it brought on board for further investigation, and a Human body was found in the ship. The Suliban and the Tholians claimed that the ship belonged to them, and demanded that Archer turn it over immediately. Archer was worried that the course of the Temporal Cold War could be affected. During the battle, as they tried to activate the ship, it vanished, and the Suliban and Tholians left. (ENT: "Future Tense")
Archer fights the Borg
Archer and his crew fought against the Borg two centuries before the USS Enterprise-D's encounter with them. (ENT: "Regeneration"; TNG: "Q Who") Two Borg drones had been found in Earth's Arctic Circle and thawed out by a team of scientists that they then assimilated. These drones were from an unsuccessful attempt by the Borg in the 24th century to stop the flight of Earth's first warp-capable vessel via time travel. (Star Trek: First Contact) The drones, old and new, left Earth on an arctic transport which had belonged to the scientists. Enterprise intercepted and destroyed the ship, with Archer and Reed boarding it and setting explosives to make this possible. In the course of doing this, they fought and killed several of the drones. (ENT: "Regeneration")
During first contact with the Vissians, Archer became close with their captain, Drennik. Drennik invited Archer to join him when he took a Vissian strato-pod deep into a hyper-giant. This first contact ended tragically when Tucker interfered with a cogenitor, a third gender of the Vissians who were second-class citizens. Archer was asked by the cogenitor to grant asylum, which he denied after a meeting with the Vissians. Drennik contacted Archer and told him that the cogenitor had committed suicide. (ENT: "Cogenitor")
Archer's Klingon "tribunal"
In late 2152, Archer was captured by the Klingons after assisting Raatooras rebels. Put on trial on Narendra III, he was spared the death sentence through the efforts of his lawyer, Kolos. Archer was sentenced to labor in the dilithium mines on Rura Penthe, but managed to escape. He was hunted by the Klingons for this offense, at first through bounty hunters such as the Tellarite Skalaar, resulting indirectly in Archer making Human first contact with the Tellarites. Skalaar believed the Klingons would return his ship to him, but when he found out they had scrapped it, he helped Archer escape. (ENT: "Judgment", "Bounty")
During the expedition to the Delphic Expanse, Archer was hunted by Duras, who had been dishonored when Archer saved the Raatooras rebels from him. Archer destroyed Duras' ship and its crew with it. (ENT: "The Expanse")
Year three: the Xindi attack[]
Archer considers his new mission in the wake of the Xindi attack
After a Xindi probe attacked Earth in 2153, Archer was given a new mission: search for the Xindi weapon, which required entering a dangerous region of space known as the Delphic Expanse, in order to find the ones responsible for the attack and prevent them from launching their weapon to destroy Earth. It took nearly six weeks before Enterprise came into contact with an actual Xindi, and even then he proved to be of little help, directing Archer to coordinates that contained nothing but a field of debris which used to be the planet Xindus. (ENT: "The Expanse", "The Xindi")
In September 2153, while investigating an abandoned Xindi vessel on a planet, Archer, Hoshi Sato, and Malcolm Reed succumbed to a virus that mutated them into Loque'eque, a primal lifeform. Tret, the leader of an alien race, attempted to kill Archer in order to eradicate the virus. Even after being cured by Phlox, Archer continued to suffer strange dreams of the Loque'eque city. Phlox kept a sample of the virus as per Archer's instructions, as destroying it would effectively make the Loque'eque completely extinct. (ENT: "Extinction")
Archer in the Delphic Expanse
While visiting a planet to obtain trellium-D, a substance that would protect Enterprise from the anomalies of the Expanse, Archer helped rescue a woman, Rajiin, from slavers. However, Rajiin was really an agent of the Xindi, sent to obtain information about the Humans. Thus, the first battle between Enterprise and the Xindi occurred. Xindi-Reptilians boarded the ship and took Rajiin so they could retrieve the information she had obtained. (ENT: "Rajiin")
With Archer undergoing a transformation in the course of the third season, Brannon Braga believed that both the new and the old sides of his persona were shown in season three episode "Rajiin". "Here's Archer, who rescues the damsel in distress, which is old Archer," Braga observed. "And then, when he finds out what's going on, you get the sense that he'll kill her if he has to!" (Star Trek: Communicator issue 151, pp. 28-29)
Enterprise encountered a Vulcan ship in the Expanse. When Archer and T'Pol boarded the ship to see if there were survivors, they found that the crew had gone insane. The Vulcans were intent on killing them and, after they escaped, Archer's only choice was to destroy the ship. (ENT: "Impulse")
Archer spied on a Xindi research facility, and convinced a Xindi-Arboreal, Gralik, that the Humans were not a threat. Gralik gave Archer a canister of kemocite, fuel for the weapon, to analyze. (ENT: "The Shipment")
In October 2153, Archer suffered a mild concussion from an encounter with a spatial anomaly. He eventually recovered. (ENT: "Twilight")
Archer tries to blend into a Human population in the Delphic Expanse
Archer encountered a Human colony populated by descendants of 19th century Americans. He helped them reconcile with the Skagarans, who had originally kidnapped them from Earth to work as slaves on their planet. The descendants of the Humans had revolted and taken over the planet, relegating the Skagarans to slaves. Archer, following a gunfight with some local cowboys, helped convince sheriff and town leader MacReady to make changes to the area. When the Humans expressed a desire to be reconnected with Earth, Archer was forced to explain that his ship could not accommodate them. Nevertheless, he promised that Starfleet would eventually recover them. As a stopgap measure, he at least provided them with the current history of Earth to help them reintegrate with the main Human population. (ENT: "North Star")
In ultimately omitted dialogue from the final draft script of later season three installment "Similitude", Archer gave T'Pol and Sim two hours to prepare Enterprise's shuttlepods for towing the starship.
Archer and T'Pol went back in time with the help of Daniels to stop the Xindi from producing a bio-weapon that would destroy Earth in the past. He killed the Xindi and returned to the present. (ENT: "Carpenter Street")
In the final draft script of "Carpenter Street", Archer told Daniels, "I've been wondering when you were going to show up again." In the final version of the episode, though, Archer instead merely comments, "About time you showed up."
Archer dealt with a group of religious zealots who hijacked Enterprise, planning to use it in a religious war. When the lead zealot demanded that a crewmember be put to death for the "blasphemy" of taking scans of the "sacred realms", Archer tricked them into using the transporter on Archer himself; allegedly, it would disperse his atoms, but really he was just teleported to another part of the ship. After the ship was retaken, he returned the zealots to their homeworld, where he revealed their planet had been practically destroyed already, asking them before he left to consider if the "truth" really was that important. (ENT: "Chosen Realm")
An Andorian starship commanded by Shran helped Archer and Enterprise track down the Xindi weapon by following a signal from one of several kemocite canisters that Archer had planted when he visited a research facility earlier in the year. The Andorians captured the prototype of the weapon, but Shran was under orders to return it to Andoria. Before Shran could leave with the weapon, Archer activated it, and Shran was forced to jettison it before it exploded. Despite the conflict, Shran transmitted details of the weapon to Archer. (ENT: "Proving Ground")
In an attempt to gather the whereabouts of the weapon, Archer captured Degra and, using mind control, attempted to convince him that both had been in a Xindi prison. He tried to gain Degra's trust so Degra would give them the location of the weapon. Archer told Degra that the weapon had been used and Earth had been destroyed, but that a civil war had broken out among the Xindi, resulting in a great loss of life. Degra discovered the ruse, but not before he let slip that the weapon was on Azati Prime. (ENT: "Stratagem")
Archer caring for the Xindi-Insectoid young
On the way to Azati Prime, Enterprise discovered a damaged Xindi-Insectoid vessel with no life signs on board. There, Archer discovered a hatchery containing Xindi eggs, some of which were still viable. He was suddenly spattered by a strange liquid that spewed from one of the egg sacs, and Phlox determined that Archer had been hit by a mild neurotoxin that made him believe he was the eggs' caretaker, and his actions began to jeopardize their mission. (ENT: "Hatchery")
On the way to Azati Prime, Enterprise found a damaged ship containing an injured male alien. It was determined that the alien was a test subject and he threatened that his people, who were from another dimension, would take over the quadrant when Earth was destroyed. They were the Sphere-Builders, who had been manipulating certain Xindi species into destroying Earth. (ENT: "Harbinger")
Daniels pleads with Archer to make peace with the Xindi
Arriving at Azati Prime, a fierce firefight began. Archer discovered that the weapon was hidden in an ocean. At that point, he declared he was not going to order any more deaths, instead choosing to personally destroy the Xindi weapon, despite attempts by T'Pol and Daniels to talk him out of it. However, the Xindi intercepted and captured him, though they released him after a lengthy interrogation. Degra was starting to believe the war was being motivated by aliens. (ENT: "Azati Prime")
Archer forges an alliance with Degra
In February 2154, Archer went before the Xindi Council to convince them not to launch the Xindi weapon at Earth. He had a hard time attempting to persuade them, but quickly made an ally of Degra. The other Xindi-Primate councilor, Jannar, and Kiaphet Amman'sor soon came around to Archer's side as well, but Commander Dolim betrayed the Council, stole the weapon, and killed Degra. (ENT: "The Council")
In a final battle to save Earth, Enterprise was joined by the Xindi-Aquatics and Xindi-Primates. As the fleet of Reptilian and Insectoid ships were destroyed, the Sphere-Builders, the aliens behind the plot, tried to intervene. Sato was captured by Dolim to decode the weapon's software so it could be activated. The MACOs, under the leadership of Major J. Hayes, rescued her, but Hayes was killed. Archer, along with Reed and the MACOs, used Degra's ship to intercept the weapon. Enterprise proceeded to destroy the spheres in the Expanse.
Boarding the weapon, Archer, with Sato's help, was able to cause a reversal overload that would destroy the weapon. As the away team beamed out, Archer was left behind and confronted Dolim, whom he killed. Enterprise destroyed all the spheres and ended the alien interference. Archer was believed to have been killed, having been aboard the Xindi weapon as it exploded while approaching Earth. (ENT: "Countdown", "Zero Hour")
After the destruction of the Xindi weapon, Archer was saved when he was thrown back in time to World War II of an alternate timeline. He found that, as part of the Temporal Cold War, the Na'kuhl were helping the Nazis win the war by conquering America. Archer managed to destroy a Na'kuhl time conduit and end the war. (ENT: "Storm Front", "Storm Front, Part II")
Year four: making friends… and enemies[]
Returning home[]
Archer back home on Earth in 2154
Following his return to Earth, Archer was dealing with the aftermath of the Xindi mission. He had a heated argument with Ambassador Soval during his debriefing which caused him to take some time off and rekindled his relationship with fellow starship captain Hernandez. (ENT: "Home")
Augment crisis[]
In May 2154, Archer was sent on a mission to stop a group of rogue Augments, relics of the Eugenics Wars who had been resurrected by Dr. Arik Soong. They had attacked and stolen a Klingon ship, and the Klingons threatened war unless the Augments were brought to justice. Archer, along with Soong, tried to find them. After Soong escaped and joined the Augments, Archer found them at Cold Station 12, a Starfleet facility where other Augment embryos were stored. He was captured and left to die when the Augments triggered a self-destruct procedure. Archer disarmed the self-destruct, and was able to defeat the Augments, recapture Soong, and preserve the peace with the Klingons. (ENT: "Borderland", "Cold Station 12", "The Augments")
Seeking out the Kir'Shara[]
The United Earth Embassy on Vulcan was bombed, resulting in the death of Archer's friend and mentor Admiral Maxwell Forrest. Although a Vulcan splinter group, the Syrrannites, was blamed, Ambassador Soval urged Archer to travel to their hideout in Vulcan's Forge and find the truth. Accompanied by T'Pol, he met their leader, Syrran, there. Syrran was secretly carrying the katra of Surak, and prior to his death by wounds from a sandfire storm, he transferred Surak's katra to Archer. Archer, guided by Surak's katra, met with the remaining Syrrannites led by Syrran's lieutenant, T'Pau, and found the long-lost Kir'Shara, a record of Surak's original teachings.
Archer activates the Kir'Shara
Archer and T'Pau headed to the Vulcan capital to confront the Vulcan High Command. It was discovered by Soval, Tucker, and Reed that the bombing had been the work of V'Las, the leader of the Vulcan High Command, who wished to wipe out the Syrranites and start a war of conquest against Andoria. Archer and T'Pau, after presenting the Kir'Shara to the Vulcan High Command, averted a war between Vulcan and Andoria.
In the process, the Vulcan High Command was dissolved, beginning a new era in the development of Vulcan society. No longer would the Vulcans hold back Humanity's advancement into space; for Archer, it was a lifelong dream fulfilled. The event was mutually beneficial: Vulcan society reverted to the more altruistic and logical path Surak had originally intended, and Archer gained a greater insight into Vulcans than ever before as a result of having carried the katra of Surak. (ENT: "The Forge", "Awakening", "Kir'Shara")
In ultimately omitted dialogue from the final draft script of "Kir'Shara", it was stated that Archer hadn't been able to hold his fingers in a Vulcan salute until he does so in that episode.
First contact with the Organians[]
Archer later made first contact with the Organians, though his memories of the event were completely erased. (ENT: "Observer Effect")
Babel crisis[]
He then become embroiled in high-level galactic intrigue when he rescued Commander Shran from the destruction of the Kumari, which Shran blamed on the Tellarites. However, Archer discovered the truth that the Romulan Star Empire, using a Romulan drone ship in attempts to manipulate other galactic powers into fighting one another, was trying to destabilize the entire region. Discovering the ruse, he organized a landmark combined fleet effort of Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites to search for the Romulan vessel, beginning the first steps in uniting these disparate races against a common enemy. (ENT: "Babel One", "United", "The Aenar")
Klingon virus[]
Archer again came into conflict with the Klingons. They were using Human Augment DNA in attempts to genetically engineer their own Augments, unleashing a virus that threatened the Klingon race with extinction. They kidnapped Phlox so he could help find a cure. Archer was able to rescue Phlox, but not before helping him find a cure for the virus. (ENT: "Affliction", "Divergence")
Stopping Terra Prime[]
Archer addresses the proposed Coalition.
Archer foiled a plot attempted by John Frederick Paxton, leader of Terra Prime, a xenophobic terrorist group, who threatened to attack all alien ships and Starfleet Command with the verteron array on Mars. Archer fought Paxton and knocked him unconscious but was unable to stop the verteron array firing at Earth. After the array fired on San Francisco Bay without resulting in any humanoid casualties, Archer was instrumental in Paxton's arrest. Afterward, he was influential in restarting negotiations for the formation of a Coalition of Planets, giving a speech which persuaded delegates from various alien worlds to continue the steps towards an alliance with Earth. (ENT: "Demons", "Terra Prime")
Final mission[]
Archer's final mission as captain of the Enterprise would be to Rigel X where he assisted in the rescue of Thy'lek Shran's daughter Talla. It was the last world Archer visited before the Enterprise was decommissioned, which he considered to be "poetic justice. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Signing the Federation charter[]
A holographic representation of Jonathan Archer at the signing of the Federation Charter in 2161
Archer's command of Enterprise ended in 2161, after which he signed the charter ratifying the Coalition of Planets, which ultimately lead to the formation of the United Federation of Planets.
At the time of the signing, Sato had already heard rumors that he had been "tapped for admiral," but Mayweather and Reed agreed that "they'll never keep him behind a desk." (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Counselor Deanna Troi's line in "These Are the Voyages...", in which she states "this alliance will give birth to the Federation" suggests that the charter which Archer was to sign at that point in 2161 was not the Federation Charter, but rather the charter of the Coalition that led to the Federation's incorporation. Since the Federation has already been confirmed to have been incorporated in 2161, this would seem to indicate that the Coalition gave way to the UFP within the same year. It is also possible that the Coalition of Planets was simply renamed the United Federation of Planets later in the year, in which case, the charter which Archer is about to sign in this episode may be considered the Federation Charter.
Archer was referred to in the first draft script of the aborted film Star Trek: The Beginning, set in 2159. He was said to be on Risa, with Enterprise, during a series of Romulan attacks in the Sol system which initiated the Earth-Romulan War.
Serving in the Federation[]
After the founding of the Federation, Archer went on to serve in the Federation Starfleet. At his retirement from Starfleet, he was Chief of Staff at Starfleet Command with the rank of admiral. Archer became an honorary member of the Andorian Imperial Guard in 2164, Federation ambassador to Andoria in 2169, served as Federation Councilman from 2175 to 2183, and was ultimately elected President of the United Federation of Planets in 2184, a post which he held for eight years until 2192. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
No date was given for Archer's retirement from Starfleet.
For the biographical display seen in "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", writer Michael Sussman wrote a final section of text that didn't end up being visible on screen, stating that a 132-133 years old Archer " … died at his home in Upstate New York in the year 2245, exactly one day after attending the christening ceremony of the first Federation starship Enterprise, NCC-1701".[1][2]
Legacy[]
In January 2155 of the Mirror universe, Commander Jonathan Archer learned about his counterpart aboard the USS Defiant. At first, he protested that his counterpart was not a great man but weak and foolish for his efforts in helping to form the United Federation of Planets (which he dismissed as a "Federation of Fools"), noting that great men should conquer other species rather than work together with them. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
Secretly, however, Archer resented his counterpart and was insanely jealous of his success, particularly when he learned that the other Archer had a long, respected career as a starship captain, diplomat, and statesman; had two planets named for him; and was noted as the "greatest explorer of the 22nd century." His preoccupation with his counterpart's success eventually drove him to have a mental breakdown, taking the form of hallucinations of the other Archer, who mercilessly taunted him about his own inadequacies. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
When Ensigns Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner time traveled from 2381 to 2259, Captain Pike informed the duo he tried to think how he would've felt setting foot on Archer's Enterprise. (SNW: "Those Old Scientists")
Moral conflicts[]
Captain Archer aboard Enterprise in 2154
As one of the first Starfleet captains to explore the galaxy, Archer was sometimes faced with moral decisions. Consequently, he was at times forced to bend the morals to which he once strictly adhered, especially during his time in the Delphic Expanse, though he told T'Pol he could not save Humanity if he lost what made him Human. (ENT: "Damage")
During Enterprise's first year in space, the ship visited the Valakians, who were being killed off by an unknown epidemic; they would be extinct in less than two centuries. The other species on the planet, the Menk, who were a second-class species, were unaffected. Archer wanted to know if a cure was possible. Phlox told him that he had found a cure, but that what was happening was natural evolution and that the Menk showed evidence of an awakening and had the potential to become the dominant species on the planet, which wouldn't happen as long as the Valakians were around. Archer's decision to withhold a cure and let nature take its course was against all his principles, but he realized that he had no right to interfere in another culture and play god; this could be used as an example of an early Prime Directive. (ENT: "Dear Doctor")
Enterprise was ordered to evacuate a group of Denobulan geologists from Xantoras, a world that had been taken over by the military. One of the evacuees was an Antaran named Hudak. Hudak was dying, but refused to be treated by Phlox, because the Antarans and the Denobulans were mortal enemies. Phlox wouldn't treat patients against their wishes even when Archer threatened to order Phlox to do so. Archer could not understand Phlox's attitude, but honored his wishes. Phlox was able to convince Hudak to be treated. (ENT: "The Breach")
When the Vissians informed him that their cogenitor had committed suicide due, in part, to Commander Tucker's actions, Archer told Tucker that he wasn't in the position to judge the rightness of the Vissian culture and that he hoped Tucker had learned his lesson about interfering in other cultures. (ENT: "Cogenitor")
Archer tortures Orgoth
Archer once went so far as to torture an Osaarian pirate named Orgoth in order to find his ship that had stolen weapons, food, and precious supplies. Orgoth's final words to Archer, who was adamant about retaining his own Humanity in the Delphic Expanse, were to warn him that mercy wouldn't serve him well in the Expanse, which Enterprise had recently entered. (ENT: "Anomaly (ENT)")
By having Orgoth caution Archer that mercy wouldn't serve him well in the Expanse, the ENT writing staff attempted to foreshadow another moral conflict they would later put Archer through, making him have to resort to piracy just like the Osaarians had. "We wrote that last line because we knew that we wanted Archer to do the very same thing at some point," related Brannon Braga. (Star Trek: Communicator issue 151, p. 33)
Archer authorized Phlox to create a clone of Trip Tucker, Sim, so its neural tissues could be used to save Tucker, who had been hurt in an accident and was dying. This transplant would have ended Sim's life (although in Archer's defense, when Phlox proposed the procedure he believed that he could harvest the necessary tissue and leave Sim alive afterwards). Phlox refused to perform the operation until Sim agreed to it. (ENT: "Similitude")
Archer once ordered the destruction of a Xindi monitoring station to prevent it revealing Enterprise's position to the Xindi. The facility's destruction killed three Xindi in the process. (ENT: "Azati Prime")
Archer was so obsessed with accomplishing the Xindi mission that he stole a warp coil from an Illyrian vessel; Enterprise needed the warp coil to be able to stop the Xindi weapon from destroying Earth. The theft left the Illyrian vessel with three years added onto its voyage home. Though he did leave them trellium, food, and supplies, Archer couldn't help but come into a conflict with what he believed was right and wrong. (ENT: "Damage")
The moral conflict Archer has to go through in "Damage" was the same situation that the ENT writing staff had attempted to foreshadow in "Anomaly". "'"And wanted to make sure that when he did this," said Brannon Braga, "he left that [Illyrian] crew stranded and as good as dead, that we didn't find an easy way out of it." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 151, p. 33)
Relationships[]
Family[]
In ultimately deleted dialogue from the final draft script of "Twilight", Jonathan Archer told T'Pol about his great-grandfather, Jack Archer, having heard stories about him. Jonathan Archer also implied a comparison between himself and Jack.
Henry Archer[]
Young Jonathan and his father, Henry Archer, in 2121
As a boy, Jonathan often built model spaceships with his father. The two also spent time together flying the models.
On Jonathan's eighth birthday, his father gave him his first astronomy book, The Cosmos A to Z. Archer spent hours staring at the cover of this book, which featured an image of the Arachnid Nebula. Shortly thereafter, his father gave him a tour of the Warp Five Complex. (ENT: "Fusion", "Singularity")
Sadly, Henry died from Clarke's Disease when Jonathan was twelve, leaving his mother to raise him. During the last two years of his life, Henry had difficulty recognizing Jonathan or his mother as a result of the disease. (ENT: "Cold Station 12")
There appears to be some contradiction as to when Henry Archer died. Although "Cold Station 12" stated he passed away when Archer was only twelve years old, dialogue in "Daedalus" suggests that he was still alive when Archer entered flight training.
When Jonathan was on his way to sign the Federation Charter, he and his close friend Charles Tucker would share a drink from a bottle of whiskey that was given to Henry by Zefram Cochrane the day the two broke ground at the Warp Five Complex. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Sally Archer[]
Often, when Jonathan had trouble sleeping as a child, he would ask his mother to recite a poem for him. One poem he frequently requested from her was "The Song of the Wandering Aengus". While listening, Jonathan imagined how the woman in the poem would appear, creating her image in his mind. He did not learn until years later that the poem was written by William Butler Yeats. (ENT: "Rogue Planet")
Friendships[]
In ultimately omitted dialogue from the final draft script of "The Expanse", Archer remarked to Admiral Forrest, on the subject of his own opinion regarding non-Starfleet personnel on Enterprise, "T'Pol and Phlox have worked out pretty well."
In an ultimately rewritten line of dialogue from the final draft script of "Storm Front, Part II", Archer regarded himself as "a pretty good judge of character."
A.G. Robinson[]
Archer was close friends with fellow pilot Commander A.G. Robinson despite the two competing to become the first pilot to test the NX-Alpha. (ENT: "First Flight")
In March 2153, Robinson was killed while climbing Mount McKinley on Earth, a death Archer thought was senseless considering Robinson's close calls flying Warp trials. (ENT: "First Flight")
Charles "Trip" Tucker III[]
Archer helps Tucker on the Torothan homeworld in 2151
Archer met Charles Tucker III, or "Trip", during the NX Project. Archer was a pilot and Tucker was a lieutenant on Captain Jefferies' engineering team. After the NX-Alpha was destroyed and the project was going to be canceled, Tucker and Archer teamed up with A.G. Robinson to save the program. They launched the NX-Beta without permission, and were ultimately successful. (ENT: "First Flight")
In the final draft script of "First Flight", a scene description in the episode's first pre-Enterprise scene that features both Archer and Tucker commented, "Archer has probably seen Trip around the complex, but he doesn't really know him yet."
Archer and Tucker's friendship continued to grow when both were assigned to the Australian Outback for survival training. Archer saved Tucker's life on a number of occasions. On Titan in 2147, Tucker's EV pack froze up and he got nitrogen narcosis. Archer stopped him when he tried to remove his helmet. Archer later saved a delirious Tucker from heatstroke when they were stranded on a desert planet. (ENT: "Strange New World", "Unexpected", "Desert Crossing")
On Enterprise, Tucker became Archer's right arm. They had their meals together and shared many interests. Archer never got tired of listening to Tucker's Southern home-spun stories. Tucker, for his part, knew how to relieve Archer's stress. When Archer was upset about a first contact with the Kreetassans, Tucker gave him a data module of the Stanford versus Texas water polo match. (ENT: "Vox Sola")
In ultimately unused dialogue from the second draft script of "Broken Bow", Tucker said about Archer, "So many people'd give their eye teeth to serve with him. I've never met another officer who's earned the kind of loyalty he has."
No matter what kind of a jam he was in, Archer always knew he could count on Tucker, both professionally and personally as his friend. When in 2152, Archer and Malcolm Reed – who had been trying to find a communicator left behind on a pre-warp alien planet – were sentenced to death, it was Tucker and his efforts that rescued them from execution by the natives. (ENT: "The Communicator") He also rescued Archer from bounty hunters who wished to turn Archer over to the Klingons. (ENT: "Bounty")
Tucker and Archer watching water polo
Archer and Tucker's relationship was not always stress-free. During first contact with a race known as the Vissians, who used a third gender called a cogenitor for reproduction, Tucker – who was upset at how it was treated – took it aside in an attempt to open its eyes. The cogenitor didn't have a name and was not allowed to leave its room or receive education. It was even treated somewhat lower than a second-class citizen, which was evidenced by Tucker pointing out, "Even Porthos has a name."
Tucker had the cogenitor's DNA sampled and in a side-by-side comparison, Doctor Phlox discovered the cogenitor was intellectually on the same level as its counterparts, thus neither superior nor inferior to them. Tucker used this as an opportunity to take on the cogenitor, teaching it how to read and telling it that it had the same rights as everyone else and that it should stand up for itself, asserting its freedom and rights as an individual. When the cogenitor asked for asylum on Enterprise and Archer denied it, it committed suicide rather than keep living as it had.
Archer was both disappointed and furious that Tucker had jeopardized not only their first contact with the Vissians but had also indirectly caused the death of the cogenitor. Tucker told Archer that he had done exactly what Archer would do; a statement which left the captain even more upset, as he himself often had to wrestle with the fine line of doing what he thought was right and interfering with other species. Archer told Tucker it was not his place to judge the fairness of another culture and that he should never have interfered. While Tucker was shocked at how the situation had unfolded, as he never foresaw this going so far, Archer held him responsible for the cogenitor's death and asked him to weigh the repercussions of his actions. Archer did not formally discipline Trip, but made it clear how disappointed he was in him for having acted so impulsively and irresponsibly. (ENT: "Cogenitor")
"Whatever it takes"
After the first Xindi attack on Earth in 2153, Archer was the one to break the news to the Enterprise crew. This was of particular significance to Tucker as his younger sister, Elizabeth, was an architect who lived in Florida – part of the area that had been destroyed by the Xindi weapon.
Even though Archer did not know whether Trip's sister was among the casualties, he comforted Tucker anyway, suggesting she may have been visiting elsewhere when the attack took place. When it turned out that his sister was among the victims killed, Trip's reaction was naturally one of anger towards the Xindi; he and Archer agreed that they would find the people responsible and hold them to account for their actions. "Whatever it takes," Archer said. (ENT: "The Expanse")
During the Xindi mission, Tucker became seriously injured when an explosion on top of the warp core flung him to the lower engineering deck. Upon arriving in sickbay, he had lapsed into a coma, due to extensive neural damage he had sustained. Dr. Phlox insisted the only way to treat him was to use a Lyssarian Desert Larvae to create a clone of Tucker and then use that to harvest the required neural tissue.
Archer, aware of the moral implications, gave the order to proceed, thereby saving Tucker's life. Even though it was not an easy decision and he was aware that the clone would have to be sacrificed, Archer still bonded with him. Phlox gave him the name "Sim", as he was an exact facsimile of Trip, including all of his memories and experiences. When the time finally came, Archer held a funeral service for Sim who he said was "one of [their] own." (ENT: "Similitude")
In ultimately omitted dialogue from the final draft script of "Similitude", Archer commented that, during Trip's boyhood, his father had been "lucky" to have Trip around.
Later that year, Archer was infected with a Xindi-Insectoid neurotoxin causing him to act irrationally. He lost all sense of self and became obsessed with protecting a Xindi-Insectoid hatchery the crew had found. Archer went to great lengths to protect them, such as relieving senior officers of their duties and assigning MACO units to all decks of the ship. It was only due to Tucker's stubbornness that he became aware something was controlling the captain's behavior and, with the help of Phlox and T'Pol, they managed to incapacitate him and cure him of the neurotoxin. (ENT: "Hatchery")
As they grew closer to finding the Xindi weapon, Archer managed to convince the weapon's creator, Degra, to help them in their cause. This resulted in him coming aboard Enterprise, where he and Tucker came to blows over the death of Elizabeth. Tucker, out of respect for Archer, calmed down, eventually coming to realize that the whole situation wasn't Degra's fault, for he had simply been acting on what he had been told about Humans. (ENT: "Azati Prime", "The Forgotten", "The Council")
Sato comforts Tucker upon learning of Archer's supposed fate
The Xindi weapon finally reached Earth in February 2154, where it was destroyed by a strike team led by Archer. Even though they were successful in their mission, Archer was believed to have been killed in the explosion. This had a noticeable effect on Tucker, who couldn't seem to grasp what had happened.
However, he didn't have much time to grieve when it soon became apparent that the ship had been transported into the 20th century, right amid the events of World War II. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a Temporal Cold War faction was trying to alter the timeline on Earth so the allies never won the war. During an attempt to stop them, Tucker became reunited with Archer, who had survived the explosion and had been transported back in time like the rest of the crew, much to Tucker's relief. (ENT: "Zero Hour", "Storm Front")
Later that year, Tucker became infected with a silicon-based virus, as part of an experiment by the Organians. While Tucker was under quarantine in the decon chamber and his health was continuing to deteriorate, Archer visited him periodically to check how he was. When one of the Organians revealed itself and their "experiment", a plea by Archer convinced the aliens to cure both Trip and Hoshi Sato. (ENT: "Observer Effect")
After a somewhat awkward courtship with T'Pol and the feelings he had developed for her, which she could not reciprocate at the moment, Trip requested a transfer to Columbia NX-02, citing the new ship needed experienced crew. Realizing this was just an excuse, Archer asked Tucker for the real reason, but Tucker did not want to reveal his true motivation for leaving. Instead, he solemnly asked that Archer grant his request as his friend, to which Archer replied, "I'm asking you to stay… as a friend." Despite this, Tucker still left Enterprise, which put somewhat of a strain on their friendship. (ENT: "The Aenar")
Trip eventually decided to return to Enterprise permanently, when he and T'Pol could no longer deny their feelings for one another. Archer and Tucker's friendship remained stable from this point on. (ENT: "Divergence", "Bound", "Demons")
In 2161, Tucker died, saving the ship and crew. As he was placed into the medical imaging chamber, he gave one last smile to Archer, as if to reassure him that everything would be fine. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Archer's relationship with Tucker was somewhat outlined in the ENT series bible, written at a point when Tucker had the nickname "Spike". The document stated, "Archer is something of a mentor to Spike, and though he enjoys Spike's unique sense of humor, he's also aware of what other people might think of his Chief Engineer; there are times when the Captain has to keep him in line."
T'Pol[]
Archer with T'Pol in 2153
Archer and T'Pol together in sickbay in 2154
Archer's first encounter with T'Pol was not very pleasant for either one of them. Archer had just found out that the Vulcans wanted to delay Enterprise's much anticipated launch due to the Klingon incident and to make matters worse, T'Pol interjected, berating Archer and Humanity for their volatile and provincial nature that she believed rendered them unfit for space exploration. Archer was angered and his response to her was that he was restraining himself a great deal as he really wanted to just "knock [her] on [her] ass."
When she was later assigned to his ship as his first officer and science officer or as Archer called it "a chaperon", he was looking forward to her leaving after the mission was over as he found T'Pol cold, uncaring, cynical, and humorless. To make matters worse, T'Pol was not particularly fond of Archer's pet dog, Porthos, whose smell bothered her. She insisted on cutting vegetables with a knife as Vulcans do not touch their food and she did not find Archer's initial attempts at humor and breaking-the-ice worth entertaining.
In turn, Archer made it clear to her that she was not to disclose anything they discussed to her superiors on Vulcan. As the mission progressed, however, Archer and T'Pol found common ground. He was wounded saving her life in a fire-fight, and T'Pol assumed command and led Enterprise in pursuit of Suliban who had kidnapped Klaang. As the acting captain, she could have easily turned around and left but she chose to continue the mission, knowing that it was what Archer wanted.
This gave him a new-found respect for her, as he was surprised at the loyalty she exhibited after the initial cold reception. The mission was a success and when T'Pol was scheduled to leave Enterprise as agreed, Archer asked her to join his crew, as he no longer wanted to hold grudges and was instead eager to start freshly with the Vulcans. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
Archer and T'Pol sharing a blanket while being held hostage at the monastery
Archer began to trust T'Pol when she didn't turn a blind eye when the secret Vulcan surveillance listening post beneath the monastery at P'Jem was revealed and she helped Archer expose it to the Andorian Imperial Guard. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")
When Ambassador V'Lar came aboard Enterprise in 2152, she sensed a great bond between Archer and T'Pol, of "trust… and friendship." (ENT: "Fallen Hero")
T'Pol took meals in the captain's mess, and once drank wine and entertained Archer with a story of an ancestor who visited Earth before first contact. Archer convinced T'Pol to interact with the crew. She went to movie night with them, and actually liked a movie called Frankenstein. (ENT: "Carbon Creek", "Horizon")
Archer lent T'Pol support when she was sent on a troubling mission for the Vulcans: She was to apprehend a former Vulcan agent who had become an arms dealer. Archer assisted her and reassured her self-doubts during the mission. The incident solidified the trust between the duo. (ENT: "The Seventh")
Developing Archer's relationship with T'Pol in "The Seventh" was one of the main goals the ENT writing team had mind while they wrote that outing. "In the same way T'Pol is kind of Archer's mentor out there, sometimes it's nice to see him give her guidance when it comes to dealing with emotions," observed Brannon Braga. (Star Trek: Communicator issue 145, p. 25)
Archer opened up to T'Pol when his good friend and former rival, A.G. Robinson, died. T'Pol listened to Archer's story about the two of them and offered him a shoulder to lean on. (ENT: "First Flight")
Archer hugs T'Pol
In the end, it was T'Pol who was with Archer before he gave a speech at the signing of the Federation Charter. Overcome with emotion, T'Pol and Archer embraced before his speech. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Archer and T'Pol's embrace in "These Are the Voyages…" wasn't scripted.
Increased friction between Archer and T'Pol in 2152 lead Dr. Phlox, who also had a degree in psychiatry, to believe that Archer was sexually attracted to T'Pol but was frustrated; Archer believed a romantic relationship between him and his first officer would be inappropriate. Phlox believed that Archer's inordinate anger toward T'Pol's opinions on him and other unexpected behavior he exhibited stemmed from Archer subconsciously knowing that his attraction to her was inappropriate.
At first, Archer denied that there was any sexual attraction but after an erotic dream with T'Pol in it, he opened up to the doctor, wondering what to do. Phlox told him that simply being aware of it would be the best course of action, as talking to her about it would make matters worse. In a later discussion with T'Pol, Archer told her that he would like to minimize the friction between the two of them, a type of friction which could especially develop between people of the opposite sex.
Archer spoke to T'Pol, apologizing for the friction. T'Pol replied that she was also attracted to him, but pointed out that they were "not in a position to allow [themselves] to become attracted to one another." (ENT: "A Night in Sickbay")
In the alternate timeline in which Archer was afflicted with anterograde amnesia, T'Pol resigned the captaincy and spent twelve years caring for Archer on Ceti Alpha V. Over the years, she learned more about Archer while he continuously forgot everything past the day he became ill. It became apparent, however, that T'Pol had begun harboring romantic feelings for Archer. In 2165, a way had been found to eradicate the interspatial parasites that were preventing Archer from forming new memories. Phlox suggested to T'Pol that, if the treatment worked, everything between Archer and T'Pol might be different. (ENT: "Twilight")
Archer's relationship with T'Pol was originally detailed in the ENT series bible, at a time when T'Pol was planned to instead be named T'Pau. The document remarked, "Archer has mixed feelings about T'Pau; she embodies the arrogance and high-mindedness of the Vulcans who kept his father from realizing his dream of space exploration. But he also realizes that T'Pau is a more seasoned space traveller, and he often relies on her wisdom and experience; at times, he even enjoys her dry sense of humor. Archer and T'Pau will continue to butt heads regarding Humanity's new role in the 'intergalactic neighborhood', but they will also develop a long-lasting friendship that is rather unique for its day – the bond between Human and alien."
Thy'lek Shran[]
Thy'lek Shran
"Isn't that how alliances are born?"
Shran during his first encounter with Archer at P'Jem
Shortly after taking command of Enterprise, Archer encountered the Andorian Commander Thy'lek Shran. In their first confrontation, at the Vulcan monastery at P'Jem, Shran believed Archer's crew were there to help the Vulcans spy on the Andorians. While being kept hostage, Archer managed to contact Enterprise, which sent a rescue team. During a firefight inside the monastery's reliquary, one of the Vulcans accidentally destroyed a tapestry, which was covering the entrance to the Vulcans' listening post. Archer asked T'Pol to give Shran all the data she had collected, to which Shran said that he owed a debt to Archer. (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")
In 2152, Shran met with Enterprise crewmembers attempting to rescue Archer and T'Pol from the rebels on the planet Coridanite. He told them he had "lost sleep" over the fact that he owed a favor to Archer, and so wanted to help rescue him to write off his "debt". (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem")
Later that year, Shran insisted to Vulcan ambassador Soval that Archer be the mediator at talks between their two species, because on their previous encounters, Archer had been "objective". The Vulcans were initially annoyed at the request, due to their disdain with Humans, but eventually agreed, and the negotiations were completed successfully. (ENT: "Cease Fire")
In late 2153, Shran's ship, the Kumari, was dispatched to the Delphic Expanse to secure the prototype Xindi weapon, to use in their conflict with the Vulcans. Shran arrived in the Expanse and aided Enterprise, claiming (under false pretenses) that the Vulcans had only spared one officer to help Enterprise during their mission. The Kumari and Enterprise were able to effect a joint mission to steal the prototype, which was stored in the Kumari's cargo bay.
However, Shran then informed Archer of the Imperial Guard's plan, and gave Archer an escape pod so he could return to Enterprise. When encountering spatial anomalies, Enterprise caught up with the Kumari, and Archer told Shran that he would detonate the weapon in the Andorian ship's cargo bay if necessary. Shran thought he was bluffing, but Archer proceeded with his plan and, although jettisoned, the resulting explosion severely damaged the Kumari. Later, Shran covertly sent Archer invaluable information on the weapon. (ENT: "Proving Ground")
As the Xindi weapon approached Earth, the Kumari provided assistance, destroying Xindi Commander Dolim's ship, telling Archer that now the Human was in his debt. (ENT: "Zero Hour")
In 2154, Shran led a group of Andorian ships attempting to stop a Vulcan fleet launching a preemptive strike against them. As the Vulcans were ordered to destroy Enterprise, Shran went to their assistance again, claiming that Archer now owed him two favors. (ENT: "Kir'Shara")
The two met again in November 2154, when the Kumari was attacked and destroyed by a Romulan drone ship posing as a Tellarite cruiser. Shran was very bitter about the loss of his ship, and openly blamed the Tellarites. However the Romulan plot was eventually revealed by Archer, who was attempting to keep an already fragile alliance between the Andorians, Tellarites and the Vulcans. (ENT: "Babel One", "United", "The Aenar")
In 2158, Shran went into hiding. Three years later, he enlisted Archer's help in looking for his daughter, Talla, who had been abducted. The pair were able to initiate a rescue, with the help of the Enterprise's crew. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages... ")
Malcolm Reed[]
Reed and Archer in a tense moment in 2154
Early in Enterprise's mission, Archer took steps toward forging a relationship with his senior staff, including his armory officer, Malcolm Reed. During the first year of their voyage together, Archer and Hoshi Sato took great pains to learn more about Reed, even going so far as to contact members of his family to discover his likes and dislikes. While the effort culminated in a friendly birthday celebration for Reed, the relationship between Archer and Reed failed to develop substantially. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")
Archer, with Reed, after they survived a Romulan mine blast
It wasn't until a full year after the launch of Enterprise that Archer and Reed were able to plan a private breakfast in the captain's mess. While Reed mistook the meal for a more professional meeting, Archer was able to coax the armory officer into a personal, though somewhat awkward conversation. Speaking freely, Reed revealed that he felt Archer was too lax a commanding officer. These sentiments were later repeated when Archer chose to risk his own life in an attempt to save Reed when he became trapped on the hull of Enterprise during the Romulan minefield crisis. Though both men survived and some level of trust was achieved between Archer and Reed, a closer relationship failed to materialize and Reed continued to doubt Archer's resolve as an effective commander. (ENT: "Minefield", "Singularity")
In 2154, following the Xindi mission, Archer and Reed clashed when Reed's loyalty to Section 31 put him in direct conflict with Archer. Performing a minor act of sabotage against the investigation into the disappearance of Dr. Phlox, Reed was subsequently thrown into the brig. Though several heated conversations took place, Archer was able to get through to Reed and the mission ultimately proved successful. (ENT: "Affliction", "Divergence")
Phlox[]
Phlox reassures Archer in 2161
Archer initially met Dr. Phlox in San Francisco upon learning of the incident involving the Klingon Klaang in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Phlox was treating Klaang and saved his life; this impressed Archer, who recruited Phlox soon after to serve as chief medical officer aboard Enterprise. Phlox was one of only two aliens among the crew, and became one of its most valuable members. He became one of Archer's most trusted advisers and on many occasions, his counselor. Phlox also played devil's advocate for Archer. There were a few issues that they came into conflict over, but this only strengthened their friendship. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
Early in the mission, Archer and Phlox argued over a cure for an epidemic on the planet Valakis, whose population had two species, the Valakians and the Menk. Phlox discovered that the illness was genetic, and that the Menk were evolving and would become the dominant species, while the Valakians would become extinct. Archer wanted to give them a cure, but Phlox believed that it was not ethical, because such a cure would interfere with nature. Archer was eventually convinced that they had no right to play God, and gained a new respect for Phlox and his counsel. (ENT: "Dear Doctor")
Archer looked to Phlox for advice on how to deal with various races, since Phlox had experience in such matters. He sought advice on how to deal with the Klingon Bu'kaH, in order to persuade her to help with a rescue attempt. Archer was convinced by Phlox to apologize to the Kreetassans and avoided a diplomatic incident. He even told Phlox about his attraction to T'Pol. Phlox endeared himself to Archer when he saved Archer's dog, Porthos. (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs", "A Night in Sickbay")
Archer returned the favor when an Antaran refused to be treated by Phlox because the Denobulans and the Antarans were mortal enemies. He convinced Phlox to set aside his preconceptions, and attempt to persuade the Antaran to accept treatment. Phlox's attempts were successful, and the Antaran gave his consent. (ENT: "The Breach")
Phlox and Archer continued their friendship for the rest of Enterprise's mission, depending on each other for not only friendship, but counseling.
Hoshi Sato[]
Archer and Hoshi Sato work to diffuse the Axanar situation in 2151
A white-knuckled explorer from the beginning, communications officer Hoshi Sato was at first hesitant to reveal her misgivings to her captain. Not long after the discovery of a derelict Axanar vessel in 2151, Archer was able to coax Sato into describing her fears.
While Archer was sympathetic, he nevertheless expected Sato to perform her duties and placed confidence in her abilities in diffusing a situation involving an attacking Axanar vessel. Taking strides to overcome her difficulties, Sato later made it a point to volunteer for missions, offering to join T'Pol and Malcolm Reed on a severely damaged Klingon starship, and later opting to stay alone with the alien Tarquin for a short time in 2153. (ENT: "Fight or Flight", "Sleeping Dogs", "Exile")
Hoshi was Archer's choice for looking after Porthos before surrendering himself to the Cabal in 2152. (ENT: "Shockwave")
By the end of the Xindi mission, Sato had become one of Archer's most valued officers, ultimately aiding him in disarming the Xindi weapon despite having been injured by Xindi-Reptilians. (ENT: "Zero Hour")
A deleted scene from "The Expanse" dealt with the relationship between Archer and Sato. In dialogue that wasn't in the final edit of that scene but was in the episode's final draft script, Archer told her, "You've been invaluable to this mission… to me… ever since we left spacedock. You were a little shaky at first… but who wasn't?"
Maxwell Forrest[]
Admiral Maxwell Forrest was Archer's mentor and fully trusted him as a capable starship captain devoted to the mission. When the Vulcans, and in particular Ambassador Soval, objected to Archer returning Klaang back to Qo'noS, Forrest backed Archer up and gave him the Enterprise assignment, asking him to "[not] screw this up". After the success of the mission, he was so pleased that Enterprise got the green light to continue its mission of exploration and first contact. (ENT: "Broken Bow")
In 2154, when the Enterprise returned home from the Delphic Expanse, he forced Archer to apologize to Soval after an emotional outburst in debriefing, maintaining the respect Forrest had for Archer. (ENT: "Home")
He and Admiral Forrest remained close friends until the Admiral's death on Vulcan when the United Earth Embassy was bombed by what was assumed to be Syrrannite terrorists. (ENT: "The Forge")
In the final draft script of "First Flight", a scene description remarked about Archer's relationship with Forrest, prior to the former's posting aboard Enterprise, "We'll see there is a bit more formality between them – they aren't yet the good friends we know they'll become."
Regarding Archer's sorrow in the aftermath of Forrest's death, the script of "The Forge" noted, "Forrest was more than his commander and friend – Archer has lost another connection to his father."
Travis Mayweather[]
Archer comforts Travis Mayweather in the "sweet spot"
In many ways, Archer was a role model for his young helmsman, Travis Mayweather. Following the death of Mayweather's father in 2152, Archer personally comforted Mayweather, and granted him permission to visit his family aboard the ECS Horizon. (ENT: "Horizon")
During their time in the Delphic Expanse, Mayweather was one of the few officers to whom Archer opened up. As the Enterprise neared Azati Prime, Archer refused to allow Mayweather to go on what amounted to a suicide mission, choosing to go himself. He confided in Mayweather that he had asked for too many sacrifices already, opting to pay what Mayweather described as a penance. (ENT: "Azati Prime")
Danica Erickson[]
Danica and Jonathan met when they were both children as Jonathan's father, Henry was a good friend and co-worker with Danica's father, Emory. During this time, Archer would constantly chase Danica around her backyard with a plastic laser pistol. (ENT: "Daedalus")
Romances[]
T'Pol[]
Archer's dream that helps him realize he is sexually attracted to his first officer, T'Pol
In 2152, Archer took Porthos on a mission to get plasma injectors. During that visit to the Kreetassans homeworld, Porthos urinated on a sacred tree – offending the Kreetassans – and acquired a pathogen. While Porthos was sick, Archer realized – thanks to Phlox – that he was sexually attracted to his first officer. He knew that sexual attraction was inappropriate and Phlox coached him to be aware of it. He and T'Pol discussed it. (ENT: "A Night in Sickbay")
During the Xindi mission, Archer and T'Pol discussed Rosemary's Baby when Enterprise was hit by an anomaly. Archer saved T'Pol from the anomaly, but became infected with parasites that kept him from creating long-term memories. T'Pol was subsequently made Captain, but she resigned her commission to become Archer's caregiver. She fell in love with him. Archer's parasites were eventually removed, and when that happened, the years T'Pol was his caregiver never happened. It's unclear if their relationship had ever become romantic in this timeline, but she stated at one point that their relationship was much deeper than it had been previously. (ENT: "Twilight")
Margaret Mullin[]
In 2136, when Archer was 24 years old and in flight school in San Francisco, he met Margaret Mullin, with whom he became romantically involved. The night before he graduated, he asked her to marry him. Margaret turned him down as she did not want to become "a Starfleet widow." (ENT: "Twilight")
Caroline[]
Some time prior to 2143, Archer had a relationship with Caroline. When she moved to New Berlin, however, he decided to get drunk in the 602 Club. (ENT: "First Flight")
Erika Hernandez[]
Later in the 2140s, Archer was romantically involved with Hernandez. However, he discontinued the relationship when he became Erika's superior officer. In 2154, after Erika became captain of the Columbia NX-02, they briefly rekindled their romance. (ENT: "Home")
Riaan[]
Riaan and Archer
In 2151 Archer had a brief romantic relationship with Riaan, an Akaali female apothecary he met when they made first contact with their species. He introduced himself as "Jon" to her and told her he was from another city. When his translator malfunctioned and he was in danger of being exposed as an alien, Archer quickly kissed her to prevent her from asking questions. When later on they got to know each other better and came closer and he was about to leave the planet, he kissed her again while she joked that the translator must have malfunctioned again. (ENT: "Civilization")
A love interest of Archer's, Becky, was established in a scene from "The Expanse", though the scene (and therefore also the relationship) was ultimately deleted. Before the scene was cut, Scott Bakula commented that he believed Archer's relationship with Becky was an asset to the development of Archer and had potential. "All we've ever really heard about from Archer is his father. So here is an opportunity to say, 'Oh, he has a life' apart from Enterprise […] It's not like he's going to come back [from the Xindi mission] and marry this woman," Bakula remarked. "He has a very comfortable history with this lady and it could go a lot of ways." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 145, pp. 42 & 45)
Porthos[]
Porthos
Porthos was Archer's pet beagle – his "buddy" as he once called him – and he had him since he was six weeks old. Archer's girlfriend's mother had a beagle that he was particularly crazy about. Even after Archer and her daughter broke up, he stayed in touch with the mother. When the dog got pregnant, he was the first one she called. There were four males in the litter, the four Musketeers as they were called. (ENT: "A Night in Sickbay") Porthos lived with Archer on Earth in mid-2150 before moving to Enterprise in April 2151. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Shockwave")
On Enterprise, Porthos had a dog basket in Archer's quarters as well as a mat he could lie down on in the captain's ready room. Archer also kept a small supply of cheese in a cupboard, something he gave Porthos as a treat now and then, until he realized the "treat" was causing him mild gastrointestinal distress. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Dear Doctor")
Aware that Porthos needed to get off the ship from time to time, Archer occasionally allowed him to visit habitable planets and took him on certain away missions. It was on one such visit to the Kreetassan homeworld that Porthos picked up a deadly pathogen. Archer was incredibly upset that his "best friend" was at risk of death, and stayed at his side until Doctor Phlox could develop a cure. Porthos eventually made a full recovery. (ENT: "Fight or Flight", "A Night in Sickbay")
In 2153, Archer allowed Porthos to accompany Enterprise to the Delphic Expanse in search of the Xindi weapon to the objection of Commander Tucker who believed the Expanse may have unknown properties which could affect him. Early on during the Xindi mission, it became evident that Porthos could sense the anomalies present in the Expanse. He had attempted to alert Archer to one, however, the captain did not understand the warning until after the anomaly had passed through his desk. (ENT: "The Expanse", "Anomaly (ENT)")
Alternate realities and timelines[]
Archer in an alternate timeline
In 2153, an anomaly infected Archer's hippocampus with interspatial parasites, causing anterograde amnesia by impairing the synaptic pathways that allowed him to form new long-term memories. Though the crew tried to keep Archer up to date so he could function as captain, Starfleet Command eventually relieved him of command; he spent most of his time in his quarters. Earth was destroyed in 2154, but Archer remained on board until 2156, when Enterprise reached Ceti Alpha V. T'Pol took care of him for nine years (she apparently developed feelings for him as time went on, although Archer naturally could not reciprocate them, as he would never remember having done so the next morning). In 2165, Phlox arrived from Denobula with a cure. Destroying one of the clusters of parasites, Phlox and T'Pol discovered that destroying them now also destroyed their existence in the past as well, and realized that, by destroying the parasites in the present, they could completely change the outcome of Enterprise's original mission in the Delphic Expanse. As Enterprise was boarded by Xindi forces, Archer initiated a subspace implosion, eradicating the remaining parasites and thus preventing himself from ever having been infected in 2153. (ENT: "Twilight")
In the final draft script of "Twilight", the version of Archer from 2165 was described thus; "He looks about a decade older than the Jonathan Archer we know… there are a few lines around the eyes, and his temples have gone gray." He was additionally described as having "graying hair".
In 2154, Enterprise was flung to the year 2037 while en route to the Xindi Council planet. Archer decided that the ship would become a generation ship, and that the crew's descendants would be the ones to complete the ship's mission and stop the Xindi weapon. Archer eventually married an Ikaaran woman named Esilia. One of his descendants was Karyn Archer. (ENT: "E²")
In 2258 of the alternate reality created by Nero's attack on the USS Kelvin, Archer was still an admiral in Starfleet. Montgomery Scott attempted to prove his theories about transwarp beaming by beaming Admiral Archer's prized beagle. The dog was never seen again, and when Scott was transferred to a small, cold, and almost forgotten research outpost on Delta Vega, he believed that his blunder was the reason he ended up there. (Star Trek)
Archer's first name wasn't used on screen, but Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci confirmed that the Archer mentioned in Star Trek is a reference to Enterprise, [3] and later confirmed that it is, indeed, the same Jonathan Archer. [4] Jonathan Archer would be 145 in 2257, although it was never actually stated when Scotty used the dog.
Awards and honors[]
In 2154, several dozen North American schools were renamed for Jonathan Archer following the successful resolution of the Xindi crisis, including the former high school of Hernandez. (ENT: "Home")
In ultimately unused dialogue from the final draft script of "Home", Hernandez even referred to Archer as "the most recognized person on the planet," as of 2154.
Archer earned an impressive list of commendations during his career, including the Starfleet Medal of Valor with clusters, the Star Cross, the Preantares Ribbon of Commendation, and the Federation Citation of Honor. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", biographical display )
Listed among Starfleet's finest captains during the 2250s.
In the 23rd century, historian John Gill hailed Archer as "the greatest explorer of the 22nd century." (Biographical display in ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
In 2256, Archer was one of Starfleet's most decorated captains, ranked among other legends such as Robert April, Matt Decker, Philippa Georgiou, and Christopher Pike. (DIS: "Choose Your Pain")
Two planets were named for the former captain: Archer's Planet in the Gamma Trianguli sector, and Archer IV, the first M-class planet explored by Enterprise. (Biographical display in ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II") Archer's Comet was also named in his honor. (ENT: "Breaking the Ice")
There have been at least three Federation starships named the USS Archer, with the registry numbers NCC-627, NCC-44278, and NCC-76725, respectively. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds"; Star Trek Nemesis; PIC: "Võx") In 3190, Archer Spacedock was named in his honor when the Federation began retro-fitting their existing fleet in order to carry out Starfleet's original mission of exploration. (DIS: "Kobayashi Maru")
The biography's given dates of 2150 as the start of Archer's command of the Enterprise and 2160 as the end of his tenure appear to be incorrect. In the series finale, it was specifically stated that the ship had been out in space for ten years, and it is known from the start of the series that the ship was launched in 2151. However, it is possible that Archer assumed command of Enterprise in late 2150, which is corroborated in ENT: "First Flight", and that the NX-01 was officially decommissioned in late 2160 prior to the founding of the Federation. It is also just as likely that Archer took command of Enterprise before it was commissioned, meaning that the ten years of active service ended in 2161 but Archer would have been the commanding officer for eleven years total. (See External links below for stills of original production artwork.)
While the biography states that Archer was the only Human to have two planets named after him, this was put into perspective in another record from the same episode, as Zefram Cochrane was also said to have "planets" (i.e. at least two) named after him.
Memorable quotes[]
"Volatile? You have no idea how much I'm restraining myself from knocking you on your ass."
- - Archer, to T'Pol the first time he meets her (ENT: "Broken Bow")
"We can't be afraid of the wind, ensign."
- - Archer to Ensign Mayweather (ENT: "Broken Bow")
"Human beings have a code of behavior that applies whether they're Starfleet officers or space boomers, and it isn't driven by revenge. Just because someone isn't born on Earth doesn't make him any less Human."
- - Archer to Mayweather (ENT: "Fortunate Son")
"Someday … my people are going to come up with some sort of a doctrine, something that tells us what we can and can't do out here, should and shouldn't do. But until somebody tells me that they've drafted that directive … I'm going to have to remind myself every day … that we didn't come out here to play God."
- - Archer, foreshadowing the Prime Directive (ENT: "Dear Doctor")
"Once you give up, the game's over."
"An old girlfriend's mother had … this beagle I was crazy about. Even after her daughter and I broke up, we stayed in touch. When the dog got pregnant, I was the first one she called. Four males in the litter – the Four Musketeers. I've had Porthos since he was six weeks old."
- - Archer, about his "best friend" Porthos (ENT: "A Night in Sickbay")
"I don't like bullies, Trip. Not on Earth, and not out here."
"I need what was taken from me. There's too much at stake to let my morality get in the way."
- - Archer to Orgoth (ENT: "Anomaly (ENT)")
"I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to find your ship. And if that ends up causing me remorse, then it's something I'm willing to live with."
- - Archer to Orgoth (ENT: "Anomaly (ENT)")
"We'll find a way through this. But I won't leave anyone behind, not if I can help it. I can't try to save Humanity without holding on to what makes me Human."
"I need Trip. Trip. I'll take whatever steps necessary to save him."
"Even if it means killing me?"
"Even if it means killing you!"
"You're not a murderer."
"Don't make me one."
- - Archer and Sim (ENT: "Similitude")
"You did the right thing."
"It seems the longer we're out here, the more I have to keep telling myself that."
"We're in bad shape – I can't deny that, but we're still in one piece. Enterprise is a tough ship. She took more than anyone could ask her to and then some. And so have all of you. I wanted to say thank you. I only wish I could thank the eighteen crewmen who were lost. Like you, they understood how important our mission is, and they accepted the risks. We came into the Expanse not knowing what we'd find, with no one to rely on but ourselves. We're going to succeed – to accomplish our mission – for everyone on Earth who's relying on us, and for the eighteen."
- - Captain Archer, to the assembled crew of Enterprise (ENT: "The Forgotten")
"You've changed, captain."
"And not at all for the better!"
- - Silik and Archer (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
"I've been told that people are calling us heroes. When it comes to my crew, you won't get any argument from me. But I think it's important that we remember the heroes who aren't with us – the twenty-seven crewmen who didn't make it back. Without their sacrifice, I wouldn't be standing here right now. None of us would. But I'm sure I speak on behalf of my entire crew when I say … it's good to be home."
"Up until about a hundred years ago … there was one question that burned in every Human – that made us study the stars and dream of traveling to them: "Are we alone?" Our generation is privileged to know the answer to that question. We are all explorers, driven to know what's over the horizon, what's beyond our own shores. And yet … the more I've experienced, the more I've learned … that no matter how far we travel, or how fast we get there … the most profound discoveries are not necessarily beyond that next star. They're within us – woven into the threads that bind us – all of us – to each other. The final frontier begins in this hall. Let's explore it together."
- - Archer, speaking to alien delegates (ENT: "Terra Prime")
"Here's to the next generation."
- - Archer, proposing a toast to the future (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
"Just beyond the next planet, just beyond the next star …"
- - Archer to T'Pol (a nod to Kirk's final words borrowed from "Peter Pan" in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Key dates[]
Archer performing a Vulcan salute
- 2112: Born in Upstate New York on Earth to Henry and Sally Archer
- 2124: Henry Archer dies of Clarke's Disease
- 2143: Along with A.G. Robinson, becomes the first Human to achieve warp 2.5
- 2150: Becomes commanding officer of the starship Enterprise NX-01
- 2151: Enterprise launches
- Becomes one of the first Humans to set foot on Qo'noS
- Makes first contact with the Suliban
- Makes first contact with the Xyrillians
- Makes first contact with the Andorians
- Initiates first Human-initiated first contact with a sentient species, the Akaali
- Makes first contact with the Kreetassans
- 2152: Begins second year of deep space exploration, commanding Enterprise
- Orders Enterprise to exceed Warp 5 for the first time.
- Travels to the 31st century and learns he will become an important part of the formation of the United Federation of Planets
- Makes First contact with the Arkonians
- Makes first contact with the Tholians
- Put on trial on Narendra III by the Klingons
- Makes first contact with the Tellarites
- 2153: Given the mission to destroy the Xindi weapon
- Transformed into a Loque'eque
- Travels back in time to the year 2004
- 2154: Completes the mission in the Delphic Expanse by destroying the Xindi weapon
- Travels to the mid-20th century
- Holds the katra of Surak for a short time
- Makes first contact with the Organians
- Transformed into a Klingon hybrid
- 2155: Attends the opening ceremony of the Coalition of Planets
- 2161: Final year commanding Enterprise
- Helps rescue the daughter of Shran
- Signs the Federation Charter
- 2169: Becomes Federation Ambassador to Andoria
- 2175: Serves as Federation Councilor
- 2184: Is elected Federation President
- 2192: Steps down as Federation President
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Appendices[]
Appearances[]
- ENT:
- "Broken Bow"
- "Fight or Flight"
- "Strange New World"
- "Unexpected"
- "Terra Nova"
- "The Andorian Incident"
- "Breaking the Ice"
- "Civilization"
- "Fortunate Son"
- "Cold Front"
- "Silent Enemy"
- "Dear Doctor"
- "Sleeping Dogs"
- "Shadows of P'Jem"
- "Shuttlepod One"
- "Fusion"
- "Rogue Planet"
- "Acquisition"
- "Oasis"
- "Detained"
- "Vox Sola"
- "Fallen Hero"
- "Desert Crossing"
- "Two Days and Two Nights"
- "Shockwave"
- "Shockwave, Part II"
- "Carbon Creek"
- "Minefield"
- "Dead Stop"
- "A Night in Sickbay"
- "Marauders"
- "The Seventh"
- "The Communicator"
- "Singularity"
- "Vanishing Point"
- "Precious Cargo"
- "The Catwalk"
- "Dawn"
- "Stigma"
- "Cease Fire"
- "Future Tense"
- "Canamar"
- "The Crossing"
- "Judgment"
- "Horizon"
- "The Breach"
- "Cogenitor"
- "Regeneration"
- "First Flight"
- "Bounty"
- "The Expanse"
- "The Xindi"
- "Anomaly (ENT)"
- "Extinction"
- "Rajiin"
- "Impulse"
- "Exile"
- "The Shipment"
- "Twilight"
- "North Star"
- "Similitude"
- "Carpenter Street"
- "Chosen Realm"
- "Proving Ground"
- "Stratagem"
- "Harbinger"
- "Doctor's Orders"
- "Hatchery"
- "Azati Prime"
- "Damage"
- "The Forgotten"
- "E²"
- "The Council"
- "Countdown"
- "Zero Hour"
- "Storm Front"
- "Storm Front, Part II"
- "Home"
- "Borderland"
- "Cold Station 12"
- "The Augments"
- "The Forge"
- "Awakening"
- "Kir'Shara"
- "Daedalus"
- "Observer Effect"
- "Babel One"
- "United"
- "The Aenar"
- "Affliction"
- "Divergence"
- "Bound"
- "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II" (file photo and hallucination only)
- "Demons"
- "Terra Prime"
- "These Are the Voyages..." (hologram)
Background information[]
Jonathan Archer was played by Scott Bakula in all episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise set in the prime universe and the 22nd century, with the only non-appearance of the prime Archer being "In a Mirror, Darkly", which still include Bakula playing a version of the character. Prior to playing Archer, Bakula never considered that he might like to play a captain in Star Trek. (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 36) The young version of Archer in "Broken Bow" was portrayed by Marty Davis.
The character of Captain Archer was initially conceived by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. They originally imagined the character as "a captain who was an adventurer and who was lighthearted," said Berman. "A little bit of Captain Kirk and a little bit of Chuck Yeager." (Broken Bow, paperback ed., p. 248) Braga noted, "We knew we wanted our captain to be a down-to-earth, Harrison Ford kind of guy." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, p. 21)
Archer's first name was originally to have been "Jackson". (Cinefantastique, Vol. 33, No. 5, p. 21) He was to have been called "Jack" colloquially. [5] While having the first name "Jackson", a character description of Captain Archer was written in the ENT series bible. It described him as "Early 40's. Physical. Intensely curious. Born and raised an explorer by his father, an engineer who worked on the warp 5 project. Unlike the Captains in centuries to come, Archer exhibits a sense of wonder and excitement, as well as a little trepidation about the strange things he will encounter. He holds a grudge against the Vulcans, who he blames for impeding Humanity's progress. But his Science Officer is Vulcan, and he's struggling to reconsider those preconceptions. Although he has a strong sense of duty, he's a bit of a renegade – he's not afraid to question orders or even disobey them, if he feels in his gut that he's right. Archer was there when the first girders on the Enterprise were put into place. And when the Vulcans tried to suspend the maiden launch after the Broken Bow Incident, claiming Humans weren't ready for interstellar travel, Archer helped persuade Starfleet to press on […] The Kirks and Picards and Janeways will one day have the benefit of the Captains who preceded them. But Jackson Archer is the prototype. He's making history with every light year. Because he knows his Captain's Logs will be studied for years to come, he keeps especially detailed reports."
While Archer was still planned to have the first name "Jackson", a character breakdown sheet sent from Paramount to talent agents, upon seeking an actor to play the role, described the character thus; "Early 40s. Physical. Bold personality. Intensely curious. Born and raised an explorer. Unlike the Starfleet captains in centuries to come, he exhibits a sense of wonder and excitement, as well as a little trepidation about the strange things he will encounter. He holds a grudge against the Vulcans, who he blames for impeding Humanity's progress. But his science officer is Vulcan, and he's struggling to reconsider those preconceptions. Although he has a strong sense of duty, he's a bit of a renegade – he's not afraid to question orders or even disobey them if he feels in his gut that he's right." [6]
Rick Berman and Brannon Braga definitely had a certain type of actor in mind for the role of Archer. Berman explained, "We were looking for a little Han Solo quality. We were looking for a little boyishness. We were looking for somebody who had a sense of excitement and awe and was his own man, someone who was young and fit, someone who embodied those heroic qualities that haven't really existed since Captain Kirk." (Broken Bow, paperback ed., p. 254) Berman commented further, "We sort of thought of a Han Solo type, a younger Harrison Ford. Somebody with a sense of humor, and somebody who […] was very Human and very accessible." ("Broken Bow" audio commentary, ENT Season 1 DVD/Blu-ray)
Archer's first name was eventually switched to "Jonathan". This was because research turned up exactly one person in the United States of America with the name of "Jackson Archer". (Cinefantastique, Vol. 33, No. 5, p. 21) The change was listed as one of six revisions of character names in a one-page "script note" at the start of the final draft script of "Broken Bow" (the page was dated 1 May 2001).
The revised final draft script for "Broken Bow" established that Archer was nine years old in the very first scene of Enterprise, set in 2121, and thirty-nine in 2151. [7] However, a "Behind the Scenes of Enterprise" section in the novelization of Broken Bow (paperback ed., p. 251) states that he was created as "a man in his mid-forties." When the adult version of Archer was introduced in the script, the teleplay quoted a section from the series bible and character breakdown, stating, "Unlike the Starfleet Captains in centuries to come, he exhibits a sense of wonder and excitement." [8]
British actor Simon MacCorkindale claimed he was offered the role of Captain Archer, but turned it down. [9] Brannon Braga, however, once stated that Scott Bakula was the only actor seriously considered to play Archer. ("Broken Bow" audio commentary, ENT Season 1 Blu-ray) Rick Berman reminisced about the option of casting Bakula, "When his name was brought up to us by the studio, we jumped for it." (Broken Bow, paperback ed., p. 254) Braga noted, "Scott Bakula was an actor who was pretty much the actor who we had in mind all along for the role […] We actually had a meeting with Scott, to discuss the […] character, and he just seemed so perfect. He seemed like he really was Jonathan Archer. He was not your typical spit-and-polish captain. He was more of an everyday guy, with some extraordinary abilities, who… was perfect. And people kinda knew […] Scott Bakula, so you felt like you kinda knew the guy already. So, in every regard, Scott was just perfect in the role." Berman believed the phrase "a very intelligent and very gracious man" could be applied to both Archer and Bakula. ("Broken Bow" audio commentary, ENT Season 1 DVD/Blu-ray) Shortly after Bakula was cast, Berman enthused, ""Scott personifies the charm and intelligence that the role calls for." [10] When first asked to play Captain Archer, though, Bakula was uninterested in the offer. "I may have even said, 'I'm not interested in, you know, the next captain [after Janeway].'" When Bakula was informed he would be playing "the first captain," about 100 years before Kirk, Bakula accepted the part. (The Captains) "They had him pretty much on the page when I got the pilot script," Bakula reflected. "It was exciting to read him because he's a lot like Kirk: very emotional and very given to being angry, and, sometimes, acting before he thinks. I thought that was a great way to go, and I thought it would be an exciting kind of character to create." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, p. 14) Berman reminisced, "When we found out that Scott was interested, it was very exciting for all of us." ("Broken Bow" audio commentary, ENT Season 1 DVD/Blu-ray) The fact that the role of Captain Archer went to Bakula partly made him the most widely known actor to be hired to play the lead role of a captain in a Star Trek series. "As a recognized actor he brings a little validity to the show," Berman remarked. "It doesn't hurt to have someone who is recognizable […] I cannot think of a single soul I would rather have playing that role." (Broken Bow, paperback ed., pp. 253-254) Bakula was forty-six when he began appearing as Archer.
The call sheets throughout Star Trek: Enterprise consistently omitted Scott Bakula's name, referring to him as "Archer", whereas the other key cast members were actually referred to by their own names on those same call sheets.
Scott Bakula found the ENT producers allowed him "a fair amount of input" in shaping the persona of Jonathan Archer. (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, p. 14) "We didn't realize how likeable and down-to-earth Scott would be," Brannon Braga divulged, shortly after ENT Season 1 began, "so we're giving him more moments that are a little bit more laid back." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, p. 22)
Following the casting of Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer, Brannon Braga observed about the captain, "He's a bit of a Davy Crockett-type character in that he's got the flair for frontier diplomacy, but there are no protocols." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, p. 16)
Brannon Braga and Rick Berman wanted Archer's command style to initially be indecisive (such as in the second installment of ENT, "Fight or Flight"). "That [indecisiveness] was planned," remarked Braga, following the first season. "We wanted a captain who was gung-ho to get out there and explore, and then realizes the galaxy's not quite what he expected […] You could say he's indecisive, but to me, that's part of the fun. We want to see him frustrated. Gradually he does start to get his space legs. But that's something you want to see depicted, because it's good character drama." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 139, p. 23)
Archer was altered for the third season, as a reaction to Earth being threatened by the Xindi. "We set up a harder-edged Archer, who's willing to kill or torture a man if he has to. It's a loss of innocence," Braga explained. "Archer went out into space wide-eyed and all-embracing. And here he is now, realizing that maybe the Vulcans were right – maybe we weren't ready […] He has to take a different view of what it's like to be out there on a ship. It's no longer about exploring. It's about saving his people. So there's definitely a corruption of his character." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 151, p. 28) The change in Archer's personality was noted in the final draft script of "Chosen Realm", with a scene description referring to Archer as having "judicious caution borne of time spent in the Expanse."
Archer's hairstyle changed, during the course of the series, from a classic comb-over to a shorter, straight-banged haircut that he ended up sporting by the conclusion of the show's third season. Between production of that season and the fourth one, Hair Designer Michael Moore commented, "The short hair on him was a good move. When we first started, they went with the traditional cut kind of longer, part to the side and all. It kind of morphed into what it is now. We just blow it dry really quickly with a little product in there to give it a little texture so it doesn't lay down flat or anything. That's the extent of his look – pretty no-nonsense." (Star Trek: Communicator issue 152, p. 30)
In the final draft script of ENT's penultimate episode, "Terra Prime", Archer was regarded as "the man who summoned the future."
In November 2012, Brannon Braga stated on his Twitter account that the show's fifth season would have revealed the mysterious Humanoid Figure (aka Future Guy) in the Temporal Cold War to be Jonathan Archer, "trying to correct history." [11]
Reception[]
Some fans were at first hopeful that, due to the retro approach of Enterprise, Archer would be very similar to Kirk. When it was revealed that Archer was to originally be depicted as indecisive, however, some of those fans were initially unsure what to make of the new captain. (Star Trek: Communicator issue 139, p. 23)
Paramount was initially noncomittal to confirm repeated claims that Scott Bakula had been cast as Jonathan Archer. On 25 April 2001, Daily Variety reported, "Meanwhile, Paramount Network TV declined comment on ongoing reports that Scott Bakula has been tapped to lead the next Star Trek series, subtitled Enterprise." [12] However, by the time filming was actually about to start, there was a formal announcement that Bakula had indeed been selected; with filming set to begin on the following Monday, a Daily Variety report on Friday 11 May 2001 declared, "The Enterprise has a new captain: After weeks of negotiations, Scott Bakula is officially on board the next Star Trek series." [13]
Early in the run of Star Trek: Enterprise, Malcolm Reed actor Dominic Keating remarked, "The fact that they've got Scott Bakula as the captain is just terrific." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, p. 26) At about the same time in the making of the series, Maxwell Forrest actor and veteran Star Trek performer Vaughn Armstrong referred to Bakula as having "a volatile undercurrent that will make his character pretty exciting." (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, p. 47)
UPN, the network that aired Enterprise, did not share the enthusiasm of Keating and Armstrong, however, as they were of an opinion that Bakula's performance was one of the reasons for the poor performance of the series; Brannon Braga has revealed that, by the end of Season 3, UPN had decreed that if the series was to be renewed for a fourth season – the network actually already of a mind not to do so – a necessary step would be ridding the series of Bakula (who was, in effect, already looking for a new job, as he too was led to believe that Enterprise would not be renewed). Rick Berman fought UPN's decree tooth and nail, successfully as it turned out. That the series was renewed for a last season, and thus allowed for an encore of Jonathan Archer, was in no small part due to the fact that strong backing was received from an unexpected corner, as Bakula has unequivocally cited Garry Hart – a former UPN head and Star Trek supporter, who had just been promoted to another position within the conglomerate – as the driving force behind the renewal, thereby thwarting the cancellation intents of the person or people who succeeded him at UPN. ("Before Her Time: Decommissioning Enterprise", ENT Season 4 Blu-ray special features)
In 2003, Mark Jones and Lance Parkin, writers of the review reference book Beyond the Final Frontier (p. 357), commented about Archer therein, "Scott Bakula often appears surprisingly stiff, given the warmth, intelligence and humour he demonstrated on Quantum Leap – you get the sense he's not being given the freedom and creative control he had on that show. However, even on low power, he dominates the show."
Apocrypha[]
The novel Beneath the Raptor's Wing gives Archer's middle name as "Beckett", a nod to Sam Beckett (also portrayed by Scott Bakula) in Quantum Leap.
In the Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel, A Less Perfect Union, John Frederick Paxton destroys Starfleet Command and ends the talks for the Coalition of Planets. Archer continues to work toward creating a political alliance between Vulcan, Andoria, Tellar, and other worlds, with the belief Earth would eventually join as well. His actions are opposed by the Isolationist Party, who has taken control of the Parliament and recalls him for court martial. In this novel, he also performs the marriage between Trip Tucker and T'Pol. He also married Erika Hernandez sometime prior to 2199 and died sometime after 2244.
At the very end of the novelization of Star Trek, "Archer's prized beagle" rematerialized on the Enterprise transporter pads, moments before the ship jumped to warp on its new voyage. A similar scene is depicted at the end of IDW's "The Truth About Tribbles, Part 2", but in this version, the beagle rematerializes months after the events of the film rather than during it and occurs as a result of various attempts at continued experimentation with Transwarp by Montgomery Scott in his desire to save the beagle.
External links[]
- Jonathan Archer at Wikipedia
- Jonathan Archer at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Jonathan Archer at the Star Trek Online Wiki