# Star Trek: Enterprise season 3

The third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise commenced airing on UPN in the United States on September 10, 2003 and concluded on May 26, 2004 after 24 episodes. Set in the 22nd century, the series follows the adventures of the first Starfleet starship Enterprise, registration NX-01, and its crew.
Starting with the third episode of this season, producers added Star Trek to the name of the show, previously the series was known simply as Enterprise. The opening theme was also changed for a more instrumental version.
With UPN seeking to attract a wider audience for the show, this season the writers pivoted from the stand-alone episodes Star Trek had been known for, to a single, serialized storyline: the crew's mission to prevent the Earth being destroyed by a newly introduced alien species, the Xindi. Episodes focus on action-driven plots and a military assault team is stationed aboard as the crew faces more combat during missions away from Enterprise.

## Plot overview

The third season embraces a heavily serialized format initially dedicated to the search for a Xindi superweapon. It focuses on the Enterprise NX-01's mission to prevent a second, more powerful Xindi attack from destroying Earth. It also explores and develops the early encounters between Humans, Vulcans and Andorians. Additionally, main characters such as Captain Archer, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T'Pol receive considerable development.

## Cast
### Main cast

* Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer
* Jolene Blalock as Sub-Commander T'Pol
* Connor Trinneer as Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III
* Dominic Keating as Lieutenant Malcolm Reed
* Linda Park as Ensign Hoshi Sato
* Anthony Montgomery as Ensign Travis Mayweather
* John Billingsley as Doctor Phlox

### Recurring cast

* Rick Worthy as Jannar (10 episodes)
* Randy Oglesby as Degra (10 episodes)
* Scott MacDonald as Commander Dolim (8 episodes)
* Tucker Smallwood as Xindi-Primate Councilor (9 episodes)
* Steven Culp as Major Hayes (5 episodes)
* Sean McGowan as Corporal Hawkins (4 episodes)
* Matt Winston as Temporal Agent Daniels (3 episodes)
* Daniel Dae Kim as Corporal Chang (3 episodes)
* Jeffrey Combs as Commander Shran (2 episodes)
* Gary Graham as Ambassador Soval (1 episode)
* Molly Brink as Lieutenant Talas (1 episode)

## Episodes

In the following table, episodes are listed by the order in which they aired.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Date | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 53 | 1 | "The Xindi" | Unknown | Allan Kroeker | Rick Berman & Brannon Braga | September 10, 2003 (2003-09-10) | 40358-053 | 4.07 |
| Captain Archer and Lieutenant Reed visit a mining facility in order to track down a Xindi. |||||||||
| 54 | 2 | "Anomaly" | Unknown | David Straiton | Mike Sussman | September 17, 2003 (2003-09-17) | 40358-054 | 4.29 |
| The crew of Enterprise encounters the rigours of the Delphic Expanse first-hand, and deal with pirates operating from a giant cloaked alien sphere. |||||||||
| 55 | 3 | "Extinction" | Unknown | LeVar Burton | André Bormanis | September 24, 2003 (2003-09-24) | 40358-055 | 4.00 |
| While pursuing the Xindi, three crew members are exposed to an alien virus and begin to mutate into Loque'eque, a long-dead alien race. |||||||||
| 56 | 4 | "Rajiin" | Unknown | Mike Vejar | S : Paul Brown T : Chris Black S/T : Brent V. Friedman | October 1, 2003 (2003-10-01) | 40358-056 | 4.51 |
| A slave girl Archer rescues from an alien bazaar seeks refuge aboard Enterprise but betrays the crew instead. |||||||||
| 57 | 5 | "Impulse" | Unknown | David Livingston | S : Terry Matalas S/T : Jonathan Fernandez | October 8, 2003 (2003-10-08) | 40358-057 | 4.17 |
| Enterprise encounters a Vulcan ship whose crew has become unstable due to Trellium-D exposure. Sub-Commander T'Pol soon begins to exhibit the same symptoms. |||||||||
| 58 | 6 | "Exile" | Unknown | Roxann Dawson | Phyllis Strong | October 15, 2003 (2003-10-15) | 40358-058 | 3.46 |
| A Beauty and the Beast-like tale involving Ensign Sato encountering a potentially helpful telepath on a deserted world. |||||||||
| 59 | 7 | "The Shipment" | Unknown | David Straiton | Chris Black & Brent V. Friedman | October 29, 2003 (2003-10-29) | 40358-059 | 3.70 |
| Captain Archer learns of kemocite, a key element in a new weapon being built to destroy Earth, and seeks to follow its supply to the superweapon. |||||||||
| 60 | 8 | "Twilight" | Unknown | Robert Duncan McNeill | Mike Sussman | November 5, 2003 (2003-11-05) | 40358-060 | 4.06 |
| A parasite causes Captain Archer to lose his short-term memory, and he (with the help of T'Pol and Doctor Phlox) seeks a way to change the past. |||||||||
| 61 | 9 | "North Star" | Unknown | David Straiton | David A. Goodman | November 12, 2003 (2003-11-12) | 40358-061 | 3.88 |
| Investigating a planet found to be inhabited by humans, the crew find a town resembling the American "Old West". |||||||||
| 62 | 10 | "Similitude" | Unknown | LeVar Burton | Manny Coto | November 19, 2003 (2003-11-19) | 40358-062 | 4.59 |
| Commander Tucker becomes comatose after an accident, and a rapid-growing clone is created for the purpose of harvesting brain tissue. |||||||||
| 63 | 11 | "Carpenter Street" | Unknown | Mike Vejar | Rick Berman & Brannon Braga | November 26, 2003 (2003-11-26) | 40358-063 | 3.71 |
| With the help of Temporal Agent Daniels, Captain Archer and Sub-Commander T'Pol go back to 2004 Detroit to stop a group of Reptilians from developing a biological weapon. |||||||||
| 64 | 12 | "Chosen Realm" | Unknown | Roxann Dawson | Manny Coto | January 14, 2004 (2004-01-14) | 40358-064 | 3.93 |
| Religious zealots seek to execute Captain Archer, for supposed acts of sphere desecration, after hijacking Enterprise. |||||||||
| 65 | 13 | "Proving Ground" | December 6, 2153 (2153-12-06) | David Livingston | Chris Black | January 21, 2004 (2004-01-21) | 40358-065 | 3.44 |
| Xindi scientists test their new, planet-killing weapon in an asteroid field as Captain Archer is suddenly assisted by Andorians in the Delphic Expanse. |||||||||
| 66 | 14 | "Stratagem" | December 12, 2153 (2153-12-12) | Mike Vejar | S : Terry Matalas T : Mike Sussman | February 4, 2004 (2004-02-04) | 40358-066 | 4.07 |
| A Xindi scientist, Degra, is tricked into giving Captain Archer information about the location of the new superweapon. |||||||||
| 67 | 15 | "Harbinger" | December 27, 2153 (2153-12-27) | David Livingston | S : Rick Berman & Brannon Braga T : Manny Coto | February 11, 2004 (2004-02-11) | 40358-067 | 3.95 |
| Enterprise encounters a dying alien, one of the Sphere Builders, for the first time. |||||||||
| 68 | 16 | "Doctor's Orders" | Unknown | Roxann Dawson | Chris Black | February 18, 2004 (2004-02-18) | 40358-068 | 3.73 |
| As Enterprise passes through a "trans-dimensional disturbance," the crew is put into hibernation, leaving Doctor Phlox in control of the ship. |||||||||
| 69 | 17 | "Hatchery" | January 8, 2154 (2154-01-08) | Michael Grossman | S : Mike Sussman S/T : André Bormanis | February 25, 2004 (2004-02-25) | 40358-069 | 3.52 |
| Captain Archer becomes overly protective of an Insectoid hatchery, to the point of endangering their mission. |||||||||
| 70 | 18 | "Azati Prime" | Unknown | Allan Kroeker | S : Rick Berman, Brannon Braga S/T : Manny Coto | March 3, 2004 (2004-03-03) | 40358-070 | 3.78 |
| Finding the superweapon on Azati Prime, Captain Archer embarks on a suicide mission to destroy it, and Enterprise suffers a devastating attack by the Xindi. |||||||||
| 71 | 19 | "Damage" | Unknown | James L. Conway | Phyllis Strong | April 21, 2004 (2004-04-21) | 40358-071 | 2.86 |
| Enterprise, now heavily damaged, seeks a warp coil from an alien vessel but is forced to steal it. |||||||||
| 72 | 20 | "The Forgotten" | Unknown | LeVar Burton | Chris Black & David A. Goodman | April 28, 2004 (2004-04-28) | 40358-072 | 3.35 |
| Captain Archer deals with the loss of 18 crew members and continues negotiations with two of the five Xindi species. |||||||||
| 73 | 21 | "E²" | Unknown | Roxann Dawson | Mike Sussman | May 5, 2004 (2004-05-05) | 40358-073 | 3.25 |
| The Enterprise crew meet their own descendants from an alternate timeline in the past. |||||||||
| 74 | 22 | "The Council" | February 12, 2154 (2154-02-12) | David Livingston | Manny Coto | May 12, 2004 (2004-05-12) | 40358-074 | 3.41 |
| Captain Archer speaks at the Xindi Council, sparking a civil war for control of the superweapon. |||||||||
| 75 | 23 | "Countdown" | February 13, 2154 (2154-02-13) | Robert Duncan McNeill | André Bormanis & Chris Black | May 19, 2004 (2004-05-19) | 40358-075 | 3.46 |
| Captain Archer seeks the support of the Aquatics in order to tip the war in their favor. |||||||||
| 76 | 24 | "Zero Hour" | February 14, 2154 (2154-02-14) | Allan Kroeker | Rick Berman & Brannon Braga | May 26, 2004 (2004-05-26) | 40358-076 | 3.91 |
| The final showdown with the Reptilians and their Guardian allies occurs. |||||||||

## Production

Season 3 was the first to use a single story arc for an entire season and is only one of two seasons (of every Star Trek series) not to feature a Klingon character, the other being the first season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The season was cut from 26 to 24 episodes by Paramount, following some disappointing early ratings. In an attempt at boosting ratings, the series title was changed to Star Trek: Enterprise after "Extinction" (earlier episodes released later on DVD were updated to reflect this change) and the theme music was made more upbeat.
The series had been filmed in High Definition from the pilot episode, but the sixth episode, "Exile", was the first episode to be broadcast in HD.

## Broadcast

| Season | Timeslot | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
| 3rd | | September 10, 2003 | May 26, 2004 | 2003–2004 | 178 | 3.26 |

## Media information

Season three was also included in a complete set containing all four seasons of the series.
Star Trek: Enterprise – Season 3 :
| Set details | Set details | Special features | Special features |
| 24 episodes 6-disc set 1:85:1 aspect ratio Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, English for the hearing impaired, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Surround), French, German, Italian and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) | 24 episodes 6-disc set 1:85:1 aspect ratio Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, English for the hearing impaired, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Surround), French, German, Italian and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) | DVD and Blu-ray: The Xindi Saga Begins Enterprise Moments: Season 3 Enterprise Profile: Connor Trinneer A Day in the Life of a Director: Roxanne Dawson Outtakes Behind the Camera: Marvin Rush (exclusive to North America BestBuy boxset) Audio Commentary: "North Star" and "Similitude" Text Commentary: "The Xindi", "Impulse" and "Countdown" Deleted scenes: "Similitude ", "Chosen Realm" and "E2". Blu-Ray: In a Time of War: Call to Arms, Front Lines, Final Conflict Temporal Cold War: Declassified | DVD and Blu-ray: The Xindi Saga Begins Enterprise Moments: Season 3 Enterprise Profile: Connor Trinneer A Day in the Life of a Director: Roxanne Dawson Outtakes Behind the Camera: Marvin Rush (exclusive to North America BestBuy boxset) Audio Commentary: "North Star" and "Similitude" Text Commentary: "The Xindi", "Impulse" and "Countdown" Deleted scenes: "Similitude ", "Chosen Realm" and "E2". Blu-Ray: In a Time of War: Call to Arms, Front Lines, Final Conflict Temporal Cold War: Declassified |
| Release dates ||||
| DVD | DVD | Blu-ray | Blu-ray |
| Region 1 | Region 2 | United States (Region free) | United Kingdom (Region free) |
| September 27, 2005 (2005-09-27) | September 5, 2005 (2005-09-05) | January 7, 2014 (2014-01-07) | January 27, 2014 (2014-01-27) |

## Reception

Enterprise's long-term ratings decline, which it had been suffering through its entire run, continued in Season 3, which featured both the show's last episode to be seen by more than four million people ("Stratagem"), and the first to be seen by fewer than three million ("Damage").
In 2019, CBR rated Season 3 of Star Trek: Enterprise as the seventh best season of all Star Trek seasons up to that time.
In 2022, Dominic Keating said he liked the original theme music, but disliked the revised version used in Season 3.