I've just finished watching through season one of Enterprise, and thought this would be a good time to stop and discuss the various crew members. They've been through a lot over the last year, from tensions with the Vulcans and time traveling exploits, to having their ship ransacked by a group of weird looking aliens with really big ears (I wonder if we'll ever see them again ;). Through it all, their character, both individually and as a crew has gotten them through it all. This crew is determined to see what's "just beyond the next star" and isn't letting anything stand in their way.
Captain Jonathan Archer: Captain Archer is an explorer first and foremost. Ever since he was a child, he would read astronomy books and dream of traveling to the stars. His father is responsible for the Warp 5 engine that powers enterprise, however he didn't live long enough to see it fly. Jonathan blames the Vulcans for this, and it has been a year of fighting grudges and misconceptions for him. He's still somewhat distrustful of Vulcans, but has learned that they're not all bad, due in part to his growing friendship and professional relationship with T'Pol. His "best friend" in the crew is Trip, whom he appears to have known prior to Enterprise's launch. Archer has also made a tentative friend in Shran, and Andorian whom he inadvertently helped at P'Jem, and who feels he now owes Archer a favor. Captain Archer maintains an open mind, even when it comes to seemingly outlandish ideas such as time travel.
Sub-Commander T'Pol: Second in command of Enterprise, T'Pol was originally assigned as an observer. Apparently the Vulcans didn't want humans out in deep space without a "chaperon". Her character has evolved significantly over the past year. Much like Archer and his distrust of Vulcans, T'Pol has had to reevaluate some of her preconceptions about humans. So much so, that she stands up to the Vulcan High Command when they recommend that Enterprise be recalled. Not everyone on the ship appreciates her the way that Archer has begun to, but they are coming around. The crew doesn't seem to have too much trouble following her orders in event where the Captain is missing or incapacitated. Even Trip has come to have a good working relationship with her.
Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III: For me, Trip has been the stand-out character of the series so far. He's a competent and enthusiastic engineer who takes his job very seriously, but he's also the type of guy you wouldn't mind just hanging out with off duty. He's an old friend of the Captain's, but has developed a fast friendship with Lt. Reed, due in part to their experience trapped aboard Shuttlepod One for a period of days. He is extremely loyal to the Captain, but has come to trust T'Pol's judgement and experience as well. In some ways he's the heart of the crew, and that makes him an interesting character to watch.
Lt. Malcolm Reed: As the ship's Armory Officer, Lt. Reed has gotten a bit more than he bargained for in this first year out in space. For a mission of exploration, they certainly have gotten into their share of conflicts. Malcolm is a quiet type, but has begun to open up a bit over the course of the year, due in part to his developing friendship with Trip. A British national and an American from the deep South may seem an unlikely pair, but these are the types of friendships that really work on the screen! (see Bashir and O'Brien) Malcolm also serves as head of ships security, and takes this responsibility extremely seriously, almost to a fault at times where it puts him at some odds with the Captains decisions (much like Worf and Captain Picard).
Doctor Phlox: As the only other non-human on Enterprise, Phlox adds a bit of alien diversity to the crew. He comes from a planet where each husband has three wives, and each wife has three husbands, so he's pretty good at getting along with everyone. ;) Unlike T'Pol who began this mission somewhat begrudgingly, Phlox has a admiration and fascination with humans, and feels honored to be a part of the crew. He has a strong sense of ethics, which has even put him at odds with tthe Captain ("Dear Doctor"), but it is one of the great things about his character. His medical methods are interesting to say the least, with his wide aray of animals in sickbay, but he manages to keep the crew healthy and happy. :)
Ensign Hoshi Sato: Hoshi is a prodigy who has the uncanny ability to translate even the most difficult of languages shortly after hearing them. This makes her a vital addition to the crew, and a perfect choice for Communications Officer. She's not a big fan of being out in space, but she's coming around. I'd like to see her character develop more in the coming seasons.
Ensign Travis Mayweather: The ship's helmsmen, Travis is a great pilot. He's also the youngest of the crew (although Hoshi can't be that much older). Travis is a "space boomer" meaning he is part of a recent generation who was born in space aboard cargo ships and other vessels. I find this concept interesting and enjoy when they are exploring it ("Fortunate Son"). He has a very pleasant and almost "boyish" personality. Next to the Captain, Travis may be the most excited to see what else is out there.
I'm excited to see how each of these characters develop in the coming season.
NEXT: The Temporal Cold War!