tholians star trek enterprise

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That Hope Is You, Part 2

The star gazer.

The Tholian Web

As the USS Enterprise moves through deep space, they stumble upon a derelict of unknown origin. Leaving the ship in an escape pod, they investigate the strange ship and soon discover it is of Klingon origin. However, its occupants are nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, an alien species called the Tholian appear and begin to build a strange web-like formation around the Enterprise and the Klingon vessel. Captain Kirk and the crew soon discover that the Tholians are using their web to contain the area and prevent anyone from entering or leaving.

Whilst Spock and Dr. McCoy investigate the derelict, Kirk attempts to negotiate with the Tholian Commander. However, the Tholian does not respond to his attempts at communication, as they are a species with no concept of verbal communication.

Kirk is soon faced with a dilemma – he must find a way to break the web before the strange energy containment field created by the Tholian slowly starts to drain the energy from the Enterprise, eventually leading to the destruction of the ship and its crew.

To help his cause, Kirk calls upon his old friend and Starfleet Admiral, Christopher Pike. Together, they devise a plan to rescue the Enterprise from the Tholian web. However, the plan is put to the test when it is discovered that the Tholian web is being generated by a device within the Klingon derelict.

Kirk, Spock and McCoy soon realize that they must find a way to disable the device before the Tholian can eventually take control of the Enterprise. With the clock ticking, Kirk and his crew must hurry to find and disable the device before the Tholian can complete their web and trap the Enterprise forever.

In the end, Kirk and his crew are able to disable the device and break the Tholian’s web. However, the crew soon finds out that the derelict is not of Klingon origin, but of an ancient race of aliens from the depths of space. With their mission a success, the Enterprise and its crew soon head back home.

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The Tholian Web (Episode)

Stardate 5693.4 : Kirk is trapped in interphase, while the Enterprise is trapped by a powerful energy web.

The Enterprise discovers another Federation starship, the U.S.S. Defiant, adrift in an unexplored region of space. Beaming aboard in spacesuits , Captain Kirk , Spock , McCoy , and Chekov find the Defiant's entire crew dead: the victims of violence. The ship is rapidly shifting into a parallel dimension and becoming "nonexistent" in this one. The landing party returns to the Enterprise — except for Kirk, who is stranded aboard the Defiant when it vanishes. Spock is able to calculate when and where the ghost ship will rematerialize, and at that time, the Enterprise will be able to rescue Kirk, if his oxygen supply lasts.

The wait proves hazardous. This region of space, due to its peculiar physical properties, renders the ship's crew hostile to one another. Then the Tholians enter the scene and accuse the Enterprise of trespassing in their space, and weave an energized " web " around the Enterprise. The expected " interphase " between universes occurs, but the Defiant fails to rematerialize, and when Kirk is presumed dead, the crew's morale begins to deteriorate even further. Then several crew members, and ultimately the entire bridge crew, see the captain's ghostly figure appear before them. Kirk is alive, Spock realizes, and there is still a chance to save him. The Enterprise manages to flee the Tholian web, taking Kirk's disembodied form along with the ship. The captain is finally beamed aboard, his suit's oxygen supply nearly exhausted.

Image Gallery

Defiant captain

Defiant science officer

engineer #2

Enterprise crew

Kirk out of phase

medical technician

Defiant disappearing into interphase

Tholian web

U.S.S. Defiant NCC-1764

Tholian ship

Tholian ships, linked

Main Engineering

medical laboratory

Related Data

Created by Gene Roddenberry

Starring William Shatner

Also Starring Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock and DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Written by Judy Burns and Chet Richards

Directed by Herb Wallerstein

Produced by Fred Freiberger

Co-Producer Robert H. Justman

Executive Producer Gene Roddenberry

Associate Producers Edward K. Milkis Gregg Peters

James Doohan … Scott George Takei … Sulu Walter Koenig … Chekov Nichelle Nichols … Uhura Majel Barrett … Nurse Chapel Sean Morgan … Lt. O'Neil

Story Consultant Arthur H. Singer

Theme Music by Alexander Courage

Additional Music by Fred Steiner

Art Director Walter M. Jefferies

Director of Photography Al Francis

Film Editor … Bill Brame Unit Production Manager … Gregg Peters Assistant Director … Claude Binyon Jr. Set Decorator … John M. Dwyer Costumes Created by … William Ware Theiss Photographic Effects … Vanderveer Photo Effects Sound Effects Editor … Douglas H. Grindstaff Music Editor … Richard Lapham Re-Recording Mixer … Gordon L. Day , C.A.S. Production Mixer … Carl W. Daniels Script Supervisor … George A. Rutter Recorded by … Glen Glenn Sound Co. Casting … Joseph D'Agosta Makeup Artist … Fred B. Phillips , S.M.A. Hair Styles … Pat Westmore Gaffer … George H. Merhoff Head Grip … George Rader Property Master … Irving A. Feinberg Special Effects … Jim Rugg

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Executive Vice President in Charge of Production Douglas S. Cramer

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Published Jul 6, 2012

Guest Blog: STO -- Designing Tholian Visuals

The Tholian species has only been seen in a few different episodes of Star Trek , starting with TOS and later in Enterprise . In the TOS episode “ The Tholian Web ” they were simply floating heads, and it was hard to tell much about them visually. In Enterprise , the CGI team fleshed them out pretty well. From that work we can tell that they have a crystalline carapace and some kind of a glowing liquid center. Having six legs and two arms gives them a mantis-like appearance, which is a nice change from the predominantly bipedal species in STO . One of the things that I find intriguing is the way Tholians move; they’ve got a strange staccato, insectoid, vaguely robotic style of movement. There’s a scene in “ In a Mirror Darkly ” where the crew of the ISS Enterprise are torturing a Tholian, he takes a step backwards and the way its hand and wrist move is strange and a little off-putting… but in a good way. That awkwardness inspired much of our artwork.

It’s amazing the number of people and amount of effort that go into creating the art for a species like this. There are concept artists, ship artists, character artists, FX artists and animators spending hundreds of hours to get all of the work done. When we started the concept for the basic "naked" Tholian we didn’t have to do much other than draw him in a way that would help Matt Highison, our lead character artist, with modeling him. The fun part of making the characters came in designing the EV suit. Tholians live in extremely hot climates, so they can’t survive in an atmosphere hospitable to humans. They need to wear suits where we live and vice versa. Character customization has been a hallmark of Cryptic’s games going all the way back to City of Heroes , so we tend to make all of our characters modularly. In this case we wanted to create a base EV suit that could be transformed from a simple EV suit into a full-on battle suit by adding a few new parts. Even though this is an enemy species, we didn’t want the base suit to be scary necessarily, but more believable as a suit that would be used for working or exploration. The aesthetic for Tholians is geometric and angular with lots of facets; they love triangles and tri-symmetry. We carry that motif throughout Tholian design.

When it came time to make the ships, we started by studying little triangular craft seen in Enterprise and elaborated from there using our design rules. Adam Williams, Thomas Marrone, concept artist Chris Legaspi and I had quite a few whiteboard drawing sessions figuring out what this group of ships would look like. When you don’t have the benefit of a lot of time it’s really important to have a good team and to get them involved in the process. A good group will feed on each other’s ideas and produce a lot of them quickly. We steered away from shapes that were overly aggressive or streamlined, opting instead for an angular, faceted, slightly quirky feel. Tri-symmetry played a big part in these designs. Most of the ships have three major hull sections with the bridge pod tucked down in the center where it would be protected in a fight. After the concept process, our ship artist Ian Richards was tasked with bringing the ships to life in-game. He did it brilliantly. I think these are some of the most interesting ships and creatures in STO now. Then again, I may be biased because I had so much fun making them. So I’ll let you decide; tell us what you think. Either way, Tholians will add some diversity to STO and provide a fresh new group for you to deal with.

We can’t wait for you to check out the Tholians in-game when they are introduced with the launch of Season 6: Under Siege .

Jeremy Mattson

Lead Artist

Star Trek Online

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• 1.1.1 Carapace
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• 2 Known Tholians
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History and specifics [ ]

Physiology [ ].

There are few accounts of Federation observers actually coming face-to-face with a Tholian, with the vast majority of encounters taking place across a viewscreen , in the heat of combat , or carefully controlled diplomacy . From these encounters, it can be determined that the Tholians are a crystalline species with an outer carapace through which a fluid can be seen circulating murkily. Other distinguishing features are the faceted mantis-like heads where two triangular eyes can be seen. Analysis of Tholian remains has left Starfleet to conclude that the species are a silicon -based form of life . ( Decipher RPG module : Aliens )

Biologically , the Tholians were almost living mineral formations with their cells being mostly crystalline although they were believed to contain a fluid medium which carried out metabolic processes. Their skins were mostly faceted with each Tholian seemingly bearing a unique color scheme with an infinite variety of tones being present amongst them. ( TLE novel : The Sundered ) There were some noted similarities between the crystalline physiology of the Tholians and the crystal-lattice structure in a Shedai body. ( VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind ) Laser weapons did not render the species temporarily unconscious but instead Tholians typically recovered quickly from any such stun effect employed against them. ( TOS novel : The Star to Every Wandering )

One appearance of the species had noted the race being quadrupedal in shape with two mantis-like arms . ( ENT episode : " In a Mirror, Darkly ")

Some witness accounts, however, had noted some Tholians possessing eight limbs which were radially placed around the trapezohedral body. However, whether these artificial manipulator arms or simply hallucinations brought upon by stress through entry into chaotic space is unknown. ( Decipher RPG module : Aliens ) Generally, the Tholians were a race known for not wasting time on excessive amounts of movement. This was because their physiology did not allow for easy mobility on the confines of their homeworld after millennia of evolution. As such, this combined with the life support of their ships had conditioned their race to conserve their energy for only the most appropriate of occasions. ( SCE eBooks : Interphase, Part One , Interphase, Part Two )

Tholians' biology meant that they breathe through a form of anaerobic respiration with a methane-chlorine mixture being used. ( Decipher RPG module : Aliens ) Their atmosphere also provides them with their physical nourishment. ( VAN novel : Precipice ) In addition to this, the average body temperature of the race was 257 °C. While their cells ' functions resemble those of humanoid cells, Tholian cells contain an electrical charge in each cell nucleus. ( TOS reference : Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual ) The Tholians also possessed some form of electromagnetic organelle within their bodies. ( DS9 novel : Time's Enemy )

The unique nature of their evolution has meant that Tholians require a harsh hot environment in order to function and live. This temperature was essential for their survival as colder temperatures were capable of compromising their crystal carapace leading it to fracture and eventually bring about the Tholian's death. ( ENT episode : " In a Mirror, Darkly ") These volatile conditions made boarding Tholian ships a near impossibility by enemy marines, the majority of nearby races being humanoids accustomed to far cooler environments. ( TOS video game : Klingon Academy )

Tholians communicated through a series of chirps and screeches that could be translated by other races. They can also use their crystal bodies as living communicators which could resonate a harmonic signal for others of their kind to detect. This made them quite dangerous captives as they could easily call assistance if the enemy ship was journeying through Tholian space. ( ENT episode : " In a Mirror, Darkly ")

Tholian consciousness had very long life spans. The Tholian Loskene encountered the original USS Enterprise in 2267 and a century later the USS Enterprise -D in 2367 . He had believed that the crew of the Enterprise -D was the same crew of the ship under the command of a "lying Vulcan named Spock ." ( TNG novel : Vendetta ) However, their physical life span was generally six to eight months from birth to maturation and natural death, passing their knowledge and consciousness from one generation to the next through a form of crystal memory upload. This allowed newly-matured Tholians to continue the works of their predecessors with minimal level of learning required. This was believed to be the source of the famed Tholian punctuality. ( TLE novel : The Sundered )

The Tholians possessed a form of networked intelligence in addition to their sentience as individuals which almost made it appear as if they had a hive intellect. Whilst they did share their memories between generations or familial structures, the process did not create a "hive mind" . In addition, the Tholian in question was capable of choosing whom they wished to share their memories. Furthermore, there was a kind of shared memory archive for their species known as the Lattice though it contained more general species specific knowledge and history which operated on an almost instinctual level. The various castes spent a significant time of their short lives immersed in the Lattice though its brainwave frequencies were believed to be incompatible with a Vulcan mind meld . ( TLE novel : The Sundered ) Despite the incompatability, they were noted for being touch telepaths. ( VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind )

Carapace [ ]

It's been noted that in every confirmed Tholian sighting that the mysterious species were encased in an outer carapace similar to those seen on Terran insects but with the exception of it being made completely of crystal which was similar to quartz. However, whether this crystal carapace was a natural product of Tholian biology or a sophisticated exoskeletal suit is unknown. What has been seen, however, is that the carapace explosively disintegrates when a killing blow was dealt on a Tholian such as those experienced by low-temperature plasma. This made it difficult for the Federation to study these carapaces as they were typically destroyed or badly damaged upon the Tholian's death.

There are a number of abilities that the carapace provides its user, such as a natural armor that absorbs impacts made upon it from either kinetic or energy attack as well as provides an accelerated response rate for the Tholian. In addition to this, the carapace is equipped with a pressor beam that projects an entangling beam that disables an enemy. Furthermore, the carapace projects an image of itself that's slightly offset from reality which affects the Tholian's perception by other races, providing it a defensive advantage. Another noted trait from the carapace was its ability to filter out all forms of poisons from the air and water sources around it with speculation being made that it might serve as a rebreather in order to provide a steady flow of chlorine-methane compound to the Tholian. Finally, the crystal carapace provides its user the capacity to remotely access any system on its ship which cannot be blocked by known technology. ( Decipher RPG module : Aliens )

History [ ]

According to the Tholians, they were not the only intelligent species on their world though they were the dominant one with their starfaring capabilities, they were less advanced than those of the Federation , allowed them to become a major interstellar power for several sectors in every direction. ( TLE novel : The Sundered )

The Tholians were engineered by the Shedai from a lesser species. The Shedai found their physical telepathy to be a unique and useful characteristic so changed them to function as part of their communication Conduits. They were then enslaved by the Shedai for a countless period of time until that species voluntarily went into hibernation. Tholians remain fearful of the Shedai as well as superstitious regarding their space and technology within the Taurus Reach . ( VAN )

Culture [ ]

The Tholians were extremely xenophobic. Their borders were not fixed as they adjusted them every eight cycles to account for the movement of star systems and astronomical objects within their rule. In early relations with Starfleet and the Federation , this was not understood by the nearby humanoids , who became victims of Tholian aggression over this territory. This led to a prolonged period of conflict, which the Federation dubbed the Tholian expansionist programs , with many truces broken on the basis of misunderstood territory. ( ENT episode : " Future Tense "; EV comics : " The Fallen ", " Nor Iron Bars a Cage " et al.)

Whilst there were stories of Tholian explorations of the galaxy which dated back to their earliest recorded history, most of the species tended to harbor an intrinsic distrust of aliens, with whom they found it distasteful to interact. This meant that the territories annexed in neighboring systems were often forced to become servile provinces of the Tholian Assembly with any bipedal species such as Humanoids being forced into the lower echelons. However, even these individuals were subservient to the lower ranking member of Tholian society. ( VAN novel : Summon the Thunder )

Members of the species were believed to possess a hive culture with a hive mind present amongst them. It was also known that the Tholians modified members of their race at birth in order to perform a specific purpose when they reached adulthood. This brought about a number of specialized outer body configurations with warrior, ruler, and builder classes identified within their culture with a possibility of many more being present. ( ST reference : The Worlds of the Federation )

Individual Tholians were apparently bred for specific societal functions similar to Terran ants or caste societies on Earth. ( TOS short story : " Fracture ") Due to their caste system, mutiny was almost a foreign concept on their starships. This was because their society had designated castes with roles where every Tholian knew of their genetic and social destiny from the first moment of their solidification. ( VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind ) This created a rigid caste system where most of them were generationally mandated though there were a rare few cases of inter-caste unions that allowed for some crossovers in the offspring. ( TLE novel : The Sundered )

The most prominent of the castes was that of the warriors with the politicals being another important position as they ran the machinery of the government as well as the Assembly's subject territories. ( TLE novel : The Sundered ) The leadership caste was responsible for guiding other members of their species by making command decisions. ( VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind ) In addition, there was the diplomatic caste which sought to keep the other castes as well as neighboring species mollified in order to prevent the Tholian Assembly from plunging into war. There was also a caste that encompassed the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians though it was considered one of the lower castes which partially explained the slow development of Tholian technology. A medical caste was also present which was capable of examining the bodies of other races. ( TLE novel : The Sundered ) One position within the caste based system held the title of a Mage . ( TOS short story : " Fracture ")

Tholian mating practices were organized in triads with one of the three members serving as a breeder that bore the group's offspring. This served as the ultimate goal of their mating as it was the manifestation of a complete full life. The loss of a breeder led to a substitute being added but the continued survival of a wounded sterile breeding partner meant that they could not be replaced. A sterile breeder led to a life without purpose or desire in the triad. ( TOS novel : Recovery )

Their society also possessed dissidents that were hostile to their government, such as the Children of the Lost Ones . ( TOS short story : " Fracture ")

The Federation scientist found that the Tholians of his time, circa 2677 [1] , were just as opportunistic and xenophobic as those of 2410 . ( STO - Future Proof mission : " Stormbound ")

Technology [ ]

Tholian starships are grown via the crystallization of hull segments from dissolved materials in a superhot fluid. Layered duranium, Tholian silk, and other common hull materials are sandwiched together to create a material that is similar to ablative armor but more efficient.

Graviton generators are laced with Tholian silk to give them extra durability. High energy density impulse drives use helium fusion unlike the hydrogen fusion process of other spacefaring civilizations. Tholian warp drives use a trilateral coil layout which gives Tholian ships the ability to rapidly change warp velocity, though losing the ability to quickly change course.

As of the 24th century, Tholian ships have used more automation resulting in a reduction in crew size. Which came about by nanoscale weaving of high temperature superconductors into the computers' crystalline structure. [2]

Known Tholians [ ]

Gallery [ ].

Appendices [ ]

References [ ].

• ↑ STO - Future Proof mission : " Vorgon Conclusions "
• ↑ Star Trek Adventures RPG module : Alpha Quadrant Sourcebook .
• DS9 episode : " Defiant "
• DS9 episode : " Life Support "
• DS9 episode : " The Way of the Warrior "
• DS9 episode : " Indiscretion "
• DS9 episode : " Homefront "
• DS9 episode : " For the Cause "
• DS9 episode : " Call to Arms "
• DS9 novel : The Search
• DS9 novel : The 34th Rule
• DS9 novel : Twilight
• DS9 novel : Lesser Evil
• DS9 novel : Fearful Symmetry
• DS9 novel : Legends of the Ferengi
• DS9 novel : The Fall of Terok Nor
• DS9 novel : Inferno
• DS9 novel : Station Rage

Appearances [ ]

• TOS episode : " The Tholian Web "
• TOS novel : The Sundered
• ENT episode : " In a Mirror, Darkly "
• VAN novel : Harbinger
• VAN novel : Summon the Thunder
• VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind
• VAN novel : Open Secrets
• VAN novel : Precipice
• VAN novel : What Judgments Come
• VAN novel : Storming Heaven
• ST - Destiny novel : Mere Mortals
• ST - Typhon Pact novel : Rough Beasts of Empire
• ST - Typhon Pact novel : Zero Sum Game
• ST - Typhon Pact novel : Plagues of Night
• ST - Typhon Pact novel : Raise the Dawn

External link [ ]

• Tholian article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 The Chase
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

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Recap / Star Trek Enterprise S 02 E 016 Future Tense

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Enterprise encounters a derelict ship. Scans indicate no life signs or weapon signatures, but its hull does seem to be interfering with the sensors including to T'Pol. Archer orders the ship be brought into Launch Bay 2, where they fail to make sense of its design, and upon opening a hatch, find a dead human body. In sickbay, Archer tells Phlox to do a DNA test on the dead man and check the Starfleet genetic database for any matches. T'Pol enters and says that there are no inhabited systems for several light years. Archer wonders if the dead man is Zefram Cochrane, who did disappear while apparently working on an experimental warp ship.

In the hangar, Travis and Trip are making an analysis and determine that the ship's hull absorbs EM radiation, meaning it would have gone unnoticed if not for the damage, suggesting it is a stealth ship. They also determine that it must have arrived in a cargo ship, and Trip finds out that it lacks a propulsion system, engine, and power source. Archer contacts Admiral Forrest for info on the ship, and Forrest tells him that there haven't been any new missions, but he will ask around for more information.

Trip continues his analysis with Malcolm Reed, and they both find another hatch. Upon opening it, they find out that the ship is apparently bigger on the inside. They enter and find a large chamber. Meanwhile, a Suliban ship hails the Enterprise and its captain claims ownership of the mysterious ship. Archer replies that it's clearly an Earth ship since the corpse is human, and that it's too damaged to be of any use now anyway, but the Suliban still demand they get it "back" and open fire.

In the launch bay, Trip and Malcolm get a box out of the ship's chamber and, realising the Enterprise is being attacked, leave the abandoned ship. Trip tries to contact the bridge, but two Suliban appear and attack him. Malcolm starts fighting them, and one of them leaves for the control room. Thankfully, the Enterprise manages to force the Suliban to withdraw, beaming out the two intruders.

Trip shows the box to Archer and suggests that it's the black box. Phlox then calls Archer to sickbay, where he tells him that the dead man isn't anyone in Starfleet and is in fact a hybrid of a human, Vulcan, Terellian, and another, unknown species.

Archer wonders if the Temporal Cold War is involved and he and T'Pol go into Daniels's quarters to read the future database, all the while wondering if a human and a Vulcan could have a child. They find out that the ship is from the 31st century and may be a time machine used by future historians. They also find out that it's powered by a "temporal displacement drive", which is probably why the Suliban are after it, and Archer fears they will use it to meddle with the Temporal Cold War.

He is then called to the bridge because another alien vessel has arrived, and it turns out to be a xenophobic species called the Tholians. They also want the vessel, claiming it's radioactive and therefore dangerous to the crew, and when Archer says no, they grab hold of Enterprise with a tractor beam. When he threatens to destroy the derelict ship, they let go.

In the mess hall, Phlox and T'Pol discuss their findings on the body and the ship respectively. He believes Archer's hypothesis that time travel is real, but T'Pol is still unsure. Meanwhile, in engineering, Trip and Malcolm try to get the box device to work and they discuss whether it's good or bad to know the future. Trip gets the device working and they go to the ship to get some equipment. However, due to a temporal anomaly, they end up having the same conversation three times.

They go to sickbay, but Phlox finds nothing wrong with them. T'Pol points out that the ship is emitting particles, but Phlox reckons they're mostly harmless. Archer orders the launch bay sealed to prevent the radiation from spreading, and T'Pol talks to him in private, telling him that the ship is too dangerous due to its radiation and high demand and she wants it destroyed. Archer disagrees, wanting to actively participate in the Temporal Cold War, but she thinks that's a bad idea as well. Eventually, she lets him carry on, as long as he puts the ship on tactical alert.

In engineering, Archer asks Trip what he's found out about the object, and he replies that it isn't a black box, but rather a device that sent a subspace signature as an emergency signal. T'Pol then calls Archer to the bridge because more Suliban ships have arrived. The Enterprise tries running away, but the Suliban give chase, then Archer tries to contact the Vulcans but gets no reply. He warns them that they have the Vulcans on their side, but the Suliban don't believe him, and open fire. They rendezvous with the Tal'Kir , only to find it nearly destroyed by Tholians... who then notice the Enterprise .

The Tholians, the Enterprise , and the cell ships start a fight, during which the Enterprise gets severely beat up. Archer orders Trip to use the mysterious device to call the future ships over to help, and Trip orders Malcolm to bring him a torpedo.

Malcolm and Trip try to use a warhead from it to destroy the future ship, and their attempts cause time to loop again. Meanwhile, the Suliban are defeated, and the Tholians try to blast through the airlock. Trip gets the future device working and Malcolm puts the warhead on the ship and sends it out into space, but the Tholians neutralise it. Then, the future device, corpse, and ship vanish and the Tholians end the fight. With the fight over, Archer sets out to help the Vulcans on Tal'Kir .

Tropes in this episode include:

• Aborted Arc : At the time of airing, it was mused by the writers that the Tholians would become players in the Temporal Cold War and make return appearances. Any such plans were quickly dropped, though, when the writers embarked on the Xindi arc.
• Arbitrary Skepticism : T'Pol's stubborn insistence that time travel is impossible, despite having a time machine sitting in the launch bay note  Technically, she and the others don't know it's a time machine, but it is confirmed to be from the future and it's the most likely possibility , a dead human pilot with several generations of alien DNA in his genome, and being shown Daniels' holographic database with information on ships that haven't been built yet.
• Because Destiny Says So : Discussed. While talking about time travel, Trip asks Malcolm if he would travel to the future and learn the identity of a theoretical wife. Malcolm says he would on the grounds that it would save him trouble, but Trip says he'd only be getting married to said woman because a book told him to. Trip: Suppose you could look into some future book and find out the name of the woman you're going to marry. Would you want to know it? Malcolm: Absolutely. Think of all the awkward first dates I could avoid. (chuckles) Trip: Fine. So one day you meet Jane Doe. You go out a few times, and you pop the question. She says "I do," and the two you live happily ever after. Malcolm: Sounds perfect. Trip: Now, did you marry her for love, or because some book told you to? Malcolm: If we live happily ever after, what difference does it make?
• Bigger on the Inside : The pod is small enough to fit inside the launch bay, yet it has another level inside.
• Boldly Coming : Exaggerated— the dead guy turns out to be a hybrid of a human, Vulcan, Terellian, Rigelian, and an unknown species, indicating that many different species got it on.
• It's very subtle, but back in the pilot, Klaang apparently said something about Tholia. It didn't mean anything back then, but now it turns out that the Tholians are players in the Temporal Cold War.
• In the last episode , T'Pol and Soval discuss humans seeming to obsess over their ears. Archer again talks about the Vulcan ears when talking about a human/Vulcan hybrid.
• Call-Forward : The discovery of a Vulcan Half-Human Hybrid . Archer: If a human and a Vulcan did have a child, I wonder if he'd have pointed ears.
• Continuity Nod : It's initially believed that the corpse is Zefram Cochrane. In TOS, it was mentioned that Cochrane disappeared to parts unknown in the early 22nd Century.
• Curb-Stomp Battle : The Tholians effortlessly stomp Enterprise , the Tal'Kir , and the Suliban.
• EMP : The Tholians have a weapon which disables any ship it hits, knocking out engines, weapons, defenses, and main power.
• Evil vs. Evil : The Suliban vs. the Tholians, with the NX-01 disabled. Ultimately, the Tholians triumph.
• Forgotten Phlebotinum : Averted; the database from the future is retrieved from Daniel's sealed quarters.
• Freeze-Frame Bonus : Daniels' future database has schematics for a Klingon Raptor -class ship, an Intrepid -class starship (possibly the USS Voyager itself), an Intrepid -class aeroshuttle, the Mir space station, the US space shuttle, a Nygean ship, a Romulan D'deridex -class warbird, a Nova -class starship, the alien ship that attacked Enterprise in "Fight or Flight" , and a Vulcan Suurok -class starship. Also in the database is an excerpt from President George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address.
• From Bad to Worse : Pursued by Suliban, Enterprise reaches the Tal'Kir —finding it disabled. Shortly afterwards, the Tholians reveal themselves.
• The Ghost : No Tholians are shown in the episode.
• "Groundhog Day" Loop : A Downplayed example—anyone standing next to the pod might end up repeating the last few minutes. After several loops, the afflicted characters begin to notice what's happening. Also, time proceeds normally for those not stuck in the loop.
• Heinz Hybrid : The corpse in the pod has human, Vulcan, Rigellian, and Terellian DNA, among others.
• Hero of Another Story : The Pod and its occupant play a part in a story arc in Star Trek Online which gives him a name, a backstory of a sort, an identification for that other species in his DNA, as well as his ultimate fate, and why he ends up here and now.
• Hope Spot : Under pursuit by the Suliban, Enterprise manages to reach the Tal'Kir —only to find her disabled by the Tholians.
• I Don't Think That's Such a Good Idea : T'Pol is unsure about Archer keeping the time ship and participating in the Temporal Cold War; she thinks he's endangering the ship with his curiosity.
• In-Universe Factoid Failure : Malcolm's clearly not up on his dino-studies. Trip: Now if I had a chance to see the past, I'd jump at it. I always wanted to meet a Stegosaurus . Malcolm: He'd probably make a quick meal of you. Trip: The Stegosaurus was an herbivore.
• Make Way for the New Villains : The Suliban are soundly defeated by the Tholians.
• No MacGuffin, No Winner : Archer decides to destroy the pod rather than let the Tholians capture it. Unfortunately, they successfully grab it and prevent its destruction—and then the pod, the corpse, and the distress beacon that Trip recovered mysteriously vanish...
• Not Worth Killing : Once the pod vanishes, the Tholians leave without further harassing Enterprise . They also didn't destroy the Tal'Kir , presumably knocking it out of commission with the same weapon they stopped Enterprise with.
• Nothing Is Scarier : After fending off the first Suliban and Tholian attacks, Archer quietly wonders who else out there thinks they have a claim on the future ship.
• Trip and Malcolm when they realize the ship is causing them to relive the same few minutes.
• Also later when the Enterprise crew reaches the Vulcan ship sent to assist them, only to realize it's already been attacked and disabled.
• Riddle for the Ages : Why the Tholians want the future ship isn't explained, though Archer speculates they're working for another faction in the Temporal Cold War.
• Shout-Out : The design of the pod's lower level is remarkably similar to a TARDIS control room . Doubles as a hilarious Genre Blindness gag when resident Brit Malcolm Reed is quite nonplussed at the idea of a ship bigger on the inside. Someone never hid behind the couch from Daleks as a kid, apparently.
• Starfish Language : Tholian sounds like a string of shrill squeals and clicks. Even when it's run through the translator, it sounds kinda like a CD that keeps skipping.
• That Came Out Wrong T'Pol: It's unlikely we could reproduce. [off Archer's look] Humans and Vulcans.
• The Worf Effect : A Vulcan combat cruiser and a small squadron of Suliban ships get Curb stomped by a trio of Tholian dart ships.
• Star Trek Enterprise S 02 E 015 Cease Fire
• Recap/Star Trek: Enterprise
• Star Trek Enterprise S 02 E 017 Canamar

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Galactic Journey

[Nov. 22, 1968] Bound to thrill ( Star Trek : "The Tholian Web")

The Tholian Threads

This is the episode that fully cemented season 3 in my mind as the highest quality season so far. The special effects were impressive, the costumes were simply spiffy and the pacing and audio were smooth and well-balanced. My only frustration is that it lacked one major connecting thread in the plot, which left it with inconsistencies great enough to turn this otherwise seamless Tholian web into a loose and fraying net.

In a masterful opener, we are dropped in the thick of the action from the very beginning, with the crew staring in concern at all the viewscreens, as they are informed that they have entered a region of space "that appears to be breaking apart." I would have loved an explanation as to what readings led Spock to that conclusion, but everyone else seems to take Spock’s assessment with no further elaboration. Their attention is swiftly caught by the appearance of a marooned Federation Starship, one that Captain Kirk identifies on sight as the U.S.S. Defiant . Wasting no time, he rushes to beam onto it with nearly all the highest ranking officers (you’d think he’d learn that effectively decapitating the chain of command before even assessing the nature of the fate that befell an adrift starship is something he should be a bit more cautious about doing, but it seems he prefers learning the hard way yet again). When Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Chekov beam over to the other starship, we see that they have at least learned to take the small precaution of contamination reduction suits this time.

In a sequence of events that should surprise no one at this point, the danger that annihilated the Defiant's crew begins to affect the away team right away. Just as we saw just two weeks ago in “ Day of the Dove ,” Chekov starts being influenced by a violent murderous madness, and just as the ensign did in “ The Naked Time ,” he tells no one of his symptoms before bringing a contagion back to the ship with him. Meanwhile in the Defiant’s sickbay, Dr. McCoy makes an immediate and even more disturbing observation when crewmen and objects on the ship phase out of existence as he tries to touch them. Thankfully, Kirk at least treats this threat with the appropriate level of alarm, and immediately orders a retreat to the Enterprise , but it appears to be too late, as whatever forces seem to be affecting the dissolution of the Defiant cause the ship to disappear while the captain is separated from the away team, mid beaming sequence.

The focus now shifts to the delicate dance of keeping the ship in close enough proximity to the Defiant to make another attempt at retrieving the captain while managing to keep the ship in one piece as it withstands the conditions of this volatile section of space. Confusingly, Spock attempts to explain what's happening with vague multiphasic pseudo-science. He says the computer can calculate the pattern in which our universe and the Defiant's overlap with enough regularity that he speculates that the defunct ship will reappear in two hours. Here, he muddies the waters by throwing in noncommittal statements like “the dimensions are totally dissimilar and any use of power disturbs it,” that made me so frustrated with his vagueness that I agreed with Chekov's violent outburst that interrupted it.

The writers decide here that the episode needs even more tension, choosing this moment for the Tholians to zoom into view. Seeking, too late, to guard this unstable portion of space, an alien ship containing beings calling themselves the Tholians hails the Enterprise demanding an explanation for their trespassing and requesting they leave the area immediately. Spock negotiates the calculated amount of time he requires to interact with the Defiant again. When Spock’s calculations prove erroneous, the Tholians swiftly open fire on the Enterprise , feeling as if they were maliciously deceived. Following a brief fire-fight, the Enterprise and the Tholians end up disabling each other, and the Tholians retreat and enact a new strategy to defeat the Enterprise , gathering reinforcements and using several ships to slowly build a web of energy beams.

As if there wasn't enough going on with this intergalactic battle, at the same time, McCoy is engaged in a battle of his own against the interphasic space madness affecting Chekov and the crew. He sets about the monumental task of medically creating an internal shield to barely comprehensible degradative forces, much as we've seen him do in “ Miri ” and “ The Deadly Years .”

Spock takes this lull in the immediate external danger to officially declare Captain Kirk dead, and he holds a brief, ship-wide funeral service for him. Dr. McCoy drags Spock very reluctantly to an audience with Kirk’s recorded Will and rather unnecessarily takes an opportunity to try to bully, insult, and squeeze an emotional reaction out of Spock. It seems as if this is another one of their typical disputes, but when Kirk’s voice rings out through his tapes, counseling them to stop bickering, it feels as if he’s reaching out from beyond the grave to bring home the gravity of the situation they are in. McCoy immediately apologizes, noting, "It hurts, doesn't it?" In the tense silence where Spock replies softly "What would you have me say, Doctor?" The scene is suddenly imbued with a surprisingly beautiful tenderness that only the shared grief that the loss of a captain and dear, true friend could elicit.

In yet another tonal shift, we find that it's Uhura who helps solve the mystery of their still interdimensionally traveling Captain, as she is first to see his “shadow” phasing in her mirror. One by one, the crew begins sharing in what Uhura had thought to be her own personal hallucination, and they realize Kirk is still alive on a plane of existence that is erratically phasing with ours. Here, the plot seems to completely unravel for me. Apparently a phaser beam punched a hole through the dimensional veil and Kirk got through and somehow also another hole is about to open in the Tholian Web that the Enterprise can slip through while also scooping up Captain Kirk in one fluid movement. Also McCoy discovers the cure for the rabid space sickness (which, truly, why does that matter if they are all about to leave this space in 20 minutes?) and Scotty takes it to his quarters to drink it down like it’s a cocktail mixer rather than an anti-interdimensional-radiation medicine.

The rest of the episode rushes to a “just because” conclusion, only necessary because they had loaded the story up too much in the beginning. If the SFnal concepts had been more simplistic like “colliding space eddies,” and they hadn’t re-used the space madness subplot so soon, or even if they had taken another moment to acknowledge how emotionally compassionate it was of Spock to make time for a memorial service in the midst of a crisis out of deference to his human subordinates, the episode could have come to a more settled conclusion. Instead, the final scenes collide and coalesce into a sudden messy slop.

In total, the quality of this episode's elements was excellent, but could have stood to benefit from a couple more minutes of editing. Maybe a few more threads woven into web of this plot would have been enough to ensnare my full endorsement of it

Tangled up in Interspace

“The Tholian Web” completely enveloped me in its tense atmosphere this week, largely because I had to watch helplessly as my favorite character, our dearly beloved Spock, faced nearly insurmountable challenges as captain. Spock had to defuse so many high-pressure situations simultaneously that were overwhelming just to imagine, and each aspect of Kirk’s complicated rescue was painfully resolved on the thinnest of ice (to no fault of Spock’s careful guidance).

Other than the strain of having to hinge everyone’s lives on multiple close calls, perhaps the most problematic facet of Spock’s predicament was McCoy’s aggressive response to Spock’s leadership. Acting as a foil to Spock’s calm and focused responses, McCoy persistently questioned and blamed their dire straits on Spock, who had to spend precious time defending his decisions as he urged that they press on. I’ll be the first to admit that, if it were anyone else besides Spock in charge of weighing the risks of Kirk’s rescue, I too would insist that we save the crew while the ship could still leave.

Still, I couldn’t tell if McCoy was just completely distraught by Kirk’s being lost, or if he was influenced by the interspace deterioration to some degree, but I was hurt to see Spock at odds with a partner he can usually trust when he needed him most. My bias will ultimately lie with Spock’s reliability to make the best decision available in any given situation, and I wish that despite the intense circumstances, McCoy had at least conceded to work together with Spock once the ship was down. It was a pretty low blow to assume Spock meant to endanger everyone to secure his captain status, especially after Spock explained his reasoning perfectly.

Thankfully for everyone, Kirk had predicted exactly how the two officers would interact, and he gave them just the sobering insight they needed to cooperate peacefully. I loved that Spock was reminded that McCoy was there to help when matters couldn’t be resolved by his best judgment alone. It was equally sweet (and satisfying) to see Kirk remind McCoy that Spock could make human mistakes too, right after McCoy made a rude remark about Spock’s Vulcan half.

All in all, I loved this entire episode with its suspenseful atmosphere, satisfying characterization, and well-earned resolution. I can only imagine how long-time fans must have enjoyed this episode knowing the characters’ history with one another!

Our Little Vulcan’s Growing Up

It has been a while since I've caught an episode of Star Trek. In fact, the last episode I watched was “Amok Time”, in which we saw a glimpse of Mr. Spock’s vulnerable side. So I'm glad the show I finally found time for was “The Tholian Web”, featuring our favorite Vulcan in a leadership role. I was happy to see another glimpse of this stoic character. And indeed, compared to how he was in season one (which I got to see fairly regularly), we’ve seen a lot of character growth in how he leads a mission and communicates with his crew.

We first saw Spock’s role as a leader in season one’s “ Galileo Seven ”. In it, he and other crew members were sent to scout a newly discovered planet. Through twists of fate, they are left stranded, alone, and facing a hostile native species.

When one crew member dies, Spock insists they spare no time to respect their fallen comrade, focusing on finding a way home. It’s logical to him, but it sparks ire amongst the crew members, thus sowing seeds of discontent. As they search for a way back, the crew continues to be uncooperative and critical of his orders, save for Scotty. Here, it’s Spock’s lack of understanding human emotion that jeopardizes their mission. Despite the “illogical” nature of the situation, his crew members want their grief respected. And while we, the audience, understand Spock does what he thinks is best, one can understand why the crew sees him as “cold”.

By season three, he seems to have learned from this experience. In “The Tholian Web”, while he remains calm and collected when faced with Kirk's death, he chooses to spend a moment to hold a brief but effective memorial service. It is done very much in Spock's way, but it shows how the Vulcan first officer is able to empathize with his crew. And the gesture pays off. Despite one crewmember going mad during the service, it seems to solidify Spock's position as new leader. The members of the Enterprise — save for McCoy– respect his orders, call him "Captain", and do not question him, showing how much he’s earned their trust.

Another stark contrast is how his attitude shifts from “saving the village above all” to “no man left behind”. In “The Galileo Seven”, after scrimping together repairs to get their shuttle into orbit, Spock states that the crew should go on without him if he is compromised. And inevitably, Spock is incapacitated right as the shuttle lifts off. The surviving crew members rescue him despite his insistence to go on. It’s a heroic act, but one that costs them their window of opportunity to leave. Because of that, he scolds them for it and they respond with frustration. (But worry not; they make it to the Enterprise in the end.)

In “The Tholian Web”, Spock seems to take the opposite approach. When faced with the prospect of losing Kirk, he risks the Enterprise ’s escape window for the chance to save Kirk. I should note that one can interpret this as Spock making a special exception for their captain. But I choose to believe Kirk’s ideals have rubbed off on him. Right on cue, he receives much criticism from McCoy, who is being particularly prickly even for him. Their banter serves as a good vocalization for what the audience might be thinking. But it was interesting seeing the logical Vulcan take the riskier approach. I will say, Spock’s choice does endanger the rest of the crew–the very thing he was trying to avoid in “Galileo Seven”. But once again, I think it shows how much Kirk has influenced him.

In the end, the gamble pays off. Kirk is rescued, the Enterprise escapes, and everyone goes on to explore another day.

Indeed, this episode can be interpreted as a better evolved version of the “Galileo Seven”. The stakes were higher, there were more plot elements in play, and the alien species they faced was more threatening. The story kept me guessing and didn’t have predictable moments (despite the ending being a tad bit convenient.) It was a delight to see how Spock not only survived but thrived as a leader. I very much look forward to seeing how Spock will continue to develop, both as a leader and as a true friend to the Enterprise .

Behind the scenes

Back in the first season, the Enterprise was a living, breathing entity with 430 varied souls on board.  Over the course of the show, the focus has shifted sharply onto The Big Three (viz. last episode, in which the starship might as well have been the personal vehicle of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy a la Peter's woody in The Mod Squad ).

This week, we saw a bit of the old Enterprise , the kind we haven't seen since " Balance of Terror ", really.  There were some 30-40 people at Kirk's (premature) funeral, lots of people in engineering, McCoy's lab, on the bridge.  There were enough people that department heads could, rightly, not spend all of their moments doing hands-on work.  Uhura got to take a few minutes off , which we haven't seen since her impromptu concert with Spock in " The Conscience of the King " (the enforced hiatus in " The Changeling " doesn't count).

Interestingly, this actually turned Lorelei off a bit, so used is she to the more-than-one-braid-on-their-sleeves stars and co-stars doing all the work.  But I'll never criticize a show for getting things right .  Now if they can just get some trained Marines to beam ashore instead of the ship's senior complement…

Anyway, I loved this episode, from beginning to end.  It took a bunch of somewhat familiar elements, mixed them with some new ones, and tied them all together with the thread of Spock's first real command.  It reminded me a bit of a second-season Burke's Law episode where Captain Amos Burke goes on vacation, and the rest of his team have to solve a case without him.  Kirk's absence gives "The Tholian Web" room to breathe (even as he suffocates).  This enhances the poignancy of his taped final orders to Spock and Bones.

I loved getting to see Sulu cradle Chekov's head after the navigator goes mad (they do love to hear him scream).  I loved seeing Uhura mourn for the Captain, seeing her in her quarters !  And we see Spock's quarters again, too.  Scotty, McCoy, and Spock enjoy a drink together before the engineer takes the bottle of cure away to share it with someone else—probably Kevin Riley.

And I always love getting to see another starship, even if they are inevitably in distress.  Somehow, each has its own unique flavor, even though they always use the same sets.  Finally, I loved meeting the Tholians, an attempt at a true alien race.

Never mind the brilliant special effects, the superlative acting, the real tension, even knowing Kirk was going to live (as he must, and as we saw in the preview; this was a negative point for Lorelei, too).

Thus, I can give this episode no less than five stars.  Frankly, Season 3 has been, so far, my favorite season yet.

[ Come join us tonight (November 22nd) for the next thrilling episode of Star Trek !  KGJ is broadcasting the show live with commercials and accompanied by trekzine readings at 8pm Eastern and Pacific.  You won't want to miss it… ]

3 thoughts on “[Nov. 22, 1968] Bound to thrill ( Star Trek : "The Tholian Web")”

I find I don't have a lot to say about this one. It's certainly in the upper tier of this season's episodes so far, but I didn't think it was all that exceptional either. Four stars is a bit of a stretch, but it's a solid three.

A solid episode, with Kirk's absence allowing the team aspect of the Enterprise to shine through, which is always nice to see (a military or quasi-military shouldn't rely on one or two people all the time – the goal is to train up junior officers so that they can become capable seniors).

The best show so far this season, and one of the top shows for Star Trek's entire run, it seemed to me.  No telekinetic aliens, no illusion-casting aliens, no aliens with "godlike" powers, no unaffecting romance, no sound stage-planet surfaces.  I could watch this one many times.

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55 years ago: Science Fact and Fiction

Screen Rant

5 ways star trek: discovery’s mirror enterprise is different from uss enterprise.

The ISS Enterprise made a surprising return in Star Trek: Discovery, but what makes the Mirror Universe's starship different from the USS Enterprise?

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery, season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors"

• ISS Enterprise from Mirror Universe makes a surprising return in Star Trek: Discovery, revealing its history and role as a refugee ship.
• Star Trek: Discovery used sets from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to recreate the ISS Enterprise, showcasing its damaged state.
• The ISS Enterprise survived until the 32nd century, becoming a beacon of hope like the USS Enterprise in both the Prime and Mirror Universes.

The Mirror Universe ISS Enterprise made a surprising return in Star Trek: Discovery , and the starship differs from the USS Enterprise of Star Trek 's Prime Timeline in several ways. Previously, the ISS Enterprise made its first and only appearance in the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode, "Mirror, Mirror," which saw Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and some of his crew members travel to the Mirror Universe. The ISS Enterprise was the Mirror Universe's doppelganger of the Constitution Class USS Enterprise, and Star Trek: The Original Series simply redressed the Enterprise's sets to evoke the darker alternate reality.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 , "Mirrors," Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery continue their search for the powerful technology of the Progenitors. Their next clue leads them into a strange wormhole, where they encounter the ISS Enterprise in a pocket of interdimensional space. As Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) face off against determined couriers Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis), they uncover more about the history of the ISS Enterprise. Directed by Jen McGowan and written by Johanna Lee and Carlos Cisco, "Mirrors" reveals several differences between the USS Enterprise and her Mirror Universe counterpart.

Kirk’s Starship Enterprise Returns In Star Trek: Discovery - With A Big Twist

5 the iss enterprise used star trek: strange new worlds' sets, captain pike's enterprise sets were redressed to be its mirror universe counterpart..

To bring the ISS Enterprise to life, Star Trek: Discovery made use of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' USS Enterprise sets. With different lighting, significant damage, and some logos for the Terran Empire, Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) Enterprise became the ISS Enterprise first seen in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Mirror, Mirror." Discovery season 5 was filmed in late 2022 during the gap between filming for Strange New Worlds seasons 2 and 3, and they made great use of the bridge, sickbay, transporter room, and hallway sets.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has also filmed on Star Trek: Discovery sets, such as turning Federatiion headquarters into the chambers for Number One's (Rebecca Romijn) trial in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, "Ad Astra Per Aspera."

Throughout Star Trek's long history , the franchise has found different ways to depict old ships and other settings. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "Trials and Tribble-ations," for example, used footage from the classic TOS episode "The Trouble With Tribbles" combined with new footage of DS9's cast. While parts of the original Enterprise bridge set were recreated for "Trials and Tribble-ations," a full bridge set of a Constitution Class starship was not recreated until the two-part Mirror Universe episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , "In a Mirror, Darkly."

Star Trek: Picard season 3 also completely rebuilt a starship bridge set, this time the bridge of the USS Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

4 The Plaque On The ISS Enterprise Differs From The USS Enterprise

The passengers on the iss enterprise left a plaque telling their story..

As Captain Burnham and Booker explore the ISS Enterprise, they find a plaque on the wall that details some of the derelict starship's history. While almost every version of the Enterprise has had a plaque of some kind, they have never given a description of the ship's history in this way. Star Trek 's starship plaques are often in the background and thus hard to decipher. They typically give the name of the ship, the date and location where the ship was built, and sometimes a list of names of real-life production people who built the sets.

The plaque on the ISS Enterprise reveals that Mirror Universe Spock made significant reforms in the Terran Empire, but was killed by those who disagreed with him. However, those who believed in his ideals stole the ISS Enterprise and found a way to the Prime Universe, with help from Mirror Universe Saru (Doug Jones) - turns out he's "Action Saru in any universe." The crew and refugees aboard this ship likely left the plaque as a way to share the ship's story with whoever happened to find her.

3 Refugees Used The ISS Enterprise To Flee The Mirror Universe

The iss enterprise became a lifeboat for refugees seeking a better life..

After Spock's reforms changed the way the Terran Empire was run, the Empire was not as well equipped to defend itself from the Klingon/Cardassian Alliance. This Alliance eventually conquered the Empire, forcing the Terrans and Vulcans into slavery, and violently quashing any attempts at rebellion. Some rebels, however, managed to successfully stand against the Empire, at least long enough to gather a ship full of refugees and escape to the Prime Universe.

The Mirror Universe's Spock (Leonard Nimoy) became the High Chancellor who reformed the Terran Empire but was later assasinated.

While the crew of the original USS Enterprise often helped refugees and others in need, this was not the ship's main purpose. The ISS Enterprise was originally a warship used by the Terran Empire, before its crew mutinied and fled the brutal Mirror Universe. For this undoubtedly dangerous journey, the ISS Enterprise became a refugee ship, giving those who had believed in Spock's reforms the chance for a new life in a brighter universe.

What Happened To Mirror Universe Captain Kirk In Star Trek?

2 the iss enterprise survived until the 32nd century, no other enterprise has survived as long as the iss enterprise..

After the ISS Enterprise traveled to the Prime Universe, it ended up inside interdimensional space, where it remained undetected for centuries. Although the ship had sustained significant damage, it was salvageable and able to be sent back to Starfleet after Captain Burnham and Book used it to escape through the wormhole. While the technology on the ISS Enterprise is very outdated, the Federation will likely be interested in a 23rd-century starship from the Mirror Universe, particularly one as important as the Enterprise.

By the 32nd century, travel between the Mirror Universe and the Prime Universe had already "been impossible for centuries," according to Captain Burnham.

As Star Trek has a habit of destroying the Starship Enterprise , the ISS Enterprise is likely the longest-surviving ship of that name . The original USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), as commanded by Captain Pike and Captain Kirk, was destroyed in 2285 when Kirk was forced to initiate self-destruct to thwart a Klingon boarding party in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Several different ships have taken the name Enterprise over the years, but none have survived for as long as the ISS Enterprise.

1 One Surprising Thing The Mirror Universe Ship & USS Enterprise Have In Common

The starship enterprise is a beacon of hope in every universe..

The Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise may have several noticeable differences from its Prime Universe counterpart, but both ships became a beacon of hope for the people aboard. Throughout the journeys of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , the USS Enterprise has come to represent hope for numerous peoples and civilizations all over the galaxy. Countless lives would have been lost (and the galaxy destroyed multiple times over) if not for ships named Enterprise . While the ISS Enterprise caused a lot of harm during its time as a Terran warship, in the end, it became a lifeboat for the people who wanted to leave the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek: Discovery has proven that, no matter the universe, the Starship Enterprise remains a beacon of hope and a spark of light in the darkness.

Wanting to escape the violence and darkness of their own universe, the refugees risked their lives for a chance at peace and freedom. When Captain Kirk and his crew first visited the ISS Enterprise, most of its crew members were just as ruthless as every other Terran. But Kirk took a chance on Mirror Universe Spock, and while Spock's reforms ultimately failed, he inspired some Terrans to seek out a better life. If nothing else, Star Trek: Discovery has proven that, no matter the universe, the Starship Enterprise remains a beacon of hope and a spark of light in the darkness.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery stream Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek Has Finally Revealed the Evil Enterprise's Weird Fate

Watch out for any goatees.

Today, everyone knows what a multiverse is. But back in 1967, parallel universe stories weren’t nearly as common as they are now, even within the sci-fi genre. A classic Star Trek episode, Jerome Bixby’s “Mirror, Mirror,” helped popularize the alternate universe trope, complete with meaner versions of yourself who may rock an evil little goatee like Mirror Spock.

Star Trek’s Mirror Universe also gave us an alternate version of the USS Enterprise in the ISS Enterprise , a ship that served the Imperial Terran Empire, not the United Federation of Planets. Now, in the Discovery Season 5 episode “Mirrors,” the evil ISS Enterprise is back... as a force for good. Here’s what it all means. Spoilers ahead.

The ISS Enterprise returns

Captain Burnham watches the ISS Enterprise warp to Federation HQ.

While pursuing the thieves Moll and L’ak, Book and Burnham take a shuttlecraft into an unstable wormhole and discover the floating, pseudo-derelict ISS Enterprise . One of the clues to the Progenitor’s tech has been hidden on it, but for Burnham, it’s kind of like a bizzaro universe homecoming. Burnham spent a decent amount of time in the Mirror Universe in Discovery Season 1 , and in Season 2 she found herself on the Enterprise with her brother Spock just before jumping from the 23rd century to the 32nd century.

In “Mirrors,” Burnham notes that “crossing between universes has been impossible for centuries,” which means the ISS Enterprise must have crossed over into the Prime Universe well before the 32nd century. Burnham is referencing the events of Discovery Season 3, when we learned that Philippa Georgiou, a resident of the Mirror Universe, couldn’t go back to her home universe because those dimensions had drifted apart. But the ISS Enterprise , which was previously captained by an evil Kirk, crossed over into the Prime Universe well before that moment, and Discovery has now added details connecting The Original Series, Deep Space Nine , and Discovery Season 3.

How evil Spock became good

Spock talking with Kirk in “Mirror, Mirror.”

In the Deep Space Nine episode “Crossover” we learn that after Kirk talked to Mirror Spock and encouraged him to try making the Terran Empire a peaceful power, Mirror Spock did just that. But as Mirror Kira explained, Mirror Spock’s idealism didn’t work out the way he’d hoped:

“Spock rose to Commander in Chief of the Empire by preaching reforms, disarmament, peace. It was quite a remarkable turnabout for his people. Unfortunately for them, when Spock had completed all these reforms, his empire was no longer in any position to defend itself against us [the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance].”

Discovery appears to be referencing this exact event, even if Spock isn’t named outright. When Book learns the ISS Enterprise became a refugee ship for people who’d turned against the Empire, he says, “The Terran High Chancellor was killed for trying to make reforms.”

This likely references Spock, but adds the twist that he was perhaps betrayed by other people within the Terran Empire, even if Earth adopted his reforms. Now, by the end of “Mirrors,” the 23rd-century ISS Enterprise has been moved to the Prime Universe and the 32nd century. It’s an antique by modern standards, but it’s a contemporary of the USS Discovery, so it’s still serviceable. This means that by the end of Discovery Season 5 there will still be a version of the classic Enterprise floating around Federation headquarters, so when the Starfleet Academy series debuts, 32nd-century Starfleet cadets will have access to the classic version of the most famous Enterprise. It may technically be an evil twin, but its historic adventures aren’t over just yet.

Star Trek: Discovery and The Original Series stream on Paramount+.

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Long-lost first model of the USS Enterprise from ‘Star Trek’ boldly goes home after twisting voyage

The first model of the USS Enterprise is displayed at Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, left, and Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, shake hands over the recently recovered first model of the USS Enterprise at the Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, left, and Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, view the recently recovered first model of the USS Enterprise at Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles, April 13, 2024. The model — used in the original “Star Trek” television series — has been returned to Eugene, decades after it went missing in the 1970s. (Josh David Jordan/Heritage Auctions via AP)

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DALLAS (AP) — The first model of the USS Enterprise — used in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series — has boldly gone back home, returning to creator Gene Roddenberry’s son decades after it went missing.

The model’s disappearance sometime in the 1970s had become the subject of lore, so it caused a stir when it popped up on eBay last fall. The sellers quickly took it down, and then contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to authenticate it. Last weekend, the auction house facilitated the model’s return.

Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, said he’s thrilled to have the model that had graced the desk of his father, who died in 1991 at age 70.

“This is not going home to adorn my shelves,” Roddenberry said. “This is going to get restored and we’re working on ways to get it out so the public can see it and my hope is that it will land in a museum somewhere.”

AP AUDIO: Long-lost first model of the USS Enterprise from ‘Star Trek’ boldly goes home after twisting voyage.

AP correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports on the return of the original model of the USS Enterprise from the TV show “Star Trek.”

Heritage’s executive vice president, Joe Maddalena, said the auction house was contacted by people who said they’d discovered it a storage unit, and when it was brought into their Beverly Hills office, he and a colleague “instantly knew that it was the real thing.”

They reached out to Roddenberry, who said he appreciates that everyone involved agreed returning the model was the right thing to do. He wouldn’t go into details on the agreement reached but said “I felt it important to reward that and show appreciation for that.”

Maddalena said the model vanished in the 1970s after Gene Roddenberry loaned it to makers of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which was released in 1979.

“No one knew what happened to it,” Rod Roddenberry said.

The 3-foot (0.91-meter) model of the USS Enterprise was used in the show’s original pilot episode as well as the opening credits of the resulting TV series, and was the prototype for the 11-foot (3-meter) version featured in the series’ episodes. The larger model is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

The original “Star Trek” television series, which aired in the late 1960s, kicked off an ever-expanding multiverse of cultural phenomena, with TV and movie spinoffs and conventions where a fanbase of zealous and devoted Trekkies can’t get enough of memorabilia.

This USS Enterprise model would easily sell for more than $1 million at auction, but really “it’s priceless,” Maddalena said.

“It could sell for any amount and I wouldn’t be surprised because of what it is,” he said. “It is truly a cultural icon.”

Roddenberry, who was just a young boy when the model went missing, said he has spotty memories of it, “almost a deja vu.” He said it wasn’t something he’d thought much about until people began contacting him after it appeared on eBay.

“I don’t think I really, fully comprehended at first that this was the first Enterprise ever created,” he said.

He said he has no idea if there was something nefarious behind the disappearance all those decades ago or if it was just mistakenly lost, but it would be interesting to find out more about what happened.

“This piece is incredibly important and it has its own story and this would be a great piece of the story,” Roddenberry said.

Thankfully, he said, the discovery has cleared up one rumor: That it was destroyed because as a young boy, he’d thrown it into a pool.

“Finally I’m vindicated after all these years,” he said with a laugh.

Kirks Starship Enterprise Returns In Star Trek: Discovery - With A Big Twist

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 - "Mirrors"

• The Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise, last seen in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Mirror, Mirror," makes a shocking return in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5.
• Star Trek: Discovery filmed scenes on the USS Enterprise set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
• The ISS Enterprise now exists in the 32nd century, offering a new glimpse into the alternate reality of the Mirror Universe.

Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) Starship Enterprise makes a shocking return in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, but with a jaw-dropping twist - it's the ISS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Mirror, Mirror"! Written by Johanna Lee & Carlos Cisco and directed by Jen McGowan, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors," sees Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) enter interdimensional space to pursue Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) and the next clue to the Progenitors' ancient treasure. What Burnham and Book never expected to find was the Mirror Universe's derelict ISS Enterprise.

Star Trek: Discovery picked up the mantle of the Mirror Universe from Star Trek: The Original Series , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek; Enterprise. Discovery 's season 1's game-changing Mirror Universe arc introduced Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), who would enter Star Trek 's Prime Universe and is now headlining Paramount+'s upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie. Star Trek: Discovery deepened the saga of the Mirror Universe, but the alternate reality's final appearance was in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Thanks to Star Trek 's Temporal Wars , it's now impossible for the Prime and Mirror Universes to cross over in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century.

Individuals who both time travel and cross from Star Trek' s Prime and Mirror Universes suffer a lethal medical condition, such as what happened to Emperor Georgiou.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Star trek: discovery brings back kirks mirror universe starship enterprise, the iss enterprise last appeared in star trek: the original series' "mirror, mirror".

The Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 is the same Constitution Class starship from Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 4, "Mirror, Mirror," which was the ISS Enterprise's only prior canonical appearance. The ISS Enterprise was trapped in interdimensional space and abandoned by its crew, who were refugees and freedom fighters attempting to flee the Mirror Universe for Star Trek 's Prime Universe in the 24th century. As Captain Burnham later learned, the refugees made it to the Prime Universe, and one scientist even became a Starfleet Admiral.

In Star Trek: Enterprise season 4's "In A Mirror, Darkly", the 22nd-century Terran Empire gained control of the Constitution Class USS Defiant, which crossed over and time traveled from the 23rd-century Prime Universe.

In Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Mirror, Mirror", the ISS Enterprise was commanded by Captain James T. Kirk who assassinated its prior Captain, Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). "Mirror, Mirror" saw the Prime Universe's Kirk, Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Scotty (James Doohan) switch places with their Mirror counterparts due to a transporter accident during an ion storm. Before switching back, Prime Kirk planted a seed with the goateed Mirror Spock (Leonard Nimoy) to take control of the Terran Empire and institute reforms to prevent the inevitable destruction of the Empire.

Mirror Spock's reforms were successful but ultimately weakened the Terran Empire, which was conquered by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance, as seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Star Trek: Discovery Filmed Season 5s Enterprise On Strange New Worlds Set

Star trek: strange new worlds was on hiatus after season 2..

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors", was filmed on the USS Enterprise set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . When Discovery season 5 was in production in late 2022, Strange New Worlds was on hiatus after completing season 2 filming in June . ( Strange New Worlds wouldn't begin season 3 production until December 2023.) Sonequa Martin-Green, David Ajala, Eve Harlow, and Elias Toufexis shot on Strange New Worlds ' sets, which are located in Toronto where Star Trek: Discovery also filmed.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 is in production, and the series has been renewed for season 4.

Star Trek: Discovery redressed Strange New Worlds ' USS Enterprise set to become the ISS Enterprise. Scenes were filmed on the Enterprise's bridge, hallways, and medical bay. Interestingly, by using Strange New Worlds ' Enterprise set, which depicts the USS Enterprise before Captain Kirk assumes command, Star Trek: Discovery season 5 establishes that the ISS Enterprise, which crossed into the Prime Universe decades after Star Trek: The Original Series , is the same ship as in "Mirror, Mirror" despite the very different interiors.

Star Trek: Enterprise recreated the sets of Star Trek: The Original Series ' USS Enterprise for the interiors of the USS Defiant.

What Happens To Mirror Universes Enterprise In Star Trek: Discovery?

The 32nd century just got another 23rd-century starship.

Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker piloted the ISS Enterprise out of interdimensional space and into Star Trek 's Prime Universe with the help of the USS Discovery. Afterward, Burnham assigned Lt. Commanders Kayla Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) to fly the ISS Enterprise to Federation headquarters, so that the Mirror Universe's starship could be put into "storage". However, there are now fascinating ramifications to the ISS Enterprise existing in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century .

Amazingly, the ISS Enterprise is also now the second 23rd-century starship in 3191 along with the USS Discovery itself.

Although the ISS Enterprise is obsolete by 32nd-century standards, it's still a bonanza of Mirror Universe technology that the United Federation of Planets has now acquired . This would certainly be of interest to Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg). The 23rd-century ISS Enterprise is a window not just to 900 years ago, but also to the alternate reality, especially since the Mirror Universe is now sealed off permanently from the Federation. Amazingly, the ISS Enterprise is also now the second 23rd-century starship in 3191 along with the USS Discovery itself. Perhaps the ISS Enterprise will reappear and play a role in the second half of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+

Cast Blu del Barrio, Oded Fehr, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Wilson Cruz, Eve Harlow, Mary Wiseman, Callum Keith Rennie

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Alex Kurtzman

Directors Jonathan Frakes, Olatunde Osunsanmi

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Where To Watch Paramount+

Tholian ship (23rd century)

• View history

Tholian ships were small starships of characteristic shape, utilized by the Tholian Assembly during the 23rd century . These vessels were armed with plasma torpedo -like weaponry. But their most powerful weapon was the so-called " Tholian web ". This web was "woven" by two or more Tholian vessels around an enemy ship. This web could be used as a high power immobilization field/ tractor beam to pull captured starships back to Tholian territory. ( TOS : " The Tholian Web ")

• 2 Ships of the class
• 3.1 Background information
• 3.2 Apocrypha
• 3.3 Further reading
• 3.4 External link

History [ ]

In 2268 , a Tholian ship intercepted the USS Enterprise , demanding that it leave Tholian territory. At the request of First Officer Spock , Tholian Commander Loskene allowed the Enterprise additional time before they were required to withdraw to allow the Enterprise to rescue James T. Kirk from the interphased USS Defiant . The Enterprise crew was unable to rescue Kirk within the Tholians' time limit and the Tholians opened fire, damaging the Enterprise . The Enterprise returned fire, inflicting damage on the Tholian ship.

Soon after, a second Tholian ship appeared, and the two ships began constructing a web in an attempt to trap the Enterprise . The Enterprise crew, fortunately, was able to recover Kirk and escape before they fell victim to the Tholian's web. ( TOS : " The Tholian Web ")

Ships of the class [ ]

• Loskene's ship

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Original studio model

In the final draft script of " The Tholian Web ", the Tholian ship was described as " a tetrahedron shaped ship, about one quarter the size of a starship. The ship is crystaline in appearance and of blue green coloration. A soft light seems to pulsate from within. It travels with darting movements. "

Due to restrictive finances, Walter M. Jefferies designed the Tholian ship to be simple and inexpensive to build. Two studio models of the vessel were built, constructed almost entirely from wood except for the addition of reflective inserts embedded near the tails. ( Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection issue 26, p. 11) The materials used were balsawood and plastic. Measuring 15×5×7 inches, the two miniatures were adorned with the same stick-on reflective metal fabric as was used to decorate many of the hand props seen on Star Trek: The Original Series . ( The Best of Trek , p. 204). Michael Okuda has in 2001 credited Don Loos with both the build of the two original studio models and the later conversion of one of them into the Class J starship . ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture  (The Director's Edition) , text commentary )

For the making of "The Tholian Web", the Tholian ships were filmed against black velvet. ( Starlog , issue 25, p. 61) Mike Minor recalled, " We shot the models, which had been produced elsewhere, on a little stage at a place down on La Brea [note: Vanderveer Photo Effects ] and these elements were shot against black so that we could flop the images and have a ship going right or left, from the bottom right to top corner. Or the image of one ship moving diagonally across the screen could be positived with the image of a smaller ship moving diagonally left to right, right to left, up and down […] But for plot simplicity in getting the job done we simply had them moving in parallel movements, left to right and right to left. We never pulled back wide, which I wanted to do, and show the whole ship being dragged through space with this spherical dome of energy about it. " ( Enterprise Incidents , issue #14, pp. 44 & 45) The filming made use of some multi-colored lighting which was employed to help accentuate the strange, alien nature of the Tholians. ( Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection issue 26, pp. 11 & 13)

Russell's 2005 demonstration of the tiny Tholian ship forced-perspective model

As the by Loos manufactured models were deemed too large for effective use in creating the more distant, background Tholian ship web-spinning effect shots around the Enterprise because of "sense of scale" perspective issues, a much smaller model was constructed by Denis Russell , Minor's colleague at Vanderveer Photo Effects. As he later demonstrated at the 2005 Vegas Con Star Trek convention , this model was so tiny that Russell could keep it in his shirt pocket. [1] (X)

To represent the interior of the Tholian ship, a background of tin foil was used, which was then altered with special photographic effects. Methods involved a negative image of the background and then throwing more color onto its highlights, enhancing and saturating the footage. ( Enterprise Incidents , issue #14, p. 45)

The visual effect of the Tholian ships spinning their web around the Enterprise in "The Tholian Web", which was nominated for an Emmy Award in recognition of its special effects, definitely made an impression on the television audiences of the 1960s and the Tholian ship was certainly not forgotten. However, illustrator John Eaves – who modified the Tholian ship for appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise (in the episodes " Future Tense ") – was slightly critical of the original design. " I felt the profile view was a little stark and harsh in The Original Series," he said. ( Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection issue 26, pp. 11 & 12) On the other hand, reviewer Sue Uram described the Tholian craft as "a rather nice touch from the effects department." ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 27, No. 11/12, p. 97) Also, Richard Van Trueran characterized the miniature of the Tholian ship as "clever." ( The Best of Trek , p. 204)

This model was the last new original design created for the series, and one of them was subsequently redressed by original builder Loos to represent the Aurora in " The Way to Eden " ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture  (The Director's Edition) , text commentary ). It was in this configuration, that the model was gifted by Paramount Television in 1974 to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum , where it made its first and, to date, only public appearance in the 1992-1994 Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit , [2] after having received an extensive restoration by Ed Miarecki and his staff at Science Fiction Modelmaking Associates . [3] On the occasion, Miarecki made use of the opportunity to cast an additional copy of the model to represent the original Tholian starship as well in the exhibition, as was later confirmed by Gary Kerr . ( source )

After The Original Series had been cancelled, the actual unaltered screen-used (master) model of the Tholian ship ended up in the possession of John Jefferies . Jefferies decided to put his model up for auction as lot 165, estimated at US$7,000-10,000, at Profiles in History 's The Star Trek Auction on 12 December 2001 in order to raise funding for the " Motion Picture & Television Fund " charity. [4] (X) Three years later the model was as lot 208 offered up again at Profiles' 31 March 2004 Hollywood Auction 18 , estimated at US$12,000-15,000. Brother Matt incidentally, also put up his Star Trek holdings at the same 2001 Star Trek auction for the very same purpose, including his Tholian starship design as lot 164, estimated at US$300-500. [5] Both Jefferies items ultimately turned up together again at the 7 November 2021 Heritage The Azarian Collection Auction as lots 89866 (design) and 89867 (model) with the corresponding estimates of US$2,000 and US$20,000, [6] eventually selling for US$2,500 and US$27,500 respectively – including 25% buyer's premium. [7]

For the 2006 remastered edition of "The Tholian Web", the Tholian vessels appeared much different from their initial appearance. Now more closely resembling the Tholian ships from Star Trek: Enterprise , the TOS-R version featured an altered structure and lighted interior.

For the recreation of the Tholian web in ST : " Ephraim and Dot ", the Tholian ships resembled those seen in the remastered version of "The Tholian Web".

Apocrypha [ ]

According to Star Trek Maps , due to their design similarity, it was believed by Starfleet that the Tholians were using modified Federation space cruisers as their starships.

Further reading [ ]

• Issue 26, August 2014
• Issue 129, July 2018

External link [ ]

• Spinner class at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)