Evil Vulcans became the enemy in Star Trek: Enterprise, just as corrupt Klingons were often the enemies in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Vulcans and Klingons both made their debut on Star Trek: The Original Series, which established many elements about their species. However, with the episodic nature of 1960s television, TOS did not spend much time developing complex cultural histories for the alien species it introduced. TOS would reveal hints about the Vulcans when it pertained to a specific storyline involving Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and the Klingons served as general enemies for Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) to oppose.
Initially, Gene Roddenberry wanted Star Trek: The Next Generation to steer away from aliens like Vulcans and Klingons to differentiate itself from Star Trek: The Original Series. For example, Roddenberry did not want Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) to be a main character, but the Klingon nevertheless proved popular with fans. Most of Worf's stories throughout TNG dealt with his complex relationship with the Klingon Empire. TNG revealed more about Klingon politics and their way of life than TOS ever had, exposing the many corrupt politicians in the Klingon High Council. Star Trek: Enterprise followed suit with 22nd-century Vulcans.
Enterprise’s Vulcans Followed Star Trek: TNG’s Corrupt Klingons
Enterprise Featured Corrupt Vulcan Politicians Just Like TNG's Corrupt Klingons
Although the Klingon Empire and the Federation were allies by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation, corrupt Klingon politicians sought to sabotage this partnership in the interests of the Romulan Star Empire.
T’Pol Dealt With Evil Vulcans Like Worf’s History With Evil Klingons
T'Pol & Worf's Stories Have Several Parallels
Despite being raised by humans, Worf held on to his Klingon heritage and ultimately came to embody Klingon honor better than many of his people. He was dismayed to learn about the corruption in the Klingon High Council and spent years trying to root it out. Similarly, Sub-commander T'Pol regularly butted heads with Vulcans who did not have Starfleet's best interest in mind. When the Enterprise launched a missiion to search for the Xindi after they attacked Earth, T'Pol was ordered to return to Vulcan. T'Pol chose to defy her superiors and remain on the Enterprise, just as Worf accepted a discommendation to remain on the USS Enterprise-D.
T'Pol ultimately helped uncover the Romulan conspiracy that had infected the Vulcan High Command and helped usher in a new era for the Vulcan people, as they embraced the true teachings of Surak. While Worf and T'Pol's situations were not exact parallels, they were both the only members of their species on ships full of (mostly) humans. They both had to come to terms with the fact that their people were not as above reproach as they once believed. On Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: The Next Generation, T'Pol and Worf shaped their people's futures and strengthened their alliance with the Federation.
