Summary
Warning: contains spoilers for “Facemaker,” appearing inStar Trek Celebrations: Pride!
Star Trekhas confirmed the fate of Doctor Phlox, nearly a century afterEnterpriseended. TheEnterprise’sChief Medical Officer, Phlox, helped lay the foundations that later doctors such as McCoy, Crusher and Bashir would build on. Fans have wondered about Phlox’s fate after the show ended. In the story “Facemaker,”appearing inStar Trek Celebrations: Pride,fans catch up with Phlox, nearly a century after the show.
“Facemaker” appears in this year’sStar Trek Celebrations: Prideand is by Mags Visaggio and Tench. It follows Nurse Christine Chapel, shortly before her appointment to Captain Pike’sEnterprise, as she works on a revolutionary new technology that could facilitate first contact. As Chapel’s work progresses, she mentions her boss is none other than Doctor Phlox. Chapel cracks the code by story’s end, and Phlox himself appears to praise her ingenuity.
Fans see Phlox is still very active in the 23rd century,albeit with some gray in his hair now.
Phlox’s Denobula was a polyamorous society, and Phlox had three wives, who each had three other husbands.
Star Trek: EnterpriseShowed How the Federation and Starfleet Came to Be
Doctor Phlox Was a Stand-OutEnterpriseCharacter
Star Trek: Enterprisewas a prequel to the classic series. Set in the mid-22nd century, the show chronicled the exploits of Captain Jonathan Archer. The captain of Earth’s first deep space mission, Archer, is a vital figure inStar Treklore. Equally vital as Archer was his crew. The ship’s communication officer, Hoshi Sato, developed the field of xeno-linguistics and initiated a legacy still going strong in the 24th century. Also serving aboard theEnterprisewas Doctor Phlox, a Denobulan. Phlox was working as part of the Interspecies Medical Exchange Program when Archer recruited him to theEnterprise.
As the first doctor aboard Earth’s first true foray into deep space, Phlox encountered medical mysteries galore, and it is not a stretch that future Starfleet physicians, ranging from Doctor McCoy toVoyager’sEMH, have taken some of their cues from Doctor Phlox.
Phlox was the most unconventional physician, using holistic techniques in conjunction with cutting edge, 22nd century medical technology. Phlox’s Sick Bay was stuffed full of exotic plants and animals, which he used for medicinal purposes. As the first doctor aboard Earth’s first true foray into deep space, Phlox encountered medical mysteries galore, and it is not a stretch that future Starfleet physicians, ranging from Doctor McCoy toVoyager’sEMH, have taken some of their cues from Doctor Phlox. Phlox’s affable demeanor, mixed with his unique approach to practicing medicine, made him one ofEnterprise’smost popular characters.
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Phlox’sStar TrekLegacy Runs Deep
Phlox Is a Living Starfleet Legend
Now, fans learn that Phlox is not only still alive a hundred years after theEnterprise’smission, but he now heads up a prestigious wing of Starfleet medical. By this point, Phlox is probably something of a legend, an icon with direct ties to one of the greatest captains in Starfleet history. Federation school children can only read about Jonathan Archer’s exploits, but Phlox saw them all first hand. Doctor Phlox is aStar Trekicon, and his legacy extends deep into the 23rd century.
