In the season 3 episode titled “Chosen Realm,” Captain Archer, portrayed by Scott Bakula, and his crew aboard the NX-01 Enterprise face off against a sect of religious zealots. These fanatics revere the deadly spheres created by the Xindi—spheres that Archer and his team aim to obliterate to save Earth. Taylor Sheridan assumes the role of Jareb, one of the fervent extremists who aids in commandeering the Enterprise, stepping into the shoes of the science officer usually filled by the Vulcan T’Pol, played by Jolene Blalock.

Sheridan’s role in “Chosen Realm” may have been minor, but it offered a glimpse into his early acting career, long before he transitioned to the realm of writing and directing. This was years ahead of his notable part as Sheriff Hale on “Sons of Anarchy” and over a decade before he directed his first feature film, “Sicario”—a project he fully embraces despite having disowned an earlier directorial work.

The 2001 prequel series “Star Trek: Enterprise” was renowned for featuring a multitude of guest stars, including talents who had yet to achieve fame, such as Taylor Sheridan. This roster boasted the likes of the late Annie Wersching, seasoned character actors like Jeffrey Combs and Vaughn Armstrong, and even a few high-profile names like Peter Weller. Among these guests was another “Yellowstone” actor, Michael Nouri, known for his role as Bob Schwartz, a banker entangled in the fiery wrath of Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton. Before facing the Duttons, Nouri donned Vulcan ears in the opening part of a three-episode arc starting with “The Forge.”

Like many “Star Trek” shows, the 2001 prequel series “Star Trek: Enterprise” featured loads of big name guest stars, including many who weren’t yet famous, like Taylor Sheridan. This includes the late Annie Wersching, but it also includes veteran character actors like Jeffrey Combs and Vaughn Armstrong, and even a few superstars like Peter Weller. But it also included another member of the “Yellowstone” cast. Michael Nouri, who appeared in the first four seasons of “Yellowstone” as Bob Schwartz, a banker who has the misfortune of getting on the bad side of Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton. Before he was earning some of that famous Dutton rage, however, Nouri was wearing those famous Vulcan ears and appearing in the first part of a three-part “Enterprise” arc that began with “The Forge.”

In that story, Captain Archer and the NX-01 Enterprise visit the planet Vulcan. There, Archer meets Arev (Nouri), the leader of a religious sect of Vulcans called Syrannites whose long-dead founder Syrann was a follower of the teachings of the ancient logic master Surak. But the twist of the episode is that Arev’s mind houses the Katra — or Vulcan soul — of Syrann himself. When Arev dies, he transfers Syrann’s Katra to Archer, who must save the Syrannite founder’s soul before the Vulcan High Command destroys the rebel faction of logic-following Vulcans.

A key episode of the series that explores the evolution of the Vulcans, “The Forge” is elevated by the veteran Nouri, who delivers a powerful performance as the rebel leader Syrann in disguise. And his role provides just one more connection between “Star Trek” and “Yellowstone,” Paramount’s two biggest television franchises. To learn more, be sure to read about the best shows currently streaming on Paramount+.