A lookalike son. That might work. Besides, if Archer went on to be Federation President towards the end of the previous century then he SHOULD be called President Archer were he still alive and kicking. not "Admiral". But that's just a small nitpick.
"I don't care if you have to search every rock orbiting the Murasaki Quasar, you're not leaving until you've found my beagle!"
Meh, I don't care. You know, if it's Archer's son, which is silly, and not Archer, let someone else play him. Hey, let's throw Connor Trinneer a bone and let him play it. (Edit: I didn't mean to say Connor should get the throw-aways, more like let him be apart of it, too.) Chris, love it!
I had the thought that it would have been more poignant to reference Ambassador T'Pol and her prized beagle. As one of T'Pol's first scenes was distaste for Porthos, such a reference would indicate how much she changed. Besides, if Archer became President of the Federation, that title would take precedence over any Starfleet title. Less problematic about being alive, too.
People, people.. it's the same Archer. Enterprise featured a temporal cold war. Star Trek XI featured a Romulan changing history with time travel. It is clear that this reference to Archer in the movie speaks of an untold story, that of Archer ending up some years or decades into the future, unaged. Hence he is alive during Kirk's era because he is not as old as he should be. It could be as simple as what happened to Scotty in TNG or it could involve all kinds of nefarious plots.. and we would know all about it if ENT had not been cancelled!!!!
Connor Trinneer playing Archer's son? Imagine if he played Archer's and T'Pol's son, now wouldn't that be something. I already have a scene in my head: ARCHER'S DEATHBED Pointy-eared Jonathan Archer Jr. (played by Trinneer): "Dad, I've been thinking... About that DNA test..."
KIRK:"Don't you have something you need to go do, sir? I mean...my childhood hero or not...you're a pain in the ASS right now."
"Don't patronise me, kiddo. I was annoying the hell out of everyone when your grandfather wasn't even in diapers, yet!"
I think we already have a plausible answer as to why Archer could live 150+ In Divergence, Archer was infected with the Klingon augment virus in order to produce enough anti-bodies for a cure. Even Phlox at the time stated "I would have to expose you to the plague; I cannot predict what it might do to you." Even Klingons suffered the residual effect of being genetically ridgeless a century later. It is plausible even after being cured, Archers exposure to the augment virus allowed him to live well beyond a normal human's lifespan. It was, after all, just an augment virus.
THIS. Okay as far as I'm concerned that is the answer. It's completely obvious and doesn't require any unseen events.
I was glad to hear the reference to the old Porthos in the movie. Hopefully we will see the old dog in the next movie.
I just finished the the movie novel and a Vulcan scientist named T'Mer is mention it makes me wonder if she was T'Pol's great grandmother.She was considered to have been one of Vulcans greatest scientists.
Makes one wonder if T'Pol lived long enough to die on Vulcan in the alternate/changed timeline. She would have just turned 172 were she still around(2086-2258). The odds were against it...but a sad possibility.
I like to think she was on Earth eating pecan pie and drinking chamomile tea together with "Uncle Carl" (if you've read "Last Full Measure," you should get it)