Episode Review - Home (Enterprise, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Captain Archer and his crew finally reach home after successfully completing their mission to stop the Xindi from destroying Earth. As the crew are setting about relaxing and enjoying some much needed shore leave, they learn that the latest crisis has left Earth changed. In addition to that, T’Pol and Tucker travel to Vulcan together where T’Pol’s mother informs her daughter that the time to marry her fiancée is now. Each member of the crew seeks to adapt to the changes in their respective lives.

Score: 8/10 – Reminiscent of TNG’s episode “Family”, this episode takes the crew back to Earth to be debriefed and recuperate from overcoming the latest crisis. Several of the main characters each have their own story as they deal with the aftermath of the Xindi crisis. Archer is struggling with the emotional consequences of some of his decisions, and the toll of those choices reaches a breaking point when he snaps at Soval. T’Pol and Tucker must rectify their feelings for each other, but it does not end the way we may have expected it as T’Pol ends up marrying Koss with Trip witnessing the ceremony. As for the rest of the crew, an interesting story of xenophobia that has gripped Earth encircles them, focussing mostly on Phlox being the target of the hatred while Travis, Malcolm, and Hoshi support the good doctor. This almost should have been a two part episode to allow each of the stories to develop more, but what we are given is sufficient for our characters and is a nice break after the exhausting Xindi conflict. I found the xenophobic storyline to be the most interesting, and yet it received the least amount of air time. The good news is that its theme is picked up later in the season. It was nice that the T’Pol-Tucker story did not follow the typical “forbidden love” angle which would have had Tucker somehow stopping the wedding. The end part of that story leaves it open-ended for the time being, and it will also feature prominently in future storylines. With Archer, we are introduced to Captain Erica Hernadez, who is a nice potential love interest for Archer. She will show up again as well. Overall, this episode does a good job at changing gears of the show, finally putting the Xindi arc behind and moving forward with some interesting new ideas.

Relevance – 3 points. Obviously we bring closure to the Xindi conflict. In this episode it is revealed that 27 members of Archer’s crew died on that mission. We also see how many of the decisions that Archer made on that mission have been haunting him. Archer makes several references to episodes from the past three years, most notably “Impulse” where Archer had to destroy a Vulcan ship with all her crew. There is also the appearance of Koss, T’Pol’s fiancée who was mentioned in Season 1. Their storyline has more to be told. We also have the seeds sown of the xenophobic group called “Terra Prime” with the anti-alien sentiments that are witnessed by Phlox and the others. A lot of storylines are either continued or have the foundations established in this episode, making it important to see.

Continuity – 3 points. Story continuity and universe continuity are both good here. Character continuity is also good. I especially found Phlox’s response to the racism shown against him interesting. At first, I thought he would not have chosen to remain on the ship when invited to go for his beloved egg drop soup, but upon further reflection it makes sense. Phlox has always been one who would rather avoid making people upset, and while he will defend his patients with passion, he is less likely to make a scene on his own behalf.

Character Development – 3 points. A lot goes on here for our crew, with Archer, T’Pol, and Tucker seeing the most advancement. Archer gets to finally deal with all the negative emotions that have built up over the last season. T’Pol gets married, and Tucker finally admits that he has feelings for her. For both of them this episode is significant in their development. Even the other crew members get some attention. We see Phlox persecuted for being an alien, and then see him calmly withdraw internally. Mayweather and Reed defend him in a bar brawl, but Sato tries to comfort him emotionally. It showed how close these four had become throughout the series.

Social Commentary – 3 points. There are three stories here, and each carries its own message and/or commentary. Archer’s deals with the emotional toll of hard decisions and shows us that it is necessary for us to deal with these types of emotions as soon as it is expedient. T’Pol and Tucker deal with the forbidden love. If we are not true to our own feelings towards others, we may find that those we love may be forced to choose someone else. Finally, with Phlox’s tale, we have an extremely relevant message about the dangers of xenophobia. This, as mentioned previously, will come into full fruition in a later episode. Regardless of which, the warning against hating those who are different could not be more relevant than today.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I have to score a point for Phlox’s defence face. That was one cool little surprise. I also want to score a point for the scenes on Vulcan and the rock-climbing that Archer and Hernadez were doing. It was some great views we able to witness.

Rank – Admiral (22 points). This episode may be lacking in some of the action that was prevalent in the two-part season opener and much of the previous season, but “Home” gives us a nice break. It advances most of the main characters and lays some important groundwork for the rest of the season.

If you would like to check out my other episode reviews for Enterprise, simply click here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - A Night in Sickbay (Enterprise, Season 2)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – In trying to get a plasma injector for Enterprise, Archer unwittingly offend the Kreetassan people. To add to Archer’s frustrations, his dog, Porthos, has taken ill after being on the Kreetassan planet. Archer chooses to spend the night in sickbay to be with his sick pet. As Doctor Phlox exhausts every avenue to save Porthos, Archer receives advice from the Doctor that may suggest a reason for the Captain’s irritability.

Score: 6/10 – This was a difficult episode for me to score. It wasn’t a horrible episode. There were some great moments, such as the funny quirks of Phlox. There are also some questionable moments. Archer really acted out of character, there was another infamous gel-rubbing scene, and the whole “Archer is attracted to T’Pol and sexually frustrated by it” never went much further beyond this episode. So while this episode was not terrible, it also was not very memorable.

Relevance - 1 point. One point scored for Phlox discussing his large family. His three wives was mentioned earlier, while we would eventually meet one of those wives when she comes aboard the Enterprise.

Continuity - 2 points. Story continuity works. In the next episode, “Marauders”, it was a Kreetassan merchant that suggests the planet the Enterprise visits next, so this fits. Universe continuity works as well. I am taking a point off for character continuity, however, in the very un-Archer like manner that the Captain is acting in. Archer is a trained diplomat who admittedly has a temper, but the level he takes it to in this episode is a bit far. Especially when it is suggested that his moodiness stems from a lack of sexual intimacy. I would suspect that one of the most important figures in Starfleet at this time would be able to keep a calmer persona when he is not finding success with the ladies.

Character Development – 1 point. Definitely an Archer episode (although one that destroys a lot of his diplomacy cred in the eyes of a lot of fans). He acts in a much exaggerated form of what we are accustomed to. As I mentioned in the Continuity section, it was a bit far for him as a character to get so moody. There is also some good interactions with Archer and Phlox, revealing his training in veterinary medicine and psychology. We also see some good development between T’Pol and Archer, as it is suggested that the source of Archer’s behaviour is due to sexual tension between himself and the subcommander. Despite this hint, it is not developed any further within the series. Due to the great inconsistencies with Archer’s temper tantrums and the fact that the source of his behaviour is never mentioned again, I can’t say that this episode really moved any characters along well.

Social Commentary – 1 point. The Social Commentary was a bit weak for me on this. Was it about taking care of your pet? Making sure you deal with sexual frustration before you create a diplomatic offense? Not really. I think the main message is about swallowing your pride and controlling your temper, especially when it is for the greater good. I would like to have had more, but sadly this is as good as it gets.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. There is definitely cool stuff in the night that Archer spent in sickbay. We learn about Phlox’s ever-fast-growing toenails, and his enormously long tongue that needs a good nightly scraping. Phlox is one of my favourite characters on Enterprise, and the more we get to learn about him (and Denobulans in general), the better.

Rank – Lieutenant (12 points). I do not think that this episode deserves much of the negativity it often receives on the internet, but likewise it is not the greatest of episodes. If you are Doctor Phlox fan, then you will likely want to catch this episode. If not, you could likely skip this one without missing much.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Enterprise, please click the following link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - Doctor's Orders (Enterprise, Season 3)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – En route to Azati Prime, the Enterprise encounters a trans-dimensional disturbance in their path. The disturbance would be deadly to humans and would add an additional two weeks to their journey to if they attempt to fly around it. Instead, a plan is devised to keep the entire crew, except for Phlox, in a comatose state. The normally sociable Phlox, meanwhile, finds himself alone for four days, having to deal with the solitude. During the journey, he starts to question as to whether the disturbance is having an unexpected effect on him as well.

Score: 9/10 – This is a fabulous episode that puts Phlox front and center. It is a mixture of comedy, suspense, and thrills. It is nice to see Phlox take command of the ship and be the hero. There are a few funny moments (the idea that if there was nobody else on the ship that Phlox would occasionally do his rounds in the nude). A few moments that make you jump as Phlox starts to hallucinate. Oh, and just in case you haven’t seen it yet, BIG SPOILER AHEAD! One of the best parts of the whole episode was the setup of the big plot twist. T’Pol is seen with Phlox for much of the episode as his only sentient companion. The end of the episode reveals that T’Pol has been in a coma like the rest of the crew the whole time, making the T’Pol that Phlox had been talking to was another hallucination. The set-up was well done. While we initially buy the idea that T’Pol is real, if you watch her closely, she never touches anything. When Phlox offers her a bowl of his Denobulan soup, she never touches it. When in engineering during the crisis, T’Pol becomes unable to operate the controls, using an excuse of the radiation affecting her more than anticipated. It is a well-executed plot twist. This episode has received some criticism for essentially being the same story as "One" from Voyager's fourth season. While Voyager may have been the first to do this kind of story, Enterprise did a far better job. "One" may have been good, but "Doctor's Orders" was fantastic.

Relevance - 2 points. One point scored for the Phlox’s letter to Doctor Lucas. This was introduced in “Dear Doctor”, and will be followed up again. It also lets us know what Doctor Lucas was up to since the Xndi attacked Earth. A second point is scored for the reference to something Phlox told Hoshi Sato about how Denobulans think it is healthy to have hallucinations a few episodes back in “Exile”. In this case, having the hallucination of T’Pol was definitely beneficial.

Continuity - 3 points. Everything checks out. T’Pol’s odd behaviour can easily be overlooked as it was not really T’Pol that we were seeing. This keeps character continuity in check. Archer having the utmost confidence in Phlox, Tucker being ready to take on death if it meant saving the ship and its crew (a forshadowing of the series finale). Universe continuity also works here, as everything that has been previously established stays intact. We also can score a point for story continuity. While this episode is in the middle of the Xindi story arc, it does well on its own or as a chapter in the season-long saga.

Character Development – 2 points. With everyone else being in a coma, it is hard to develop anybody other than Phlox. He is the main star, with everyone else being there to help further his development.

Social Commentary – 1 point. How does one deal with isolation? How does one deal with stressful situations? Well, in all honesty, there is not much being said on any topic really. While this does not diminish how great the story and the episode is, I cannot give more than a single point for this section.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. The whole story is cool and gives us a cool moment, especially the reveal at the end. I am also giving a point for showing a clip of the movie “The Court Jester”. It showed that good comedy will transcend the centuries.

Rank – Captain (19 points). I think this is a wonderful episode. Even if you are not into the Xindi storyline, “Doctor’s Orders” is a strong episode that highlights the character of Doctor Phlox and the acting of John Billingsley. It is great storytelling that keeps you guessing, mixing the humor with some scares. Definitely an episode to watch, perhaps even a few times.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Enterprise, please click the following link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Why I Love Enterprise

Celebrating the five full decades of Star Trek should be a yearlong event, so I thought I would spread the love of all things Trek. Previously in this series I touched on why I loved the Original Series, the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and most recently Voyager. Next on our list is the show that ended Trek on television (at least until Discovery comes along) by taking us back to the beginning of the Federation, Star Trek Enterprise.

The year was 2001. Voyager had returned to the Alpha Quadrant earlier in the year, and a new Trek series was eagerly anticipated. Set in an era prior to the establishment of the Federation, the setting occurred in a universe where relationships between Earth and Vulcan were cool, many species had yet to be discovered, and the warp-speed travel was still new. The premise of the show has Captain Johnathon Archer taking command of Earth’s first Warp 5 ship. Joining him are some of Earth’s finest along with some alien allies. As the show progressed and the exploration began, we were able to see the seeds planted that ultimately led to the growth of the United Federation of Planets. There was no Prime Directive, no replicators, no holodeck, just the grit of the early explorers.

It has been said that no series of Trek has been so polarizing. There was a great deal of resistance, and many found ample material to complain about. Some hated the theme song (it had lyrics for Spock’s sake!), others disliked the apparent continuity errors, while some criticized what was described as decisions made to try to up ratings at the expense of good character development and story-telling. This was the first trek series since the Original that was cancelled due to low ratings, and some have argued that the franchise has never recovered from Enterprise. The show did not even contain the words “Star Trek” in its title until the third season. Producer Rick Berman had said that he felt the studio rushed the production of Enterprise, claiming that the television market had become saturated with Star Trek by having three series going seven seasons each over 14 years and felt the franchise needed to catch its breath before moving on. Some fans agreed.

Still, Enterprise had a loyal, though smaller, following. Many enjoyed seeing the early growth of humanity as it became an interstellar power. We were entreated to the first encounter with the Klingons in the pilot episode. Some appreciated the new characters, new races, and what life in the 22^nd century was like. Some were fascinated by the depiction of humans that were not quite at the utopian level that Roddenberry had envisioned. I enjoyed the series myself, though I had a few more dislikes about it than any other series, but since we are keeping it positive here, I give you my top 5 reasons for why I love Enterprise.

1. Shran – Played by the amazing Jeffery Combs, Shran was the first major Andorian character. I loved how they developed this character. He started out as an adversary and quickly grew into one of the most trusted allies of the Enterprise crew. He was tough, quick-tempered, and fierce. His lines were brilliantly written, to the point where when I get tired of a particular human of Caucasian descent, I think about calling him “pink-skin”. I think the saddest part of the cancellation of Enterprise was the revelation that had it lasted a fifth season, Shran would have become part of the crew and a Jeffery Combs a main cast member.

2. Dr. Phlox – Our favourite (and first) Denobulan. He was a wonderfully refreshing character. Funny, different, and showed that the Denobulans were more than just another alien with a different forehead. His physiology was just different enough to add a “cool” factor. From his extremely long tongue to his literal ear-to-ear grin, Dr. Phlox provided us some comic relief. There was more to him than that, however. He became a moral compass to the crew who, unlike the Vulcan T’Pol, could share an outsider’s perspective and an excitement of exploration that gave a great deal of balance to the crew.

3. Explaining the Klingons – For many decades there was one important question that was not answered for the fans. In the Original Series the Klingons looked like deeply tanned humans with cool mustaches. When the films began, their foreheads became ridged and prominent. No explanation given. The closest we came was in the DS9 episode “Trials and Tribblations” when Worf tells his crew mates that the reason they looked different was because it was a ‘private matter”. Well, Enterprise came up with the best possible explanation. It bridged the story line with the Augments and DNA

4. Nods to the future and the past – Some classic aliens and characters were either updated or foreshadowed. On the list of upgrades, we have the Orions, Tellarites, Gorn, and Tholians. Foreshadowing of the future we have Arik Soong (ancestor of Data’s creator, Noonien Song, all played wonderfully by Brent Spiner), the Organians, and, naturally, the United Federation of Planets. We found out what the early days of the Terran Empire was like as well as the fate of the first USS Defiant from the classic episode “The Tholian Web” when we were taken to the mirror universe. I can overlook the early introduction to the Ferengi and the Borg knowing that this series showed respect to the series that came before.

5. Scott Bakula – I have been a fan of Bakula since “Quantum Leap”. I liked what he brought to the role of Captain Johnathan Archer. He was tough, had a chip on his shoulder, and was determined to push humanity into the galaxy. Yes, he was flawed. He made big mistakes. This is what helps me identify with him. He also admitted those mistakes. He owned them. He worked to improve himself. All of this was brought with great strength in Bakula’s performance. Add to that the fact that Mr. Bakula is one of the most well-liked and respected actors in Hollywood. At a convention with Connor Trineer, he mentioned that after every day of shooting, Bakula would personally thank every member of the crew and cast. He treated everyone on set as if they were equally important. For this reason, I am proud that he was a part of Enterprise.

It’s been a long road, getting from there to here (sorry, I couldn’t resist), but these are the top reasons why I love Enterprise. There are others, of course, and I may have overlooked some of yours, so feel free to add them to the comment section. In what will likely be a far more controversial topic, the next article in this series will be why I love the Kelvin Timeline film series.