Episode Review - Northstar (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 – While searching the Delphic expanse the crew of the Enterprise discover a planet that has a colony of humans that live in a late nineteenth century American wild west society. They live among a smaller group of aliens, called Skagarans, or “Skags” as many humans call them. Archer learns that the Skagarans kidnapped several humans from the United States west to serve as slave labor for a new colony. The humans revolted and overthrew their captors, and since then the humans have formed a society that treats Skagarans as second-class citizens. Archer befriends Bethany, a teacher in the community who teaches Skagaran children. Archer soon becomes entangled with the local law enforcement and soon confronts the citizens of North Star with the truth of their home world.

Score: 8/10 – I have to say that a good old fashioned wild west episode is a lot of fun. One of Star Trek’s (and science fiction’s in general) strengths is the ability to interact with different genres. The concept is intriguing and is not the first time we learn that humans from Earth’s past have been abducted by aliens (Voyager’s second season opener “The 37s” being another notable example). While some of the North Star residents seem to be taken right out of the western genre’s cookie cutter, they are still developed with some real humanity. While the blatantly racist deputy Bennings is two-dimensional, the characters of Bethany and Sherriff MacReady are given some good depth. This is especially true of Sherriff MacReady, played brilliantly by Glenn Morshower (in his fifth Trek appearance). We see a man who seems to feel that the law must be upheld, but secretly hides some sympathy for the “Skags”. When he is shown that humans have come from Earth and have overcome many of their past prejudices, he is open-minded enough to reconsider many of the anti-Skagaran laws. Some of the editing of scenes in this episode is a bit clunky, but overall the episode is well shot and a lot of fun. One other complaint is the make-up of the Skagarans. In the opening scene it is difficult to see that the man being hung is indeed different from the humans due to the dark lighting. Afterwards, in better lighting, the difference is more noticeable, but the makeup could have been more noteworthy.

Relevance - 0 points. Looking at how the Xindi arc ends Season 3, and that Season 4 ends, there is no further mention of the inhabitants of this planet. I hope that Archer remembered to inform Starfleet about this colony, but we do not hear anything about it. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes that is the nature of good episodes.

Continuity – 3 points. Character continuity checks out as nobody doers anything unexpected. There is a part in one of the gun fights near the end where a townsmen grabs T’Pol and holds a gun to her head, telling Malcom Reed to drop his weapon or T’Pol will die. Reed takes a second to assess the situation and stuns T’Pol with his phaser, taking her out of the equation. Good old practical Malcom Reed. Universe continuity is also good as we have already established that aliens have been known to kidnap humans pre-warp drive. Finally, story continuity is also good. There were a few editing choices that made the story a bit rough at time, but everything progressed as we would expect it to.

Character Development – 2 points. It is quite interesting to see many of the characters interact in the old west. Tucker is a bit awkward with horses, and Archer seems to have fit easily in the scenario. Mostly we see Archer throwing himself into the mix to right a wrong that was being perpetuated among the Skagarans. He seems to be able to think well on his feet. So while we see many of our characters get some attention, nobody gets any real significant development. Enough for 2, but not 3 points.

Social Commentary – 3 points. The Skagarans were created to provide a parallel to the way Native Americans were treated in the old west. The story does work with that, but the Skagaran situation brings the idea of racism to the forefront. In this story, there is a valid reason for humans to have a beef with Skagarans, and yet it is obvious that the humans have taken things too far. It is very noteworthy here that at some point the sins of the ancestors should not be held against their descendants. There needs to be a balance between sensitivity towards the long-lasting impact of past historical wrongs with not committing more wrongs in retaliation.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. The shootout between the former deputy and his posse with Archer and his people was quite enjoyable. In particular, there is a character who shows up often who is never really given a name, but in the script goes by S. Money. She is played by long-time stunt actress Dorenda Moore. She stands out in this fight as an individual who is someone you don’t want to mess with, making a huge impact on the overall outcome. That scores a point in this section. I also will score a point for how authentic the wild west set and story felt. It just worked on many levels.

Rank – Captain (18 points). There have been several “wild west” themed episodes in Star Trek over the years, but I think this is one of, if not the, very best. It has a lot of heart and fun in it. While the overall search for the Xindi is the main theme of this season, “North Star” gives us a pleasant diversion.

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 - The Expanse (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 – A probe of unknown origin suddenly appears in orbit of Earth and opens fire, cutting a swath of destruction from Florida to Venezuela, killing over 7 million people in the process. Enterprise is recalled to Earth. En route, Silik momentarily abducts Captain Archer and introduces him to the mysterious entity that has been guiding the Suliban in the Temporal Cold War. Archer is informed that the attack came from the Xindi, and that it is because of a different temporal faction that is intending to wipe out Earth. After being returned to Enterprise, Archer resumes the course to Earth. Upon entering the solar system, the Klingon Duras attacks the Enterprise. He is driven off by the Intrepid and two other Earth vessels. After arriving at Earth, Archer is able to convince Starfleet and the Vulcan High Command to allow the Enterprise to find the Xindi, who are apparently building a more powerful weapon with the intent to destroy Earth entirely. It is revealed that the Xindi homeworld is in the Delphic expanse, and dangerous and unpredictable region of space where few Vulcan ships have returned from. With the threat of the Xindi ahead of them, and the threat of Duras behind them, Archer and his valiant crew begin their mission with the literal fate of Earth at stake.

Score: 8/10 – Enterprise took a major gamble on the third season, and they set it up almost perfectly with the second season finale. From the opening moments, the viewers are given a clear message that Enterprise is about to change its tone in a big way. While Archer has to deal with both his Klingon adversary, Duras, and the destruction done by the Xindi probe, he and his crew prepare themselves for the biggest challenge they have faced yet. Tucker becomes the face of those traumatized by the attack, as he has to cope with the loss of his baby sister. T’Pol is forced to choose between her loyalty to the Vulcan High Command and to Archer and the Enterprise. We have the Temporal Cold War woven into the story, and some pretty cool ship-to-ship battles. There is a lot on the line, and it sets us up for a great look into the next season. My one complaint is that they seem to be trying to push a lot into this episode. We have an attack, and then a Klingon council meeting about Archer. We have several weeks go by in seconds. There is a refitting of the Enterprise and Archer wondering how many of his crew will be leaving. A brief reference to the Macos is made, and other than the main three characters (Archer, Trip, and T’Pol), there is little time given to the other characters. I get why it is overloaded, but it does take away a little from the overall story.

Relevance – 3 points. Point scored for resolving the issues that Archer and his crew had with Duras, son of Toral. An obvious nod to his TNG descendent, Duras is on the hunt to kill Archer and regain his honor. It is a fitting end to his story. Another point is scored for the fact that T’Pol chooses to remain with the Enterprise and resigns her commission with the Vulcan High Command. For the duration of the Xindi mission she will be a civilian, although she is still the second in command and science officer. Finally, and most importantly, we begin the XIndi story arc. This will take the entire third season to resolve. Basically, if you are following the story of Enterprise, you cannot miss this episode.

Continuity – 3 points. Story continuity is good. A lot of time passes, and they address it all in a good and sensible manner. We see character continuity intact as well. Reed tries to console Tucker in his grief, and Trip doesn’t handle it well. This makes sense and is likely why Tucker was chosen to be the crew member who suffers a personal loss in the tragedy. I also liked how Phlox showed his loyalty to Archer in not only choosing to stay on the mission but becoming verbally aggressive towards Fer’at, the Vulcan psychiatric who was being deceitful in his “scan” of Captain Archer. Universe continuity is also good here.

Character Development – 3 points. This episode marks a significant course adjustment for the main three characters. Trip has lost his sister in a surprise attack. This will have a lingering impact on him for a log time to come. T’Pol has furthered her distance from the wishes of the Vulcan High Command by rejecting their orders and resigning her commission in order for her to remain on Enterprise. This, too, will have lasting repercussions which will ultimately lead her to joining Starfleet. Finally, the mission to find the Xindi and stop them from attacking Earth again will take Johnathan Archer down a long and sometimes darkened path. He tested himself here, trying to give Duras chances to leave them in peace before making the ultimate decision to destroy him. As the heaviness of this mission will begin to wear on him, we can expect that Archer will have a lot to deal with in the upcoming season. All three of these characters are going to be put through the ringer in the next year, and this episode sets up the board for it.

Social Commentary – 1 point. This episode aired first aired in May 2003, over 20 months after the World Trade Center was attacked on 9-11. There are some strong parallels between that real-world event and this fictitious one. It reinforced the idea that in times of tragedies of a grand scale it is important to band together in unity and of making tough decisions to protect oneself. Having said that, the message is quite muted in the action and the preparation for the mission that it is more of a passing notion. The idea will be revisited in future episodes, but for now it only tickles at our awareness as we are experiencing the anticipation of what looks to be a stellar season.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. A point is scored for the space battles between the Klingons (mainly Duras) and the Enterprise. The final battle in particular is quite entertaining, and the visuals of the L-4 maneuver is excellent. A second point is scored for the Xindi attack. The scene is void of dialogue or characters, but it is a powerful image to see Florida carved up like a turkey. The following scenes that show the extent of the damage are equally powerful.

Rank – Captain (20 points). Star Trek has a pretty good track record with season finales that leave the viewers wanting more and building anticipation for the next season. From “The Best of Both Worlds” in TNG’s third season, to the meeting of iconic ships in the first season of “Discovery”, there is a fine tradition of this. “The Expanse” does not disappoint in this case and does a fine job at establishing the theme and tone for the third 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: Breaking the Ice (Enterprise, Season 1)

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

Overview – Archer and his crew discover an unusually large comet and decide to investigate and study it. While they are doing this, they make a recording to send back to an elementary school on Earth. When a Vulcan ship starts to tail the Enterprise, Archer becomes suspicious. When Trip intercepts a coded message from the Vulcans to T’Pol, he gets Hoshi to decode it, and in doing so he learns an unfortunate personal matter of hers. Malcolm and Travis are sent to retrieve some core samples from the comet, and soon find themselves in trouble. Now, Archer must decide whether he should ask the Vulcans for help or try to rescue his crewmen alone.

Score: 7/10 – I have to admit that I like this episode. It is by no means a heavy hitter, and though Reed and Mayweather are in peril on the comet, there is really no reason to fear for their well-being, so the threat level is relatively low here. What makes this episode interesting is the glimpse and insight into the characters that we are still coming to learn about. Keep in mind this was the next episode after the very tense introduction to Shran in “The Andorian Incident”, so taking things down a couple notches is fine. Almost every main character is given some added depth here. While it initially seems that Travis and Malcolm in trouble on the comet is the main story, it is quickly over-shadowed by the beginning of the Trip-T’Pol arc. There is humor and a touch of home that comes from the letter that the crew make for the elementary school in Kenmare, Ireland (which, if I may add, was a nice touch to not have it to a school in the USA). Vanik is a particularly unpleasant character, who seems to be bent on reinforcing Archer’s reasons to dislike Vulcans. He is dismissive, patronizing, and just plain rude. This makes it even more impactful when Archer is given a moment of truth as he is forced to swallow his pride for the sake of his stranded crewmen. Overall, this is a pleasant and light character-focused tale.

Relevance – 2 points. A point scored here for the first mention of Koss, who is T’Pol’s fiancée. Koss will go on to play a very significant role in T’Pol’s life and in the overall story. A second point is being scored for the beginning of the T’Pol/Tucker relationship. This is arguably the most compelling relationship that Enterprise has, and it all begins here. Interestingly enough, it is a piece of pecan pie that seems to be the catalyst, as Tucker suggest T’Pol try some for the sheer sake of enjoying food. The end scene where see that T’Pol takes him up on that offer seems to signal that something is in store for these two.

Continuity – 2 points. Character continuity is good here. Archer continues to feel that he has to prove himself to the Vulcans by going at a problem alone. T’Pol is understandably upset at Trip for reading her communique, and Trip is understandably remorseful for doing so. When Phlox is providing an answer to the school children, he is in full Phlox-form when he jumps in with the answer and goes off on lengthy response that Archer has to cut short. There is one little inconsistency that continues to not sit right with me. While Vulcans are said to not have a particular interest in things like comets, the comet is discovered to be rich in eisillium, a rare element. Why the Vulcans do not mention this during the remainder of the episode seems odd to me. I think that this would fall under the story continuity, and therefor I can keep universe continuity intact.

Character Development – 3 points. The fact that we begin the T’Pol/Tucker relationship by revealing that Trip is the only person to know about T’Pol’s arranged marriage. The whole misunderstanding about the encrypted message serves as a catalyst for these two. We also see some significant growth as Archer is forced to ask the Vulcans to help rescue Travis and Malcolm from the comet. This is not easy for Johnathan, and yet is an important first step in him eventually accepting that the Vulcans are going to be important allies in the future. As previously mentioned, almost everyone gets some attention here. Travis has hardly ever seen snow, and has a blast building a snowman (complete with pointy ears). Even Malcolm shows his lighter side by adding the nose as well as making a joke about the lack of symmetry in the hole they blast on the comet’s surface. If there is nothing else to be said about this episode, you can say that it is character-driven.

Social Commentary – 2 points. This part was a little tricky to nail down. I did think that there was something to be said about Tucker’s sincere remorse over reading T’Pol’s message, and with Archer having to ask for help from the Vulcans. T’Pol turned to Trip to discuss the things that were troubling her. All of these lead to a theme about having to take that first step in trusting someone. Trip betrayed the trust of T’Pol, and yet she still found it within herself to trust him in seeking advice. Archer had to take the proverbial leap of faith to trust the Vulcans, which led to the rescue of Mayweather and Reed.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I loved the snowman. Yes, I said it, though no pun was intended by including a snowman in the “Cool Stuff” section. I thought that was such a cool little part of the story. I also am going to score a point for the scene where the crew is answering the questions to the elementary class. I love that scene. It adds some humanity to everyone involved, from Archer’s attempt to speak to children he cannot see, to Phlox’s enthusiasm about germs, to Tucker’s dismay at having to answer a “poop question”. It was really good stuff.

Rank – Captain (18 points). OK, so this episode is not the most exciting, the most humorous, the most intriguing, or the most complex story that Star Trek has ever done. Far from any of those, in fact. Yet, despite all of those, it still comes across as a very charming story. Everyone gets something significant or important to do or say (which is quite rare for an ensemble cast), and the story is woven together quite well. Sure, there are far stronger and wittier episodes, but “Breaking the Ice” can do just that with

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 - United (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 – The Romulan drone uses its emitters to appear like Enterprise as it attacks and destroys a Rigellian vessel. On board the vessel, Trip and Reed do their best to stay alive and sabotage the ship. Meanwhile, aboard the real Enterprise, Archer must deal with the aftermath of the recent battle between the Andorians and the Tellarites, which has left Talas mortally wounded. Shran seeks revenge against the Tellarite ambassador, forcing Archer into a tough situation between allowing his ally to seek revenge or save the peace talks by fighting Shran in a duel to the death. Archer tries to find a way to unite the feuding peoples, save his crewmen on the drone ship, and thwart the Romulans in their attempt at disrupting the peace in the region.

Score: 9/10 – The second part of this exciting story arc continues the action and fun from the first part. Now that we know the Romulans are piloting the drone ship from Romulus, we are given some great insight into the Romulan home world. Malcolm and Tucker are given a real test of wits as they try to sabotage the drone ship while avoiding the Romulan attempts to kill them. We also see the aftermath of the Andorian attack on the Tellarites on Enterprise, which leads to the death of Talas and a duel to the death between Shran and Archer (who offers to substitute for the Tellarite ambassador in an effort to salvage the peace mission). It is a tense moment where the survival of our favorite blue-skinned character is questioned. A unique interpretation of the Code of the Ushan allows the captain to win the contest without killing his opponent (and in doing so, teaches us a little something about Andorian antennae physiology). The coming together of Vulcan, Andorian, and Tellarite vessels to assist Enterprise in stopping the Romulan drone ship is reminiscent of the TNG episode “Redemption, Part 2”, where another fleet is assembled to stop a Romulan plot to disrupt a region of space. It is also a fun foreshadowing of the United Federation of Planets that we will come to know and love. “United” serves as a great continuation of this important story and ends with yet another surprise that gets you ready for the next episode.

Relevance - 2 points. The death of Talas, the second most significant Andorian character, is important here, and will establish the motivation for the duel between Shran and Archer. I am also scoring a point here for the brief yet significant introduction of the Aenar, an albino sub-species of the Andorians. This species will take a more prominent place in the next episode, but it gives us a lot to anticipate.

Continuity - 3 points. There is nothing that contradicts any continuity in this episode. Story wise things proceed smoothly, as does the universe. The Romulans get a bit more screen time, and they seem to be up to their old tricks. Characters are acting as to be expected. Shran, while fiercely loyal to his people, seems to have really grown fond of Archer. Their mutual respect is growing into a solid friendship.

Character Development – 3 points. Archer truly gets some great moments here, which truly shows why he is going to become the President of the UFP in the future. He puts his own life on the line to salvage the alliance and learns enough about Andorian customs that he is able to find a way to honor their customs and not kill Shran. We also see more development between Reed and Tucker as they try to find a way off the Romulan drone ship. The Romulans have Tucker in a certain death situation, and Reed agrees to their demands to save his superior officer and friend.

Social Commentary –  2 points. Putting aside differences to work for a greater good is a common theme and speaks to the notion that we are stronger together in spite of our differences (and quite possibly because of them). There is also the idea that sometimes, for the greater good, we must stand against a friend or ally. The only way that Archer could salvage the alliance between adversaries was to put his own life on the line and fight his friend. It also helps to understand other cultures and traditions, as Archer was able to win the contest without killing Shran. He honored the Andorian way and was able to build a foundation that would eventually lead to the start of the United Federation of planets.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. The Ushan duel between Shran and Archer is definitely noteworthy here. The weapons and tradition are cool, and the fight is intense. The ending, where Archer delivers the final blow, leaves us wondering if Shran indeed dies. When it is revealed that Archer only incapacitated Shran, we breathe a selective sigh of relief. The ending also gives a cool surprise as we get our first glimpse of an Aenar, the blind, white Andorian species that appears to be working with the Romulans.

Rank – Admiral (21 points). Action, humor, suspense. This was a fun episode with a lot riding on it. When I watch this episode, I can’t help but feel for what might have been had Enterprise been given at least one more season, but at least we had an excellent story that gave us more Shran and the Andorians.

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 - Babel One (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 – While transporting a Tellarite delegation to peace talks at Babel One, the Enterprise encounters the wreckage of the Kumari, and rescue Shran and some of his crew. The Andorians claim that it was a Tellarite vessel that attacked them. Tensions rise even further when an Andorian ship attacks Enterprise. As Archer and his crew try to determine what happened, suspicions between the Andorians and Tellarites continue to escalate. The crew discover a strange, alien ship that appears to have the ability to project the appearance of different types of vessels. They learn that the ship is Romulan, and Tucker and Reed beam aboard to investigate. As distrust between the Andorians and Tellarites mounts, matters become violent and Telas, Shran’s lieutenant and mate, is severely injured. By the end of the episode, Tucker and Reed make a startling discovery about the Romulan ship.

Score: 9/10 – “Babel One” is a perfect reason as to why Enterprise was cancelled far too soon. Like many good shows of the day, it often takes a few seasons to really build some steam, and the fourth season of Enterprise was excellent. In this episode, we get what many fans had been asking for, which is a glimpse into the beginnings of the Federation. We also get action, humor, suspense, intrigue, and some twists and turns we were not fully expecting. Shran has always been a popular character, and here Jeffery Combs is given some great scenes. We also get some greater insight into both Andorian and Tellarite culture. Another strength in this episode is how it shows how much Archer has come as a diplomat, reminiscent of the cowboy diplomacy that was often associated with Captain Kirk. T’Pol’s marriage being dissolved is almost treated as an afterthought, and while it is handled in typical T’Pol/Vulcan fashion, I thought it could have been fleshed out a little more. Overall, an excellent episode.

Relevance – 3 points. Of course a point will be scored for Babel, the famed peace location that served as the backdrop to the Original Series classic “Journey to Babel”, which served as our introduction to Spock’s parents. This is one of the things that I enjoyed about Enterprise, in that we were able to weave in much of the Original Series lore. Another point will be scored for the fate of the Kumari, Shran’s ship that he had commanded for several previous episodes. A final point is scored for the advancement in the relationship between Shran and Talas. This relationship will be important for the development of the next episode. If that is not enough, we are given a little tidbit of information from T’Pol, stating that her marriage has officially ended.

Continuity – 3 points. Character continuity is of particular interest here. One scene in particular that shows this is when T’Pol informs her captain that her marriage has ended. Archer expresses sympathy, while T’Pol brushes it aside in her typical fashion. It highlights how far these two have come. Universe continuity is also intact. The Romulans have always been trying to disrupt things from the shadows, and the remote-piloted ship is a perfect example of this. Story wise, everything works here as well.

Character Development – 2 points. While T’Pol’s marriage is dissolved in this episode, there is little else said about it. We also have Tucker and Reed with some action on the Romulan vessel, but aside from how they work together, nothing deeper is provided. No, this episode is mainly about Archer and his growth as a diplomat. We see him wrestle with doubts about their mission, while T’Pol patiently points out that he, Earth, and Vulcan have come a long way in such a short period of time. It highlights the fact that Archer has done a lot to foster relations between species that often were adversarial towards each other. Of course, this is building towards the events of the next episode, but it solidly establishes how much Archer’s leadership skills have grown.

Social Commentary – 1 point. As is typical of some of these action episodes, the excitement comes at the expense of a solid commentary on our present-day world. This is partly due to the fact that “Babel One” is setting up for the events of “United”, which actually carries a stronger message. This is also due to the notion that a lot is happening, and sometimes we just have to tell the story and not worry about saying something profound. We can glean a little something from the importance of working together. Reed and Tucker have to rely on each other as they explore the Romulan vessel, Archer has to teach the Tellarites and Andorians that they have to work together to defeat a common foe, etc. Star Trek is at its best when it makes us think more, but that does not mean that it’s not excellent when it doesn’t.

Cool Stuff – 3 points. One point scored for showing us a cool view of Romulus, which until this point has only been seen via matte paintings. I also scored a point here for the ship, both in design and for it’s part in the story-telling. I loved how it allowed us to see a few different models of ships. And the premise of it being remotely piloted from far away was interesting. I also liked how it was used to sow seeds of distrust among the future founders of the United Federation of Planets. A cool story-twist. Finally, the Tellarites are shown in a way that we have rarely seen, given far more attention than in the past. While the Tellarites are not as iconic as the Vulcans, Klingons, or even the Andorians, they had always been present in the background of Star Trek, and here they are given the spotlight like never before.

Rank – Admiral (21 points). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Enterprise deserved more than it got, and “Babel One” is a perfect example of it. I love how we see how the Tellarites and Andorians are brought together, and we are given a fun ride as the story plays out.

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.