Plot – This is a fresh take on the idea of technology falling into the wrong hands but a familiar feeling I am already getting with Enterprise is that it is happy to recycle old TNG and VOY plots. There’s a definite feeling of Who Watches the Watchers here.
I think I would care more if I knew that this race was a bigger part of the show and would return and that the events that happen would have some kind of long-term consequences. Scenes of them firing weapons and discovering new technology would have lasting effect if this meant something for the series. But I know that by the end of this episode we’ll never see these people again, because we’ve never heard of them before. Does anybody think this is the end of the road for Archer and Reed? Truly? With nothing at stake but the fate of a planet we’ll never hear from again, I was struggling to put my heart and soul into watching this. Is that indicative of where Star Trek was at this point? Falling behind all the arc-driven boys with forgettable standalone adventures. No wonder they turned that around in series three.
Character – This is my first real exposure to Malcolm Reed and he makes a massive boob in the teaser that could bring down an entire civilisation. I hope he’s a little more efficient as a security officer.
Archer is potentially the grumpiest of all the Captains (unthinkable when Scott Bakula is playing him) but he’s clearly not the biggest disciplinarian – he waves away Reed’s indiscretion as though it was unavoidable. Sisko would have had his head. Janeway would have phasered him down.
I know this is a serious situation but why is everybody on this show so godamn solemn. I was desperate for some gallows humour or for somebody to break the tension with a really bad gag. It comes to something when I’m hoping Neelix might show up and do something goofy. The first joke comes 30 minutes into the episode, and it’s told by Mr Forgettable (sorry Travis).
Production – As somebody who is unfamiliar with Enterprise, I find the nuts and bolts aesthetic of the ship to be pleasingly retro compared to the luxury liners of later years. It feels like a solid, hardy piece of space hardware rather than a lounge ship in space.
This might be the least imaginative make up job for an alien species to date – part Trill spots, part Klingon forehead ridges but not as striking as either of them.
Whilst a little faceless, this is a well realised society with some impressive CGI cityscapes and sets that sell this is more than just a collection of studios.
Best moment – The episode builds to an impressive conclusion featuring a genuinely tense sequence where it looks like Archer and Reed might come to a sticky end. It’s a grim looking execution and the rescue attempt is well thought through and executed.
Worst moment – Surely Archer’s insinuations of experimental aircraft, genetic enhancements and regenerative abilities is more dangerous than simply saying ‘we’re from another world, give us out technology back.’
I wish they hadn’t done that – The gag at the end about the Communicator. In an episode begging for humour, the punchline is awkward given the reams of lies they have left behind on this planet. Hahahaha I wonder what those primitives will do with all that bullshit we fed them.
A reason to watch this episode again – Sincerely written, acted and produced but not an awful lot of fun to watch. It’s all so earnest. On TOS they headed down to a planet and had an adventure. The characterisation of the regulars is too subtle, the aliens are faceless and so ENT’s version of this is a well realised but plodding drama. Trip is utterly desirable, that’s what sees me through.
**1/2 out of *****
Clue for tomorrow's episode:
https://www.theincomparable.com/randomtrek/
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