Enterprise 1x5 "Unexpected"

rating: **

the story: Trip ends up impregnated...

what it's all about: There are things that sound fantastic in theory that when executed...Early in Voyager's run, Tom Paris is convicted of having an affair on an alien world ("Ex Post Facto"), a decision that painted him in a negative light.  The episode itself is similar to an experience Riker had had in Next Generation, and in general linked both of them with Kirk's famous reputation as a ladies man in the original series.  Paris additionally was established as a rogue figure from the start, but what exactly that meant seemed difficult to pin down past his introduction, and again, the affair seemed to further define that negatively, an uncomfortable thing for Star Trek fans to watch, in a franchise that generally kept its characters likable. 

What I'm trying to say is, that brief summary of "Unexpected" above is pretty much the only thing anyone was ever going to take from it.  It's like a gag.  Trip was established from the start as one of Enterprise's most important characters.  He filled the "country boy" role Bones had in the original series, but he was also established as one of the more naïve passengers of this maiden Starfleet voyage, and "Unexpected" revealed just how inexperienced he really was, and how much trouble that could cause.  Later, in the second season, the series would be able to tap into that to much better effect ("Cogenitor"), but early on it just seemed as if embarrassing him was the best way to do it.  In plain words, it wasn't very flattering, if the only thing you took away from it was the most obvious elements.  Like the fact that he got, well, pregnant. 

The story around this works better.  It's fun watching him experience the laborious environmental acclimation process, something that was similar to the infamous decon scenes in the pilot but less uncomfortable to watch.  This was material intrinsic to selling the series as early Starfleet experiences, less streamlined than how things would operate in the original series.  Trip's reluctance and then eagerness to experience an alien ship are much more the story than the pregnancy.  By the time we reach that point, it's really just a metaphor about how awkward and truly alien the experience has really been.

Then of course we reach the Klingons, another callback to the pilot.  Archer reminds them what he did for the Empire, and he gets a terse acknowledgement but then a warning not to expect a continued free pass from it.  It's a nice bit of development, both in terms of what happened previously, what will happen in the next few seasons, and the state of Federation/Empire affairs as it exists in Kirk's time. 

...But of course, perception of the episode is basically, "Trip got pregnant!!!" and the aliens possessing holographic technology, which some fans felt uncomfortable about.  But some fans will never be satisfied unless they're unsatisfied about something, regardless of whether or not there's really something to be unsatisfied about...

criteria analysis:

• franchise - Given the nature of the material, it's hard to recommend to casual viewers.
• series - Yet it makes perfect sense in the context of early Enterprise.
• character - It's also a wonderful spotlight for Trip.
• essential - Even if to the untrained eye it seems less than flattering.

notable guest-stars:
Randy Oglesby