the story: Several of the crew are mutated into an alien species.
what it's all about: It's a little difficult to imagine what "Extinction" was supposed to accomplish except on a metaphorical level. It seems to exist mostly as a concession to Star Trek fans who might have otherwise been leery of a season-long arc. As the lone episode of the season with no overt ties to the Xindi arc, that seems to be its only reason to exist.
There have been plenty of episodes throughout the franchise with the same general plot; "Ashes to Ashes," a Voyager effort, saw the return of a crewmate everyone thought was dead, who'd been given new DNA, a new appearance. The idea itself is sound, and "Extinction" explores it about as well as an episodic story can.
The problem is, it comes near the start of a season that was constructed for a serialized story. No matter how slowly the arc begins, it remains methodical in its approach. There's always something added to the viewer's understanding of the framework. Except in "Extinction." The only thing "Extinction" does is theoretically give the crew a little perspective; perhaps after the ethical concerns of "Anomaly," the producers thought they should pull back a little. Archer is given a gentle reminder of his humanity, so he doesn't quickly barrel ahead to a breaking point. But that's mostly implication.
The truth is, if "Extinction" didn't exist, it wouldn't affect the season at all.
criteria analysis:
- franchise - An familiar episodic entry for casual viewers.
series- Doesn't press its metaphorical significance.character- If Archer had been observer instead of participant, the episode could've improved.essential- The later "Hatchery" covers this ground much better.
Daniel Dae Kim
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