****
The final episode of Enterprise has weathered its fair share of criticism for the decision to prominently feature Riker, Troi, and the scenario of the Next Generation episode "The Pegasus." Some of the less generous observers have even called it the worst episode of the series.
I've always loved "These Are the Voyages..." For one, it puts a big spotlight on the show's best character, Trip Tucker. (In Pocket Books continuity, criticism of the episode reaches the point of nullifying his death in the episode. Oh, um SPOILER ALERT.) That alone puts a smile on my face. I love the structure. I love that after his death, we receive what is arguably Trip's definitive scene, and speech. I love that he's munching on a carrot during this scene.
I love that Shran is also a featured element of the episode. I always loved Shran, too, thought he was one of the show's strongest and most distinguished elements. Set six years after the events of the Terra Prime Dulogy (the preceding episodes), "Voyages" is all about shipping Archer to the big moment of actually getting to give the commencement speech to the Federation. Complications arise. Shran, for example, has seen better days. (Oh, how rich it would have been to see that arc, Archer rising while Shran's fortunes fall.) He's gotten into trouble and is looking to rescue his daughter from some thugs. Archer agrees to help. Things turn out well, except Trip sacrifices himself so Archer can survive the decision to help Shran.
All of this technically plays out on the holodeck, as Riker attempts to make his decision to rat on Terry O'Quinn, with a little encouragement from Troi (Data makes a vocal cameo as well). The critics would have you believe that this is embarrassing, that the final episode of Enterprise is stolen by another series. I would say instead that it's a remarkable tribute.
Being a prequel series, it was always hard to establish the connections other shows were able to accomplish on a regular basis, even Voyager (and not just with Q, mind you). It was set a hundred years before everything else. Having familiar actors appear is one thing, but having familiar characters show up is like an acknowledgement that this new Trek was a worthy endeavor. Who would argue that the point of "Sarek" was anything else?
And besides, Riker using Archer's crew as a source of support (via Troi's suggestion, though she never accessed the program herself, another notable detail) is a direct show of support for the series. That it features Next Generation characters and sets is also a way of supporting another Star Trek. Until this point, the only nostalgic trip to another series was the original one ("Relics," Trials and Tribble-ations," "Flashback"). But Next Generation, despite the harsh failure of Nemesis was at one point the reason anyone cared about Star Trek.
The producers said at the time that they viewed "Voyages" as a finale to not only Enterprise but that phase of the franchise as a whole. Kirk, Archer, and Picard can all be heard proclaiming the old mission statement in the closing moments of the episode. And yet, short of trying to shoe-horn every cast into the episode, choosing to spotlight one other cast in some way was absolutely necessary to that goal. And Next Generation made perfect sense.
And beyond that, Riker was always a charming and welcome presence, and Troi had already proven her crossover appeal in Voyager. That I have things to say about the episode other than their presence proves that they did not, after all, dominate it.
Trip did that. He dominated the whole series, even though his role was carefully balanced with T'Pol and Archer, who was the captain of the ship. Trip did it effortlessly, from the very start, even when he became pregnant in the fourth episode of the series, a story that would have destroyed any other character. That's how strong he was. "Voyages" serves as a testament to him, and to the series as a whole. Sure, Archer was important in the grand sense. But Trip was what defined the series, held all the characters together. And this was a series about character.
Ignore what you've heard. This one's essential.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Jeffrey Combs
Jonathan Frakes
Marina Sirtis
Brent Spiner (voice)
Memory Alpha summary.
The internet’s only comprehensive fan source for the complete film and television experience.
Showing posts with label Star trek: Enterprise Season 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star trek: Enterprise Season 4. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Enterprise 4x21 "Terra Prime"
****
The conclusion of a short arc that finally acknowledges that not every human was as excited about interstellar communities as the crew of the Enterprise, "Terra Prime" is one of the essential episodes of the series and franchise.
Mayweather's old flame from "Demons" turns into a knotty piece of the mess John Frederick Paxton has made, which Reed's Section 31 connection Harris helps untangle. But the crux of the episode involves the last best statement on Trip and T'Pol's relationship.
Something that'd been in development since the first season, when Trip formeda crush on the Vulcan officer, and intensified by the bond they shared in the tumultuous third season, Paxton unwittingly brings it to a close by choosing them to demonstrate the extremes of his belief that humans and aliens can't truly get along because they can't mate. (Well, Spock would beg to differ.) His machincations result in a baby that dies prematurely. The aftermath is crushing, one of the most purely emotional moments in franchise history (only Kirk losing both his friend and his son compare).
The episode has a fair bit of action, too, and developments that resonate with the rest of the season and series, including Archer delivering a speech many believe was shockingly missing from the finale, but the presence of that one moment elevates everything, ensuring the Terra Prime Duology a place among Star Trek classics.
Seriously, watch this one.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gary Graham
Peter Weller
Eric Pierpont
Derek Magyar
Memory Alpha summary.
The conclusion of a short arc that finally acknowledges that not every human was as excited about interstellar communities as the crew of the Enterprise, "Terra Prime" is one of the essential episodes of the series and franchise.
Mayweather's old flame from "Demons" turns into a knotty piece of the mess John Frederick Paxton has made, which Reed's Section 31 connection Harris helps untangle. But the crux of the episode involves the last best statement on Trip and T'Pol's relationship.
Something that'd been in development since the first season, when Trip formeda crush on the Vulcan officer, and intensified by the bond they shared in the tumultuous third season, Paxton unwittingly brings it to a close by choosing them to demonstrate the extremes of his belief that humans and aliens can't truly get along because they can't mate. (Well, Spock would beg to differ.) His machincations result in a baby that dies prematurely. The aftermath is crushing, one of the most purely emotional moments in franchise history (only Kirk losing both his friend and his son compare).
The episode has a fair bit of action, too, and developments that resonate with the rest of the season and series, including Archer delivering a speech many believe was shockingly missing from the finale, but the presence of that one moment elevates everything, ensuring the Terra Prime Duology a place among Star Trek classics.
Seriously, watch this one.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gary Graham
Peter Weller
Eric Pierpont
Derek Magyar
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x20 "Demons"
****
Another must-see episode that the series absolutely had to do, and part of the Terra Prime Duology that many fans believed made a better finale than the actual one.
After all the work done during the season building the foundation of the Federation, we finally return to the ugly xenophobia suggested in "Home" (which might be considered the real season premiere), which was in part suggested by the Xindi crisis from the previous season. So yes, there's a lot of material to support the developments of this story, but it also begs the question of whether or not Enterprise should have had more of it.
A character by the name of Colonel Green referenced in the original series episode "The Savage Curtain," is partly the inspiration for the story, in which his ideological successor John Frederick Paxton takes the reins and ups the ante by involving Trip and T'Pol, just in case they haven't been on enough of a violent emotional roller coaster this season. Meanwhile Reed is compelled to use his Section 31 contacts, and Mayweather runs into an old girlfriend (which becomes more relevant next episode).
Maybe none of that sounds enticing enough, but the second act makes the whole thing stronger, so stick around...
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Peter Weller
Tom Bergeron
Eric Pierpont
Memory Alpha summary.
Another must-see episode that the series absolutely had to do, and part of the Terra Prime Duology that many fans believed made a better finale than the actual one.
After all the work done during the season building the foundation of the Federation, we finally return to the ugly xenophobia suggested in "Home" (which might be considered the real season premiere), which was in part suggested by the Xindi crisis from the previous season. So yes, there's a lot of material to support the developments of this story, but it also begs the question of whether or not Enterprise should have had more of it.
A character by the name of Colonel Green referenced in the original series episode "The Savage Curtain," is partly the inspiration for the story, in which his ideological successor John Frederick Paxton takes the reins and ups the ante by involving Trip and T'Pol, just in case they haven't been on enough of a violent emotional roller coaster this season. Meanwhile Reed is compelled to use his Section 31 contacts, and Mayweather runs into an old girlfriend (which becomes more relevant next episode).
Maybe none of that sounds enticing enough, but the second act makes the whole thing stronger, so stick around...
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Peter Weller
Tom Bergeron
Eric Pierpont
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x19 "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part 2"
****
The brilliance that was the first part of the Mirror Duology concludes (just in case the title of the episode doesn't explain that already).
In what is essentially a celebration of everything that made the series what it was while having as much fun with franchise lore as possible, Archer and several other members of his Mirror Universe crew don Kirk-era uniforms and battle the rebels who are trying to thwart his plans of seizing control of the Terran Empire, including T'Pol, Soval, and Phlox (this scenario is also ironic, given the events of the Terra Prime Duology that follows).
We see a CGI Gorn this episode (following a CGI Tholian in the previous entry), but the real thrill is watching Archer truly enjoy himself, and how the episode quickly centers itself around Hoshi (making this her lone spotlight of the season, though very welcome) in its conclusion.
It's all ridiculously clever. One of the more inspired elements is the alternate opening credits for both episodes, which feature an evil version of the clips that are normally featured, and a new theme!
Not without exaggeration, but if the Mirror Duology had occurred earlier in the season, or series, fans might have finally acknowledged the effort put into Enterprise and rewarded it by, y'know, watching.
Absolutely essential.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gregory Itzen
Gary Graham
Derek Magyar
Memory Alpha summary.
The brilliance that was the first part of the Mirror Duology concludes (just in case the title of the episode doesn't explain that already).
In what is essentially a celebration of everything that made the series what it was while having as much fun with franchise lore as possible, Archer and several other members of his Mirror Universe crew don Kirk-era uniforms and battle the rebels who are trying to thwart his plans of seizing control of the Terran Empire, including T'Pol, Soval, and Phlox (this scenario is also ironic, given the events of the Terra Prime Duology that follows).
We see a CGI Gorn this episode (following a CGI Tholian in the previous entry), but the real thrill is watching Archer truly enjoy himself, and how the episode quickly centers itself around Hoshi (making this her lone spotlight of the season, though very welcome) in its conclusion.
It's all ridiculously clever. One of the more inspired elements is the alternate opening credits for both episodes, which feature an evil version of the clips that are normally featured, and a new theme!
Not without exaggeration, but if the Mirror Duology had occurred earlier in the season, or series, fans might have finally acknowledged the effort put into Enterprise and rewarded it by, y'know, watching.
Absolutely essential.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gregory Itzen
Gary Graham
Derek Magyar
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x18 "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part 1"
****
The hot streak known as the final episode of the series begins!
Rarely does any episode of any series, Star Trek or otherwise, beg to have more episodes written about the same story. I'm not talking about an arc that will by definition have more stories attached, but an episode like, say, "Mirror, Mirror," the original series episode that famously introduced the Mirror Universe, the alternate reality where everything is flip-flopped. Deep Space Nine eventually took that ball and ran with it for five additional adventures.
The Mirror Duology brings us back. Except it does so in such an intriguing way that it essentially duplicates the "Mirror, Mirror" effect in more ways than the obvious. It's fair to say that how the Mirror Universe happened in the first place is at least as intriguing a topic as how Klingons lost their ridges (answered in the preceding Klingon Duology). Enterprise decided on something extremely clever, depicted in the opening moments of this episode.
Remember First Contact, in which we learn that Vulcan's were humanity's initial encounter with aliens? In this version of those events (borrowing just enough actual footage from the movie to make it work), Cochrane extends a gun rather than his hand, thus establishing an entirely different relationship between the two species than the one we've known. That leads to the Empire, rather than the Federation. (And to think Archer spent a long time resenting Vulcans for not letting humans take whatever they wanted!)
The rest of the episode features the familiar crew, plus a welcome return from Forrest, killed off in his regular life earlier in the season. The crux of the story revolves around discovery of the original series Defiant, subject of the episode "The Tholian Web," the presence of which drastically affects the balance of power, or so Evil Archer would love to believe. A lot of it harks back to "Mirror, Mirror" itself, especially in this installment.
But it is absolutely essential.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Vaughn Armstrong
Memory Alpha summary.
The hot streak known as the final episode of the series begins!
Rarely does any episode of any series, Star Trek or otherwise, beg to have more episodes written about the same story. I'm not talking about an arc that will by definition have more stories attached, but an episode like, say, "Mirror, Mirror," the original series episode that famously introduced the Mirror Universe, the alternate reality where everything is flip-flopped. Deep Space Nine eventually took that ball and ran with it for five additional adventures.
The Mirror Duology brings us back. Except it does so in such an intriguing way that it essentially duplicates the "Mirror, Mirror" effect in more ways than the obvious. It's fair to say that how the Mirror Universe happened in the first place is at least as intriguing a topic as how Klingons lost their ridges (answered in the preceding Klingon Duology). Enterprise decided on something extremely clever, depicted in the opening moments of this episode.
Remember First Contact, in which we learn that Vulcan's were humanity's initial encounter with aliens? In this version of those events (borrowing just enough actual footage from the movie to make it work), Cochrane extends a gun rather than his hand, thus establishing an entirely different relationship between the two species than the one we've known. That leads to the Empire, rather than the Federation. (And to think Archer spent a long time resenting Vulcans for not letting humans take whatever they wanted!)
The rest of the episode features the familiar crew, plus a welcome return from Forrest, killed off in his regular life earlier in the season. The crux of the story revolves around discovery of the original series Defiant, subject of the episode "The Tholian Web," the presence of which drastically affects the balance of power, or so Evil Archer would love to believe. A lot of it harks back to "Mirror, Mirror" itself, especially in this installment.
But it is absolutely essential.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Vaughn Armstrong
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x17 "Bound"
*
Of interest to lovers of green people everywhere!
Okay, so this is the Orion Slave Girl episode. The Orions previously appeared in the original series (via Orion Slaves Girls), and popped up earlier in the fourth season during the Augments Trilogy, but this is the attempt to turn the Orions into Enterprise's next Andorian project, explaining more about a culture that stood out a long time ago but hadn't been seen since.
You learn, basically, that those Slave Girls are actually in control of their husky males. A matriarchy of hookers. Who would've guessed? (Other than Barney Stinson.)
There's token attention paid to Trip and T'Pol's complicated relationship, but that's basically what this one is about. Whether or not you find this as another excuse for Star Trek to feature scantily clad females is entirely up to you.
franchise * series * essential * character
Memory Alpha summary.
Of interest to lovers of green people everywhere!
Okay, so this is the Orion Slave Girl episode. The Orions previously appeared in the original series (via Orion Slaves Girls), and popped up earlier in the fourth season during the Augments Trilogy, but this is the attempt to turn the Orions into Enterprise's next Andorian project, explaining more about a culture that stood out a long time ago but hadn't been seen since.
You learn, basically, that those Slave Girls are actually in control of their husky males. A matriarchy of hookers. Who would've guessed? (Other than Barney Stinson.)
There's token attention paid to Trip and T'Pol's complicated relationship, but that's basically what this one is about. Whether or not you find this as another excuse for Star Trek to feature scantily clad females is entirely up to you.
franchise * series * essential * character
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x16 "Divergence"
***
Continuing the Klingon Duology from "Affliction," this is indeed the story that finally explains the smooth- versus ridge-headed mystery that popped up between the original series and every other incarnation of Star Trek.
Phlox gets more interesting stuff to do as he is forced desperately to solve a problem that would have made the consequences of the Klingons becoming obsessed with the Augments from earlier in the season, but again his thunder is stolen by Reed's reluctant involvement with Section 31 (as the shadowy Jack Bauers of Deep Space Nine fame) and a thrilling Speed-like action sequence wherein Trip comes back to the Enterprise as it connects to the Columbia at Warp 5 so they can undo Klingon sabotage.
That sequence absolutely steals the episode. It's one of the most exciting moments in any Star Trek episode or movie (perhaps yet another indication of just how desperate the series had gotten to win viewers back, which...didn't happen).
I would almost, almost give the episode the full-recommendation treatment based on that alone. The historic value of the Klingon Duology also makes it worth viewing...but again, I really wish Phlox had been given better material, and he's technically at the center of events. The fact that Reed and Trip steal the episode from Klingons crewing up their genetics and metaphorically going bald is what makes it easy to say, "Close, but no cigar."
Still, if you're game, definitely watch.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
John Schuck
James Avery
Ada Maris
Eric Pierpont
Memory Alpha summary.
Continuing the Klingon Duology from "Affliction," this is indeed the story that finally explains the smooth- versus ridge-headed mystery that popped up between the original series and every other incarnation of Star Trek.
Phlox gets more interesting stuff to do as he is forced desperately to solve a problem that would have made the consequences of the Klingons becoming obsessed with the Augments from earlier in the season, but again his thunder is stolen by Reed's reluctant involvement with Section 31 (as the shadowy Jack Bauers of Deep Space Nine fame) and a thrilling Speed-like action sequence wherein Trip comes back to the Enterprise as it connects to the Columbia at Warp 5 so they can undo Klingon sabotage.
That sequence absolutely steals the episode. It's one of the most exciting moments in any Star Trek episode or movie (perhaps yet another indication of just how desperate the series had gotten to win viewers back, which...didn't happen).
I would almost, almost give the episode the full-recommendation treatment based on that alone. The historic value of the Klingon Duology also makes it worth viewing...but again, I really wish Phlox had been given better material, and he's technically at the center of events. The fact that Reed and Trip steal the episode from Klingons crewing up their genetics and metaphorically going bald is what makes it easy to say, "Close, but no cigar."
Still, if you're game, definitely watch.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
John Schuck
James Avery
Ada Maris
Eric Pierpont
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x15 "Affliction"
***
On the surface, this Klingon Duology is of immense importance to the franchise thanks to finally explaining why Klingons were smooth-headed in the original series but ridged in later incarnations (y'know, aside from the obvious).
"Affliction" kicks off the two-part story by tying into events depicted in the Augments Trilogy from earlier in the season, explaining rather handily that the Klingons were embarrassed by their brief encounter with genetically enhanced humans, and so pursued their own version of the program, creating Klingon Augments. Or trying really hard to.
They need Phlox to do it. That makes the Klingon Duology in name the Phlox story of the season. Except there's not a lot that makes it a Phlox story other than the fact that it technically features everyone's favorite Denobulan. That's mainly what brings both episodes in the story down a peg in my book, because it's disappointing, given that Phlox was a favorite character of mine and previously one of the best-used characters in the series.
There's other character work in the episode, though, and if roles had been reversed, could easily have boasted both efforts to full-recommendation status. The first is Tucker's transfer to the Columbia, under the command of Hernandez, previously featured in "Home." Aside from another great bit of continuity from the season, the development ties directly into Trip and T'Pol's constantly troubled relationship (that's the whole reason why he's no longer, at this point, engineer of the Enterprise, leaving the unimpressive Kelby to fill his boots).
And Reed receives perhaps some of his best material as a previous association with Section 31 (the covert ops group first seen in Deep Space Nine) proves to be an exceedingly uncomfortable conflict of interest.
In the past I've had a hard time digesting these episodes. There's just so much going on in them, a trend that works better in a later duology. But it's hard to deny their extreme importance. "Affliction" continues the fourth season ball rolling in very unusual but rewarding fashion. If only Phlox had had a more significant part!
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Ada Maris
Eric Pierpont
Derek Magyer
James Avery
John Schuck
Seth MacFarlane
Memory Alpha summary.
On the surface, this Klingon Duology is of immense importance to the franchise thanks to finally explaining why Klingons were smooth-headed in the original series but ridged in later incarnations (y'know, aside from the obvious).
"Affliction" kicks off the two-part story by tying into events depicted in the Augments Trilogy from earlier in the season, explaining rather handily that the Klingons were embarrassed by their brief encounter with genetically enhanced humans, and so pursued their own version of the program, creating Klingon Augments. Or trying really hard to.
They need Phlox to do it. That makes the Klingon Duology in name the Phlox story of the season. Except there's not a lot that makes it a Phlox story other than the fact that it technically features everyone's favorite Denobulan. That's mainly what brings both episodes in the story down a peg in my book, because it's disappointing, given that Phlox was a favorite character of mine and previously one of the best-used characters in the series.
There's other character work in the episode, though, and if roles had been reversed, could easily have boasted both efforts to full-recommendation status. The first is Tucker's transfer to the Columbia, under the command of Hernandez, previously featured in "Home." Aside from another great bit of continuity from the season, the development ties directly into Trip and T'Pol's constantly troubled relationship (that's the whole reason why he's no longer, at this point, engineer of the Enterprise, leaving the unimpressive Kelby to fill his boots).
And Reed receives perhaps some of his best material as a previous association with Section 31 (the covert ops group first seen in Deep Space Nine) proves to be an exceedingly uncomfortable conflict of interest.
In the past I've had a hard time digesting these episodes. There's just so much going on in them, a trend that works better in a later duology. But it's hard to deny their extreme importance. "Affliction" continues the fourth season ball rolling in very unusual but rewarding fashion. If only Phlox had had a more significant part!
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Ada Maris
Eric Pierpont
Derek Magyer
James Avery
John Schuck
Seth MacFarlane
Memory Alpha summary.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Enterprise 4x14 "The Aenar"
***
The long-awaited deeper look at Andorian culture finally happens in "The Aenar," the concluding chapter of the Federation Trilogy.
A long time coming, especially after the first-ever expanded look at the species since the first season, as Romulans continue their secret military operations (now geared directly against the meddling Enterprise), we finally take a trip to the Andorian homeworld and encounter an albino offshoot race being used as pawns in the conflict.
That means Shran is still involved, and that makes three episodes in a row, the most sustained presence he has in the series. (As noted elsewhere, had Enterprise made it to a fifth season, he would have become a series regular.) He's easily one of the best parts of the series, and is just one reason why these episodes are worth catching.
Had Enterprise been more like Deep Space Nine, we probably would have seen more of Andorian society a long time ago, but it's still nice that we finally get there in "The Aenar" (which, by the way, is the name of that albino offshoot race).
While most of the Federation Trilogy is about figuring out how Archer finally starts the ball rolling to an interstellar alliance, this entry rests the story solely on the Andorians, which half the rest of it already had, which alternately can name these episodes the Andorian Trilogy. The Andorians, as represented by Shran, were an important part of the series, so it's great that the final season got to make some kind of statement and milestone on them.
It may also be worth reiterating that the Romulans appear in this trilogy through surrogate means, always hidden away at their own home. Historically, there was the Romulan War (which might've been featured in future seasons of Enterprise had it lasted), and then the first realization of who they really were in Kirk's day. In a way, "The Aenar" is similar to "Observer Effect" in that it has unconscious franchise echoes. The relationship between the Andorians and Aenar is similar to Romulans and Vulcans. More to chew on.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
The long-awaited deeper look at Andorian culture finally happens in "The Aenar," the concluding chapter of the Federation Trilogy.
A long time coming, especially after the first-ever expanded look at the species since the first season, as Romulans continue their secret military operations (now geared directly against the meddling Enterprise), we finally take a trip to the Andorian homeworld and encounter an albino offshoot race being used as pawns in the conflict.
That means Shran is still involved, and that makes three episodes in a row, the most sustained presence he has in the series. (As noted elsewhere, had Enterprise made it to a fifth season, he would have become a series regular.) He's easily one of the best parts of the series, and is just one reason why these episodes are worth catching.
Had Enterprise been more like Deep Space Nine, we probably would have seen more of Andorian society a long time ago, but it's still nice that we finally get there in "The Aenar" (which, by the way, is the name of that albino offshoot race).
While most of the Federation Trilogy is about figuring out how Archer finally starts the ball rolling to an interstellar alliance, this entry rests the story solely on the Andorians, which half the rest of it already had, which alternately can name these episodes the Andorian Trilogy. The Andorians, as represented by Shran, were an important part of the series, so it's great that the final season got to make some kind of statement and milestone on them.
It may also be worth reiterating that the Romulans appear in this trilogy through surrogate means, always hidden away at their own home. Historically, there was the Romulan War (which might've been featured in future seasons of Enterprise had it lasted), and then the first realization of who they really were in Kirk's day. In a way, "The Aenar" is similar to "Observer Effect" in that it has unconscious franchise echoes. The relationship between the Andorians and Aenar is similar to Romulans and Vulcans. More to chew on.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x13 "United"
***
Like a wet dream from the first season, "United" continues the Federation Trilogy by eventually pitting Archer and Shran in "Amok Time" combat. (It should be noted that like the Vulcan Trilogy earlier in the season, I'm refraining from calling any individual installment from it an outright classic, though in this instance, "United" would be that episode.)
Basically all the stuff that happened in "Babel One" degenerates. Reed and Trip (their last real adventure together, making the episode all the more historic) are trapped by the Romulans, who are more actively involved in this installment and the Andorians and Tellarites are still getting along miserably. And yet Archer is really starting to figure out what it takes to get past these problems. He started out as the guy who happened to be the son of the warp drive innovator who made it possible for Starfleet's expanded mission to happen, and was a captain by virtue of his enthusiasm, not so much because he was a diplomat. Yet being quintessentially human was always seen as a virtue in Star Trek (see: James T. Kirk), and somehow Archer figures out how to make enemies see clearly. It's a step in the right direction.
It's an episode that needed to happen, and does, and as part of a larger story, and that probably needed to happen, too. Ideally, there would have been a later season filled with this kind of stuff. Imagine how much more we could have learned about the Federation!
(Plug for a new book.)
Anyway, watch this one if none of the rest of the surrounding story.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
Like a wet dream from the first season, "United" continues the Federation Trilogy by eventually pitting Archer and Shran in "Amok Time" combat. (It should be noted that like the Vulcan Trilogy earlier in the season, I'm refraining from calling any individual installment from it an outright classic, though in this instance, "United" would be that episode.)
Basically all the stuff that happened in "Babel One" degenerates. Reed and Trip (their last real adventure together, making the episode all the more historic) are trapped by the Romulans, who are more actively involved in this installment and the Andorians and Tellarites are still getting along miserably. And yet Archer is really starting to figure out what it takes to get past these problems. He started out as the guy who happened to be the son of the warp drive innovator who made it possible for Starfleet's expanded mission to happen, and was a captain by virtue of his enthusiasm, not so much because he was a diplomat. Yet being quintessentially human was always seen as a virtue in Star Trek (see: James T. Kirk), and somehow Archer figures out how to make enemies see clearly. It's a step in the right direction.
It's an episode that needed to happen, and does, and as part of a larger story, and that probably needed to happen, too. Ideally, there would have been a later season filled with this kind of stuff. Imagine how much more we could have learned about the Federation!
(Plug for a new book.)
Anyway, watch this one if none of the rest of the surrounding story.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x12 "Babel One"
***
From the start, Enterprise strongly suggested that Captain Archer would be instrumental in the founding of the Federation. This would be complicated for a number of reasons, not the least being that in the beginning humanity was only associated with dubious Vulcans.
During the first season, humans met up with Andorians, and some fans perked up, because that was the first time Andorians were important since the original series. Enterprise made Andorians its own very quickly. Tellarites popped up very briefly in the second season. Tellarites, like Andorians, were last relevant in the original series. In fact, they were most relevant in a specific episode, "Journey to Babel."
Yes, "Babel One" is named in direct reference to that episode.
It also features both Andorians and Tellarites. It's also the first of the season's attempts to get Archer back on the case of jumpstarting the Federation. It ain't pretty. Tellarites being Tellarites, they're already difficult, but when someone attempts to start a conflict between them and Andorians (which by definition means an appearance by Shran, which is always welcome), Archer gets to try and sort out the mess.
By the way, "someone" is the Romulans! Somehow the least flashy but arguably most important of the mini-arcs in the season, the Federation Trilogy kicks off nicely.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
From the start, Enterprise strongly suggested that Captain Archer would be instrumental in the founding of the Federation. This would be complicated for a number of reasons, not the least being that in the beginning humanity was only associated with dubious Vulcans.
During the first season, humans met up with Andorians, and some fans perked up, because that was the first time Andorians were important since the original series. Enterprise made Andorians its own very quickly. Tellarites popped up very briefly in the second season. Tellarites, like Andorians, were last relevant in the original series. In fact, they were most relevant in a specific episode, "Journey to Babel."
Yes, "Babel One" is named in direct reference to that episode.
It also features both Andorians and Tellarites. It's also the first of the season's attempts to get Archer back on the case of jumpstarting the Federation. It ain't pretty. Tellarites being Tellarites, they're already difficult, but when someone attempts to start a conflict between them and Andorians (which by definition means an appearance by Shran, which is always welcome), Archer gets to try and sort out the mess.
By the way, "someone" is the Romulans! Somehow the least flashy but arguably most important of the mini-arcs in the season, the Federation Trilogy kicks off nicely.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brian Thompson
Jeffrey Combs
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x11 "Observer Effect"
*
Like "Daedalus," the episode that immediately precedes it, "Observer Effect" is very nearly episode you can skip, except it has a modicum of relevance to longtime fans.
In this instance, the generic material that some fans will find comfortably familiar (aliens, well, observing the crew and making them uneasy) is redeemed by the fact that the aliens doing the observing are Organians, last seen in the original series episode "Errand of Mercy," famously one of the first appearances of the Klingons, establishing their competitive relationship with the Federation.
Now, on that level alone, there might be a level of residual intrigue. But on another level, it was somewhat clever for the series to do an episode with a connection like that, because not so many episodes, Enterprise has its last shot at the Klingons, a recurring foe from the first two seasons but absent from the Xindi third.
Assuming fans made all these connections, "Observer Effect" wastes less time than it seems. It's also the closest to a Hoshi episode that the season gets. Yes, that counts as pretty sad.
franchise * series * essential * character
Memory Alpha summary.
Like "Daedalus," the episode that immediately precedes it, "Observer Effect" is very nearly episode you can skip, except it has a modicum of relevance to longtime fans.
In this instance, the generic material that some fans will find comfortably familiar (aliens, well, observing the crew and making them uneasy) is redeemed by the fact that the aliens doing the observing are Organians, last seen in the original series episode "Errand of Mercy," famously one of the first appearances of the Klingons, establishing their competitive relationship with the Federation.
Now, on that level alone, there might be a level of residual intrigue. But on another level, it was somewhat clever for the series to do an episode with a connection like that, because not so many episodes, Enterprise has its last shot at the Klingons, a recurring foe from the first two seasons but absent from the Xindi third.
Assuming fans made all these connections, "Observer Effect" wastes less time than it seems. It's also the closest to a Hoshi episode that the season gets. Yes, that counts as pretty sad.
franchise * series * essential * character
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x10 "Daedalus"
*
There's an echo or two of series relevance in "Daedalus," but it's a rare episode from the arc-heavy season that's not only fairly standalone, but also almost skippable.
That's the general opinion, actually, but don't skip "Daedalus." Much like "The Ultimate Computer" from the original series, the basic plot involves a visionary scientist whose reputation is threatened by mishaps that threaten to derail his legacy. In this instance, it's an innovator in transporter technology.
As a prequel series, Enterprise has an opportunity to study familiar concepts from an unfamiliar stance. In the first season, transporters were a source of trepidation (only McCoy seems wigged out about them later, and Barclay, too, but they're exceptions). This is the first time in a while that the show has even put transporters in the spotlight. Ironically, the movie reboot that followed in the wake of the franchise flameout concluded by the final episode of this season also featured transporters as a standout element.
Anyway, another link from this standalone episode involves T'Pol learning about the death of her mother, whom we've only recently met. The whole plot of the episode could be seen as a parallel experience between the guest lead and T'Pol's journey, except I don't recall the main character receiving as much substantial attention as the guest. There's nothing inherently wrong about that, except the series does more relevant character work, and certainly with T'Pol, elsewhere, so the material here is comparatively weak.
"Ultimate Computer" isn't the only episode "Daedalus" resembles. In a lot of ways, it's a fairly generic franchise story. But it's worth watching, and you can pick your own way to see how relevant it can turn out to be.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Bill Cobbs
Memory Alpha summary.
There's an echo or two of series relevance in "Daedalus," but it's a rare episode from the arc-heavy season that's not only fairly standalone, but also almost skippable.
That's the general opinion, actually, but don't skip "Daedalus." Much like "The Ultimate Computer" from the original series, the basic plot involves a visionary scientist whose reputation is threatened by mishaps that threaten to derail his legacy. In this instance, it's an innovator in transporter technology.
As a prequel series, Enterprise has an opportunity to study familiar concepts from an unfamiliar stance. In the first season, transporters were a source of trepidation (only McCoy seems wigged out about them later, and Barclay, too, but they're exceptions). This is the first time in a while that the show has even put transporters in the spotlight. Ironically, the movie reboot that followed in the wake of the franchise flameout concluded by the final episode of this season also featured transporters as a standout element.
Anyway, another link from this standalone episode involves T'Pol learning about the death of her mother, whom we've only recently met. The whole plot of the episode could be seen as a parallel experience between the guest lead and T'Pol's journey, except I don't recall the main character receiving as much substantial attention as the guest. There's nothing inherently wrong about that, except the series does more relevant character work, and certainly with T'Pol, elsewhere, so the material here is comparatively weak.
"Ultimate Computer" isn't the only episode "Daedalus" resembles. In a lot of ways, it's a fairly generic franchise story. But it's worth watching, and you can pick your own way to see how relevant it can turn out to be.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Bill Cobbs
Memory Alpha summary.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Enterprise 4x9 "Kir'Shara"
***
Like "Awakening," but in different ways, "Kir'Shara" stands out in the Surak Trilogy as potentially a classic episode, particularly for its work with some recurring characters from the series. Regard it as nearly essential viewing.
For a while, actually, "Kir'Shara" was one of my personal standout episodes from the series. It is, however, necessary to see the previous two episodes to understand what's going on, and the flaws in the previous entries are part of the overall experience, which means if the first two acts have flaws, so too by extension does "Kir'Shara."
Vulcan intrigue continues as Archer and T'Pol continue their desperate quest to redeem the faithful of the original teachings of Surak. To further complicate matters, the Andorians arrive on the scene. Remember that in the first season, Vulcan-Andorian relations were an essential ingredient of the ongoing story of the series. And as always, the Andorians are represented by Shran, whose importance to Enterprise would've finally been acknowledged in the aborted fifth season, in which he would have been elevated to regular cast status.
In "Kir'Shara," however, Shran has his darkest moment, against another recurring figure, Vulcan ambassador Soval. In contrast to Shran, Soval had routinely been viewed as a quasi-villain, always getting in Archer's way, the very embodiment of the somewhat cruel nature of the Vulcans that many fans saw the Surak Trilogy as correcting to more closely match later characterizations, notably Spock and his father Sarek.
The highlight of the episode is Shran's interrogation of Soval, reminiscent of Garak's with Odo in the third season of Deep Space Nine ("The Die is Cast"); in hindsight it only loses some of its luster because it is tangential to what leads to the resolution of the story.
As I said in my thoughts on "Awakening," the whole point of the Surak Trilogy, aside from a redemption of sorts for Vulcans in Enterprise, is to set up the menace of the Romulans, which would play out in later episodes, but would also have theoretically have led to a full-blown Romulan War arc, had the series lasted past this season.
If you watch only one episode in this trilogy, "Kir'Shara" would be that episode. But watch "Awaking," too, and then you might as well include "The Forge," too. But there are other episodes you need to watch, too, to understand what these stories are really gearing toward. So half of what this trilogy accomplishes is really only half the story...You may enjoy how that works itself out, or you may consider it a headache you can do without, and that's part of why I cannot fully endorse the whole story. But it's definitely worth consideration.
In truth, I'm still working on this season myself, so I don't think it's too much a stretch to assume others probably should be doing the same.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Jeffrey Combs
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
Like "Awakening," but in different ways, "Kir'Shara" stands out in the Surak Trilogy as potentially a classic episode, particularly for its work with some recurring characters from the series. Regard it as nearly essential viewing.
For a while, actually, "Kir'Shara" was one of my personal standout episodes from the series. It is, however, necessary to see the previous two episodes to understand what's going on, and the flaws in the previous entries are part of the overall experience, which means if the first two acts have flaws, so too by extension does "Kir'Shara."
Vulcan intrigue continues as Archer and T'Pol continue their desperate quest to redeem the faithful of the original teachings of Surak. To further complicate matters, the Andorians arrive on the scene. Remember that in the first season, Vulcan-Andorian relations were an essential ingredient of the ongoing story of the series. And as always, the Andorians are represented by Shran, whose importance to Enterprise would've finally been acknowledged in the aborted fifth season, in which he would have been elevated to regular cast status.
In "Kir'Shara," however, Shran has his darkest moment, against another recurring figure, Vulcan ambassador Soval. In contrast to Shran, Soval had routinely been viewed as a quasi-villain, always getting in Archer's way, the very embodiment of the somewhat cruel nature of the Vulcans that many fans saw the Surak Trilogy as correcting to more closely match later characterizations, notably Spock and his father Sarek.
The highlight of the episode is Shran's interrogation of Soval, reminiscent of Garak's with Odo in the third season of Deep Space Nine ("The Die is Cast"); in hindsight it only loses some of its luster because it is tangential to what leads to the resolution of the story.
As I said in my thoughts on "Awakening," the whole point of the Surak Trilogy, aside from a redemption of sorts for Vulcans in Enterprise, is to set up the menace of the Romulans, which would play out in later episodes, but would also have theoretically have led to a full-blown Romulan War arc, had the series lasted past this season.
If you watch only one episode in this trilogy, "Kir'Shara" would be that episode. But watch "Awaking," too, and then you might as well include "The Forge," too. But there are other episodes you need to watch, too, to understand what these stories are really gearing toward. So half of what this trilogy accomplishes is really only half the story...You may enjoy how that works itself out, or you may consider it a headache you can do without, and that's part of why I cannot fully endorse the whole story. But it's definitely worth consideration.
In truth, I'm still working on this season myself, so I don't think it's too much a stretch to assume others probably should be doing the same.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Jeffrey Combs
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x8 "Awakening"
***
At this point I'm hesitant to add the full endorsement to the Surak Trilogy, but its borderline status means you probably ought to consider it premium material regardless.
"Awakening" sees T'Pol and Archer enter the heart of Vulcan territory, with Archer harboring Surak's katra (his soul; if you still don't know what I'm talking about, rewatch The Search for Spock). While they're trying to accomplish the transfer of the katra into the appropriate hands, the rest of the Vulcans are immersed in still deeper political intrigue, embroiled in a crisis that is being manipulated by the Romulans (but more on that in later episodes).
Like most of the season, the Surak Trilogy comes on a little suddenly and abruptly, as if some of the creators were becoming angsty about the future of the series (with good reason, because this was the final season), perhaps even desperate. If any one of these stories had been strung out over more episodes, or even covered in a single episode, the series might have been in better shape on the other end. The fourth season is exactly like the first season in a lot of ways. "Awakening" is itself like a cross between a few first season offerings, such as "Desert Crossing" and "Fusion."
While both Archer and T'Pol are indeed at the center of the story, they're busy experiencing it more than participating in it, which is something the fourth season continually did with the main characters, until the final episodes (ironically enough), with a few exceptions. As interesting as "Awakening" is, it's emblematic of the flaws that exist in the season, even as it exemplifies what also helped make it work.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
At this point I'm hesitant to add the full endorsement to the Surak Trilogy, but its borderline status means you probably ought to consider it premium material regardless.
"Awakening" sees T'Pol and Archer enter the heart of Vulcan territory, with Archer harboring Surak's katra (his soul; if you still don't know what I'm talking about, rewatch The Search for Spock). While they're trying to accomplish the transfer of the katra into the appropriate hands, the rest of the Vulcans are immersed in still deeper political intrigue, embroiled in a crisis that is being manipulated by the Romulans (but more on that in later episodes).
Like most of the season, the Surak Trilogy comes on a little suddenly and abruptly, as if some of the creators were becoming angsty about the future of the series (with good reason, because this was the final season), perhaps even desperate. If any one of these stories had been strung out over more episodes, or even covered in a single episode, the series might have been in better shape on the other end. The fourth season is exactly like the first season in a lot of ways. "Awakening" is itself like a cross between a few first season offerings, such as "Desert Crossing" and "Fusion."
While both Archer and T'Pol are indeed at the center of the story, they're busy experiencing it more than participating in it, which is something the fourth season continually did with the main characters, until the final episodes (ironically enough), with a few exceptions. As interesting as "Awakening" is, it's emblematic of the flaws that exist in the season, even as it exemplifies what also helped make it work.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x7 "The Forge"
***
Perhaps the essential three-parter in the fourth season, the Vulcans take center stage in Enterprise for the first time since the first season.
"The Forge" kicks things off in dramatic fashion with a terrorist attack (other than Deep Space Nine, Enterprise is the place to look in Star Trek if you want to look at the franchise's thoughts on this prescient topic, and its conclusions may surprise you) that claims the life of recurring character Admiral Forrest.
The attack draws attention to a group of radical Vulcans with ties to the historical figure of Surak, who came up with all the central tenets of logic that have been overlooked or distorted since his time. Critics of the show's handling of Vulcans saw this as an opportunity to make amends, though I don't think you need to adhere to that interpretation to enjoy this historic moment.
T'Pol is necessarily at the heart of this story, complicated family connections and such.
As with any multi-part episode, "The Forge" is not much of a complete experience, so you need to keep watching.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Vaughn Armstrong
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
Perhaps the essential three-parter in the fourth season, the Vulcans take center stage in Enterprise for the first time since the first season.
"The Forge" kicks things off in dramatic fashion with a terrorist attack (other than Deep Space Nine, Enterprise is the place to look in Star Trek if you want to look at the franchise's thoughts on this prescient topic, and its conclusions may surprise you) that claims the life of recurring character Admiral Forrest.
The attack draws attention to a group of radical Vulcans with ties to the historical figure of Surak, who came up with all the central tenets of logic that have been overlooked or distorted since his time. Critics of the show's handling of Vulcans saw this as an opportunity to make amends, though I don't think you need to adhere to that interpretation to enjoy this historic moment.
T'Pol is necessarily at the heart of this story, complicated family connections and such.
As with any multi-part episode, "The Forge" is not much of a complete experience, so you need to keep watching.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Vaughn Armstrong
Gary Graham
Robert Foxworth
Memory Alpha summary.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Enterprise 4x6 "The Augments"
***
The blow-off to the Augments arc (conveniently named "The Augments") is the most satisfying installment, benefiting from the material that has come before it, which one would hope from any series of episodes.
Prior to this, it should be noted, the only time Star Trek had specifically done a series of three episodes for any one story was at the beginning of Deep Space Nine's second season.
Arik Soong becomes relevant, and his own arc more significant, in the conclusion to a desperate bid to shut down a group of genetic supermen reawakened from the batch that originally gave us Khan. As I've said in previous comments, the whole point of this story is to provide links through the franchise, and Soong is established not only in connection to Khan, but officially to Data as well in the episode. You can imagine a lot of stories to be based on the elements of the Augments arc. Enterprise would itself do one with the Klingons several episodes later.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brent Spiner
Alec Newman
Memory Alpha summary.
The blow-off to the Augments arc (conveniently named "The Augments") is the most satisfying installment, benefiting from the material that has come before it, which one would hope from any series of episodes.
Prior to this, it should be noted, the only time Star Trek had specifically done a series of three episodes for any one story was at the beginning of Deep Space Nine's second season.
Arik Soong becomes relevant, and his own arc more significant, in the conclusion to a desperate bid to shut down a group of genetic supermen reawakened from the batch that originally gave us Khan. As I've said in previous comments, the whole point of this story is to provide links through the franchise, and Soong is established not only in connection to Khan, but officially to Data as well in the episode. You can imagine a lot of stories to be based on the elements of the Augments arc. Enterprise would itself do one with the Klingons several episodes later.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brent Spiner
Alec Newman
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x5 "Cold Station 12"
***
The Augments trilogy begun in "Borderland" continues, and while the whole story is pretty interesting for fans of the franchise (because we revisit the genetic supermen that gave us Khan) and the series (because this whole arc kicks off the way the whole fourth season plays out), the real treat is that "Cold Station 12" finally allows us to meet Phlox's pen pal, Dr. Lucas.
Famously introduced in "Dear Doctor," Lucas is a key part of Enterprise lore. While the whole Augments arc is a tad extraneous to the series (except when revisited several arcs later), it's a little more disheartening that when we finally meet Lucas, it's basically the same thing. That's one of the hidden weaknesses of the season, which even fans who didn't particularly care for the series tended to like because of all the franchise stories, that it tended to disconnect from the rest of what Enterprise had done.
Being a fan of Phlox, I was always on the prowl for more material featuring the good Denobulan, and this was about as close to good Phlox material that the season featured. It's worth a look.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Richard Riehle
Alec Newman
Brent Spiner
Memory Alpha summary.
The Augments trilogy begun in "Borderland" continues, and while the whole story is pretty interesting for fans of the franchise (because we revisit the genetic supermen that gave us Khan) and the series (because this whole arc kicks off the way the whole fourth season plays out), the real treat is that "Cold Station 12" finally allows us to meet Phlox's pen pal, Dr. Lucas.
Famously introduced in "Dear Doctor," Lucas is a key part of Enterprise lore. While the whole Augments arc is a tad extraneous to the series (except when revisited several arcs later), it's a little more disheartening that when we finally meet Lucas, it's basically the same thing. That's one of the hidden weaknesses of the season, which even fans who didn't particularly care for the series tended to like because of all the franchise stories, that it tended to disconnect from the rest of what Enterprise had done.
Being a fan of Phlox, I was always on the prowl for more material featuring the good Denobulan, and this was about as close to good Phlox material that the season featured. It's worth a look.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Richard Riehle
Alec Newman
Brent Spiner
Memory Alpha summary.
Enterprise 4x4 "Borderland"
**
The start of the Augments arc and the way the rest of the season was to unspool, "Borderland" is the moment Enterprise started to play heavily with franchise lore.
(Ha! Not that Lore, but close enough.)
In the first season, the series did a fair bit of this, and also in the second, but not in ways that fans had been expecting when news of the prequel concept first came down the pike (not that Pike!). The fourth season became a totally different experience, building on the heavy arc nature of the third but broken into smaller narratives.
"Borderland" is the first time Star Trek deals directly with the idea of the Eugenics War since "Space Seed" and the famed second movie (Wrath of Khan), though it was a major point in the Deep Space Nine episode "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" It's a key piece of franchise history, though it's always been shrouded in mystery. The Augments arc, set a hundred years after the late '90s event (there have been many attempts to explain how we lived through something like that, or how the Voyager story "Future's End," set during this time, failed to mention it), deals with protoypical Khans suddenly unleashed, thanks to an ancestor of the man who created Data. (I don't normally reference actors in these capsules, but that's indeed Brent Spiner in these episodes.)
Also the first episode of the season to feature the Orions, but not the last.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brent Spiner
Alec Newman
Memory Alpha summary.
The start of the Augments arc and the way the rest of the season was to unspool, "Borderland" is the moment Enterprise started to play heavily with franchise lore.
(Ha! Not that Lore, but close enough.)
In the first season, the series did a fair bit of this, and also in the second, but not in ways that fans had been expecting when news of the prequel concept first came down the pike (not that Pike!). The fourth season became a totally different experience, building on the heavy arc nature of the third but broken into smaller narratives.
"Borderland" is the first time Star Trek deals directly with the idea of the Eugenics War since "Space Seed" and the famed second movie (Wrath of Khan), though it was a major point in the Deep Space Nine episode "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" It's a key piece of franchise history, though it's always been shrouded in mystery. The Augments arc, set a hundred years after the late '90s event (there have been many attempts to explain how we lived through something like that, or how the Voyager story "Future's End," set during this time, failed to mention it), deals with protoypical Khans suddenly unleashed, thanks to an ancestor of the man who created Data. (I don't normally reference actors in these capsules, but that's indeed Brent Spiner in these episodes.)
Also the first episode of the season to feature the Orions, but not the last.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Brent Spiner
Alec Newman
Memory Alpha summary.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Enterprise 4x3 "Home"
****
If there's one episode of the series that fans of the series absolutely must watch, this is it.
After the dramatic events of the Xindi arc from the third season and the complications of the season premiere, the crew is finally able to begin coping with what's happened to them. In a lot of ways, this is Enterprise's version of "Family," the Next Generation episode that followed "The Best of Both Worlds." Picard had been through a terrible ordeal. As the title of that episode suggests, Picard (not to mention Worf) has family matters he has to handle, especially an older brother who has long been jealous of him and once again breaches the logic of adventuring through the stars, something that has new relevance now that he's just survived being assimilated and causing the deaths of thousands.
For Archer, it's a time to perhaps rethink his prior attitudes about space travel as well. As the first deep-space captain and son of the man who developed the Enterprise's warp engine, he's long fought a sense of entitlement (see: "First Flight") and boundless enthusiasm for the resulting mission that brought him into pioneer territory every day. But the Xindi experience was different. He had to remain strong for the sake of success, and that took an incredible amount of willpower. Now he falls apart.
It doesn't help that an old girlfriend of his pops up. Erika Hernandez will return in later episodes, but for now she's a rare opportunity to glimpse Archer's life before the NX-01. Much of this season spends time revisiting past associations, actually.
The episode also features foreshadowing for another story later in the season. The unexpected fallout of the Xindi crisis was a newfound xenophobia on Earth, something Phlox experiences firsthand. Now, if you've ever watched the series, you know Phlox is one of the most lovable characters in the franchise. And yet he is not loved in "Home." That's a darn shame.
And besides that, arguably the most important element of the episode is T'Pol returning home. Again, there's further ramifications of this, too, throughout the rest of the series. Part of it reflects back on her relationship with Tucker, especially the knotty complications of the previous season. She learns that her mother (like Worf's brother Kurn in "Sons of Mogh") has suffered the consequences of her actions in previous episodes, and the only way to resolve them is to marry the man she was once betrothed to (something that was gone over in the first season).
The only problem is, Tucker still has feelings for her, and so the episode ends bittersweetly with the engineer biting his tongue as the wedding is conducted.
I said at the start of this recap that you should really watch this episode if you love this series. You will probably also love this series if you start with "Home." You'll want to know the rest of the story, because this is one of those continuity stories that explains exactly what to love.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Ada Maris
Memory Alpha summary.
If there's one episode of the series that fans of the series absolutely must watch, this is it.
After the dramatic events of the Xindi arc from the third season and the complications of the season premiere, the crew is finally able to begin coping with what's happened to them. In a lot of ways, this is Enterprise's version of "Family," the Next Generation episode that followed "The Best of Both Worlds." Picard had been through a terrible ordeal. As the title of that episode suggests, Picard (not to mention Worf) has family matters he has to handle, especially an older brother who has long been jealous of him and once again breaches the logic of adventuring through the stars, something that has new relevance now that he's just survived being assimilated and causing the deaths of thousands.
For Archer, it's a time to perhaps rethink his prior attitudes about space travel as well. As the first deep-space captain and son of the man who developed the Enterprise's warp engine, he's long fought a sense of entitlement (see: "First Flight") and boundless enthusiasm for the resulting mission that brought him into pioneer territory every day. But the Xindi experience was different. He had to remain strong for the sake of success, and that took an incredible amount of willpower. Now he falls apart.
It doesn't help that an old girlfriend of his pops up. Erika Hernandez will return in later episodes, but for now she's a rare opportunity to glimpse Archer's life before the NX-01. Much of this season spends time revisiting past associations, actually.
The episode also features foreshadowing for another story later in the season. The unexpected fallout of the Xindi crisis was a newfound xenophobia on Earth, something Phlox experiences firsthand. Now, if you've ever watched the series, you know Phlox is one of the most lovable characters in the franchise. And yet he is not loved in "Home." That's a darn shame.
And besides that, arguably the most important element of the episode is T'Pol returning home. Again, there's further ramifications of this, too, throughout the rest of the series. Part of it reflects back on her relationship with Tucker, especially the knotty complications of the previous season. She learns that her mother (like Worf's brother Kurn in "Sons of Mogh") has suffered the consequences of her actions in previous episodes, and the only way to resolve them is to marry the man she was once betrothed to (something that was gone over in the first season).
The only problem is, Tucker still has feelings for her, and so the episode ends bittersweetly with the engineer biting his tongue as the wedding is conducted.
I said at the start of this recap that you should really watch this episode if you love this series. You will probably also love this series if you start with "Home." You'll want to know the rest of the story, because this is one of those continuity stories that explains exactly what to love.
franchise * series * essential * character
Notable guest-stars:
Ada Maris
Memory Alpha summary.
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