Hello again; just a quick fly-by today. It is the weekend after all!
I agree with Mach that 1 out 5 should only be reserved for the most truly dreadful specimens ever to contaminate the screen. I'd also say that whilst Star Trek (in all its series), even on its worst days, usually manages to avoid such catastrophes.
As for Bormanis, he never writes many episodes in any of the seasons. I suspect that this is down to him feeling unable to come up with enough truly killer ideas. And I think he did work better when he was writing teleplays (i.e adapting other people's stories).
It might have been a bitter pill to swallow, when he had already written something as good as 'Silent Enemy', but I think getting episodes under his belt was more important. Nothing breeds confidence like a few well received episodes - you can worry about doing your own stories later.
But it cannot be denied this is a disappointing episode. If he were simply a bad writer, it might be easier, because you could pass by with no worries. But you can see Bormanis has talent, which makes it all the more frustrating.
On Trip being singled out for his insomnia, I think Phlox is pretty sensible about how he approaches both Trip and Archer in this season. There is going to be a lot of stress on them, but it's too important a mission to have them feel like he's stalking their every movement, heckling them for not taking care of themselves.
He takes a less invasive approach. With Archer, he makes sure he is the same rock of stability he has always been, backing him up and trusting him to not do anything too foolish. This pays off as Archer more or less seeks his blessing for his dubious plan in 'Damage' and tells him straight that he has no problem leaving Enterprise in Phlox's care in 'Doctor's Orders'.
And with Trip, we see that he held off as long as he could, but that Trip's problems require a more spiritual, psychological solution than standard medical care. He only steps in when Trip's behaviour becomes dangerous in 'The Forgotten'. Even then, his work in putting Trip and T'Pol together earlier in the season, eventually pays off in that same episode.
Anyway the shadows are lengthening so I'll have to pop off soon. Chris Black's first episode of the series is coming up next. Or as I call him, 'The cheerful observer of human nature'.
Especially when writing alone, he often introduces a more light hearted and optimistic feel than some of the other writers. He is always keen to show that there are two sides to every story, that most people will come around if you give them time.
He is very big on the idea of observation, of looking at others and examining them to find out what they are like. His stories usually someone seperate from others who can fulfill this function. Take crewmen Rostov from '2 Days and 2 Nights', whose huge smile as he listens to the crew talking when piloting the shuttlepod to Risa, would not be out of place in a toothpaste advert.
He's happy just to hear his crewmates talking and being excited about visiting Risa. Crewman Cutler is the same on board Enterprise, beaming at Phlox's antics as they wake him up from hibernation.
But look through his episodes and you'll see people are always watching other people. Archer looks down from his balcony at the female resident in 2DA2N, Rajinn observes human behaviour in her time among them, Phlox is able to come and go as he pleases, viewing the slumbering crewmembers in 'The Forgotten', the team view the Xindi scientist 'in his own habitat' in 'The Shipment', the Andorians come aboard and nose about, getting to know people in 'Proving Ground' etc etc.
Knowing when to look and when to stop looking and act is one of his big concerns (such as with T'Pol realising that the crew are acting more strangely than usual in 'Singularity', the Aquatics finally coming down on Humanity's side in 'Countdown', Rajinn... ah, but that would be telling, wouldn't it?!
But whilst he brings an optimism and warmness to the show, he is a fairly traditional writer at times. He is interested in how men and women interact, although adopting somewhat stereotypical views from both genders at times.
Men are adventerous, macho action types and are frequently 'on the pull' (Trip and Reed for example, with their outrageous clobber and 'we're here to get laid' grins in '2 days and 2 nights'.) But they are heroic and generally well meaning.
Women meanwhile, usually tut and frown at the guys' macho posturing and have to look after these loveable fools when they screw things up. Women are usually seen as givers of moral support and 'inspirational figures'... You can almost hear the feminists sharpening their axes right now.
Because it is all very stereotypical really. Nothing says danger to Chris Black like a woman being placed in danger. And he is also very fond of the 'sexy but tragic female spy', who doesn't really want to betray the heroes but has to...
So both genders have cause to feel slightly misquoted by Black. But as the viewpoints are still predominantly what you expect from a male writer, I think women have more cause for grieveance than guys here. Too often, women are portrayed as duplicitious or just as hectoring sorts who dampen the guys' enthusiasm.
It reminded of a quote from 'Jeeves and Wooster' about women constantly putting men down:
"They are brought up that way, I'm afraid. They believe it is their duty to restrain male optmism'.
Black has a cheerful attitude and his stereotypes imply no malice whatsoever to my mind. It does serve to make his episodes less... 'significant' however, than some of Braga's or Sussman's episodes. Many of them are excellently written and are usually all great fun.
But they do seem to espouse some rather old fashioned viewpoints at times. But there will time for all this and more, when the new week dawns...
And then you will see the magificence of... Bistro?
...?
Dave! They've spelt the name wrong on the Marquee again! Arrgghh!
) Even so, I'm enjoying all this in-depth analysis. 
And I agree, knowing more about the writers enlightens one about their work, and vice versa.
