Opine on Broken Bow

[Alrik]

Sci Fi has just started airing (I think...first I've seen of it anyway) nightly Eps of Enterprise, and Broken Bow was on last week. This is the first time I have seen it since it first aired. To be perfectly honest, I was really surprised and impressed with how good it was. Overall, I think it may have been one of the stronger pilots in Star Trek.

I know there is a lot of angst in the fact that they used Klingons in the first episode, but I found that really didn't bother me all that much. What really got my attention was just how good Bakula was as Archer. Its too bad the writers couldn't have been consistant with the character. If they had, I think there would be a lot less Archer haters.

All in all, I came away really liking the Ep and looking forward to getting to rewatch Enterprise again. It was kind of a refreshing change up from the last Ep I had seen, which was that POS sucker punch known as TATV. I'm just curious to find out what others thought of it after all these years.

 

[Praetorian]

It was certanly a nice pilot! And I always liked Bakula..

It did however introduced the Temporal Cold War (something the series didn't need at all!)

Regarding the Klingons, many people, including the Star Trek Encyclopedia thought the Klingon First Contact had been in 2218 or so, but there isn't any line confirming this.
What there is, is Picard saying that Klingon First Contact was "centuries ago" from his perspective. So that part fits. He also mentioned that it led to "decades of war". Not sure if Archer's dealing with Klingons count as "war" however...

 

[SFRabid]

I thought it was one of the better openings of the ST series. Klingons and Temperal Cold War don't bother me that much as I'm not sure replacements for either would have been better or worse. It was a good way to push them into space, setting up the Vulcan resistance to human space advancement. Also, I really like the Klingons returned to agressive, less honorable opponents as they were in TOS.

 

[miraclefan]

It was certanly a nice pilot! And I always liked Bakula..

It did however introduced the Temporal Cold War (something the series didn't need at all!)

Well we can't put all the blame on ''B&B'' from what I understand the ''SUITS'' at paramount ''pushed'' that idea on the series. I belive it was because the ''SUITS'' didn't like the idea of a prequal series, and they wanted more 24th century tech in there to show the viewers that this was indeed star trek!.

 

[commodore64]

The "sucker punch" wasn't so bad. I liked Broken Bow and thought it was probably the best beginning to Enterprise minus the cheesy Decon scene.

 

[Skywalker]

It was a really good pilot, its only major flaws were the decon scene and the TCW stuff.

 

[Praetor]

It was a really good pilot, its only major flaws were the decon scene and the TCW stuff.

Agreed. Swap Suliban for Orions and I'd have been happier, though.

 

[Alrik]

It was a really good pilot, its only major flaws were the decon scene and the TCW stuff.

Agreed. Swap Suliban for Orions and I'd have been happier, though.

Now THAT would have been great.

 

[SFRabid]

Swap Suliban for Orions and I'd have been happier, though.

Once the producers realized how much trouble that Suliban makeup was I bet they wish that they had chosen Orions instead.

 

[Praetor]

Suliban makeup always reminded me of the nutty coding on Nutty Buddy ice cream cones. And did they really need to slink under doors?

 

[Mach5]

Quite possibly the best of all Star Trek pilots. Bakula was at his best, so was the character he played (Archer), and as ironic as it is, I think "Broken Bow" was his peek. SFX was first rate, soundtrack rocked, character moments priceless - "Knockin' you on your ass" being my all time favorite Archer moment, plus the Decon extravaganza which was easy on the eyes, no matter what some Trekkie prudes may say. Yes, the pilot was awesome!

 

[Skywalker]

It was a really good pilot, its only major flaws were the decon scene and the TCW stuff.

Agreed. Swap Suliban for Orions and I'd have been happier, though.

Oh, definitely.

 

[SFRabid]

... plus the Decon extravaganza which was easy on the eyes, no matter what some Trekkie prudes may say. Yes, the pilot was awesome!

That part bothered me a lot at first, then I re-watched TOS By episode three we had Kirk without his shirt twice and who knows how many mini-skirts running around the bridge. Then I realized that ENT is more like TOS than I had remembered.

 

[Skywalker]

I didn't mind the decon scene because Trip and T'Pol had to strip down to their skivvies for it, I just thought it was ridiculous that they had to sit around rubbing gel on one another.

 

[lceb]

I didn't mind the decon scene because Trip and T'Pol had to strip down to their skivvies for it, I just thought it was ridiculous that they had to sit around rubbing gel on one another.

I agree that Broken bow was a wonderful pilot. And I really like the decon scene. It shows that Trip can talk reason while touching a beautiful woman and T'Pol can see reason when rightly stimulated.

 

[Aviva]

I don't think 'Broken Bow' was that great as a pilot. The complicated plot was more like a movie than a pilot to a show that would be introducing a whole new Trek universe to us fans. I wish the show had been more astronauty from the off; it would have made more logical sense by making that jump between our own space time-scape and the near future's. I think they should have relied more heavily on NASA influences, rather than just jump straight into Star Trek fiction about lost Klingons.

I would have liked to have seen a more NASA-like unform and Space Shuttle-like set and maybe some more believable NASA like characters on board the ship, including Russians, Chinese, Israelis, British - whoever's likely to be big in space exploration in the next 100 years, as well as the Americans.

Anyway, I'm going off topic. What does the title 'Broken Bow' mean anyway? Does the episode make that clear? What bow is broken? With hindsight, I now believe that Broken Bow is the place where the Klingon turned up. Anyway, I think the plot should have been much more Vulcan centred as they were our only point of reference at the time and first contact with the Klingons should have been made later in the show.

As for the laughable "sexy" decon scene, sadly, it just shows who the writers think they're writing for. From the off, T'Pol is a naked sex object, not a genuine believable female Spock. I wish they had shown more subtlely in their portrayal of her. Sure, make her sexy but at least allow her to keep her clothes on.

Anyway, I can appreciate 'Broken Bow' now and do love 'Enterprise'. But I remember how I felt when I first saw it. It didn't really make me want to come back for more at the time, if I'm honest.

 

[Praetor]

I didn't mind the decon scene because Trip and T'Pol had to strip down to their skivvies for it, I just thought it was ridiculous that they had to sit around rubbing gel on one another.

Agreed. It's called radiation. Geez.

I don't think 'Broken Bow' was that great as a pilot. The complicated plot was more like a movie than a pilot to a show that would be introducing a whole new Trek universe to us fans. I wish the show had been more astronauty from the off; it would have made more logical sense by making that jump between our own space time-scape and the near future's. I think they should have relied more heavily on NASA influences, rather than just jump straight into Star Trek fiction about lost Klingons.

I would have liked to have seen a more Nasa-like unform and Space Shuttle-like set and maybe some more believable Nasa like characters on board the ship, including Russians, Chinese, Israelis, British - whoever's likely to be big in space exploration in the next 100 years, as well as the Americans.

Good suggestions.

Anyway, I'm going off topic. What does the title 'Broken Bow' mean anyway? Does the episode make that clear? What bow is broken? With hindsight, I now think that Broken Bow is the place where the Klingon turned up. Anyway, I think the plot should have been much more Vulcan centred as they were our only point of reference at the time and first contact with the Klingons should have been made later in the show.

I tend to agree with this too.

FYI, 'Broken Bow' was the place in Oklahoma where the Klingon crashed, and the Captain's name was 'Archer' so I think it was meant to suggest that he (and by extension, humanity) was venturing into new territory. His prejudices and preconceived notions and by extension his personality would have to be 'broken' for him to grow.

As for the laughable "sexy" decon scene, sadly, it just shows who the writers think they're writing for. From the off, T'Pol is a naked sex object, not a genuine believable female Spock. I wish they had shown more subtlely in their portrayal of her. Sure, make her sexy but at least allow her to keep her clothes on.

To be fair, everyone on the show was a sex object.

(But I get your point.)

 

[Aviva]

FYI, 'Broken Bow' was the place in Oklahoma where the Klingon crashed, and the Captain's name was 'Archer' so I think it was meant to suggest that he (and by extension, humanity) was venturing into new territory. His prejudices and preconceived notions and by extension his personality would have to be 'broken' for him to grow.

That whole 'Archer' and 'Bow' metaphor didn't occur to me. I originally thought it referred to the 'bow' of a ship rather than a bow and arrow.

To be fair, everyone on the show was a sex object.

(But I get your point.)

Everyone? Even Phlox?!

Sexy scenes can either turn you on or turn you off. To be honest, that forced sexy scene in the decon with T'Pol and Trip was way too much too soon for me.

Star Trek TNG relied on a much more subtle sexuality in it's portrayal of women and relationships. And yet, all of those characters had their fans; guys still fancied Deanna and Beverly and the girls fancied, erm, well, I can't really think of anyone. Worf maybe.

Anyway, as a girl myself, I don't find T'Pol all that appealing a female specimin anyway. Hoshi's the naturally pretty girl on 'Enterprise'. It's a shame there were practically no other female characters.

 

[Praetor]

To be fair, everyone on the show was a sex object.

(But I get your point.)

Everyone? Even Phlox?!

Yeccchkk.

Everyone, except Phlox and Porthos.

Sexy scenes can either turn you on or turn you off. To be honest, that forced sexy scene in the decon with T'Pol and Trip was way too much too soon for me.

Star Trek TNG relied on a much more subtle sexuality in it's portrayal of women and relationships. And yet, all of those characters had their fans; guys still fancied Deanna and Beverly and the girls fancied, erm, well, I can't really think of anyone. Worf maybe.

Anyway, as a girl myself, I don't find T'Pol all that appealing a female specimin anyway. Hoshi's the naturally pretty girl on 'Enterprise'. It's a shame there were practically no other female characters.

Well, as a gay male, T'Pol didn't do much for me either. Trip and Travis were the best looking guys aboard, IMO.

I'm actually in the same camp you are - the decon stuff felt very 'forced.' I agree with your assessment of TNG. (I think you forgot Riker.)

And really, I'd say other than poor Phlox it was a generally attractive crew - perhaps more so than any previous series. That was what I was referring to. It seemed like they were targeting a 'young and sexy' demographic. I'm not saying there's necessarily automatically anything wrong with that, just that they did it wrong.

 

[Aviva]

Well, as a gay male, T'Pol didn't do much for me either. Trip and Travis were the best looking guys aboard, IMO.

I'm actually in the same camp you are - the decon stuff felt very 'forced.' I agree with your assessment of TNG. (I think you forgot Riker.)

And really, I'd say other than poor Phlox it was a generally attractive crew - perhaps more so than any previous series. That was what I was referring to. It seemed like they were targeting a 'young and sexy' demographic. I'm not saying there's necessarily automatically anything wrong with that, just that they did it wrong.

As a gay man, how did you feel about the whole ambiguity of Malcolm thing? There was certainly something to be said about the fight he has with Hayes; that there was an element of sexual excitement in it, (ie: some of the words they use about "being up for it", Hayes getting physically jumped on, etc).

I can certainly appreciate female beauty but I just find something robotic about T'Pol's appeal which just doesn't do anything for me. I could say the same for Travis! He seems like a cardboard cut-out of a character with no sexuality at all. He does nothing for me.

I agree both Archer and Trip are physically beautiful men but my soft spot is always for intelligence. For that reason, I'd definitely go for Malcolm, even though he's a midget and only seems to fancy waitresses.