ENT episodes worthy of (academic) discussion?

[Eddie Roth]

I'm currently mapping out a seminar on Star Trek I'm going to give at my university starting next month (American Cultural Studies) and I think I should include at least one ENT episode. It's been a long time since I've seen any ENT, so I don't know which episode might yield an interesting topic for academic debate, an episode that might tackle an issue of social/cultural concern, or an historical subject.

The idea for that particular session is just a free discussion, no predetermined topic, so anything goes. What do you guys think would be an ENT episode that lends itself to that?

For example, Stigma, I recall, negotiates AIDS. But was that done in any insightful way? What about others? Any pointers?

 

[Danny99]

Is it too much of a stretch to use "Anomaly" for a torture debate or how Archer, a good man, left his morals for the good of the state?

 

[Mach5]

"Damage" is definitely worthy of attention. Archer and his crew doing wrong by innocent aliens, knowing they're doing wrong, but doing it anyway because the end justifies the means when survival of Humanity is at stake.

There's also, of course, "These Are The Voyages." The episode itself isn't worthy of analysis, but the fuss surrounding it is a major phenomenon. It is (arguably) the most hated hour of Star Trek in existence.

 

[Withers]

"Damage" is definitely worthy of attention. Archer and his crew doing wrong by innocent aliens, knowing they're doing wrong, but doing it anyway because the end justifies the means when survival of Humanity is at stake.

Agreed. This is the best example of anything in Enterprise worthy of that sort of focus and the the second best in all of Trek (second in my mind only to the events of In the Pale Moonlight from DS9.)

There's also, of course, "These Are The Voyages." The episode itself isn't worthy of analysis, but the fuss surrounding it is a major phenomenon. It is (arguably) the most hated hour of Star Trek in existence.

The only hour I can think of more hated, universally, than that one is Threshold... but even that seems to have died down in the face of TAtV.

-Withers-​

 

[Eddie Roth]

Isn't Damage also an episode in which T'Pol's addiction to that drug is foregrounded?

 

[RegFan]

There's also, of course, "These Are The Voyages." The episode itself isn't worthy of analysis, but the fuss surrounding it is a major phenomenon. It is (arguably) the most hated hour of Star Trek in existence.

The only hour I can think of more hated, universally, than that one is Threshold... but even that seems to have died down in the face of TAtV.

I think Threshold is more hated. TATV just receives more attention because it's the last episode, which means it's expected to be good.

I agree that Damage is the best episode for these purposes. It has strong themes of drug addiction and morality.

 

[Jimmy Bob]

Cogenitor - or how trying to liberate persons who have been slaves can go horribly wrong. How trying to give sense of self-worth to someone who has never had it, can go wrong if you don't plan to stick around that long.

What is liberty? Is it something that we need to hide from our society? Is it something that can confuse a person who has never have it? What did Trip do wrong? What should have Trip done and teached to Charles instead?

I guess Damage is good too.

 

[Mach5]

I think Threshold is more hated. TATV just receives more attention because it's the last episode, which means it's expected to be good.

Why would anyone have real feelings about Threshold? I've caught it on TV a couple of months ago, and it was even worse than I remembered... It was, in fact, embarrassingly, sickeningly awful, but I don't exactly hate it for it. I just ignore it, pretend it never happened. It's a mid-season episode from VOY's early stages (S2) which (IIRC) never gets referenced in any of the latter episodes.

 

[Withers]

Whether or not its justified people do hate that episode pretty strongly. I agree with you though- it was a really horrible but ultimately dismissible episode. TAtV, however, will always be remembered since its the last episode of Enterprise and was so... good lord, I just don't have words with enough simmering bile in them to properly articulate my thoughts on it. (Case in point: I'm one of the nutjobs he was talking about that would make the study of said episode, perhaps, interesting.)

-Withers-​

 

[JiNX-01]

Cogenitor - or how trying to liberate persons who have been slaves can go horribly wrong. How trying to give sense of self-worth to someone who has never had it, can go wrong if you don't plan to stick around that long.

What is liberty? Is it something that we need to hide from our society? Is it something that can confuse a person who has never have it? What did Trip do wrong? What should have Trip done and teached to Charles instead?

I guess Damage is good too.

Yes, Cogenitor is an excellent choice.

I would also suggest Similitude, the idea of creating a sentient person just to harvest his tissue (and as it turns out, kill him in the process) to save another.

I'm currently mapping out a seminar on Star Trek I'm going to give at my university starting next month (American Cultural Studies) and I think I should include at least one ENT episode. It's been a long time since I've seen any ENT, so I don't know which episode might yield an interesting topic for academic debate, an episode that might tackle an issue of social/cultural concern, or an historical subject.

The idea for that particular session is just a free discussion, no predetermined topic, so anything goes. What do you guys think would be an ENT episode that lends itself to that?

For example, Stigma, I recall, negotiates AIDS. But was that done in any insightful way? What about others? Any pointers?

Stigma was ENT's "AIDS" episode. But frankly it wasn't all that inciteful, IMO. The writers had T'Pol portray herself as a victim from the outset, when she did in fact initially agree to the meld. I'm not saying Tolaris was entitled to continue the meld when she wanted to stop, but the episode fell short by not acknowledging what really happened in Fusion (which you would probably have to treat as the first part of a "two-part" story).

 

[bluedana]

I'd suggest Similitude, because it is a classic no-win situation. It starts out just this side of ethical (making a clone for the purpose of harvesting tissue), and then takes an unexpected turn when the natural (if short) lifespan isn't an option anymore. As a second choice, I'd pick Cogenitor, because it deals with the clash between two antithetical cultural expectations.

Damage is a good "needs of the many" dilemma, but I think it takes too much backstory to understand.

 

[SFRabid]

Similitude was the first episode to come to mind for me. There are a few things in this episoe to discuse.

Cloaning for organs.
Forced sacrifice of an individule to save a group.
Making the most of a short life.

I've always wondered, if people lived longer would they accomplish more or procrastinate more. Would a shorter life span encourage us to live life to the fullest and with more urgency?

 

[JiNX-01]

I've always wondered, if people lived longer would they accomplish more or procrastinate more. Would a shorter life span encourage us to live life to the fullest and with more urgency?

In a sense, I think Sim answers that question. He actually tells T'Pol how he (and "possibly" Trip) feels about her while Trip held back.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I'm currently mapping out a seminar on Star Trek I'm going to give at my university starting next month (American Cultural Studies) and I think I should include at least one ENT episode. It's been a long time since I've seen any ENT, so I don't know which episode might yield an interesting topic for academic debate, an episode that might tackle an issue of social/cultural concern, or an historical subject.

The idea for that particular session is just a free discussion, no predetermined topic, so anything goes. What do you guys think would be an ENT episode that lends itself to that?

For example, Stigma, I recall, negotiates AIDS. But was that done in any insightful way? What about others? Any pointers?

IAMD 1 & 2: Asian woman winds up as ruler...(and you can take the cultural, racial, and gender aspects of that in terms of other Trek and other media).

 

[Admiral Shran]

I think those already suggested (Anomaly, Damage, TATV, Cogenitor, Fusion/Stigma, Similitude, the In a Mirror, Darkly episodes) are all excellent choices.

Some I would suggest....

Hatchery - Even though Archer was under Xindi-Insectoid influence, was he right? In war, are there limits? Should non-combatant civilians be treated the same as hostile enemy forces?

Babel One/United - 1.) In the face of terroristic threats, is it not best to work together and set aside petty differences? 2.) Will cooperation lead to peace?

 

[RegFan]

IAMD 1 & 2: Asian woman winds up as ruler...(and you can take the cultural, racial, and gender aspects of that in terms of other Trek and other media).

I don't think that's a good choice. Those episodes were simply supposed to be cool.

I agree that Cogenitor, Hatchery and Similitude are all excellent choices.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

IAMD 1 & 2: Asian woman winds up as ruler...(and you can take the cultural, racial, and gender aspects of that in terms of other Trek and other media).

I don't think that's a good choice. Those episodes were simply supposed to be cool.

I agree that Cogenitor, Hatchery and Similitude are all excellent choices.

Each to his or her own opinion.

Cool or not....it's media...and it can be analyzed...

We only have to look at the various academic/non-fiction books on Star Trek....

 

[Mach5]

Each to his or her own opinion.

Sure, but I agree with RegFan on this. IaMD was meant to be a hommage to TOS, nothing more.

Some of you may "notice" some subtext in there, but I don't think that was intentional.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Each to his or her own opinion.

Sure, but I agree with RegFan on this. IaMD was meant to be a hommage to TOS, nothing more.

Some of you may "notice" some subtext in there, but I don't think that was intentional.

You're free to agree or disagree. As aforementioned, each to his or her own opinion.

Whether or not it was 'cool' or a 'homage'....or stuff 'intentional' or 'unintentional'....it can still be analyzed. (Not just in regards to the OP's question, but in general--especially in a academic, media, or sociological regards).

 

[miriel68]

As Joel Kirk said, some not "intentional" things are the best material for the cultural analysis. Most of academic discussions about Trek are based on such an approach.
I think the choice would depend on what are exactly the issues Eddie Roth wants to discuss in his seminary.
For example:
Azati prime - there is an interesting topic for gender analysis: once T'Pol is in command in the most critical moment of all season, she fails completely. From this point of view the episode is very much like the last one of TOS (Turnabout Intruder) and surely worthy of a comparative analysis
Shuttlepod one - a nice example of English/American stereotypes
Cold Storm: quite a curious interpretation of historical events of the II World War, more national stereotypes
Opening titles: the choice of images that go with the song (AND the song itself) are really interesting material for analysis