Don't skip episodes because a reviewer thinks an episode is bad. There are a lot of reviews on that site that I don't agree with. And even truly awful episodes often have good scenes in a B-storyline if the A-storyline isn't any good. Yes, all Star Trek series re-used a lot of props, sets, effects and even actors. I think it's funny if done right. Does anybody know of a thread on this forum discussing this topic? I'd love to read about this kind of nitpicky stuff; Spot the prop.
Not a thread here, but Ex Astris Scientia keeps pretty through articles on reused ships/props/etc. They have a bunch of "re-used..." articles here: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies.htm All series from TNG on shared a ton of props, naturally this is because much of the same production team stayed on from TNG through ENT, and they were all shot continuously on the same sets, with access to the same archives of props, costumes, etc.
Cool! Rajin has been great, not only because they chose a beautiful actress for the titular character but also it's fun to see the Xindi and our crew finally combat, especially in person on the ship.
Also very interesting, related to the props idea: I've noticed the reuse of much "later" SOUNDS. Like when in Impulse the MACO sets his rifle to kill and then back to stun, it's the same sound used later on First Contact and other TNG-era phaser-setting sounds. Also the computer sound very much the same generally - small sounds here and there. Especially of note, most enjoyed, is that on the NX-01 bridge you can sometimes hear sounds DIRECTLY reminiscent of the TOS bridge. It's an interesting quirk that I'd love to hear an in-universe explanation for. In real life, clearly the production team found it easier than looking for or producing new sounds, I know.
Would Starfleet really feel the need to change their sound effects in 200 years? Once one is established, like the communicator chirp, why not keep it? Just like us Trekkies are programmed to know what it means, Starfleet officers would be too.
I'd say it would almost be needed - in a combat situation, you don't want someone wasting a fraction of a second thinking, does that mean stun or kill? You want them to just know.
This. I have found something to like about every episode, even if it's just a nice scene of character interaction, a passage of music, a striking visual, an interesting directing choice.
It's always a delight discovering a fancy complex lengthy camera move for the first time in an episode that might have little to otherwise recommend it.
So I got a virus on my trip home to New Orleans and ended up watching a LOT of ENT during my convalescence. Got as far as Harbinger. It seems to me - with the Xyrillians, that woman who was being transported by those pirates, Corporal Cole, and now T'Pol - that Trip is the ladies man of ENT. The 22nd century incarnation of Kirk's womanizing or Riker's from the 24th. I like how there seems to be patterns in the appearance of characters. You always have not just the basic crew - captain, first officer, science officer, tactical, chief engineer - but also people who play certain roles WITHIN the main cast. Like there's always been an "alien/outsider" character: Spock, Data, Odo, The Doctor/Seven, and now T'Pol. Anyone notice this kind of thing?
Definitely cried when Hoshi, T'Pol, Reed, etc. found out that Archer was still alive. ESPECIALLY at the sad puppy face T'Pol made when Archer was suddenly in front of her again. THAT was THE redemption for whatever didn't work about Storm Front. As a concept, that whole episode was nuts. But her face and acting and reaction to him were brilliant and perfect and such a great counterpoint to her as a character in Broken Bow.
I definitely love the Augments arc. Manny Coto's writing-style - and the serial-format where nearly every week you have a unique cliffhanger without it having to be a single ongoing large-scale arc - was a definitive improvement over one-offs.
So T'Pol's uniforms. According to Archer's gift and speech in Borderland, she's officially a member of Starfleet and so her uniform makes sense. My only question is: why is she so special that she gets a mix between the Vulcan uniforms from season 3 and a traditional Starfleet uniform for a science officer? Hm?
I agree, that was a terrific scene. And yes, "Storm Front" was a weird coupla eps, but there were some great moments in it. I always felt sorry for Captain Archer and his dearth of romance storylines. I really liked "Civilization," but guest girlfriends never get sequels. Booo. Probably because of what you mentioned about the "resident alien"? I think after they poured Jolene into that catsuit, there was no looking back. And you could explain that the material and design had something to do with Vulcans needing insulation to compensate for the relatively cold temp on a human ship and blah blah...but c'mon, she looked spectacular. (This from a straight girl, ftr.) Which is likely the real-world reason TPTB dressed her like that, and Jeri Ryan before her. So whatever you can spin that makes sense to you in the Trekverse is probably just fine. Personally, I loved T'Pol's makeover at the beginning of Season 3. She looked much better in the array of colored outfits rather than the drab Vulcan uniformy thing from S1-2. Hair looked much better longer, eyebrows were finally fixed too, yay. The novelization explains it as T'Pol quietly defying the VHC, which she turned her back on, by growing out her hair and trading in her official clothes for something less "regulation," which suited me. So I was happy when they basically kept the design in S4.
HopefulRomantic, I love love LOVE your perspectives and am so grateful that you shared them. I see you're a mod. How'd that come to be? Just love ENT that much lol? Also did you happen to publish in Strange New Worlds X? Is that what your signature is implying? ---- I finished the Augments trilogy. Seems to be one of those I watch pretty often by itself, because the idea of Augments is so cool to me. I've heard it argued that Malik is kind of insanely irrational, but I explain his behavior with reference to him being genetically bred for competition and conquest. It's a really interesting question, though. It's suggested that "superior ambition" is something bred into these Augments, but honestly would a Eugenics-Wars-era scientist do that? If so, why? Why create a being that wants to lord his superior power over you?
I watched all of ENT twice-once during the original run (but only with one eye on the screen as I had two screaming babies at the time) and then again years later. On rewatching I found it to be a much, much better show than I remembered. S3 and S4 were just top notch IMHO, and they really went out as they were hitting a stride. I have not watched ENT since my last run through, but I hold a very high opinion of the show (and that is coming from someone who was raised on TOS in the 70's).
I paid off the right people. Actually, I was asked by T'Bonz, the head admin. And I do love ENT and Trek, and this board has given me many enjoyable hours, so I am glad to help out. Yes indeed. All those fanfiction stories I wrote were great practice, as it turned out. I think Soong had good intentions--he bred his children to survive and flourish, and not all the Augments ended up megalomaniacs, after all. But he didn't factor in the unexpected consequences--that confluence of brilliance, power, ego, and lack of compassion that made Malik as inhuman as he was superhuman. There were many interesting ideas explored--the elements of Shakesperean tragedy, the thoughtful Klingon scientist (John Schuck, such a great actor), and my TNG fave Brent Spiner playing his forebear of sorts. I had a great time with it.
OMG I <3 Shran. Always have, always will. Watching him and Archer drink to Shran's recently-destroyed ship in Babel One is delightful. I've always loved their friendship. It's so improbable from the start, but built completely on Archer's standing for some semblance of principles of openness and justice for ALL he encounters.
Still on Babel One, and I know this has been mentioned NUMEROUS times, but my GOD they misused and underused Anthony Montgomery. He seems like he might've had some talent, had he been given the chance and time to show it. But nope. Even lines like, "The one thing they couldn't mask was their power signature...." he gets interrupted. BOSH
I think that some episodes of ENT that did not get a lot of attention were the best, IMHO. For example, my favorite episode of ENT is S3's "The Shipment," which I suspect many did not consider a real standout. The interaction and dialogue between Archer and Gralik is complex and shows that there may be aspects to the Human/Xindi conflict that neither are aware of. The events of the episode force both men to rethink a lot of their pre-conceived notions about what they are doing. Just great sci-fi and great Trek to me.
Uncomfartable is a good description. I always felt like he had a constapated grimace on his face when he tried to react/emote. I remember he was supposed to have a "ladies man" personal but htat was pretty much forgotten about after Civilization.