Anomaly - thoughts?

[Cathara]

I recently got around to watching this episode and was wondering about other peoples reactions to it. Personally I wasn't really a fan of this episode, I thought it's approach to torture was a bit too indulgent, I was annoyed to see Reed say nothing when he found Archer torturing Orgoth. Archer didn't seem to have any real feelings about the incident after the event from all I saw, he just shrugged it off and went on with his mission.

What were your reactions to this episode? Your thoughts? How do you think it's subject matter was handled?

 

[Jax]

Archer was right to nearly kill the guy, hes got 7 billion lives counting on him. One of the reasons I like the characters in the 22nd century was they felt more real. Its a good episode that foreshadows Archer change as a man because he simply has no choice.

 

[AMQ]

It did leave significant impact on him. In later episodes he seemed darker and on several occasions he stated how many things he never thought that will have to do he did. It was obvious, especially in Home when he faced Vulcans who weren't there to help or when he said that for Earth may be better to keep ships closer to home if that would mean that Xindi attack or something similar wouldn't happen. Also reference for that was in episode with Augments when he confronted Soong or in The Bound where he clearly stated that his limits on how far he would go to save his ship changed. It had everything to do with the events in the Expanse.

Plenty of times he stated that he hoped that one day they will return to their real purpose and mission of exploration. Events of that episode were part of the reason he "hated" himself for what he had to do and become in order to save the Earth. And that had much to do with torturing Orgoth or stealing that warp coil (in Damage, I think), even though he knew both things were necessary.

 

[Cathara]

Archer was right to nearly kill the guy, hes got 7 billion lives counting on him. One of the reasons I like the characters in the 22nd century was they felt more real. Its a good episode that foreshadows Archer change as a man because he simply has no choice.

To me I'm not sure if it felt more real. I didn't empathise with Archer at all in his decision, it really devalued him as a character to me, or at least as a likeable/good/gettable character. Reed just standing there and doing nothing I found to add even less emotion to what should have been a nerve crunching scene, I think it was played too coldly (and I get that was probably a goal, I think they over did it).

“Torture has never been a reliable means of extracting information. It is ultimately self-defeating as a means of control. One wonders it is still practiced.” - Picard
That really sums up why I don't empathise with Archer in this I guess. It is good to see it effected him later but to be honest it doesn't sound like it effected him in a way that I would expect.

 

[AMQ]

In that moment it was what he had to do and he felt the burden of humanity on his back (no matter how melodramatic it sounds) so IMO it was justified. He didn't kill him after all

 

[Cathara]

In that moment it was what he had to do and he felt the burden of humanity on his back (no matter how melodramatic it sounds) so IMO it was justified. He didn't kill him after all

True at that. I suppose I just felt that he could have found a slightly more cunning way of doing things, a more reliable way too, because that ploy could so easily have blown up in his face.

 

[AMQ]

In that moment it was what he had to do and he felt the burden of humanity on his back (no matter how melodramatic it sounds) so IMO it was justified. He didn't kill him after all

True at that. I suppose I just felt that he could have found a slightly more cunning way of doing things, a more reliable way too, because that ploy could so easily have blown up in his face.

It is also true, but it's Enterprise thing - they are not yet, in cunning and more reliable Picard time that we all love
they are still doing things in an old - fashioned way.

 

[Jax]

Reed just standing there and doing nothing I found to add even less emotion to what should have been a nerve crunching scene, I think it was played too coldly (and I get that was probably a goal, I think they over did it).

Reed's is a proper soldier type officier so first he would not try to stop Archer after the order was given but also Reed probably would of done the same.

TNG stuff was far too perfect in terms of how people acted, is always bugged me and DS9 shown with Sisko whatever it takes in crunch times of war.

 

[Cathara]

Reed's is a proper soldier type officier so first he would not try to stop Archer after the order was given but also Reed probably would of done the same.

TNG stuff was far too perfect in terms of how people acted, is always bugged me and DS9 shown with Sisko whatever it takes in crunch times of war.

While TNG was a bit too perfect at times I think in this instance at least Enterprise went too far the other way. I do tend to hold characters up to a certain standard, morally grey decisions are something that make a series interesting at times, but I thought this was over the top. To me those actions weren't justified; if people did that *today* they would be in trouble, I would hope the future continues to take this approach.

 

[pookha]

In that moment it was what he had to do and he felt the burden of humanity on his back (no matter how melodramatic it sounds) so IMO it was justified. He didn't kill him after all

True at that. I suppose I just felt that he could have found a slightly more cunning way of doing things, a more reliable way too, because that ploy could so easily have blown up in his face.

it might have but he was getting near the point he didnt have options.
they were going to die if they didnt get back their supplies.
earth would have died.

archer is so possessed with trying to save earth he almost fashions himself into a different person.

he becomes aloof from his crew for awhile.. something he told malcom he never wanted to do all the way back in minefield.

he believe that even if they stopped the weapon he and the crew were not coming back.. that this was a one way trip.

i nicknamed him dark archer during this season.

 

[I am Surak]

Aside from the story the anomaly effects were quite trippy and well done.

 

[RegFan]

I'm not entirely sure Archer's actions in this episode were justified. Couldn't he have found another way to get the information he needed? His actions in Damage were completely justified, though.