Aquisition This was just so bad. My God. This was so bad that even pull down the top of jumpsuit and tie the arms around the waist moments didn't bring me any enjoyment. How stupid can one episode get. This is worse than Threshold. Sure there was fist-fights and somewhat playful T'Pol... but it was just too awful. Some of the sets in Enterprise have felt slightly familiar and the camera angles in this episode revealed why: the sets are just redecorated Voyager sets. I hope they never do that again. Avoid those angles. Or better yet... avoid those places. The same sets probably did enhance the effect of oversaturation. I myself felt somewhat exhausted when I saw that it's the same ship. I knew that Neelix wasn't up to anything good. It was all part of his masterplan. Since Voyager and Enterprise have the same sets he knew that if he only could revert the space-time continuum deflagmators in the right way, he could travel back in time to unleash one of most unwatchable episodes ever.
Oasis Huh? I must have dozed off somewhere but this episode was over before it began. "Hey, we're not real people. We'll go home now." What happened? Cold Front, Dear Doctor, Shadows of P'jem, Shuttlepod One, Fusion – the show was really getting it on and now we have these run-of-the-mill „huh?“ episodes. Where did they put that awesome juice? Aquisition made me want to commit suicide and this was just so... random collections of familiar parts of previous Trek episodes. I'll just hope the writers did find the awesome juice for following episodes. This mediocrity won't just do. You just got it on people! The show was going towards it's own path! And then you decide to give us this episode that would feel just at home in early Voyager seasons? What's the matter with you?
First-Timer's Mid-Late Season Character Impressions What do I think of the characters so far? I separated the characters into two categories – those who feel part of the main cast and those who don't. Characters who feel part of the main cast: Archer – Archer's a classic "I'll save the world" idealist. He wants to do good. And there even has been a certain change. In the beginning he was all like alone before the universe, in things bigger than him, and all he said: "We're just taking him home." But he has lately been getting an idea that people of the universe tend to step over do-gooder's like him. So he still does good, but now with a sad smile that expects no gratitude and he has enough experience to know when to use force, so others wouldn't step over him while he's doing good (I'm refering to Sleeping Dogs, where he saved the Klingons and showed teeth when Klingon's went all "no good deed goes unpunished"). I like Archer and his child-like innocence towards the universe. There can be interesting things done with the conflict between cynical real world and his idealism. If they do break him I hope he still maintains some of this. Of course, it might be too wild to expect this from Trek writers who usually tend to be happy with just basic traits, but Enterprise has already done many things differently. Trip – Trip's only been introduced as a character so far. He's a funny guy. Leans towards sentimentalism. Quick to anger, but also quick to sympathize. Shares a bit of "do-gooderness" with Archer, but more grounded smaller scale. Archer deals more with the world and the system in general while Trip is more about being nice to fellow common man. The sort of guy who'd make your tribe, neighbourhood, village, book club, roleplaying club or church a much warmer place. And he has some common sense in him. Drinking the bourbon in Shuttlepod One was the right thing to do. Hoshi – Hoshi has got a little bit of growth too over the season. At first she was shy and scared of space. But now she's more social and a bit more confident... or at least she's getting her strength from the friendly environment of the ship which helps her to ease her "I'm afraid of the world" stance. Malcolm – Like Trip, Malcolm has only been introduced as a character. Not much growing or change yet. Quiet, melancholic, falls into depression easily and has his masculinity issues thing going on. He'll do the things in the manliest way possible, because he is a man. He after all saved Trip and got T'Pol say "Stinky". Even if only in his dreams. T'Pol – T'Pol's grown a bit. She's more playful with the men on the ship than before. At first she was slighlty on guard always. Expecting the worst. But she has laid her guard down lately. Of course there is lot more to her than that, I just don't really know how to describe all her vulcan female inner world and it's nuances and it's depth. I would like to see her in something else though. I'm talking about clothes. Character's who don't feel part of the main cast: Doctor – he's "existing outside of the main crew" feel can be itentional. He's an awesome character. He always manages to make any scene he's in something good. He has a peculiar sense of humour or approaching life. He likes people and new things in general. But he's not idealistic so he doesn't ignore the worst of the universe. He takes the worst of people the same way he takes the best... with a slight amusent and enjoyment. He's more into observation than acting. When something is wrong he smiles, reveals something insightful and that's it. No point in creating gas pain for yourself by troubling with these things. Enjoy the absurditiy that is life. Have you tried the new Xmalactish dishes yet? Those spices were really something, weren't they? Travis – he doesn't feel part of the main cast because he's just not there. He does have an interesting background – the first spacer people, a whole new nation in humanity's history. Which is quite interesting way to do minority characters. Unfortunately, he is far less developed than that crewman Elizabeth Cutler for example (btw, can't wait to see her again, she's cute). He's just an extra.
Detained Hooray. Quantum Leap's reunion party! And Travis gets some scenes too. This episode brought goodness back. It was just great. The whole theme of people who have to live in other societies due to them having no home, and then some of them are doing a whole seedy criminal military thing and then they all lose their rights for their own protection. Though Grat was probably right about many things, as the episode ended on that sad unknowning note. Archer had done his good thing - saved the people, but what next? Repressions against Suliban were relatively mild before Archer came along. This whole Temporal Cold War and Cabal and all this Suliban business is starting to get really interesting. Speaking of which, the tension between Scott and Dean was just strange and kind of fun to watch. All those excuses that are probably somewhat true and the suspicions vs Archer's stubborn naive idealism. There was no hint of Quantum Leap characters at all. I personally think that it would probably have been better to just leave politely, making friends with Suliban and Grat both... but I'm glad that this episode ended on this uncertain note. The effect is just better.
Vox Sola This episode could almost have been meaningless and boring. But the crew interaction saved it. The dialogue between Malcolm and Travis in the dining table for example. Or Trip and Archer in every scene they get. And I also found the ending to be quite atmospheric. And that scene where Hoshi communicates with the alien lifeform – it had almost a mystical musical quality to it. At least I was in awe. Those puritan aliens... these kind of self-centered people who take offence in everything are really irritating, aren't they? Scary. Could have happened here too in more religious times. Eating as something sinful. Wait... on the other hand, it kinda is. At least they bothered to fix the problem of language barrier, so they're probably not that bad. Travis once again gets to do something. Unfortunately, neither the scenes in Detained or in this one build him more interesting. These scenes could have been done by any random extra.
^Yeah, Travis always seemed a bit underused to me. There are some episodes which flesh him out a bit more, but on the whole, his entire role could have been that of "some random extra". Glad you're enjoying the series. A lot of people bash it, but I think it's a rather good show, for the most part (I could be a bit biased though, because it's the first Trek series that I watched consistently from start to finish.).
I think Enterprise is just very easy to bash. But still, claiming that the dog is the most interesting character on Enterprise is clearly wrong.
Fallen Hero A bit too general Trek. But I quite enjoyed the low-tech chasing sequence. The whole almost warp 5 angle and overall technical inferiority aspect – it got surprisingly interesting and exciting. I was surprised that I was actually interested how their going to get out of that one with the ambassador alive. I think that T'Pol and Hoshi have a bit of female rivalry thing going on. Their relationship has seen both "insult-be insulted" and "comforting" days.
Desert Crossing Captain Archer feeding the poor in India. Clancy Brown is one strange actor. By the way, I love the continuity thing Enterprise does. Like the fact that because Archer broke some prisoners out of Guantanamo, now everyone mistakes him for some revolutionary freedom fighter. Also interesting point the episode brings out. I don't think Trek has before bothered to think about that whenever humans visit some planet, what if the planet has many different nations, and wouldn't some of those feel offended or angry when humans visit some of them. But usually other planets are always unified with one unified species or planetarian language and culture. But still. Interesting point. Could be interesting if some sci-fi show would keep that in mind. I loved this episode. Clancy Brown was strange, but likeable. But the true beauty of this episode was Archer's and Trip's relationship. From the start where Captain tries to lure Trip into coming with him on a trip, to playing that game together, to eating testicles, to travelling in the desert and to finally with Archer trying to keep Trip alive. Wonderful buddy show.
Two Days and Two Nights Wonderful silly episode. Just right for gathering the season together before the final. Trip and Malcolm acted like someone's from SNL skitch. This one in particular - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpwK3vFGJp0. Crewman Cutler appeared again. Wonderful recurring character. The Doc was of course funny. It was just fun. There's nothing I can really add to it, other than just say it in a different way. These comedy episodes should ideally attach the characters to the viewer, and well, it worked for me.
Shockwave Part I was pretty damn awesome. Overall the two-parter was quite entertaining. But Part I made it feel like there was a larger conspiracy going on. And then... bam... 31st century – wow, awesome. Most of Part II continued that, however in the end it was all just an accident and a problem to overcome. But it's quite ordinary for Trek to ruin a two-parter with too simple ending. The character's were going through fear and guilt in part II, and while half-naked Hoshi joke was funny, part II just solved it too neatly. It was all pretty "huh?", but quite entertaining. A good huh, just not to the end. I always watch two-parters together, in case you were wondering. Star Trek has never looked so good. There were some pretty damn impressive visuals here. The whole time war thing... isn't time war something that would continue on forever since they can travel through time. How can it ever become post-time war? Weird concept. That's going to be some pretty strange society where everyone in high school learns how to project themselves into the past. That would mean that time travel is part of the mainstream society then and not the exclusive of some government-military organizations. It would literally be the end of history. And war with people from the past centuries... really it would just go on forever.... of course in that past that Daniels is fighting with, time travel can't be mainstream, otherwise they would just raise their children to not fight their great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. Weird concept.
First-Timer's Season Impressions The season has had a nice sense of growing. For the most part it has built up on what came previously. And it ended on a brilliant cliff-hanger. The two-parter itself was nice too, just the second part dampened the cliff-hanger's effectiveness a bit, when it all turned out to be a minor accident. Also the character's felt like they were growing. Growing as people and growing attached together. It was mostly because they just developed their friendships in this season. Malcolm and Trip. Hoshi with the crew. T'pol with humanity. At first they all had their defenses up a bit, but grew more used to each other over the season. T'Pol's pretty playful for a vulcan in later in the season. Also Archer by the end of season was more... exhausted? That „route to Risa“ period before Shockwave... in those episodes Archer really felt a bit burned out from trying to right every wrong he stumbles upon. I enjoy the small touches like the low-tech feel of the ship. Hooks instead of tractor beams, limited use of transporting, the buggy translators, the alien languages, warp 5 in theory... however, other than the language thing, I don't think those things are so awesome by themselves as some of Enterprise episodes have thought. And sometimes I think the aliens start speaking english too quickly. The episodes themselves... when I read over my impressions I often notice that I described this or that episode that it was a bit „too general Trek, but saved by the character interaction“. Well this is true. Enterprise's strongest point currently is it's characters. Which is a good thing. Now it needs for episodes and stories to be more worthy for the characters. They (episodes) were adequate enough for an introductory season, but it definitely must not repeat season 1 again, because... the overall feeling of the season is that it is building up for something. I'm a bit afraid about that because of the general history of Trek. Season 1 needs to have something like Empire Strikes Back following it. I got the characters, now throw them into action. That is how I feel about the season. I would also cut some episodes out of the season. To cut the fat. I'd definitely remove Aquisition. And Oasis and Terra Nova. However there were some elements that I enjoyed in every other episode that I just can't pretend to do a final solution on them. So I'd rather just name the episodes that to me define what Enterprise is: - Broken Bow - Strange New World - Andorian Incident - Cold Front - Dear Doctor - Shadows of P'Jem - Shuttlepod One - Fusion - Detained - Desert Crossing - Two Days and Two Nights - Shockwave All other episodes shared too much with "general Trek". But many of them had wonderful character moments, despite the familiar elements. But these episodes above, are to me completely Enterprise. So about just half of season. But 26 episodes is too much to ask anyway. No Trek has managed to fill that space completely with awesomeness. The good thing is that the characters grow on those other episodes too. For example, Fight or Flight is important for Hoshi and in Sleeping Dogs we alredy see a more grown Hoshi who's still scared but more skilled to hide her fears. And Fortunate Son develops the universe a bit. However, they're good for the first season if character's get developed or if we gain insights about characters in them. It's just better be not the model for the rest of seasons. Those episodes above also build a sense of continous storyline(s). They are the ones that carve the world and explore it's system. They make it feel like there are things happening in this world. So to sum it up: only half of Enterprise's season is going on it's own path, the character's are good enough that they transcend even the bad episodes, overall the season is quite adequate for an introductory season (with some cuts it's better) but now it's time to expand on those "Enterprise episodes". Talking in future tense about a show that's already been done with is probably a sign of lunacy, but oh well... Speaking of lunacy. My first draft for season impressions text was quite different, there were things in it I wanted to assimilate into this text above... but it just didn't happen... on the other hand I feel bad about it kinda going to waste...so I'll post it. Random Ramblings Humanity in Enterprise is like one of those funny eastern european countries that want to join Nato and European Union all the time. Only humanity is much more nicer than those eastern european countries. I mean that they are similar in the sense that you just want to ask them that do they still practice cannibalism in the place they come from, because it just sounds so... alien and unnatural. In fact, Enterprise really alienizes humanity. Alienize – probably have to explain what I mean. Well, Star Trek and sci-fi in general portrays aliens in "one member of a species is like any other" way, in "aliens have only one culture, each species have it's specific species culture" way. You know, the sort of our world complexity don't apply to alien cultures... they are all unified. And Enterprise, I think does that to humans too. Humans are naive, innocent, sentimental, quick to anger, quick to cry, compassionate, emotional, major mood swings – in Enterprise humans really are one species with specific species-central traits. True, this "we humans are like..." exists in all sci-fi. But Enterprise actually portrays them like previous Treks portrayed aliens. Klingons go "arrghh!!!", humans go "I wowses you, I wanna helpses you!" Sure, TNG-era had this "we humans are so evolved and that's why we can't have any character conflict because that wouldn't just be evolved, now would it", but they still felt like humans... like us... they were us modern earth-people, just with weird culture, but we could feel the same complexities that we have nowadays... that earth is not one unified species place with one unified species culture and species traits, it's the klingons that go "aarghhh, honor!" and vulcans that go "logic, logic, logic!" and romulans "I shall bring glory to my empire!", because that's what their species is all about, but we humans are different and complex. But Enterprise makes us into sci-fi alien species. Now we are the klingon's who go "arrgghh, honor!" and vulcans who go "logic, logic, logic!", only that our trait is that "we wants to help everyone!" So it was every interesting to see humans being reduced to an alien species. And speaking of species, vulcans are now surprisingly complex and richer than their stereotypical trait. Sometimes Trek says something stupid that other species have that kind of culture because it comes from their genes. It's biological for a klingon to go "honor!!!" and for a vulcan to go "logic!". But in Enterprise now we are the ones who are biological and vulcans are rich complex society. Before we were the cultural... our culture made us into what we are in Trek... other species were formed by their biology. But now Vulcans are shown on a cultural level. It's their culture that makes them into that way, not their biology. They learn to be vulcan, not born into vulcan. They're now shown as a society with different ideologies, and that the current mainstream one might not be the most... natural. But we humans are biological alien species "who must help everyone from UNHELPEDNESS!!!", because it's our biological nature. So it was very interesting to watch humans as one of many galaxy's species.
in season two there are some episodes that i think really fit better in season. will bring this up again when you get to them. i find some of what you write really interesting. see i also see the humans in enterprise closer to tos then that tng.
Carbon Creek First I have to say that Paul Boehmer is one of my most favorite Trek guest actors ever. There's just something so likeable in the way he performs. My other favorites are Suzie Plakson and James Sloyan. So anyway, already having Paul Boehmer is a big plus for me. And I loved this episode. One of my favorites so far. It was what it was... an hour of feel-goodness, more reminiscent of shows like Eli Stone or Early Edition or Joan of Arcadia. Bill: "Hi, this is Bill and I would like to say that I think you are stupid for saying that this episode is like Joan of Arcadia or those other shows. They have completely different vibes and stuff." Well obviously they might have different vibes which depend on their setting and premise, but they all have this "nice people helping less fortunate people" thing going on. And which was pretty much what Paul Boehmer's character was all about in this episode. I really love Enterprise vulcans. They're so layered and complex. Often Trek paints other species with one color - you know klingons go "aarrrghh!" and vulcans go "logic!" and ferengi go "capitalism!". But sometimes Trek manages to do amazing with other aliens. Like Suzie Plakson and the whole Worf-Duras arc in TNG where we saw so many different and unique klingons. I'd say Enterprise has done the same with vulcans. Beneath the suppressed puritan logical exterior, which is more cultural thing than natural, there lies the same tendency for good&evil in vulcans like in us. Bill: "Hi, I called to say that I find your absolutism abhorring. This good&evil dichotomy is the reason why we have so many wars and injustices in the world, so I think you are very evil for saying this." Erm... I meant it like kindness and.. not-kindness (couldn' find a better word). For example, we have seen vulcans who take so much pride in their puritanical culture that they embody all those ways of behaviour that a lot of "superior" people possess. Like nobles towards peasants. Or 19th century europeans towards the rest of the world. Those academics who all discussed whether a person of color might be a human being. A: "I think, after thorough research, that other races could be considered human... but only in the widest sense." B: "I protest! You liberals offend God himself with your remarks. You want to destroy our western civilization! Next we will be calling dogs human when you have your way!" Thought it would be funny. Anyway, we've seen those superior "my culture is so much better" vulcans, we've seen vulcans who are murderous savages, we've seen insecure vulcans and now we were shown a vulcan with a kind heart. They are all vulcans, all "logical!" and all so different. Shows us that there is more than culture, civilization, principles, religion, political alignment in making a person a warm and kind vulcan being. Though those things definitely help in keeping the primal darkness at bay. This kind of episode is also very refreshing from the usual fare. There are two kinds of period episodes in Trek. Those where the Trek crew travels back in time and comments on how bad everything is and those where... well 11:59 and Carbon Creek are probably too few to determine a "kind", so there's really just one kind. But 11:59 and Carbon Creek both do belong together in the sense that they just throw you in a period with other characters, restrain from preaching and judging and say "just enjoy the atmosphere and feel-goody story." Carbon Creek's much better though. I think it would have been very fun to do drugs together with Mestral in the hippie period, read Lord of the Rings and sing about Bilbo - the bravest little hobbit ever. Just a mental image I just got. By the way, Enterprise's season 1 blooper reel was one of the most hillarious I've ever seen.
I didn't like Carbon Creek when it first aired; I was like, hey, get back to space!! But then I lightened up, and really, it's a sweet, sweet story. It wasn't mushy - it was totally logical, but with a creamy, nougatty filling. Of course this kid should go to college - it would be illogical for him not to. One of my favorite episodes now. Too true. Carbon Creek's blooper: "You suck!" But my favorite is Fusion. You know what I'm talking about.
Minefield Let me first summarize my current feelings about the show. I started watching Enterprise after 5 seasons of Voyager. Voyager has left me a bit allergic towards formulaicness. Don't get me wrong, I like many things about Voyager, but one forum-member summarized it best: "Voyager flirts with things that capture the imagination, but then gives you a huge "fuck you!" when you're just about to get real excited." The actual quote had a bit different wording but the message was the same. So when I started watching Enterprise it felt really amazing. Not right away, but this growing amazing feel. Sure there was a bit of formulaic sense to it, but what really got me was that the season actually made it feel like the characters grow and change over the course of that season. And they did. After Voyager 5 seasons of Voyager, where the episodes started to repeat themselves, and 7 seasons of TNG where characters pretty much remain the same... it felt like heaven. I could actually see the characters grow and change before my eyes in one season. And now my biggest fear is that Enterprise is going to pull a Voyager on me. That it just repeats itself in episodes and character growth. As in, it starts to establish what the character is all about over and over again. If lucky, some of those episodes might be amazing. But I don't want to see this phenomen again, especially after Voyager. So Minefield did... erm... in a way Minefield was like Shuttlepod One again. Only now it's the captain and Malcolm. But it's still two guys talking, where Malcolm is the one who sees everything in the bleakest way possible. That's the big minus of this episode. However, Minefield was also quite satisfying episode. Enterprise has a 50/50 relationship with it's low-tech angle. Sometimes it makes it work in a believable and intense way, and sometimes it just makes you shrug. This time the low-tech angle worked. But the biggest reason why Minefield manages to sell itself is because the characterization it did is still new and fresh. The Captain and Malcolm haven't yet established a relationship with each other. And Archer does have a bit of anarchic streak to him. The whole "people shouldn't be afraid of their governments, the governments should be afraid of their people" thing he pulled of in Detained for example. And it felt natural that Malcolm would be a bit bugged about this side of Archer. I however welcome Archer's more sensible approach after some really anal "regulations are everything" captains. However the most golden thing this episode got was Malcolm's backstory. That uncle who was afraid of drowning and ended up drowning. Rarely in Trek has the actor, character and the character backstory felt so... natural, real, perfect, insightful. Usually when Trek does character backstory it tends to feel like they just pulled that out from their asses. But not this time. It feels perfect. It was a real "heureka! so that's why you're like this" moment that's rarely present in Trek. I applaud to this. So, once again the characters save the episode. However this episode is "once again the characters save the episode" enhanced. As in, the overall episode itself felt interesting as a whole, unlike Silent Enemy or Sleeping Dogs for example. It pulls out the continuity card, so it can't be put just anywhere. The Captain and Malcolm relationship felt natural and right on time. The only problem is that the exterior formula was too noticeable. So far, the characters keep the dullness of the lurking exterior formula at bay. However the characters can't get to know each other forever. When the formula turns into interior however... I just hope it doesn't.
Dead Stop Voyager has "spoiled" me somewhat. I did not actually expect the ship and Malcolm to still be broken. So I was actually going . An episode actually continues from previous episode and it's not a two-parter? Why that's... amazing. I was basking myself in this continuity goodness. It makes it feel just so much more powerful when you've actually witnessed the events that people refer to. Which brings us to the darker side of continuity. Inventing the continuity - pulling something out from your ass in the last minute. I'm sorry, but that Hoshi monologue over Travis's dead body was just so fake... because he's just an extra! Well, that and because I've never seen the events she refers too. And I don't think I've seen any crewman catching a fever too, which would have made the "It's not a dead body, it's a dummy!" scene much more powerful. But all that other continuity? Loved it. Perhaps I've been starving, but... Though going with the injured ship for a bit while longer could have been more interesting, and produced some perhaps more unique episodes... I'm just glad it happened at all. And after all, that super-computer managed to become more than just a Deus Ex Machina. I found this episode to be similar to Vox Sola. They both have this Twilight Zone vibe to them. The more I see and learn of Archer, the more I'm coming to a conclusion that Archer is my captain. There are captains that I enjoy because they add to the general weird factor (Kirk), there are captains that I can learn natural authority and leadership from (Picard), there are captains who are enjoyable to watch as flawed troubled characters (Janeway) and then there is Archer with his "get the cake and eat it" approach to saving the "world." There has been already a tendency to make him pay for it (or perhaps it was just Scott's performance), but so far the mercy of the writers has been on his side. I'd be very interested to know if at one point the mercy-time will be over, and how then is he going to deal with it. In the beginning of season 1, I was still thinking: "Scott, this really isn't your show, is it?" But now I think Scott has really made Archer his own.
A Night in Sickbay I've heard about it before. It's often used as a proof why "Enterprise sucks". Perhaps I lowered my standards to very low... but, I kinda liked it. First, I like "day in life" episodes and their whimsical approach to characters. This episode just wasn't very funny, unfortunately. Like that whole bat scene... that was completely unnecessary. Actually Phlox was entirely a failed attempt at humour. But... one thing I enjoyed is the whole ridiculousness of Kretassan culture. I swear, those people have specialised in getting offended. That's what their culture is all about - in getting offended. They learn enough about other cultures to see what kind of thing they can use to get offended, then create a situation where exactly that will happen and then they will get offended. It's their perverse pleasure. To force others to go through ridiculous rituals. And with this episode they have established that the captain also wants to be in bed with T'Pol. I bet now he feels sorry he didn't use the situation, where he and T'Pol were tied up together, to it's fullest potential. Overall it wasn't that awful like the next episode Marauders which I absolutely loathed.