Grade "Judgment"

[flcat]

B+, not the most exciting episode I've ever seen, but a good character study. I liked the relationship that developed between Archer and the Advocate. I'm feelin' kinda misty right now, because I feel like someone in TPTB must have read one of my "alien societies that subscribe in lockstep to the same values are two-dimensional, cartoon races" posts..."you don't think all Klingons are soldiers do you?"

 

[federationpolicyadvisor]

A very good episode for Enterprise, though a barely adequate episode of Trek. In fact...where have I seen this story before? Oh yeah. But we all know this.

Still, Enterprise in my opinion, has been so mind-boggling awful that the slightest improvement comes as quite a shock. And Martok's characterization was great and I love little touches like "you thought all Klingons come from the warrior class?"

I'm giving it a B.

The ending was pretty weak and was a pretty obvious retread. But like the retreads on my 4x4, they get the job done. So did this episode.

 

[Wolf2581]

This one gets a B. It would have been higher with a better, less-rushed ending, but it would have been much lower without J.G. Hertzler.

 

[Guest]

Posted by federationpolicyadvisor:
A very good episode for Enterprise, though a barely adequate episode of Trek. In fact...where have I seen this story before? Oh yeah. But we all know this.

Still, Enterprise in my opinion, has been so mind-boggling awful that the slightest improvement comes as quite a shock. And Martok's characterization was great and I love little touches like "you thought all Klingons come from the warrior class?"

I'm giving it a B.

The ending was pretty weak and was a pretty obvious retread. But like the retreads on my 4x4, they get the job done. So did this episode.

To a certain extent, that is exactly how I felt about this episode. Well said.

 

[The MOnocle]

B+
Yes, the ending was a little weak, but then again it would have been yet another 'rescue Archer' episode, which we've already seen like 20 time in two years.

 

[aksarBen]

I guess I'm in the minority but...

D+

Really really bad!

The plot -as it were- was lifted directly from Star Trek V| (by way of DS9's Tribunal) Unfortuantely for TPTB, Kirk, McCoy and O'Brien were all a hell of a lot more likable than Archer. Oh and the Klingons! Yet again they were portrayed horribly. At least the recharacterization of the Vulcans is interesting and adds a few layers of depth. Enterprise's Klingons are nothing more than mindless yapping dogs!

In fact, the only good thing about this episode was Hetzler's performance. Ah Martok! Now he was a Klingon!

As for the ending: yeah, it was weak. But at least it was quick

 

[Guest]

I have been very critical of ENTEPRRISE and thought "The Crossing" was a horrible episode. But I loved "Judgment"! I thought it was interesting, entertaining, and emotional. The dialogue was great. I loved Archer talking to Kolos about Earth and Kolos making a stand. This is what Star Trek is all about. It gave me chills and I'm so happy that ENTERPRISE is actually capable of that. "The Crossing" is everything I hate in an episode-- something that has been done much better before as in "Return to Tomorrow" but that on Enterprise is done simplistically with no substance. But "Judgment" was awesome and if ENT would be more like that, I'd love the show.

It's no coincidence that "Judgment" was neither scripted by Berman or Braga or based on a story by Berman or Braga. Kudos to the writers of "Judgment." I hope the Executive Producers give you more to do.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Dull. A real lack of energy in the direction.

The little bits about Klingon civilization were a nice break from the monolithic nonsense we've been subjected to since Trek's revival, though -- "you didn't think we were all soldiers?" is almost an in-joke, because a lot of people seem to be happy to think just that. One can kind of see the arc of Klingon culture here -- the Advocate bemoans the collapse of concepts like honor and courage into cant that supports a violent and militaristic state, and we know that by Kirk's time the Empire has become quite a militaristic and fascist place.

What I've always wondered is what supposedly caused the Klingon Empire to get better between the time of "Errand Of Mercy" and "Encounter At Farpoint".

I too, like the "Earth once had these problems" kind of speech that Kirk used to give, but it seems a little early in the Human Renaissance for Archer to be so certain of it all -- and "well, a few people realized they could make a difference" is about as useless and banal an answer to "How did it change?" as you can get (anyone remember the Monty Python routine about how to cure cancer?)

Hertzler's performance in a few scenes, particularly the final one, redeems the thing a little. But once you bring enough bumpheads into a scene the whole affair starts to look and sound like 24th Century Trek -- declamatory dialogue and stodgy strutting about, you know. Plus, I found the whole Klingon Kourt/Rura Penthe a bore when they did it in "The Undiscovered Country" and they get no points for duplicating it here.

C+, for Hertzler.

 

[reno floyd]

Posted by Dennis Bailey:
Dull. A real lack of energy in the direction.

The little bits about Klingon civilization were a nice break from the monolithic nonsense we've been subjected to since Trek's revival, though -- "you didn't think we were all soldiers?" is almost an in-joke, because a lot of people seem to be happy to think just that. One can kind of see the arc of Klingon culture here -- the Advocate bemoans the collapse of concepts like honor and courage into cant that supports a violent and militaristic state, and we know that by Kirk's time the Empire has become quite a militaristic and fascist place.

What I've always wondered is what supposedly caused the Klingon Empire to get better between the time of "Errand Of Mercy" and "Encounter At Farpoint".

I too, like the "Earth once had these problems" kind of speech that Kirk used to give, but it seems a little early in the Human Renaissance for Archer to be so certain of it all -- and "well, a few people realized they could make a difference" is about as useless and banal an answer to "How did it change?" as you can get (anyone remember the Monty Python routine about how to cure cancer?)

Hertzler's performance in a few scenes, particularly the final one, redeems the thing a little. But once you bring enough bumpheads into a scene the whole affair starts to look and sound like 24th Century Trek -- declamatory dialogue and stodgy strutting about, you know. Plus, I found the whole Klingon Kourt/Rura Penthe a bore when they did it in "The Undiscovered Country" and they get no points for duplicating it here.

C+, for Hertzler.

You feeling alright?

 

[Captain Spot]

I gave it a solid A (or, as my own personal scale prefers, a 9/10). I would have given it an A+ (10) if it weren't for the abrupt and rather predictable ending. (I mean, come one, who didn't know it was one of Archer's merry men when the "new arrivals" showed up?)

Still, that wasn't nearly enough to ruin a fantastic episode. I really enjoyed this one from beginning to end. This was a case where Enterprise used our knowledge of the future very well. Knowing that the Klingons WOULD eventually return to honor (mostly) was very gratifying, even though it would take almost 200 years of wars and conflict.

Big thumbs up.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm fine. If I'd read your review before posting, I might have given this one a "B" -- you pointed out a couple of things that didn't occur to me while watching the episode -- but the above was my "naive response".

But hey -- at least the ice caves don't have completely flat floors.

 

[Trekker4747]

But once you bring enough bumpheads into a scene the whole affair starts to look and sound like 24th Century Trek -- declamatory dialogue and stodgy strutting about, you know.

Yeah, because we know that only people in the 24th Century could do that.

I guess in this series, being in the 22nd Century there should be no bumpy-headed aliens and people should only fight to resolve a solution with flying jump kicks and such, rather than talking.

That makes sense.

 

[Lady Conqueror]

people should only fight to resolve a solution with flying jump kicks and such, rather than talking.

That's the only way I ever solve my problems

 

[T'Bonz]

B+

Good things: Hertzler, Duras (the Duras family seems to be the Tannen family (Back to the Future) of Star Trek in any age. ), story entertained.

Bad things: STVI plot, ending (ending was like "oh shit guys, we've run out of time, get Archer back to ENT somehow!), Archer's obnoxiousness.

Without Hertzler, it would have probably been a C. (Creativity though merits an F. Come ON guys, even though I liked this (hell, I love STVI) can't y'all come up with some NEW UNRECYCLED stuff? For all that we're seeing, you might as well have continued on from the time of DS9/VOY. )

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Posted by Treker4747:
Yeah, because we know that only people in the 24th Century could do that.

Well, I'd have just as soon that the folks in the 24th hadn't done so bloody much of it, but there you go. Hertzler loosened up a little of the dialogue in his later jail cell scenes with Bakula, so that was nice.

Hey, guys, I liked it -- just didn't like it as much as you did.

 

[static warp bubble]

^ good post, Dennis...

EDIT: I was talking about your first post in the thread, but good timing slipping another one in to earn twice the praise

 

[guyute03]

I gave it a B+ as well. It would've gotten an A, had we seen how Arcer got imprisoned, and more on how he escaped. But I do realize there's only 40-something minutes in an ep. I especially liked Duras' depiction of what happened, his characterization of Archer was fun. The alien colonists/"rebels" actualy looked sick too. I couldn't believe it!!! I wasn't too thrilled revisiting ST6 again, but I do agree this was one of their best eps. Let's hope the good eps continue!

 

[reno floyd]

Someone gave it a D-? I guess Stewey voted

 

[Guest]

^^
Haha. Well if Stewey had voted you can sure as hell bet that he would've posted his opinions by now.

 

[Kirby]

I'll give it a B, but IIRC according to TUC, noone ever escaped from Rura Penthe (sp?). Archer seemed to do it too easily. I wish they would have rescused him on the way there instead.