New Enterprise fan

[JRobertson]

I am surprised at how my own perceptions of Enterprise has changed.

When I watched the series live, I enjoyed Seasons 1 and 2, and found myself irritated at the long Xindi arc in Seasons 3. I wanted fresh outsiders, fresh stories.

Now, when watching the re-runs, I am completely the opposite.

Reason being, I really don't care much about these characters, they're just not good enough to sustain humdrum stories. I was excited at the time because it was fresh Trek and the newness of the timeline sufficed. But in hindsight, recognizing that we all have different opinions on the matter, the casting was bad. Scott Bakula, ick, an OK everyman hero because he's confused just like us, but lacking the intelligence and subtlety I want in a captain. Jolene Blaylock, say no more. Weak lead characters plus sometimes recycled plots means those seasons are not high on my watch list.

But Season 3 was really good. Once I stuffed my prejudice against arc storires to the back of my mind, man this had depth, and real drama. I actually cared about Archer and T'Pol, not to mention the rest of the crew. The storylines rescued the actors.

It's too bad about the ratings, if this had come earlier in the Trek history and had decent ratings, I think this series could have continued to break new and very interesting ground; it found its feet in Season 3. At least, to me. In hindsight.

 

[Pensive]

Actually, I had a very different reaction to this plot. I took it that Archer really needed someone to convince him that he was still "good" and deserving of all the acclaim (the schools named after him, etc.) because he couldn't get past what he had done. Think back to Damage, when he has that conversation with Phlox, the gist of which is, If I do this, can I ever come back to the side of being a good person again? And the fact that Phlox, whom Archer holds in the highest respect as an ethical person, has done something "unethical" in the past, gives him hope that it's not irreversible.

So after being reamed out by Soval for not rescuing the Seleya and having to account for all of his actions, he retreats to isolation by going hiking by himself, a very common reaction. Being intimate with Erika was a way for Archer to be convinced that he was still worth something, that is, if Erika, someone he respects, is willing to be with him, despite all that he did, all isn't lost.

Archer was typically written as a "doing what he thinks is right, lone hero" sort of thing, but those two instances where he was kind of needy and seeking approval rang true to me. I don't think that the rest of season 4 bears out that oh, everything is okay cuz I got laid theory. He is still pretty isolated from his crew for the rest of the series.

I just watched "Home" this weekend, and was still a little confused by Archer's plot until I read your post. Now I have a new understanding of what he did other than the "jaded captain" thing. Kudos, bluedana

 

[Bak_and_Blue]

Actually, I had a very different reaction to this plot. I took it that Archer really needed someone to convince him that he was still "good" and deserving of all the acclaim (the schools named after him, etc.) because he couldn't get past what he had done. Think back to Damage, when he has that conversation with Phlox, the gist of which is, If I do this, can I ever come back to the side of being a good person again? And the fact that Phlox, whom Archer holds in the highest respect as an ethical person, has done something "unethical" in the past, gives him hope that it's not irreversible.

So after being reamed out by Soval for not rescuing the Seleya and having to account for all of his actions, he retreats to isolation by going hiking by himself, a very common reaction. Being intimate with Erika was a way for Archer to be convinced that he was still worth something, that is, if Erika, someone he respects, is willing to be with him, despite all that he did, all isn't lost.

Archer was typically written as a "doing what he thinks is right, lone hero" sort of thing, but those two instances where he was kind of needy and seeking approval rang true to me. I don't think that the rest of season 4 bears out that oh, everything is okay cuz I got laid theory. He is still pretty isolated from his crew for the rest of the series.

Just a different perspective. Sometimes out own life experiences make us see things that characters do or say differently.

^^Interesting perspective. I like it. But then again, I really, really like Archer (if you couldn't tell). I'll grasp onto anything that will redeem him from some of the (IMHO) lame writing that often made him look silly and shallow.

Archer Rocks

 

[JiNX-01]

Actually, I had a very different reaction to this plot. I took it that Archer really needed someone to convince him that he was still "good" and deserving of all the acclaim (the schools named after him, etc.) because he couldn't get past what he had done. Think back to Damage, when he has that conversation with Phlox, the gist of which is, If I do this, can I ever come back to the side of being a good person again? And the fact that Phlox, whom Archer holds in the highest respect as an ethical person, has done something "unethical" in the past, gives him hope that it's not irreversible.

So after being reamed out by Soval for not rescuing the Seleya and having to account for all of his actions, he retreats to isolation by going hiking by himself, a very common reaction. Being intimate with Erika was a way for Archer to be convinced that he was still worth something, that is, if Erika, someone he respects, is willing to be with him, despite all that he did, all isn't lost.

Archer was typically written as a "doing what he thinks is right, lone hero" sort of thing, but those two instances where he was kind of needy and seeking approval rang true to me. I don't think that the rest of season 4 bears out that oh, everything is okay cuz I got laid theory. He is still pretty isolated from his crew for the rest of the series.

Just a different perspective. Sometimes out own life experiences make us see things that characters do or say differently.

I agree with this. He had cut himself off from his crew -- and even his friends -- in the Expanse. He and Erika had a history -- and rekindling that intimacy allowed him to reconnect with the man he was before he was asked to save the world against impossible odds. When he promised Trip they would do "whatever it takes," he couldn't have imagined the lengths he would go to.

 

[commodore64]

Actually, I had a very different reaction to this plot. I took it that Archer really needed someone to convince him that he was still "good" and deserving of all the acclaim (the schools named after him, etc.) because he couldn't get past what he had done. Think back to Damage, when he has that conversation with Phlox, the gist of which is, If I do this, can I ever come back to the side of being a good person again? And the fact that Phlox, whom Archer holds in the highest respect as an ethical person, has done something "unethical" in the past, gives him hope that it's not irreversible.

I agree with everything here.

So after being reamed out by Soval for not rescuing the Seleya and having to account for all of his actions, he retreats to isolation by going hiking by himself, a very common reaction. Being intimate with Erika was a way for Archer to be convinced that he was still worth something, that is, if Erika, someone he respects, is willing to be with him, despite all that he did, all isn't lost.

I really thought Home was lame. I loved the internal struggle from Archer during season 3. From the very beginning of season 3, we get introduced to an Archer that pushes his own boundaries of decency (which we know are pretty significant). We also understand why he does this: he has no choice. He needs to destroy a weapon that will wipe out his race. (Twilight, I love that show, even shows us what that looks like. Heavens!)

I think Archer removes himself from the crew for three reasons: 1) he becomes more of a military commander to achieve his mission 2) he's fixated on his goal and 3) he likes himself less and less for the things he does. I see Archer not as needy during season 3, but secluded. He's fixated on his goal and determined to shoulder it alone.

In Home, I really wanted to see Archer come back from the "black" and bleakness to some degree through some self-discovery. That self-discovery shouldn't have been his own body. What a cheap, boring way out.

Archer was typically written as a "doing what he thinks is right, lone hero" sort of thing, but those two instances where he was kind of needy and seeking approval rang true to me. I don't think that the rest of season 4 bears out that oh, everything is okay cuz I got laid theory. He is still pretty isolated from his crew for the rest of the series.

I never saw Archer as needy, but I did think - as per above - this was the lamest ending to an interesting character arc ever. I gotta say, I get annoyed with season 4 because it had little character building and more fanwank than anything. Even T'Pol was schizophrenic.

Oh, well. It's all over anyway.

 

[angie]

Of course I agree! Gotta say at least the guys writing the new film have actually watched Trek not just got a few ideas for fanwanking!

 

[cooleddie74]

I always wonder if something like this photo ended up being Archer's official holo-portrait at Starfleet Headquarters in later years and generations. Nice hero shot there. Or maybe a similar pose...but in his more formal duds like the dress uniform from the end of "TATV."