The Andorian Incident

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I agree it was inappropriate (and I agree that Archer wasn't really threatening her, just venting).

However, the fact that it's inappropriate is why I like it. It shows early on that Archer is thoroughly inexperienced, which is the whole point of his character.

I could buy him being an idiot at diplomacy, a cowboy they needed to lead the mission but who wasn't invited to diplomatic tea material. However we really didn't see a lot of that afterwords. Okay the peeing on the tree incident comes to mind.. hmm.. maybe I need to rework Archer into a bit more of a dumbass than I've given him credit for.

 

[Admiral Shran]

I don't see him as a dumbass. Just as a guy who had to do a lot of on-the-job training.

For example, the series goes out of its way to say that he was instrumental in founding the Federation. So, in other words, he was a "Founding Father" of the UFP. Well, George Washington had to do a lot of on-the-job training as well in order to become a "Founding Father." He had virtually no military experience before he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (in fact, he blundered so badly in the ONE battle he had previously commanded that he helped start the French and Indian War). He also routinely got his ass kicked by the British. That's what I think they were going for with Archer - a guy who really wasn't prepared for the job he was given and who made some serious mistakes out of the gate, but who eventually overcame the obstacles.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I don't see him as a dumbass. Just as a guy who had to do a lot of on-the-job training.

For example, the series goes out of its way to say that he was instrumental in founding the Federation. So, in other words, he was a "Founding Father" of the UFP. Well, George Washington had to do a lot of on-the-job training as well in order to become a "Founding Father." He had virtually no military experience before he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (in fact, he blundered so badly in the ONE battle he had previously commanded that he helped start the French and Indian War). He also routinely got his ass kicked by the British. That's what I think they were going for with Archer - a guy who really wasn't prepared for the job he was given and who made some serious mistakes out of the gate, but who eventually overcame the obstacles.

Betsy Ross: Perhaps the flag is not ready..

Washington: How would you like me to knock you on your ass?

 

[Admiral Shran]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[JiNX-01]

Oh, I agree that it was totally inappropriate. I just never felt like it was a genuine threat. Felt more like Archer just letting his resentment get the better of him for a moment.

Which might have been at least understandable had the setup for his resentment of the Vulcans been better established with a more effective scene than the one we got with young Jon and Henry.

I assume we were supposed to sympathize with Archer's attitude (and to some degree Trip's) because of a bland remark in the prologue about the Vulcans "holding us back." If that was supposed to justify Archer's ugly outburst, it fell far short of the mark.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

There should have been WAR. And.. internment camps! Yeah.

 

[Skywalker]

Oh, I agree that it was totally inappropriate. I just never felt like it was a genuine threat. Felt more like Archer just letting his resentment get the better of him for a moment.

Which might have been at least understandable had the setup for his resentment of the Vulcans been better established with a more effective scene than the one we got with young Jon and Henry.

I assume we were supposed to sympathize with Archer's attitude (and to some degree Trip's) because of a bland remark in the prologue about the Vulcans "holding us back." If that was supposed to justify Archer's ugly outburst, it fell far short of the mark.

That's why I prefer my idea in my "if I could redo ENT" thing where Archer's resentment towards the Vulcans came from them not saving his father when the warp engine he was testing overloaded and destroyed his ship, while a nearby Vulcan ship stood by and didn't even try to rescue them.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Oh, I agree that it was totally inappropriate. I just never felt like it was a genuine threat. Felt more like Archer just letting his resentment get the better of him for a moment.

Which might have been at least understandable had the setup for his resentment of the Vulcans been better established with a more effective scene than the one we got with young Jon and Henry.

I assume we were supposed to sympathize with Archer's attitude (and to some degree Trip's) because of a bland remark in the prologue about the Vulcans "holding us back." If that was supposed to justify Archer's ugly outburst, it fell far short of the mark.

That's why I prefer my idea in my "if I could redo ENT" thing where Archer's resentment towards the Vulcans came from them not saving his father when the warp engine he was testing overloaded and destroyed his ship, while a nearby Vulcan ship stood by and didn't even try to rescue them.

Oooooooo that's a lot better than a generalized cultural peeve.

 

[JiNX-01]

Which might have been at least understandable had the setup for his resentment of the Vulcans been better established with a more effective scene than the one we got with young Jon and Henry.

I assume we were supposed to sympathize with Archer's attitude (and to some degree Trip's) because of a bland remark in the prologue about the Vulcans "holding us back." If that was supposed to justify Archer's ugly outburst, it fell far short of the mark.

That's why I prefer my idea in my "if I could redo ENT" thing where Archer's resentment towards the Vulcans came from them not saving his father when the warp engine he was testing overloaded and destroyed his ship, while a nearby Vulcan ship stood by and didn't even try to rescue them.

Oooooooo that's a lot better than a generalized cultural peeve.

I agree.