The first aired one hour episode of Enterprise. For some reason,having seen only the last few minutes of the episode when it originally aired, I wanted to see the rest of it. Probably because I thought the unnamed, (and very mean looking) alien ship really looked cool. At least it was symmetrical, unlike so many Trek alien designs. My review. The episode sucked!!!! I think about 30 of the 44 minutes were members of the crew (especially Oriental chick) sitting around troubled with self doubts. and what was the deal with a DAMN SLUG?!?!?!? IT IS A DAMN SLUG!!! Hell, getting sentimental about a slug makes about as much sense as playing fetch with a terrapin. And people wonder why I like space battles in modern Trek. Nine times out of ten its the only halfway interesting thing on the screen.
I disagree. I think this was a good- a necessary- episode of season 1- minus Sluggo. The Enterprise is out "on its own" really for the first time and they get in way over their head, while trying to be good neighbors. T'Pol tries to warn Archer but he knows best (supposedly) and just about gets the ship chewed apart by those kewl cutters. We see Archer screwing it up big time, sitting in his chair, about ready to cry as the aliens cut through the hull, totally unsure of what to do. He basically has to beg and plead for help, with Hoshi bungling everything she tries until The Last Minute Reprieve. Now this is an inexperienced crew with an inexperienced captain, totally outgunned and outmanned, having to rely on the kindness of strangers, ignoring the advice of the more-experienced Vulcans. We needed to see that- much more of that- in Season 1. But the side story about Sluggo was moronic.
Agreed. Any new series needs to establish it's premise and it's characters. It wasn't Great Telivision(tm) but I'll take one of thes for every TCW episode I can kick to the curb.
'Cuz Sci-Fi has started airing re-runs as of this week. And I agree, I'd take this over that TCW bullshit snorefest.. It had everything most fans wanted to see, like Archer being a complete n00b and Sato being a bit weary of space travel. I remember my geometry teacher saying at the time this first aired that this was the first episode in 35 years of Trek where someone actually screams out in horror.
I might've overstated the case, because the last five minutes of the episode (minus the slug) were pretty good Trek. But I think the episode is badly flawed the following ways: 1) It was a mistake to focus so heavily on what by any real standards was a minor character that early in the series (Hoshi of course). 2) Its a mistake to have the ship where your series is going to be set for several years look so weak and puny right off the bat. I think this is where modern Trek has really gone wrong. Because the writers are so badly flawed they need something obvious (like a badly operating ship) to generate drama. But I think fans do not like seeing the ship portrayed badly. I'm convinced that it is on reason fans left Star Trek:Generations in a fowl mood. 3) Having Archer voice out loud to his crew every doubt or misgiving that seems to fly through his head is likewise a major mistake. It made him look weak and pathetic. In the original series, when Kirk had real doubts ("Obsession") he at least put them in his private personal log. 4) I think the above highlights why Scott Bakula was woefully miscast as Captain Archer. The man is a good actor. But he can't act without talking out loud. He doesn't command any real attention with a look, or with brooding silences. Or look distinguished and noble like Patrick Stewart did.
I have to agree with Dayton. This episode SUCKED!! I found myself unsympathetic to Hoshi's drama.... after 10 minutes, i was ready to toss her out of an airlock... and the action while good, was too little too late. Not that aa good Trek episode needs tons of action, but I just found that that early in the series, I did not care for the characters that much yet. Berman and Braga never were strong character writers.
Hindsight is always 20/20. No one knew who would and wouldn't be a major player on the show (Archer and T'Pol notwithstanding). Granted, she wasn't given much to do later on, but the earlier they focus on a character, the better. It's not like many fans were dying to see Archer get more screentime, anyway. You do know that this was the first Warp Five vessel of it's kind and they were up against a species that's been in space for probably centuries? Archer, thinking with his heart and ignoring sound advice because of his own bigotry issues, got himself into a rather stupid situation. You mean besides the lame plot and seeing Kirk get killed in such an arbitrary manner? I somewhat agree. Although I was put off even more to the blatent and public disregard to his XO's advice nearly every change he got in season one. I'm sure there wasn't a person on the Enterprise that didn't pick up on the fact that Archer resented Vulcans. Unlike the four Trek captain actors before him, Bakula wasn't a classically trained actor (whereas everyone else, I've heard, were noteworthy Shakespearian actors). That's not to excuse some of his questionable acting choices, but I personally have never been bothered by him not being as refined as past Trek actors. A more natural and rough-around-the-edge captain was definately needed after fifteen years of stiff (yet wonderful) captains, IMO.
I liked that the chick who never wanted to go to space in the first place was scared and unsure...and I liked that the theoretical linguist, while still very young, had some self doubt that she was in over her head... I don't mind that Archer was written that way at this early point but I agree Backula never really grasped how to play the part. BUT I fully agree that, whatever suspension of disbelief it took to accomplish it, AMERICAN audiences cannot and will not fully embrace a weak and unreliable ship for their heroes. Makes sense or not, the American mindset is John Paul Jones and all his heirs. A weak ship for a flagship just wouldn't cut it. It might be out manned and out gunned and all the rest but damnit it still found a way to kick ass....that's what audiences in this country fall in love with.
