Last week's
Enterprise didn't have a single phaser fired and in
the first 3 seconds of this week's there were 2 explosions
and a volley of phasers over a burnt out city. There must
be some balance in the Star Trek continuum. If one week we
enjoy a thick story with character explorations, then the
next week we must have violence and destruction.
This week
Archer is thrust into a conflict between the Andorians and
the Vulcans. He fiddles with the idea that maybe mankind's
whole point for being in out in space isn't to explore new
life and new civilizations but instead to join a greater galactic
community.
However,
no one thinks he can be the leader of this new era in human
history. T'Pol gives him over twelve hundred pages of homework
as background research. Soval, the Vulcan ambassador, represses
his disgust for Archer meddling in alien affairs. Even light-hearted
Dr. Phlox warns him about the perils of diplomacy.
Archer
doesn't listen. Good for him, too, because the episode would
be over. Archer tries to negotiate with Shran, Jeffrey Combs,
who makes his third appearance on the series. But the blue-skin
fanning the fames of war is Tarah, Suzie Plakson, the first
female Andorian we've met on Enterprise. And she just
might have the most cleavage of anyone on Enterprise,
too.
The Andorians
are some of the most interesting villains on the series, and
not just because their women have blue boobs. It seems the
writers are using aliens only remembered by those playing
Star Trek role-playing games. We've met some pretty random
aliens since the show began, including the Nausicans and next
week the Tholians. The Nausicans look the same as they did
on TNG (we'll see about the Tholians), but the Andorians
have received a very cool make-up make-over.
The original
Andorians, forgotten since the original show, had the same
straw white hair, but their antennae were simple blue sticks
poking out of their wigs. These modern Andorians' antennae
are animated, and reflect the emotions of the characters,
like an extra pair of eyebrows. Or two tails growing out of
their heads, if you like dog analogies.
While
the creature effects this week were pretty amazing, some of
the blue screen needed work. Early in the episode Trip dines
with the captain, and behind him the stars shoot by at warp
speed. But with the poor feathering it looked like some of
the stars burrowed themselves into his hair. This is rather
disappointing since last week's non-action driven story had
some of the most impressive computer-drawn scenery, including
Enterprise docking below a beautiful alien world.
However,
the Vulcan ships circling the disputed planet this week, were,
as usual, very cool. Their large circular warp engines are
unlike anything ever seen on Star Trek. The Andorian's ships
looked more like broken Transformers. Maybe they are Transformers.
Those Andorians could be more than meets the eye.
In between
the two battling fleets, Trip positions Enterprise as either
an arbitrator or an obstacle for the forthcoming fight. As
he sits in the Captain's chair, staring down both the Andorians
and the Vulcans, one begins to wonder, "Just how badly
does Trip want the Captain's job?"
He looks
good sitting there barking orders. Maybe in five years he
will be captain. Trip is more than meets the eye.
In the
end the battle is settled with the understanding there will
be more peace talks. What is still so fascinating is that
the Vulcans and the Andorians are two of the charter members
of the Federation. Currently they hate each other. The Vulcans
are seen as rigid and untrustworthy, and the Andorians are
painted as ruthless and untrustworthy. But, thanks to the
magic of prequels, we all know they will eventually sit together
on the Federation Council.
Until
that time, Enterprise will continue to explore new
life and new civilizations. To boldly join a new greater galactic
community. To Transform and roll out!
