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Enterprise
Minefield
original airdate: 10-02-02

Cruising through a prequel galaxy, the crew of the Enterprise has to pay particular attention to every planet they encounter and every species they meet. One poor choice, and they could destroy continuity that has been established for over thirty years.

In their second season they already don't have a clean record. In fact, the entire show is based on the adventures of a crew that was never mentioned before. However, Enterprise has been succeeding at its mission. And this week was no exception.

Two weeks ago, in the season premiere, Captain Archer was tossed into a forgotten library of the 31st century. While there he read the spine of book labeled "The Romulan Star Empire." It should've been named "Foreshadowing." At the time it seemed like a cute reference to the second rate villains we've loved to hate since the original series. (Or a nice advertisement for Star Trek: Nemesis to hit theaters this winter. Or a floor wax and a dessert topping.)

In actuality, it was a reminder that the Romulans are out there. And we met them this week. But meeting the Romulans in the 22nd century is more difficult than the Ferengi, Nausicans or Andorians. It can be assumed that humanity met these aliens before Kirk or Picard did.

But it was clearly established on the original Star Trek ("Balance of Terror" -- o.g. geek Derek) that the humans fought a war against the Romulans and never saw their faces. In that episode, the humans discovered that Romulans are cousins of the Vulcans, a dramatic device created to make the crew of the NCC-1701 Enterprise think Spock was a spy. At the time an interesting twist - but one that was a little too convenient, and it has now come back to haunt Trek lore.

T'Pol knew the Romulans by name, and described them as "a territorial people." Just last week our favorite (okay, only) Vulcan uber-babe rewrote history (her great grandma landed on Earth before the first recorded human contact with aliens). And she'll do it again, too. Place your bets now: before series' end the crew of Enterprise will know the secret of the Romulans. The producers of Enterprise won't be able to resist.

Nitpicking aside, this was a very good episode. Instant classic Trek, and not just because the Romulans cloaked around causing trouble. The Enterprise experienced the most damage she has yet, when a mine took a bite out of the saucer section. And the drama of the armory officer Reed trapped by a ticking mine on the outer haul of the ship was as suspenseful to watch as Dr. Crusher searching for her rapidly disappearing crew members (That's just one of my favorite TNG episodes - "Remember Me" - you pick your own, and fill in the analogy, that way you know what I'm talking about - kinda like a madlib).

While admittedly Enterprise stands on the success of 4 other Treks, it's exploring whole new territory in storytelling. Rarely would a scene last for more than a few minutes on any Trek (with minor exceptions - Picard's retelling of his Nausican bar fight, and a few long winded speeches on DS9). But it seems every other week there is an entire act (the time between commercial breaks) that takes place in one location, telling one story. It's like watching a staged drama, uh, with CGI effects.

This evolution could be chalked up to trial and error. After four generations of spin offs we've seen some conventions stay and others go. And Trek Darwinism selected the ready room/war room/briefing room for extinction.

On Enterprise, we have the very classy Captain's dining room. How cool is it that Captain Archer has his own dinner table? This week he enjoyed breakfast with an uncomfortable Reed in a very funny scene. We've seen the most truth about the characters on Enterprise in this most realistic environment. Hey, it works at home, too. And best of all - there are no Talaxians running around burning Denari roots. The Captain's dining room is the simplest clever Trek convention created since the transporter.

Beaming into next week we learn what happens to the huge bite taken out of the Enterprise. One of the ancient mines left a huge hole in the saucer section, and there aren't any starbases in the original final frontier. Fortunately, there are mysterious automated repair facilities.

It looks like next week is a darker episode, dealing with an almost Twilight Zone premise possibly a crossover to UPN's newest sci-fi drama, which just so happens to be on RIGHT AFTER ENTERPRISE . . .

do do do doo
do do do doo
do do do doo
do do do daaaah!

As long as new Twilight Zone host Forrest Whitaker doesn't reprise his Battlefield Earth role on Enterprise, we should be fine. Now that would be creepy.

Kevin Miller

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