Enterprise 04-30-03

[Mark]

Enterprise - Congenitor

Enterprise's first contact with the Vissian race proves mutually rewarding until Trip befriends an alien couple's congenitor---a being used for breeding purposes only.

Everything seems to be about sex this week...

 

[myrdden]

My thoughts...

I really liked this episode. This was the type of story that I was looking for in Enterprise. This is the type of character story that makes for decent (and even really good, when done right) television. Trip's reaction to the alien culture and subsequent actions were spot on for a fledgling space exploring culture. It was refreshing to see a first contact that didn't involve phase cannon, polarized hull plating or torpedos. The only downside to the episode was that we didn't get to see more of Reed's sub-plot.

Minor nitpick: Archer seemed a bit stiff in the end when I got the feeling that he was supposed to furious. Maybe that's Bakula's style for portraying anger, but it was a bit subdued from what I was anticipating.

My rating: 8.5/10 - a worthy episode that lands up there with the Andorian episode.

Myrdden

 

[Mark]

Minor nitpick: Archer seemed a bit stiff in the end when I got the feeling that he was supposed to furious. Maybe that's Bakula's style for portraying anger, but it was a bit subdued from what I was anticipating.

He has been doing that "seething" thing, hasn't he? I think T'Pol's emotion-suppression thing is rubbing off on him, so to speak...

 

[myrdden]

I can't help but wonder why we didn't see some kind of punishment for Trip. Perhaps a demotion?

I thought about that too. He kind of got off easy for the severity of his actions. Although a demotion would have been too much, I think a severe reprimand on his record plus a restriction from first contact missions would have been appropriate.

Myrdden

 

[Tiberius]

How many other people, when they heard the alien captain for the first time, had the following running through their head?

[Londo] G'KAR!!!!!! [/Londo]

I also half expected him to start talking about spoo or breen at dinner.

-Tiberius

 

[DanMcS]

How many other people, when they heard the alien captain for the first time, had the following running through their head?

[Londo] G'KAR!!!!!! [/Londo]

That's where I recognized that guy from!

I liked those aliens. And I liked Tripp interfering when he knew he probably shouldn't. Very in-character for him, meddling do-gooder type stuff.

I don't think they punished him because he didn't break any starfleet rules, really. And the knowledge that Charles the alien killed himself should have been sufficient to make him never do that again. But if he gets the chance, I bet he will.

 

[John Crichton]

Gotta agree with DanMcS. Trip didn't break any written rules of Starfleet. It will be one of the events that leads to the creation of the Prime Directive. That's good to see and I'm glad that it happened in a believable way. I actually had a very strong feeling that the episdoe would end in this way. I liked the feel of it and was, as others have said, relieved that there was no need for an action sequence to make the plot interesting.

Rating: ***1/2 of 5 stars

 

[Umbran]

It will be one of the events that leads to the creation of the Prime Directive.

Though, oddly enough, the Prime Directive would not apply. The PD only applies to pre-warp civilizations. Cultures that have warp capability are assumed to be able to handle themselves.

 

[JohnBrown]

Possible Spoiler










As far as Tripp being punished is concerned, I think that the thought that he had played some part in the death of someone he was trying to help was probably worse than being demoted. I really liked that final part of the show. I could almost feel Tripp’s shock, and it finally dawning on him that he had done something wrong.

While the episode was a little rough in the middle, I thought the episode had a really strong ending.

 

[John Crichton]

Though, oddly enough, the Prime Directive would not apply. The PD only applies to pre-warp civilizations. Cultures that have warp capability are assumed to be able to handle themselves.

It could be considered to apply only to pre-warp cultures but here is the exact wording. Judge for yourself.

"As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation."

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