Enterprise 11-20-02

[Richards]

Ugh. I really disliked this episode. While some of the obsessive quirks were interesting/amusing, I think the overall plot had some massive (black? ) holes in it. Not even mentioning the "black hole radiation that for some reason makes humans - and Denobulans, apparently - act obsessively, does anyone else see anything inherently flawed with the following strings of facts:

1. The trinary system is spewing "black hole radiation" for half a light year or so in all directions.

2. The Enterprise is approaching the trinary system under impulse power.

3. If they turn back now, it'll take two days or so to escape the area of effect.

4. There's a radiation-free zone between the three stars. (Huh? I thought the radiation was spewing in all directions?)

5. If the Enterprise weaves its way through the debris and goes between the three stars, they'll be clear in 17 minutes (apparently because they can go to warp once past the three stars).

Anybody else lost? If the radiation area of effect is a half light year in all directions, how come they can go to warp on one side of the three stars but not on the other? (Why couldn't they just turn around the way they came and go to warp? What's with the "it'll take two days to do so if we go back that way" deal?)

This whole episode seemed to me to have been the result of something like: "Hey, I've got a great idea for an episode! Something makes all of the crewmembers act obsessively except T'Pol." "Sounds good. What makes them behave weird like that?" "Oh, I dunno - radiation."

At least next week looks good. Transporter malfunctions are always fun.

Johnathan

 

[Crothian]

I agree in the plot holes so big you could fly Enterprise through. When the mentioned the lack of radiation in one area I was expecting them to say one of the stars was creating a shield so behind it was mostly radiation free. That would have made some sense at least. This was a "Sounds good on paper" episode.

 

[John Crichton]

It had some entertaining moments. I try not to dwell much on the Trek Science bits because they hardly, if ever, make any sense at all (by definition of course). I liked Malcom's storyline and the doctor's bit was amusing but the rest was nothing special. Another so-so type episode. I'm assuming the second half of the season will be stronger than the first half; mirroring last season.

 

[Jamdin]

My biggest gripe was the shower scene. Is there something in the ship's water that counteracts the black hole radiation?

I did enjoy the obssession of the captain's chair.

 

[Chun-tzu]

Personally, I wish they'd avoid using (arguably) overused Star Trek formulas without adding something significant. It just felt like a recycled plot that wasn't that worthy of recycling and wasn't recycled that well. How many times has something affected the Enterprise, or Voyager, with only Data or Spock or the holographic Doctor being immune to its effects and saving the ship? The episode wasn't horrible, and did have some moments, but I can't say it was any better than mediocre.

I am SO glad they don't have a Holodeck on the ship.

 

[Mark]

How many times has something affected the Enterprise, or Voyager, with only Data or Spock or the holographic Doctor being immune to its effects and saving the ship?

The flipside being when Data or Spock or the holographic Doctor (Odo) is taken over (or coerced) by an alien/entity and nearly destroys the ship! I often wonder why Data wasn't assigned to a science station closer to the interior of the Federation (and, no, I don't mean to be dismantled for parts.)

 

[Richards]

Here's something else that suddenly struck me last night as I was trying to sleep: when Hoshi was preparing the main meal, wasn't there a conversation about her making it entirely from scratch? I seem to recall some assistant offering to input the recipe in the replicator, and she told him he could replicate the chicken if he wanted, but she was making her recipe the old fashioned way.

If my memory of this scene is correct, then -- huh? Since when does Archer's Entrerprise come equipped with replicators? Just a couple episodes ago, on the automated repair station, they made a big deal out of the fact that it could replicate foodstuffs - including catfish - out of thin air, and that was previously-unseen technology for the Enterprise crew, including T'Pol.

Can anyone confirm the mentioning of replicators in the "Hoshi in the kitchen" scene? If so, it looks like the writer of the episode forgot which Enterprise crew he was writing for.

Johnathan

 

[John Crichton]

I believe they were protein synthasizers, not replicators.

 

[Mark]

Not to be picky or amything but didn't they call them Protein Resequencers? I seem to remember Trip having to expound on them (last season) when he was explaining the recycling, to put it delicately...

 

[Richards]

[Rosanna Rosannadanna voice]

Oh. Never mind.

[/Rosanna Rosannadanna voice]



Johnathan