In the "grand" tradition of Star Trek doctors, Phlox is kidnapped and then forced by his captors to cure them of a fatal disease.

Right now, I really hate UPN's executives for canceling this show.

That is all.

I think Park was horribly under use for the last 4 years. I really do like her. They are trying to cram years of character development into a few eps. WEAK. I love Uncle Phil as a Klingon. So cool. I love seeing Eric Piermont again on a Trek Show. He played an Admiral on DS9. I like him as Section 31 operative or whatnot. I also loved John Schuck since he’s been in two of the movies and on VOY and DS9. I did enjoy the ep though Reed working for the section is bs. Again, too late for this stuff.

Wow, we get three good episodes about the Andorians, and now we're back to sucky Klingon episodes...

And I'm sorry, but we have how many episodes left before the end of this show and we're kidnapping Phlox to explain how we got those non-bumpy Klingons from TOS?

Yeah, 'cause I've really been waiting all this time for someone to explain that. Except not.

Oh, and now Archer is telling T'Pol how to do mind melds because he had Surak's f-ing katra for four weeks? Yeah, Archer can do it all now, can't he? Build the Federation, bring peace to warring planets and now teach Vulcans how to mind meld.

They have a word for characters like him - Marty Sue.

And was it just me, or did anyone else let out a groan when fricking Section 13, 51 or whatever they're called showed up? God, I thought we ditched these guys when DS9 went off the air.

edited because anger is no excuse for sloppiness.

Wasn't it Section 41 in DS9? ETA: And also, in DS9 didn't the Section chief who recruited Bashir say that it was created specifically as a counterpart to the Obsidian Order, Tal'Shira, and all those other fun organizations that Earth didn't know about in Archer's time?

I think my favourite part about this episode was that they actually decided to explain why original klingons differ from klingons as we know them instead of just brushing it off and asking us to pretend.

Did anyone else get the feeling that the Columbia captain was trying to get into Trip's pants? Just me? Ok.

When Archer said "Surak's katra" I had this moment where I thought, "That's not right, you're supposed to say Surak's Fucking Katra," and then I realized that Archer doesn't read TWOP. Pity. It would've been funny.

I forgot this was on so I only saw the last twenty minutes. What I did see was pretty good although I have no idea what's going on. Maybe that's why it seemed pretty good. Instead of wondering what was going on or why there were plotholes, I could just go, "Hey, pretty good emoting from Reed there!" I also wish the brig cell walls were made of something more transparent so I could see the people inside when they're talking. Those little holes were annoying.

Oh and I did groan at seeing the Columbia captain, having remembered her from her completely chemistry-free climbing expedition with Archer.

Holy crap! That was Uncle Phil?

Best line? "Proceed."

I liked this episode. I have no problem trying to explain the Klingons who are smooth-head and those who are ridged for our pleasure. It was already established that in DS9, there was some confusion about Kirk's Klingons and the later versions. So if they want to explain it, that's I guess it's cool. Still, if Earth's first exposure to Klingons was the ridged variety, shouldn't Kirk and company have been confused about the appearance of the ones they met? Or maybe they just knew in his era about the differences? Damn, I dunno.

Malcolm's Section 13 background story would have been a lot easier to take if there was ANY indication he had this past at any point during the last three years. Yeah, yeah, he was secretive about his life but I just chalked that up to his character's shyness or the writers' unwillingness to do much with him.

edited to add: Oh yeah. Pretty fanfare-less launch of the Columbia. Enterprise gets a big ol' ceremony. Columbia? "Oh, are you launching now? Carry on then."

I know who John Schuck played but who did Eric Pierpont(sp) play?
Ok episode I guess. Will have to see how it plays out.

Well, that first half was real dull- lots of Pacing Quantum, yay- but the Augment gene twist and the Malcolm Treason got things going pretty good.

I'm not sure about the Columbia stuff, though. And what's with their Pulsing Bridge Lights? That's real practical...

They're going to hold a rave on the bridge!

I thought they were goofy too.

I'm with MetropolisGal on this. I don't particularly need to know why TOS Klingons were ridgeless. I feel like they're trying too hard to connect the dots between ENTERPRISE and TOS.

Not being a dedicated veiwer of DS9, I didn't realize that whatever secret organization Reed is working for makes an appearance "later" in Trekverse. So there's another connect the dots moment. I wish they wouldn't feel like they have to tie up every loose end. It makes for some awfully awkward plots.

Yeah, that is the word for this -- AWKWARD.

And the plain white "meditation space"? Was that at all necessary?
Word. Here they are, trying desparately to bring everything around to where it was at the start of TOS, and then they go and add a "feature" that no Federation ship has ever had. Stupid.

Pouting Malcolm sucked ass. Throwing himself on the cot like a spoiled brat told to go sit in the corner. You lied to your superior officer. Boo-fucking-hoo.

Pouting Trip was even worse. Can't work with the people on Enterprise because your feeling-weelings are getting hurty-wurty? Just move to the Columbia and treat your suboodinates like shit, they'll be sure to love you...

The rest of the episode was great. I loved Action! Hoshi. Where can I buy the doll? And Hoshi sharing T'Boob's sex dreams? That was pointless. Can't wait for that anvil to come crashing through my skull.

Just when I thought we'd seen the last of SURAK'S FUCKING KATRA, I was wrong. First, Archer was a Vulcan. Now, he gets to be a Klingon. What's next? Does he get to be a real human?

So, maybe I'm in the minority. I liked this show; this arc has promise. In fact, I've been liking this season a lot. Fuck off UPN for cancelling it when it is finally getting good. Why didn't you axe this show when it was a piece of crap? Then I wouldn't have cared.

ETA - Can someone fill me on next week's scenes? As a victim of a Canadian feed, all I get are credits. Thanks, eh!

Wow - who put the "ho" in Hoshi? She looked great in that leather jacket.

I wonder how Seth Mcfarlane got into this episode?

As the Columbia moved out I though CPT Hernandez had said, "Hail the Dark Master" instead of "dockmaster. Wishfull thinking.

Has T'Pol always had that Enterprise patch on her uniform? I never noticed it before.

Overall not a bad episode, but as previously posted, too little too late on Linda Park and it would have been nice to know a bit more about Malcom's past before now.

Loved it when the Klingon doctor busted Phlox about his sickbay zoo, and for an instant, I thought the genetic sequence Phlox recognized was Porthos'. Like maybe the Klingons had distemper.

For the record it is Section 31.

I thought that the episode was average as a whole. I always liked the Section 31 episodes in DS9 so that was cool even though it came completely out of left field. I liked Reed and how he reacted to being thrown in the Brig.

The main plot of the episode was average, not as good as the last arc but we'll see where it goes.

"I can be useful!" My new motto of futility.

Maybe they're taking a year or two off to retool as Columbia?

No Section 31 has been around (I think) since the start of The Federation. So this appearance is a little early for the Section 31 of DS9, this is probably just a precursor organization.

The thing I liked about this episode was that the augment twist was logical given what we know about Klingons, yet it still came out of left field (at least for me). The teaser had me thinking the "affliction" was going to be something utterly ridiculous, but I was proved wrong. Kudos Enterprise.

Screw UPN and their shameless promotion of the "last voyages". All it's doing is twisting the knife.

I thought it was okay. It had some good moments. I actually thought that launch of the new ship was kinda touching - starting to put a little more of the fleet in star fleet. I also liked the funny animal nosing at Phlox, and that whole bit. It was a little bit funny.

I liked the continuity from the Brent Spiner episodes. It's a clever way to tie the Augments in.

Like some others have mentioned, I do feel like the Malcolm thing is a little bit out of left field. I probably wouldn't mind as much if there was going to be another season, because then there's all sorts of ways they can branch out. But as it is, I'm not sure how well they'll be able to explore that and some of the other issues as well.

BWHAH!

Here's my Columbia Warp Rave Lights Joke:

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!"--boy, are there ever!

I started calling Uncle Phil "General Phil" I guess that would make the Klingon doctor (John Schuck) "Carlton."

Yeah, that Malcolm-as-a-Spy thing? Totally out of left field. I kept mumbling, "Gee, I wish they'd have spent the LAST FOUR FUCKING YEARS building up to this!" And by "mumbling" I mean "screaming." Especially when Hoshi (she who was the Delicate Space Flower in the first season) kicked Rigellian ass.

SURAK'S FUCKING KATRA made an appearance! Drink!

When she suggested they trade stories about Furrows I decided it was because she knew they were together. Eh...anything so that I don't have to concentrate on TPTB's efforts to CRACK WHORE every woman in the show.

A better question Furrows should’ve posed to Malcom: What’ll Grandpa Reed think when he finds out Malcolm likes men and probably won’t continue the precious line of stuffy sailormen?

I fail to see why the lingering anvils in that boring conflict were necessary. It’s not as though Furrows was mistreating someone any differently than he always does. When Furrows smells a prisoner it's time for a drink.

Pressuring...exploiting T’Pol to perform a dangerous act. Check. T’Pol collapsing her spine in response. Check. T’Pol engaging CRACK WHORE-mode...this time for the cause! Check!

The Klingon general should’ve shot off some toes, cut off an ear. Shut up, Phlox. Bad enough TPTB are scrambling to try and iconicize(sp?) all the bit-players before this franchise sputters its last, but I guess they still haven’t gotten the memo discouraging onscreen moral hand-holding. Of the two, Malcolm’s pearl-clutching proved a tiny bit less irritating, but only 'cause I don't like looking at or hearing Phlox.

New Engineer’s hot. And no crap-ass accent to boot.

Ok so far but they're going to have to tie it up so that we understand why we don't see any bumpy-heads in TOS (and on the other hand smooth-faces in plenty) and why neither Kirk et al. or anyone else knows this story. You'd think Bashir would know it, but in DS9 he's the one out of the astonished group who puts the question to Worf.

I was happy to see that T'Pol (and Blalock) felt the same way as I did about Captain SURAK'S FUCKING KATRA. Poor thing.

eta: Yeah, I would have been fine without a whole story constructed to fill in the Klingon blanks. I thought Worf tied it up just fine with his "We don't like to talk about it."

I wasn't pleased with this episode. It was boring where it wasn't annoying.

I'm sick of having explained to me a stupid Klingon make-up change from TOS to TNG. I never cared. At all. I'm annoyed they're wasting one of the last few episodes of this show explaining to me a make-up change. They never bothered to explain the Trill make-up change. I never understood why the Klingon make-up change had to be made into more than that. Into a thing that needed to be explained. Ugh.

Section 31 annoys me, too. I didn't like it on DS9, and I like it even less now that it's A) shown up again, and B) shown up earlier than it's supposed to exist. Also, I agree with the sentiment that Reed's stuff came out of left field.

The one bright, shining moment was me going "Yes! A woman Starfleet captain pre-Kirk." That made me happy. Then I forgot my happiness when the rest of the episode happened.

Exactly what I was thinking. Completely awkward looking.

Hoshi putting her newly mentioned aikido skills to good use on the Rigellians was nice continuity from the Observer Effect. Too bad TPTB waited until the 4th season to introduce this side of her character.

Didn't buy Malcolm as a spy like many others. Too out-of-nowhere. To easily caught.

Didn't like Trip channeling Quantum on how to be an ass to your subordinates while on Columbia. Being professional doesn't mean being an ass.

Trip and T'Pol acting like 2 year olds in the white room of meditation/day dreaming. "go away." "No. You go away." I found it both amusing and annoying.

Trip. You know your life revolves around T'Pol. That's all the character development that TPTB have in store for you.

There wasn't a better replacement for Trip in engineering? Or was Quantum just being an ass to him?

Was that a targ at the Klingon medical/research room?

I don't mind the explanation of the Klingon forehead issue. I would have rather Coto done the Stratos arc his was thinking about doing. There's enough Klingon material in TNG, DS9, and VOY for me that I would have like to seen other less explored worlds/cultures that were seen in TOS.


Completely blocked that from my mind. Nope didn't happen. Didn't walk T'Pol through a mind meld either. She read up about it in the newly published Melding 101, The Kir'Shara edition.

I agree the explanation for Klingon foreheads is totally unnecessary. But I was already prepared for it (spoiled, you see), and I was quite impressed with what we got.

So, I loved this episode. I liked the pacing, the mysteries to be solved, Billingsley and Shuck making wonderful scenes together, Reed's involvement in Section 31 feels right, and Linda Park looked especially lovely.

My favorite part was the dissolution of the crew. Trip's transferred, Phlox is kidnapped, Reed's in the brig, May-who's still mute. Archer's crew is falling apart around him, and that's good drama.
They're just not up on their history. Bashir knows the Klingons he sees every day, not the Klingon Augments.

Like most of y'all, didn't feel there needed to be any more explanation for the smooth forehead/ridges Klingon change than there already was. Which, since I didn't watch TNG, DS9 or Voyager, was none for me, and I haven't felt deprived (Although I did watch Trials and Tribbulations, but since that was more than half Trouble with Tribbles, I don't really count that, and come to think of it, that gave me all the reference to it I needed, too).

When the conversation started down the Hoshi-was-half-conscious path, I was waiting for a Kirk/Spock Vulcans-consider-melding-very-private-but-we'll-trot-it-out-when-we-need-a-plot-device-type moment, and was just waiting for SURAK'S FUCKING KATRA to make an appearance.

Thought the whole Reed-as-spy thing did NOT work at all. Don't buy it, not even for a nanosecond. I'd have believed Travis as a spy quicker than I'd believe Malcolm.

And I know most of y'all hate Quantum, but I kept thinking, "The writers are giving finally giving Bakula all these chances to act. Shame they couldn't have done it four years ago."

You know you've read too many recaps when: The still of Quantum's Klingonesque ridges in the previews brings forth the thought, "Oh, so they're making the furrows permanent now."

HATE the UPN Promo Monkeys.

I liked the episode. I was pleased to see Section 31 and the attempt to explain the smooth foreheads, especially since it connected with something earlier this season. I enjoy continuity, even if it's sometimes continuity porn. Hoshi and Phlox kicked ass.

Those lights on Columbia's bridge would get annoying fast, though.

Bashir as a genetically enhanced being would probably have a higher than average personal interest in similar stories. Plus I can see this virus/augment mishap being used in Starfleet medical training. Plus, the augment DNA came from Earth/(future Federation) sources so it's part of Federation history as well as Klingon history. Plus, the mass creation and deployment of Klingon augments would be of diplomatic and strategic concern to Earth/Federation/Starfleet through Kirk's time, and just doesn't seem like it would be relegated to an obscure trivial footnote.

That's why I wonder how this arc can possibly tie up so that it becomes a forgotten episode in Federation/Starfleet history.

eta: on a shallow note, I thought the augmented Klingon prisoner on the Enterprise was kinda hot.

Maybe, but Bashir never struck me as much of a history buff. I mean, O'Brien misidentified that guy as Kirk, and no one else seemed sure enough to say he was wrong. None of them knew what a Tribble was. This is not a group of people who have watched every episode of TOS, let alone Enterprise.

Reed as a spy for Section 31 is totally believable. Section 31 claims to act secretly to protect the Federation's (or Earth's) best interests. I don't know why they think Phlox's kidnapping is in the best interest of Earth, but I'm sure we'll learn more next episode. I can absolutely see Reed falling in with this crowd. He's totally the Section 31 type.

I'm with you: hated that they did it, but since they are doing it, they seem to be doing it well.

Maybe if I knew Section 31 from Area 51 I'd agree with you, but I'm basing my reaction on how the character of Reed has been presented to this point. He's so by-the-book I doubt he'd wash his hair if it wasn't allowed in the manual; there have even been eps where the point has been made Reed isn't terribly comfortable with how lax a commander Quantum is. So now he's lying to his CO, falsifying info and destroying evidence? The hell?

Just MO, but it doesn't jibe from a character standpoint, Canon-correctness of Section 31 notwithstanding.

I'd agree, except for the time when he was treating Bajor's Benjamin Horne and specifically SAID he was a history buff. Not to mention all the holotrips to past events, and the uber-knowledge when he and Sisko went back in time...

*Karra watched too much ds9....*

Why would Hoshi have an interest in keeping Phlox on board? Did I miss an important plot twist?

ETA:

My friend whilst watching: "So...the Klingons have Captain Trips?"

This sounds just <sarcasm>precious</sarcasm>. I'm over in the Philippines on business and won't get home til next Friday night. Is there possibly a 'shipper (or two) out there who'd be willing to send me a transcript of the Tr'Pol scene(s)? I would be eternally grateful -- e-mail me through the board.

I thought of this thread when I saw tonight's episode. I screamed SURAK'S FUCKING KATRA! In the previews, when they had CQ's forehead all bumpy, I said "that's not a furrow, it's a topographical map." Look what this show has made me into! I used to love the Bakula so much. I still do. In Quantum Leap. Whenever he starts being a jerk, I remember the QL where he played Don Quixote. It makes me feel better.
I think she has a crush! Understandable, Phlox is really cool. Can we have a spin off with him, Hoshi, Shran, and Klingon Uncle Phil?

Malcolm? Whaaa? This not the Lt. Reed I know. What is this crap?

Am I hallucinating, or was one of Trip's engineers Seth MacFarlane? The hell?

I thought she just meant because he was her doctor: she's familiar with him and knows he's good. Like how Mayweather demanded Phlox after he(Mayweather) fell rock climbing, instead of going to the planetary doctor.

Maybe we should have known all along. Because he's British. Like... James Bond. Or something.

I only saw the last quarter so I only saw him through the funny mod-decorated brig walls. But from what I could see, I thought his wig looked better than the mullets the human augments got earlier this season. Klingons know hair.

I read a couple weeks ago about him having a minor role in a future episode, so that could have been him. I'll have to watch during the Sunday repeat.

From the two and a half scenes they had together over the course of the series, it seemed to me that they had formed a friendship, in a slightly mentor/student fashion. No, really.

Nope me too.


Yeah, they need to do something on that ship. A glummer bunch I've never seen. Not loving those lights.

What are the chances next week we're going to seen The Rave ship rescue enterprise and then we're going to have a swopping of chief engineers because commander whatshisface can't take anymore pressure and also t/t have a some sort of bond that means they'll die if they get too far apart from each other?

I'm still ticked off that UPN cancelled Enterprise, this was a fun episode.

I totally agree. Yes, Reed as we know him today is a stickler for the by-the-book stuff. He was raised that way. However, he is also the "blow 'em up, adventure" guy.

My theory is that as a rebellious youth, fleeing the rigidness and ocean-going-ness of his father, he found the secrecy and danger of Section 31 very appealing, and was very easily recruited. As he got older, he decided he wanted something different, so he left and followed his current path. When he chose a military career, as opposed to espionage, he threw himself into it wholeheartedly, falling back on what he was taught as a kid. It totally makes sense to me.

I really wasn't dying to know about the Klingon foreheads, but I like how they are handling this. I am also impressed that they really took Trip off the ship for a while. Also, Phlox is awesome, and Hoshi really did look lovely.

A big fat WORD to that! I do the exact same thing.

.

Malcolm said they wanted the cure as much as the Klingons did. Section 31 is big on getting cures and keeping them, just check out the whole thing with the Founders and their deadly dandruff in DS9.

Really good episode. It must be said, I am really getting over Klingons at this point. Nearly Klingon'd out over here. So even tho I don't mind the idea of explaining the lack of ridges, I wasn't looking forward to a Klingon arc. But wow, this was good.

Hoshi looked gorgeous, great hair, and I covet her jacket. Hey, look, aikido reference! God, how awesome that someone's paying attention. God, how embarrassing that they made up this character trait that's so wildly contradictory to what we know about her so late in the game.

John Billingsley is always delightful.

When Quantum assily said, "I'll walk you through it." I squawked & told Danefriend, "keckler is going to blow a damn gasket over that." He replied, "as well she should." Not that we want her to! Well, you know what we mean. I did like the way they showed what happened over again with T'Pol there.

Malcolm, oh, Malcolm. Section 31 was a bad idea, honey. They're like the Mafia. I think he proved such a shitty liar & obfuscator because he desperately wanted to be caught.

Just as I think Trip is being such a dick on Columbia in part because he subconsciously wants to be sent home to Enterprise. When Captain Hernandez said "we can trade stories about your former CO," I was amused by the thought of her blurting something about Archer being selfish in bed. Because I can totally see that.

Hee! I thought the same thing. If that's not a shout-out to keckler, nothing is.

Just a small point, but it cements my love of John Billingsley as an actor. When he and Hoshi were strolling along outside the restaurant, did you notice how he walked? It was just a little touch that reminded me that Phlox is not a human. Beautiful!

"Apparently anything smaller than a mountain peak is impossible for him to find. No matter how many times you show him."

I think I just made myself a little nauseous...

I liked this one. I'm in the "didn't need to know about Klingon head-ridges, but what they're doing is pretty good" band wagon.

I totally can see Reed being a former operative of Section 31. He was pretty gestapo-like early on, not wanting anyone to socialize with him because it didn't fit his view of how a starship crew should be acting. I like the rebellious youth angle the most though.

Even though the White Room was stupid, I liked how Trip and T'Pol are now kinda sorta mentally linked. Then Hoshi got in on the action after her mindmeld with T'Pol.

And yes, that Klingon Augment they captured was pretty hot.

Meh. Reed and Quantum bugged. Hernandez bugged. Columbia's bridge is just bizarre (I wonder if those lights will speed up as the ship goes faster, like Enterprise-D's warp reactor)

That's right! I thought it during the show and then forgot to comment, but yeah I thought it was really cool that he went for a non-human gait in his walk. Though to be honest I never noticed him moving like that before...

I think the ship patches magically appeared in the last few episodes so that the Columbia captain could make that comment on Trip's Enterprise patch. Still, it cracks me up that T'Pol's hot pink velour catsuit qualifies as a Starfleet uniform. It stands out so, well, blindingly.

The ridiculous premise of stiff-ass Quantum, of all people, in spite of having Surak briefly visit his mind, teaching T'Pol how to do a mind-meld, had me howling. And then both Quantum and T'Pol forgetting that Hoshi is the reigning telepath on the ship (rememeber when she got lured to that planet to be the ugly alien's "companion" because of her telepathic ability?), and therefore will be forever privy to T'Pol's most private thoughts? Interesting concept with loads of possibilities, but with the end of the series near it will just be left hanging, like everything else.

I truly mourn the under-use of Linda Park, more than anything else in this series.

Next time, please post a, "Make sure you are not drinking anything.", warning prior to your post. Holy shit, I nearly choked on my coffee when I read that. Too funny.

I was sort of thinking the same thing except I was wondering when Captain Hernandez orders, "Reverse engines!", will the lights go in reverse too?