Star Trek: Enterprise Reviews N

This is one of my posts where I “review” Star Trek episodes. I will be giving each one a star rating. I sometimes will make some comments about non-political parts of them that I like or don’t like. I’ll sometimes use the issues raised in the episode to discuss similar issues in real life. And I will sometimes simply high-light the progressive politics of ST. ST is in-line with the three original themes of this blog, as I explain in the first ST post where I offer some general thoughts about ST.

I’m not very familiar with The Original Series and there might be some small amount of material there that would affect what I say about Star Trek (i.e. how often religion is mentioned)

Lastly. multi-culturalism is such a pervasive theme in ST that I only comment on it when it goes beyond the norm (i.e. inter-species partners).

These episodes are more or less part of the Xindi story line that lasts the entire 3rd season of Enterprise. For some introductory comments from me and a link to a plot summary of the first episode of this story line, see this where I discuss the episode. “The Expanse” (which is the last episode of the 2nd season).

“Proving Ground” See this for a plot summary.

There is one bit of politics in this. It’s a conversation about responding to the Xindi attack on Earth, in which Trip’s sister was killed.

Shran: I can understand why you seek vengeance on these Xindi.

Trip: I’d love to get my hands on whoever ordered that attack. But that’s not why we’re here.

Shran: You have no desire to make these people pay for the death of your sister?

Trip: I just want to make sure they don’t get the chance to finish what they started.

I won’t say revenge is always bad, but in general it really isn’t helpful. I value what Trip says when I also remember what Archer has said about trying to use a relatively diplomatic approach, trying to convince at least some of the Xindi that humanity is not a threat to them. That’s a good approach for that sort of thing.

I also like the involvement of the Andorians.

I give it four stars out of five.

“Stratagem” See this for a plot summary.

There is one large political aspect to this episode. Archer tries a new method of getting information which seems more acceptable than threatening people in ways that are torture. The wiping of Degra’s memory is far from ideal, but it only involved a small period of time, about 2-3 days while Degra was a prisoner on Enterprise.

I give it three stars out of five.

“Harbinger” See this for a plot summary.

A non-political episode. I give it two stars.

“Doctor’s Orders” See this for a plot summary.

A non-political episode. I give it three stars.