Day 307: Enterprise, Dawn

Show: Star Trek; Enterprise

Episode Particulars: S2EP13, “Dawn”

 Summary: While testing the autopilot on Shuttlepod One (which is probably developing a reputation, given how often it gets into trouble), Tucker is attacked by a mysterious ship, and the two vessels wind up going down onto one of the sixty-two moons in the system. Archer naturally starts looking for him, but the area is “owned” by the Arkonians, who are mistrustful of outsiders, especially Vulcans. While the two captains are sorting things out, down on the planet, Tucker and the crashed Arkonian, Zho’Kaan (Gregg Henry), are trying to repair their transceivers so they can call for help. Unfortunately, both ships are in bad shape, and without a universal translator to help, Zho’Kaan is pretty aggressive towards Tucker. What follows is basically a cycle of one of them getting the upper hand and forcing the other to help. Which admittedly isn’t the norm for Star Trek.

Standalone Thoughts: I watched Enterprise for the first time about five years ago, which was recent enough that I still remember a good number of the episodes. If I don’t remember most of the plot, I can at least say “Oh, that’s the episode where they all have to be crammed together in one place”, or “Right, that’s the one where Archer kisses the alien to hide the fact that his translator went on the fritz”. So when I come across an episode where I can’t remember anything at all, I tend to assume that the episode is going to be mediocre. I was right with “Fallen Hero”, and I’m pretty much right with this one, too.

To be fair, there is good material here. It makes sense that there would be an Enterprise episode that revolves around having to work with an alien without the help of a universal translator, and I like the fact that Tucker and Zho’Kaan don’t immediately get along, instead taking steps forward and backwards depending on the situation. The writers and technical crew also did a good job of making Zho’Kaan feel more alien, with water Tucker couldn’t drink and gestures like nods that are completely different than what we’re used to. In short, everyone in front and behind the camera is doing a perfectly fine job, it’s just that we never really feel a sense of stakes, despite attempts to do so, like the fact that the moons get incredibly hot during the day, or the history between the Arkonians and the Vulcans. I probably would have liked (or at least respected) the episode more if they’d been willing to keep the Arkonians as unwilling to work together right up to the end, because at least that goes against the norm. As it is, it’s an ok example of the genre, but it’s not particularly memorable either.

How it Relates to the Whole: There are some references to earlier episodes, but I don’t think we’re going to be seeing the Arkonians going forward. Too bad; there was some potential there for another reluctant alliance later down the line.

Other: *Just one today. I know it’s a trope, but I still find it just a little too convenient that Tucker tripped just inches away from setting off the alarm that Zho’Kaan created, which is an invisible laser beam, no less. Yes, this is a sci-fi setting, but this is not the time for lasers, especially when it’s not entirely clear where the thing came from.

Badass Malcolm Moment: Malcolm doesn’t do too much in this episode, so the best I’ve got is that Archer seems to trust him to take on the role of transporter chief. Given how wary people still are of it, that’s a lot of confidence to place in a man.