Show: Star Trek; Enterprise
Episode
Particulars: S1EP11, “Silent Enemy”
Standalone
Thoughts: While I’m predisposed to like this episode because Malcolm plays
a large part in it both on and offscreen, I have to admit from an objective
standpoint that the material isn’t handled as well as it could be, for a wide
variety of reasons. Let’s start with our old friend (or would it be nemesis in
this case?) pacing. Both of the plots in this episode are solid ideas. An alien
ship stalking the Enterprise and
proving that they can damage them while not giving up any information that the Enterprise can use against them is a
really interesting concept. Similarly, trying to find Malcolm’s favorite food
makes for a fun subplot, especially since it also does a lot to flesh out
Malcolm’s character. But the first half of the episode seems to be primarily
taken up with the Malcolm subplot, which makes the danger of the second half
feel less powerful. It also has the added problem of making the resolution of
said subplot feel more anticlimactic, because we spent so much time with it at
the beginning that just getting a scene or two to wrap it up just feels off.
This is another case where the subplot should have been saved for another
episode, while the alien ship plot was fleshed out more. If you needed a
subplot of sorts, give us more scenes of Malcolm and Tucker working to get the
phase cannons online, and possibly butting heads over it. It offers character
development and is relevant to the
main plot; you can’t do much better than that.
Secondly, Hoshi’s handling of her mission to find
Malcolm’s favorite food bothers me, because it does nothing to discourage the
impression left in “Fight or Flight” that she’s not cut out for this job. Even
though Archer tells her that he’s giving her the job because it’s a “delicate
assignment” that “needs your finesse”, she proceeds to contact some of Malcolm’s
friends and family right there on the bridge, where anyone can see and hear
what she’s up to (and thus increase the risk of gossip/spoiling the surprise)
and where Malcolm could walk in unexpectedly and figure out what’s going on (or
worse, get entirely the wrong idea, although that could have made for an
interesting moment). Then, when she tries a different tack by asking Malcolm
about it in an oblique way, all she does is wind up embarrassing the both of
them. Finally, the way she ultimately gets the information is…questionable, to
say the least, and doesn’t exactly speak well of anybody involved. Maybe the
intent was to be comedic by contrasting Archer’s claims of her skill with her
bumbling efforts, but all it does for me is continue to make me think less of
her.
Third, there’s a scene in here that’s absolutely
fantastic…but it doesn’t have the impact that it should. After the aliens
seriously damage the warp nacelle, Archer reluctantly tries to contact the
Vulcans for help, but is unable to do so. A little later, he has a conversation
with Tucker where he confesses that maybe they should have waited until Enterprise was completely fitted with
the proper equipment before they set out, with the clear implication that he’s
feeling a little overwhelmed. It’s a great callback to the pilot and the whole
“Vulcans don’t think Humans are ready” conflict, it’s an example of “actions
have consequences”, and it allows
Archer a chance for some development. But while I love the idea and the scene
itself is acted and shot well, it just kind of feels like it comes out of
nowhere. I feel like there needed to be more of a buildup to this, either by
planting the seeds in prior episodes where the Enterprise isn’t as capable as it could be thanks to Archer’s hurry
to get out into space, or by having Archer start the episode out feeling cocky
and having him get driven to this point by repeated attacks by the aliens. One
more reason why ditching the Malcolm subplot for this episode would have been a
good idea.
Now, despite all these problems, the episode continues
the Season One trend of being flawed but watchable. All of the actors with
large parts to play do their jobs well (T’Pol, on the other hand, seems more
monotone than usual), and like I said, the ideas are good and generally well
executed when we get a concentrated chunk of time to let things play out. So
close, and yet so far, writers. I appreciate your efforts, but you really need
to get a handle on your plot structures.
How it Relates to
the Whole: We get some worldbuilding in the form of the subspace relays,
the followup of sorts to “Broken Bow” that I discussed above, and a new weapons
system for the Enterprise. There’s
also some character development for Malcolm that’s worth discussing, but I want
to wait until a later Season One episode before I dig into it. Believe me, I’m
looking forward to it.
Other: *One of
the more minor problems with this episode, and one that may only be a problem
in hindsight, is the look of the aliens. As you can kind of see in my header,
the showrunners decided to make them more, well, alien by using digital effects
to do things that actors in makeup could never accomplish. Unfortunately, the
effects haven’t aged well, especially when you see them walking. They still
have a little bit of menace to them, but I’m afraid it’s not as intimidating as
it should be.
*I liked a little thing that the sound effects guys did
this episode. At one point, Archer turns off his communicator, and the click
coincides perfectly with the cut to commercial. It’s a playful little beat that
doesn’t undercut the seriousness of the situation, and I really have to applaud
whoever came up with the idea.
*This has nothing to do with the episode proper, but I
can’t resist sharing this, though it does mean minor SPOILERS for the episode. Around the time I was doing my first
watch of this show, I moved house and needed to pick up some new household
items. One of the things I found was this;
Of course, I had to buy it. And I grin a bit every time I
use it.
Badass Malcolm
Moment: While I should probably pick a moment associated with the
construction/testing of the phase cannons here, I’m instead going with a much
smaller moment. When the enemy ship knocks out all of Enterprise’s power, Malcolm is in the mess hall. The minute the
ship starts shaking, Malcolm rushes to the window to see the problem, then
tries to contact the bridge or the armory for answers, then sends his men to
their stations and presumably heads out to do the same. We don’t see him again
for the rest of the scene, but his complete lack of hesitation and total focus
on the job at hand kind of leaves me in awe. It also partially explains why I
like him so much…
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