The other “featured alien” is Dr. Phlox, whose mannerisms and reactions are certainly inhuman, but not in the usual Star Trek sense. Instead of simply being from a cardboard cutout race of aliens with a single behavioral difference to go along with their odd foreheads, Phlox has been crafted closer to the “Babylon 5” conception of aliens. They act like us in some ways, but when the differences come out, it’s that much more jarring because those differences are often hidden or kept vague. The Minbari, for instance, come immediately to mind.
Writing this episode from Phlox’ point of view, in terms of a recorded letter to his opposite number within the Interspecies Medical Exchange Program, is a clever means to emphasize and explore his personality. In particular, I enjoyed the frank perplexity at human emotion. We see it all the time from T’Pol, but in a negative, disapproving way. Phlox views it with fascination and curiosity, and while he may not always approve, he doesn’t feel the need to judge it.
The central conflict of the episode is fairly standard for the franchise, the inevitable question of how much a civilization with advanced technology should aid those without it. Archer’s contention is that the Vulcan policy of maintaining a gradual pace in introducing new concepts has been holding humanity back. Perhaps predictably, the situation at the heart of this episode puts Archer in their shoes, having to make a similar decision. It brings a good level of perspective, and respect for the Vulcan attitude. Archer might still disagree, but at least he has begun to understand the danger.
The Enterprise runs across a ship carrying a couple astronauts from a pre-warp society. Their planet is suffering from a plague that has ravaged the dominant humanoid race. Archer offers the aid of his staff, including of course, Dr. Phlox. It soon becomes apparent that there are two humanoid races on the planet, one with the plague and one without. The healthy race is not as advanced, and seems to be held back a bit by the dominant race. Evolution, as it turns out, is taking its course as the dominant population falls prey to genetic defects (the source of the “plague”), and the recessive population shows signs of becoming the new dominant species.
Archer is soon faced with two potential problems, neither of which fall within the current guidelines. The dominant, technologically advanced species does not have warp drive, and wants it so they can go find a cure for their “plague” if Phlox cannot develop one. There’s the obvious conflict of interests, and one that T’Pol warns Archer will come from the very beginning.
The more subtle yet equally compelling question of whether or not they should develop and/or deliver a cure to the genetic defects. Archer believes that they should help regardless of the larger issues of natural selection, and Phlox points out that it is not the place of the Enterprise crew to artificially select the dominant race simply because they are on the wrong side of the cold equations.
It would have been enough, in a standard episode for this franchise, to simply set up this conflict and let it take its course. But the strength of this episode is how it was fashioned from the beginning to validate the attitudes required by Phlox as the situation unfolds. His attitude towards the animals in his care and his comments about Archer’s behavior with Porthos is more than just the usual window-dressing. It’s a consequence of the doctor’s philosophy. Evolutionary considerations are just as valid with him, and possibly among his people, as the need to preserve life.
It’s an odd philosophy for a healer to uphold, and that is what makes it so interesting. It’s also reflected within his confusion over the human’s attitude for the menk. He views the complexity of the relationship between the species as symbiotic, whereas human history leaves them with the impression of slavery or class inequity. The episode resists the urge to answer the question of which is right, which adds to the tension of the situation. Being from the doctor’s point of view, it explores that in more detail, but that makes sense. The audience, one assumes, is human and already knows what the crew is thinking.
Along the way, we also get to see something of how the doctor’s culture operates due to the possibly budding relationship with Ensign Cutler. Cutler was a featured member of the crew much earlier in the season, and it’s nice to see that they have intentions of bringing her into the picture now and then. Some thought went into that decision, because Cutler’s position as an exobiologist meshes with the idea that she would be attracted to an alien. That allows Phlox to speak about the differences in culture within a reasonable context, and one with potential for future exploration of the same or similar issues.
In the end, as much as I like the way this episode was written, there is a certain predictability to the episode. The conflict was evident from the beginning, and even as complications and added complexities were introduced, they were a bit too easy to spot. The only thing that wasn’t telegraphed was how the problem was resolved without offering the usual bottom line moral to the story. Only that particular incident was dealt with, leaving the overall questions lingering.
Still, that predictable design to the progression of the episode left me a bit disappointed.
Some other thoughts:
- I like how this episode brings to light Phlox’ seemingly cavalier attitude about the life and death of the creatures collected during the mission in “Fight or Flight”.
- The discussion about mating seasons, hibernation, and marriage customs remind me a lot of the offhand revelations about the Centauri, for instance, on “Babylon 5”. Most Star Trek aliens only reveal details about themselves when it’s a plot point.
- I particularly enjoyed the way that language and communication, or the lack thereof, played such a part in this episode. Not only was it far more realistic than having a simple universal translator to explain away language barriers, but it led to Hoshi speaking those wonderful alien dialects.
- Speaking of which, watching Linda’s gorgeous brown eyes light up, that smile spread across her face, and those exotic words spill out of her mouth...
- Anyone else recognize Ensign Cutler from the short-lived “Wolf Lake”?
- The whole scene with T’Pol and the dentistry was painful to watch. Not because of the teeth, but Blalock’s acting!
- OK, so the aliens encountered the Ferengi, and still weren’t aware that visitors from space could have bad intentions?
- Oh, and did you notice T’Pol’s not-so-subtle hesitation when denying that the Vulcans had encountered the Ferengi?
- Trip cries during “West Side Story”? Then again, he was pregnant that time…
- On that note, I loved how Phlox commented on how watching images on a screen was a waste of time, when there was real life to watch and wonder over! (And yes, I realize the irony in making that statement!)
- While I sometimes have issues with how “softly” Scott Bakula portrays Archer, he did a great job expressing the conflicted emotions in the final act…
- But he still couldn’t save that idiotic and obvious comment about creating a “directive” for interference in alien cultures!
Overall, this episode was just a little too predictable, saved only by the nuances of the writing and the wonderful POV comments by Dr. Phlox. Give me his commentary over the droning of the EMH any day…or even better, some personal language instruction with Hoshi…
I give it a 7/10.
< -------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Next Episode
Back to Season 1
Back to the Enterprise
Email:
