Ever since the beginning of the season, one of my primary complaints has been the acting ability of Jolene Blalock in the role of T’Pol. Blalock comes off as stiff and overly repressive in her role, as though she is trying too hard to act as though she is keeping her emotions in check. And to be honest, when she attempts to look reflective and stoic, she looks like she’s doing her best possible impression of a duck.
But perhaps I was not doing either Ms. Blalock or the primary writing staff of Berman/Braga enough credit. As this episode excellently demonstrates, there was an ulterior motive to it all. For reasons that we have only begun to understand, T’Pol’s rigid personality may reflect an overcompensation, an attempt to be more “Vulcan” than most Vulcans.
Certainly, that is the impression that one gets in the interplay between V’Lar and T’Pol in this episode. Only a Vulcan that is so mired in the throes of logic to the point of complete unawareness of human culture would ever suggest that they begin fostering sexual activity as a means of relieving tension. But more than that, V’Lar immediately reminds us of the familiar Vulcans of the past, like Surek and Tuvok.
As ambassador to the Mazarites, V’Lar is suddenly recalled to Vulcan under unknown circumstances. V’Lar has been charged with a felony. The Enterprise is ordered by Starfleet Command to retrieve V’Lar and transport her to a Vulcan ship presently on its way to the area. Captain Archer and the rest of the crew are prepared for the visit by T’Pol and her handy list of incredibly annoying protocols and guidelines. All of which, of course, V’Lar ignores when she is finally brought on board. V’Lar, it would seem, has embraced the ideal of embracing the ways of alien cultures, rather than maintaining a mask of superiority.
Before long, a Mazarite ship approaches and demands that Archer hand over V’Lar to face trial on the Mazarite homeworld. Archer immediately questions the order, and the Mazarites begin attacking. Archer does his best to fight back, but soon it is clear that they are outgunned when reinforcements arrive. Archer sets the Enterprise on a course to rendezvous with the Vulcan transport, but the Mazarites are capable of greater speed. Desperate, Archer does whatever he can to convince V’Lar to explain what she has done to warrant an attack.
During a revealing conversation, T’Pol persuades V’Lar to explain her situation to Archer. Apparently V’Lar was sent by Vulcan to investigate and then testify against a conspiracy that has been slowly and methodically taking control of the Mazarite government. The trial is not for several months, but V’Lar’s safety has been compromised, and it has been determined that she would be safer on Vulcan until the trial. Hence, the cover story to have her removed...which has been discovered by the shadow government as a ruse.
Archer rightfully takes her to task for not trusting him enough to explain the situation from the beginning, but now he is more convinced than ever that the Enterprise has to deliver. He orders Trip to push the engines to the limit, after discovering that the design of the Mazarite ships is similar to the Enterprise engines. That means that whichever engine can sustain the highest rated speed the longest will prevail. As the journey brings them ever closer to the Vulcan ship, which has moved to intercept, the game finally comes to an end when the Enterprise turns out to be the ship that loses the bet.
The Mazarites board the Enterprise, claiming that they want to escort V’Lar directly to their homeworld for trial. Knowing the truth, Archer sets them up in the sickbay, by tricking them into believing that she is being treated within a containment chamber, which they destroy. The Vulcan vessel arrives at the same time, dispatching the Mazarite ships.
Before leaving, V’Lar makes the observation that there is a bond between V’Lar and Archer, a growing friendship and respect that she hopes will influence their two respective cultures towards a mutual understanding. Obvious foreshadowing notwithstanding, this does underscore the fact that both cultures need to grow before the kind of cooperation evident in the Federation can come to pass. The Vulcans need to learn respect for humanity and the advancement in their thinking since first contact. At the same time, humanity needs to see that there is a value to the formality underlying Vulcan protocol. The relationship between Vulcans and humans up to this point has been one of mentor and student. What T’Pol and Archer might find, in their need to trust one another, is the benefit of accepting and utilizing mutual strengths.
It makes sense, then, for Archer to begin this journey with a cavalier attitude, willing to take chances and make quick and sometimes ill-advised decisions. Some of those decisions are likely to backfire soon enough, like his decision to free the Suliban detainees in the last episode. At the same time, it makes sense for T’Pol to be overly logical and introverted.
It’s not often that this kind of long-term character building is applied to a series within the Star Trek franchise. However, it is apparent that this was intended for these two characters from the beginning. It is likely that there are similar character arcs in mind for the rest of the ensemble, some of which have already begun.
That kind of advance planning has long been needed in this franchise. It would appear that, despite the criticism of many jaded fans, Berman and Braga did learn something from the failures of “Voyager”. Matched with the continually surprising degree of internal series continuity, this could turn out to be the best Star Trek series since “Deep Space Nine”.
Some other thoughts:
- Nice shirt, Trip!
- “You think I need a *message*?”
- I’m glad they didn’t have to follow those protocols, after seeing how well they followed Vulcan protocols at P’Jem...
- Are T’Pol’s panty lines a Vulcan custom, or just something special for V’Lar? (Would you believe my wife pointed that out?)
- No phase cannons at warp? That’s an interesting twist.
- Did anyone else notice that Archer has a water polo ball hanging out in his quarters?
- V’Lar’s ears were a differnet color than the rest of her skin!
- Doesn’t Hoshi looked practically bored to death through most of this episode?
- Why would a warp 5 engine have problems reaching warp 5? Haven’t Starfleet engineers ever heard of a safety factor?
- It’s very smart to have a specifically designated subspace channel for diplomatic use only.
- That was a neat, if somewhat old-fashioned, effect when the ships dropped out of warp.
- Don’t you just get the feeling that Dr. Phlox actually takes damage to his medical equipment that personally?
- T’Pol grabbed the muzzle of the Mazarite weapon after it had just been fired several times. Shouldn’t it have been rather hot?
Overall, this was an interesting look at the difference between the Vulcans we are used to seeing and their society at it exists in this time period. It would seem that we are seeing the beginning of the changes in each culture that will eventually bring about the Federation. It will be interesting seeing where this journey towards understanding takes the crew.
