For some time now, “Enterprise” has been delving into the murky waters of political realities involving in rebel forces, terrorism, and subterfuge. The situation between the Andorians and the Vulcans has exposed the darker side of the Vulcan struggle for order and protocol, the lengths to which they will go to maintain what they believe is the correct advancement of a “less sophisticated” species.
In “Detained”, Archer helped hundreds of Suliban prisoners escape when it was revealed that they were being held simply for being the same race as the genetically enhanced terrorists among the Kabal. After that episode, I had hoped that Archer’s decision would come back to haunt him, that some of the realities and gray areas of terrorism might be introduced into the series. In this episode, Archer’s decision turns out to have unexpected consequences.
After rescuing a ship in distress, Archer and Trip are invited to the man’s desert homeworld to enjoy the hospitality of his people. At a small, isolated settlement in the middle of a vast desert, Archer and Trip are treated to exotic foods and extravagant gifts. Soon enough, the Enterprise is contacted by the official government. It turns out that Archer and Trip are being entertained by terrorists, and as far as the government is concerned, they are suspected as aiding the terrorist cells.
When Archer confronts his host, another side of the story emerges. This society had formerly operated under a caste system, in which those currently running the government and holding economic power had once represented the dominant caste. Having failed at using democratic avenues to gain equality, the repressed caste has been forced into the deserts, with nothing left to combat the prejudice except the force of arms.
Having heard the tales of Archer’s release of the Suliban prisoners, the leader of the rebel forces set about finding the Enterprise and bringing Archer to his world to help them develop tactics and arm his oppressed people. It is soon apparent that the tale of Archer’s exploits has grown and distorted with every telling, making him a desired commodity.
When the settlement is attacked and destroyed, forcing the rebels into the desert, Archer and Trip find themselves seeking shelter away from the fighting. As T’Pol attempts to find Archer through increasing layers of interference from the official government, who have decided that the Enterprise is living up to its reputation, the captain and Trip struggle with the desert travel.
It’s amazing that Archer and Trip last long enough to find that shelter, because they are incredibly inept at desert survival. Trip soon succumbs to heat stroke after Archer forces them to march miles under the daytime sun. When they eventually find shelter in an old rebel settlement, they manage to find a bit of water and rest. Meanwhile, T’Pol has contacted the rebel leader, forcing him to see that despite the truth behind Archer’s exploits, he bears the responsibility for Archer’s survival.
When the abandoned settlement comes under government fire, Archer and Trip seem to have met their match. But the rebel leader manages to get an Enterprise shuttle past the government forces, and soon enough, Archer and Trip are rescued. But even having avoided death, Archer must now recognize that his split decisions can have a deadly personal cost, and long-tern consequences.
What this episode also does is explore some of the political and moral arguments that are reflected in current government policy worldwide. When is a terrorist a terrorist, and when is a rebel a rebel? Where does the line get drawn when it comes to granting aid to one side of a conflict? The difference can mean the beginning of war, or overtures of diplomacy for similar acts of bloodshed.
What marks the difference here is that Archer is the frontier military commander who cannot help but encounter situations where split-second decisions need to be made. Contact with the official government behind Starfleet will slowly but surely become more difficult, as they strike out farther and farther from home. And even if Archer can consult with Starfleet Command, the inevitable decisions would have to be made based on intelligence gathered by the Enterprise crew. One way or another, Archer is going to find that his role as captain will require greater levels of diplomacy. He will be forced to develop the rules, regulations, and directives that future starship captains will need to refine and reinforce.
Determining the extent of interference in conflicts and social inequalities will be at the heart of those directives. While Archer will always have the Vulcan protocols as a possible foundation, his natural resistance to the strict logic of the Vulcan policies will help him find a possible middle ground, with T’Pol serving as a moderating force.
As much as the political side of this episode bring a welcome complexity to the series, the idiotic mistakes that Archer and Trip make after having mentioned desert survival training more than once just get irritating. For instance, anyone with even the slightest degree of common sense would know better than to attempt long-range travel by foot during daylight hours. At the very least, Archer and Trip ought to have known to take the necessary materials needed to construct a small but shaded shelter.
What amazes me is that even when it is clear that his actions are leading to a dangerous situation, Archer continues to press Trip forward beyond the point of exhaustion. The water rations are used up within hours. It’s only by luck and the inevitable need for lead characters to survive that Archer doesn’t get his friend killed.
Still, there are enough positive elements to this episode that the lack of desert survival skills is a minor irritant. If the series continues to explore these political issues and the dangers of dealing with unknown cultures without proper deliberation, then we ought to be in for a long and interesting run.
Some other thoughts:
- Nice continuity with the continued attempts to get shore leave on Risa.
- You know, it’s been almost a full season, and these people still can’t write a damned teaser to save their lives!
- KURGAN...IN...SPAAAAACE!
- As interesting as the political situation was to ponder, I think they were laying it on a little thick with the stereotypical use of Middle Eastern/Arabic motifs in the rebel settlements, clothing, and speech patterns.
- “It’s a dry heat...”
- Alien testicle soup...yummy!
- So, did the ladies in the audience enjoy the view?
- It’s nice to know that no matter how far you might get from Earth, you’ll find familiar things like Saudis playing lacrosse.
- I liked Hoshi’s point about how the Vulcan first contact could have been interpreted incorrectly by rival nations, considering that they had landed in the United States. I hope that more of that time period is revealed.
- Nearly frozen to death, heat stroke...Trip has such wonderful luck...
- “...a coma...that sounds nice...”
- “We’re going to Rhode Island?”
- I would have loved to have seen Archer fire at his own shuttlecraft!
Overall, this is an episode balanced between a smart exploration of the realities of dealing with alien politics, and just plain silly depiction of alien Saudis and desert survival skills for vulture-fixated masochists. What it amounts to is an average offering that leaves us with the promise of a bright future.
