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Enterprise
"Unexpected"
Episode 1.05
Directed by Mike Vejar
Written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Well I have to admit, I've been dreading this day from the beginning. Each week I tune in, praying to the sci fi gods -- pleading, in fact -- that this episode of Enterprise will not be Voyager-bad. And for the first four episodes the gods were listening, and I was pleasantly surprised. But my prayers were not answered this time, and that day has inevitably come...the day where Enterprise sucks like a black hole.
Oh, I don't even know where to start. I guess the "plot" would be appropriate. The short of it: a damaged alien ship is hitching a ride in the Enterprise's warp trail. They've managed to remain undetected by using a cloaking device, but eventually the adverse effects on Enterprise lead to its discovery. The aliens are friendly enough though. Trip goes over to help fix their propulsion systems, and while there befriends a female engineer. The female shows him a few things, not the least of which is a holodeck. (Oh god...not another holodeck...) She also plays a "game" with him. It seems harmless enough, and in a sense, I suppose it is, but Trip gets pregnant. Yes, that's right. Trip is with child. Funky Xyrillian child.
Okay, there were some cool things. The fact that the ship was truly alien. Trip had to decompress for three hours before boarding. And the ship interiors were pretty original. And in the end, there's even a decent confrontation with some Klingons. (which may or may not conflict with established Star Trek continuities, but I won't even get into that in for fear of becoming Comic Book Guy)
But none of this can make up for the fact that the episode revolves around Trip getting pregnant! I'm sorry... maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe some of you prefer light-hearted, humorous tales such as these. But stories like these are exactly the reason why I didn't like Voyager most of the time.
I really like these characters, and I really like the intro sequence. I actually find it inspiring. That's why it's so hard to have to sit through dren like this. Thankfully, next week's episode looks much more intelligent, and things should get back to good.
The thing that really worries me though -- this one was written by Berman and Braga, which means they still don't quite get it.
Episode Rating: 2 out of 10
-- Ultra Magnus
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