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Enterprise
"Terra Nova"
Episode 1.06
Directed by Levar Burton
Written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
I really hope this isn't becoming a pattern. Because if Enterprise can't get back on track soon, many fans will lose interest. And that's if they haven't done so already.
"Terra Nova" was the first human colony on another earth-like world. The colonists left Earth over 70 years ago, and the journey took them nine years. It was one way, because the ship was disassembled to make living quarters, buildings, etc. But everybody knows from human history that relationships between colonists and their home governing bodies inevitably become strained. And this was no exception. The colonists vehemently opposed further humans coming to the planet, and eventually all contact was lost. So flash-forward ahead 70 years and we have Archer & Co. trying to find out what's up with the colonists.
Okay, stop. I've already got problems with this set-up. The Enterprise has already been gallivanting around the alpha quadrant for a month or two. This mission wouldn't have been priority-1 right after they'd returned the Klingon in the premiere? Not to mention a science nit-pick: since this is early on in human technology, I doubt they had instantaneous communication. So wouldn't transmissions between the humans and novans have taken nine years each way?
But those aren't the real problems with this episode. I suppose the premise is interesting enough. (although the backstory seems far more intriguing) No, the problem here is that the pay-off is lame. Really, really lame.
Apparently, an asteroid hit the planet right after the settlers arrived. All the adults were killed by radiation. The children grew up without supervision or instruction, and believing that humans are the enemy. What this means is that we have a bunch of ugly, stupid humans who don't even know that they're humans and speak in simple English - words like "overside" and "underside" instead of above ground, underground, etc. Naturally, they don't take well to the arrival of Enterprise, and before you know it, one of the crew is taken hostage, and Archer and Phlox try to heal one of the Novans as a measure of good faith.
If this scenario seems painfully familiar it's because Star Trek has beaten it to death. The "humans must win over distrustful aliens" thing is so tired, that it just leaves me astonished that this is the best the producers can do. I mean, we're only six episodes in! If you're already out of ideas, give me a call! I've got plenty that aren't merely recycled Voyager episodes! I mean, come on - this is way too blatant a rip-off of the season seven Voyager episode where humans had accidentally irradiated an alien species.
If all that weren't enough, I just can't forgive how utterly boring this episode was. I fell asleep the first two times I tried to watch. Seriously.
If Enterprise doesn't get better soon, I'm just not sure it will continue to warrant reviewing. Hopefully it won't come to that.
Episode Rating: 3 out of 10
-- Ultra Magnus
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