Captain’s log: 27 December, 2153

Manny Coto pens the teleplay for this episode from a story by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, and it first aired on 11 February, 2004.

The episode has a lot going on crew story wise, Trip (Connor Trinneer) is apparently making T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) as he is sharing some of the techniques he’s learned from her with another member of the crew, Amanda Cole (Noa Tishby), one of the MACOs. It does, however, move their own relationship forward, after a fun little scene. Though, the morning after is a little uncomfortable.

And speaking of the MACOs, Reed (Dominic Keating) is having problems with Hayes (Steven Culp) over their roles on the ship, how much of it overlaps and who is really in charge of the safety and security of the ship. And in an echo of the scene with T’Pol and Trip the two come to blows as they square off against one another.

Mission-wise, now that we know the spheres were made to create the anomalies, and the Delphic Expanse itself (though why we don’t know yet) Archer (Scott Bakula) is troubled when they recover a dying alien (Thomas Kopache) who has something to do with the spheres, but won’t tell the crew anything about himself, or what he’s doing.

And it seems the alien is well aware of the Xindi mission, and it seems his species will benefit by the Earth’s destruction.

Captain’s log: date unknown

Roxann Dawson directs this Phlox (John Billingsley) episode that was written by Chris Black. It also has some nice moments with Porthos.

It first aired on 18 February, 2004, and while the Enterprise is travelling a trans-dimensional disturbance, Phlox and Porthos are the only ones awake on the ship. He’s had to put the rest of the crew in stasis to keep them safe.

But, things begin to happen, and Phlox begins hearing and seeing things. Are they real or imagined? And will Phlox be able to survive the four days of the ship travelling through the disturbance?

Things begin to get a little spooky, as he has some horrific visions, and even sees some insectoid Xindi aboard the ship. And is T’Pol really with him, or is she just a creation of his mind? The trans-dimensional disturbance must have a serious effect on the doctor, considering he’s only truly alone for four days, no matter how social his species is. Poor guy.

The episode is a bottle show,and lets Billingsley have a moment to shine, and he does so wonderfully. He also continues movie night on his own, watching The Court Jester.

The Human Adventure continues Thursday as I explore more of Star Trek: Enterprise – The Complete Series on blu-ray, available now from Paramount Canada.

Boldly go…