monkee reviews 'Affliction'
First Impression: Outstanding, but the cleverness of the writing this season is starting to annoy me, just a little. Where were these episodes two years ago when we needed them? Argh!
Klingon Medical Research: Suffice it to say that you do NOT want to be a Klingon medical research subject, at least not in this era! A struggling Klingon is brought into a Klingon medical laboratory and strapped to a chair. He demands to see the magistrate, insisting that he hasn't been sentenced to death. No one cares. They hook him up to an IV bag, and let it rip. In a matter of moments, he is in agony. And what's this? Are his cranial ridges starting to smooth out? A Klingon doctor looks on with something approaching sympathy and you can almost hear what he's thinking, "Poor sap."
Not a Long Goodbye: Enterprise has returned to Earth to see the NX-02, Columbia, off on its maiden voyage, and to say goodbye to their chief engineer. T'Pol drops by while Trip is packing in his quarters. She says she doesn't understand why he is leaving. He cites the new challenge ahead – he feels his experiences on Enterprise will be a huge asset to Captain Hernandez. While that's certainly true, T'Pol isn't buying it as the whole story, and asks him point blank if he's leaving because of her. "Not everything in my life revolves around you," he tells her. Ouch! Even suppressed feelings can be hurt, you know!
And that's it. He's gone. There's a reference to a farewell party in the mess hall, but we don't get to see it, or any of his other good-byes. I'd feel cheated, but there's a whole lot going on in this episode, and no time to linger over niceties...
Outside of Madam Chang's: Because there is a wait to get in, Hoshi and Phlox are talking and wandering around the darkened street outside Madam Chang's. They are confronted by three masked figures, who demand, at phase pistol-point, that Phlox accompany them. Phlox refuses and a fistfight ensues. Hoshi shows off her Aikido skills, but they are outnumbered. Hoshi falls to the ground, and loses consciousness just as Phlox is sedated and dragged away.
Starfleet security is already on the scene when Archer and Reed arrive. Hoshi remembers hearing one of the attackers say something in another language just as she was losing consciousness, but she can't remember what it was. The Starfleet security woman is focusing on Phlox's troublesome encounter in a bar during his last visit to earth ('Home'), but Reed asks the obvious question – was there any transporter activity in the area at the time of the attack? Archer tells him to look into it.
I love that Madam Chang's is referred to again. Poor Phlox, though. Is he ever going to get into the place? He had to settle for take-out last time, and now this! And I've always enjoyed Phlox and Hoshi's friendship and easy camaraderie.
How to Win Friends and Inspire Crewmen: Meanwhile, back on the Columbia, Trip is making quite the first impression. First, he fails to report to his new Captain, then he alienates just about everyone in Engineering by referring to their beloved ship as a 'bucket of bolts.' Oh, dear. He even has to be reminded to change his uniform – he's still walking around with an Enterprise patch on his arm. Later, when he has dinner with Hernandez in the Captain's mess, she tells him that two crewmen have already requested to be transferred out of his department. She can't argue with his effectiveness. Columbia was on a tight schedule to leave dry-dock, and he's making things happen in engineering. But she can see that there's more to Trip's transfer than he's telling her. Heck, there's more to Trip's transfer than he's even telling himself!
T'Pol's First Mind-Meld: Archer, as usual, is grumpy as hell. It's hard to blame him, what with Phlox missing and Trip gone and all, but I can't understand why he has to say everything in such a belligerent tone of voice. He sounds like my fourteen year-old! Anyway, he asks T'Pol to meld with Hoshi in hopes of retrieving her lost memory of the attack – the sentence in an alien language that she heard but can't remember. He knows she's never initiated a meld before, and he knows it's risky, but he says he can talk her through it.
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
No, seriously. He says he picked up a few pointers while Surak's katra was in his head for four days. Despite the outrageousness of the request, T'Pol agrees. She considers Phlox a friend, too, after all.
After a few rocky moments, the meld goes well, and ends with both T'Pol and Hoshi repeating the sentence she'd heard. It was 'Bring him with us,' in Rigellian. Now they have a starting point. A Rigellian freighter did leave Earth several hours after the attack, and it didn't travel in the direction its flight plan said it would. Very suspicious.
Reed's Shady Past: When Reed attempts to retrieve the satellite logs from the period when Phlox was abducted, he discovers that there aren't any. When he tries to contact Starfleet about it, his transmission is diverted. A man appears on the viewscreen – it's someone Reed knows, and it's someone Reed clearly isn't too happy to see. The man – we'll call him Mr. 31 from now on – orders Reed to meet him and transmits coordinates.
Somewhere down below on earth, in the shadows, Mr. 31 tells Reed that they have an assignment for him. Reed says he wasn't aware that he was part of their 'section' anymore, and demands to know if they have anything to do with Phlox's disappearance. Mr. 31 is evasive, but says Reed's participation may be the only way to save Phlox's life.
I'll admit that I've never been a big fan of Section 31, Starfleet's version of the Cardassian's 'Obsidian Order' and the Romulans' 'Tal Shiar,' first introduced in Deep Space Nine. To me, it just doesn't seem to fit in with Roddenberry's utopian future. I know I'm a bit of an idealist, though. Maybe I should wake up and smell the tranya! But having said all that, I kind of like the idea that there's more to Reed than meets the eye. I like that he has a shady past – it's always those quiet, by-the-book ones you have to watch out for!
Dr. Antaak: A struggling Phlox is hustled into the same medical lab that we saw in the teaser. He's not to become a subject, though – not yet, anyway. No, they want his medical expertise. He swears he won't cooperate, but a Klingon doctor steps forward. He is Dr. Antaak. He says they've met before, although Phlox won't remember him. It was at a medical conference five years earlier, and Antaak was in disguise, because the Klingons had not been invited. He tells Phlox that a virus is threatening to destroy the Klingon species. Phlox says they could have gone through accepted diplomatic channels for assistance, but Antaak says that's not the Klingon way. To ask for help is to admit weakness. He says he had nothing to do with Phlox's abduction, but now that he's here, surely he'll at least take a look at the virus. Phlox reluctantly agrees.
Moon Age Daydream: T'Pol is meditating in her quarters. She's surrounded by white, and Trip rambles by. He wonders why she'd choose such stark scenery for her meditation. She asks him to leave, but he doesn't know where to go. Besides, this is also his daydream. A fellow engineer from Columbia asks him a question and he's brought back to his reality. T'Pol is called to come to the bridge, and she's brought back to hers.
Awww...isn't that sweet? They can't stop thinking about each other. Hoshi's a little confused, though. Because subconscious thoughts are sometimes exchanged in mindmelds, all of a sudden she's having dreams about Commander Tucker in white surroundings, too. She's a bit embarrassed. "There was almost a...romantic quality to it," she tells an uncomfortable T'Pol. Hee.
LIAR!!! Enterprise finds the Rigellian ship...destroyed. None of the bodies is Denobulan, though. Archer asks Reed if he can tell who did it, and even though we can clearly see the words 'weapons signature confirmed' flashing on his screen, he tells Archer that he can't. The man is lying. LYING! TO HIS CAPTAIN!
Later, he makes an unauthorized transmission to Mr. 31. Apparently, Reed had been told that the Klingons were going to rendezvous with the Rigellians, not destroy them. Mr. 31 says it was unfortunate, but the Klingons needed to cover their tracks, and it's none of Reed's business how many Rigellians were killed. Reed says he has been compromised and he doesn't like it. He also says he could explain the situation to Archer, and Archer would understand. Mr. 31 won't allow it, and he doesn't care how uncomfortable Reed is. "You made a commitment to us long before you joined Enterprise," he says. Reed is ordered to continue the deception.
Klingon Dissection Subjects: Phlox requested the body of an infected Klingon for dissection, but the man they bring in is decidedly not dead yet. Dr. Antaak is about to perform euthanasia. Phlox tries to stop him, but while they're arguing, one of the other Klingons simply shoots him in the chest. Toto, I don't think we're in Starfleet anymore...
Swarthy Men with Bad Beards: Enterprise is boarded by...well, swarthy men with bad beards. They're up to no good, as you might expect. They superimpose what looks like a Klingon program onto some of Enterprise's systems, and exchange phase pistol fire with the MACO's before beaming out. One of them is injured and left behind. In sickbay, he speaks Klingon, and Archer and company are surprised to find out that he is, in fact, Klingon. Reed suggests – a bit unconvincingly to those of us in the know – that perhaps he's been surgically altered to appear Klingon.
This strange Klingon looks oddly familiar to me. Hmmm...where have I see the likes of him before?
Eureka! Phlox is having a similar moment of déjà vu in the medical lab. When the virus has been analyzed, he knows he's seen the base pair sequences before, but where...Aha! He remembers! He saw it six months ago – it's AUGMENT DNA! With input from Antaak, he pieces together the following – the Klingons were trying to create Klingon augments using DNA they recovered from embryos found in the wreckage of the Bird of Prey. The process had unexpected side effects. First, the Klingons cranial ridges dissolved and they began to look more human. Then, their neural pathways began to degrade, and they started dying. One of them had a common flu, which then mutated and became airborne. It now threatens all Klingon life.
Phlox wonders why the Klingons would mess around with this stuff. But it's really no surprise. When just two human augments were able to take over a Klingon ship and kill its entire crew, the threat was clear, and they weren't about to take the Vulcan's word for it that the augments were relics from another time.
The Klingons who abducted Phlox need him to find a cure, and fast. The Klingon government has decided to eradicate the threat by massacring the victims, many of whom are on the planet where the medical lab is located. To buy time, Antaak suggests that he and Phlox create NEW Klingon augments, only they'll stabilize them before the problems set in. He believes it's possible, but Phlox has had enough. He says they can kill him if they want to, but he will no longer assist them. They take him away, and Antaak, at least, has the good grace to look sorry about it.
I'm going to pause here for a moment to point out what an outstanding job Billingsley did in this episode. He had to play fear, outrage and medical assertiveness in rapid succession, and did it wonderfully. I particularly liked the way his voice shook when he bravely told the Klingons to go ahead and kill him, but he wasn't going to help them anymore. A nod also goes to the actor who played Antaak, who managed to make the Klingon doctor an almost sympathetic character. It seems that he really is doing the best he can, given his culture and era. "Given the choice between honor and saving lives," he tells Phlox at one point, "I choose the latter."
And here's MY revelation – I know where I've seen the likes of the strange Klingon in Enterprise's sickbay before. I've seen him on Star Trek: The Original Series! Yes, indeed. He looks an awful lot like good old Kang, or Koloth, doesn't he? He looks like a SIXTIES Klingon! God, I love Star Trek!
A Traitor Revealed: Archer assigns T'Pol and Hoshi to try to get whatever information they can out of the Rigellian freighter's 'black box,' which Reed claims has been too badly damaged to be useful. What they discover is that the black box has been intentionally erased...by a device they've located in a storage locker last accessed by Reed. Archer has T'Pol double check Reed's other recent claims, and she discovers his deception about who attacked the freighter. Archer confronts Reed, and he tries to deny it, but the evidence against him is too damning. He respectfully refuses to answer any of Archer's questions. A shocked and angry Archer relieves him of duty and has him escorted to the brig.
Later, he visits Reed in his cell, trying once again to get him to explain, but Reed says he can't. All he'll tell Archer is that he's not working for the Klingons, and he doesn't know where Phlox is. Archer doesn't seem inclined to give Reed any benefit of the doubt. He wonders aloud what Reed's traditional father, from the Royal Navy, is going to think when his son is court-martialed.
Reed is almost in tears. Sheesh, Archer. You really know how to kick a man when he's down, don't you? You had to bring up the touchy subject of the cold, judgmental father...
Columbia Sails: Meanwhile, back in Earth spacedock, Columbia is ready to go. Given the situation, its first mission will be to assist its sister ship. Hernandez gives the order, and Columbia is off. Except for some pretty cool ascending lights on the bridge when the ship goes to warp – a different design than Enterprise – this scene is disappointingly anti-climactic. I was hoping for a bit more drama and pomp. Ah, well. Like I said, there's a lot going on.
Bonding in the Brig: The Klingon prisoner, now recovered from his injuries, is tossed into the brig cell next to Reed's. This provides a rare light moment in the episode, as they share criminal banter. The Klingon prisoner is coughing, which is, of course, a sure sign of impending death, and Reed becomes serious. "You may find this hard to believe," he tells the Klingon augment, "but you and I actually want the same thing. A cure." The Klingon looks surprised. No one's supposed to know about that.
Speed: Once Enterprise goes to warp, they discover that the antimatter flow regulators are locked open, a result of the Klingon sabotage. The only way to ease the pressure and prevent a core breach is increase their velocity. T'Pol is in Engineering assisting Commander Kelby, the new Chief Engineer (who is, naturally, not as good an engineer as Trip Tucker), and she discovers the Klingon program that is infiltrating Enterprise's systems, including the command protocols.
Archer returns to the brig to demand information from the Klingon, but he's not talking, despite the fact that if the engine breaches, he'll die, too. "I'm a soldier of the Empire," he says, stalwartly. "I'm prepared to die!" Reed shouts over to his Captain, begging to be released. "You need your tactical officer!" he says. "I can be useful!" Archer is unmoved.
As the episode ends, Enterprise is careening along at warp 5.2, with no help in sight.
To be continued...
An Elegant Solution: I was never one of those who needed a fictional explanation as to why the TOS Klingons looked so much different than the ones in the films and subsequent series. I was always satisfied by the real explanation – they looked different because TOS was made in the 60's, when special effects and make-up were primitive, and the budget was practically non-existent! I always figured that if Trek tried to come up with a canon explanation, it would be cheesy and preposterous. Like many others, I was amused by Worf's tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of the differences in DS9's 'Trials and Tribblations.' He said it was something the Klingon's simply didn't like to discuss with outsiders. Ha! I thought THAT was clever!
But this...Wow! A genetic manipulation explanation was hinted at in Trek literature, specifically in Greg Cox's 'Eugenics Wars' series, but it was never fleshed out. And Trek Literature only tried to explain how the Klingons got from point A to point B. Since Enterprise started off with TNG style Klingons, they had to go from B to A and back again!
Enterprise's explanation is absolutely brilliant! Of COURSE the Klingons would feel threatened by the augments they encountered earlier in the season. And they're just reckless and driven enough to do what they did here – try to make their own Klingon augments – damn the risk! Now we know that their shortsightedness will have long-lasting effects; in fact, they won't find a way out of this genetic mess for another hundred years or so! It also explains the antipathy the Klingons will have towards humans indefinitely – in trying to respond to a perceived human threat, they ended up looking just like them! You have to almost feel sorry for them. I mean, how humiliating would that be for such a proud, warrior race?
I'm afraid nothing explains the bad beards, however. Oh, well. You can't have everything...
Short Shrift: While I am beyond impressed by the clever explanation for the long-standing 'mystery of the Klingon foreheads,' and I appreciate how much ground was covered in this very busy episode, there were some disappointments. The mindmeld and meditation scenes were too rushed and bland, and both Trip's departure from Enterprise, and Columbia's departure from Earth were anticlimactic. I understand why it had to be that way, but I'm still going to have to call them on it.
Character Interactions: The standout scenes this week were between Archer and Reed – Archer crackled with anger and betrayal, and Reed's conflict was obvious. I also enjoyed the 'down time' moments between Hoshi and Phlox, and Hoshi and T'Pol. And I could learn to like Trip's relationship with his new Captain, except I'm hoping she won't be his CO for too long. I want him back on Enterprise!
Archer Watch: Technically, he did everything right. He had to push T'Pol into doing something she shouldn't have had to do (initiating her first mind meld), but if he hadn't, they never would have gotten the lead they needed. As for the situation with Reed – I'll say he responded correctly, but not well. He was right to relieve Reed of duty and confine him to the brig – he had to. But couldn't he have given the man a little benefit of the doubt, at least in their private conversations? He's known Reed for three and a half years, and they've been through absolute hell together. He ought to know that Reed wouldn't be doing what he's doing lightly – there must be an explanation. A more understanding approach might be more helpful in uncovering it.
I know I keep harping on this, but Archer is so darn surly! His relentless belligerence makes him seem less intelligent than he really is, which is why I enjoy making fun of him! But I'd enjoy NOT making fun of him even more. Bakula can do 'charming' and 'funny' really well. I wish we'd seen more of that in Archer all along.
Mayweather Watch: Just the usual crackerjack pilot stuff. He gets the Sandra Bullock role in Enterprise's 'Speed.' I'm betting he'll somehow manage to hold the ship together next week.
'shipper Watch: Trip and T'Pol's dysfunctional romance continues. They're both hurting now, but I'll make an official prediction – they'll either be together in the end, or on their way to being together.
And with only eight more Enterprise episodes to go, I'm going to have more fun with 'ships from now on. So how about Reed and Archer? Did you see Archer grab Reed's arm and yank him in? The slash fans should have fun with that! It caught my eye even though I know any romantic or sexual interpretation was not intentional on the part of the producers.
Best Lines:
"This may come as a shock, but not everything in my life revolves around you." (Trip, to T'Pol)
"You didn't think Madam Chang's was going to be your little secret forever, did you?" (Hoshi, to Phlox)
"This bucket of bolts was supposed to leave dry dock six months ago. I guarantee you, Columbia is going to warp out of orbit by the end of the week." (Trip, to his new engineering staff)
"Sometimes it's easier to work with people who are just colleagues." (Trip, to Hernandez)
"Please leave." "Exactly where am I supposed to go?" "Away." (T'Pol, Trip, T'Pol)
"This is my daydream. Why don't YOU go away?" (Trip, to T'Pol)
"When I asked you to bring me a subject for dissection, I assumed he'd already be dead." (Phlox, to the Klingons)
"I've been compromised, Sir, and I don't like it." "Then I suggest you adjust your comfort level. You made a commitment to us long before you joined Enterprise." (Reed and Mr. 31)
"It only took two human augments to commandeer a Klingon Bird of Prey and murder its entire crew. The Empire could not allow an inferior species to gain an advantage on us." (Klingon, to Phlox)
"If you hope to ever leave this place, I suggest you stop asking questions, and resume work." (Klingon, to Phlox)
"Malcolm, I would never have believed that you, of all people..." (Archer, to Reed)
"I have no idea where the doctor is, Captain. On that, you have my word." "Your word isn't worth a lot at the moment. You've betrayed everything that uniform stands for." (Reed and Archer)
THE Best Line:
"So, what are you in for?" (Reed, to the Klingon prisoner in the next cell)
Rating: A few flaws, but I just loved the clever tie-in with the original series. Enterprise is becoming what it could have been all along. 9/10.
Next Week: The story continues, and Archer gets some cranial ridges. Perhaps they'll look good with his permanent scowl. monkee's annual martial arts tournament is coming up, so I expect the review will be delayed by about a week. Which shouldn't be too much of a problem, given that we don't get any new episodes until MID-APRIL! And then there are only seven more! *SOB*
A Ray of Hope? Since Enterprise's cancellation was announced, I've been feeling pessimistic. I simply accepted that the decision had been made and nothing was going to change it. But that's not really the Trekkie way, now, is it? The good people at SaveEnterprise.com are still trying hard to get the show renewed, and who knows? Stranger things have certainly happened. I encourage you to support these efforts. I also read an interview with Manny Coto recently, in which he was trying to be optimistic. He even outlined a few of his tentative plans for a fifth season, and they were all things I'd LOVE to see. Things do look grim, but wouldn't it be nice if they could be turned around?
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