monkee reviews 'Canamar'
First Impression: YAWN!
On Second Viewing... I still thought there wasn't much there in terms of an actual story, but was impressed by some of the details and character work.
Yet Another Prison Episode: Heck, ENT has already done one, and it's only the second season! Unlike Detained, though, there's not much of a moral here. 'When prisoners revolt, things can go really bad,' is what I took away from this one. Ah, well. As an action hour, it was all right. Archer and Trip visit the Enolians for some trading and R&R. En route way back to Enterprise, they are boarded, accused of smuggling, and put on a prison transport to Canamar. T'Pol gets everything straightened out, but just when they're about to be released, another prisoner, Kuroda, and his Nausican partner, stage a revolt on the transport. They leave the other ten prisoners and Trip shackled, but need Archer's help to fly the ship after the Nausican injures the Enolian pilot.
You know you're in a bit of trouble when... Archer is the most interesting thing about an episode. Oh, that's mean, but you know it's true! Still, he WAS moderately fun to watch this week, as he had to think fast and act like an outlaw. And while he initially may have had some sympathy for Kuroda, who was wrongfully imprisoned as a young teenager, he gradually discovers that the years have made Kuroda hardened and cruel past redemption.
Trip and Friends: Fortunately, Trip was along for the ride. His ongoing struggles with his excruciatingly talkative and annoying seatmate provided much-needed comic relief in this dark story. I adored Zoumas, and wouldn't mind seeing him again sometime. Even his make-up and mannerisms were interesting – loved those skin flaps! And Trip certainly got off on the wrong foot with the Nausican. He gradually built up some camaraderie with the guy, only to have to conk him over the head when it became necessary for Archer to try to retake the ship! No one delivers an off-the-cuff sarcastic remark like Trinneer. "I was stranded for three months when some colleagues of mine decided to leave without me!" Zoumas babbles. "Imagine that," Trip deadpans. Then he turns to the Nausican, "Excuse me? Can I change seats?" Even the Nausican thought he was a hoot!
Lots of Action: Kuroda plans to rendezvous with some buddies and get off the prison ship with the Nausican. He's even willing to take Archer and his 'smuggling partner,' Trip, along, once they prove how useful they can be, but he plans to leave the other prisoners shackled and send them to their doom by putting the prison ship into a decaying orbit. Clearly, Archer can't allow that to happen. He and Trip try, and fail, to retake the ship. Fortunately, Enterprise has intercepted the rendezvous ship, and when it docks with the prison ship, Reed, Mayweather and some extra security are there to help. The sequence was exciting – I especially enjoyed watching Enterprise personnel unshackle the prisoners so they could all scurry to the safety of the rendezvous ship. Naturally, Archer and Kuroda have to have one last grapple to the death. Ultimately, Kuroda refuses to leave, believing that he'll be able to pull out of the decaying orbit. He can't, and is incinerated off-screen.
Meanwhile, Back on Enterprise...T'Pol is good in command this week. She's very assertive with the Enolian bureaucrat, and refuses to be dismissed. You go, girl Vulcan!
Darkness: I know I say this a lot, but Enterprise is so DARK. Not dark in a good way, like DS9, but dark as in not illuminated enough! The prison ship set was quite claustrophobic. It worked for the story, of course, but in general, ENT lacks visual stimulation. And mercy me, can't they think of anything to put on the villains besides black leather? What a cliché, week after week!
Archer Watch: Archer was terrific this week. He rolled with the punches, both literally and figuratively, worked well with Trip under trying circumstances, and did everything he could to preserve life. His anger at the Enolian bureaucrat was justified, and I think he made his point well. He was able to fire off a message to Enterprise right under Kuroda's nose, and I loved watching him pretend to be an outlaw by mocking Starship Captains. "I said I was a starship captain, and Tucker was my engineer," he tells Kuroda, sarcastically. "I made a big point about how I was on a mission of 'peaceful exploration.'" Haha!
Character Interactions: It wasn't much of a character episode. The crew on Enterprise worked together well enough, and Archer and Trip's scenes were good. Otherwise, the episode belonged to Archer and Kuroda, and their scenes were acceptable.
'shipper Watch: Nothing going on at all on the 'shipper front this week.
Best Lines:
"You don't listen too well." "Then why don't you save yourself the trouble and stop talkin' to me." (Nausican and Trip)
You should be careful of the Nausican. Nasty temper." (Zoumas, to Trip – in other words, "Let the Nausican win.")
"Captain of a starship. Interesting. I should have tried that when they took me. It might have helped. Captain Zoumas..." (Zoumas, to Trip)
"I trust you'll accompany us to insure there are no further...mistakes." (T'Pol to Enolian)
"Flying a warp ship ain't like dustin' crops, boy!" (Archer, to Kuroda. Well, that's what he meant to say, anyway...)
"Think you can handle him?" "Yeah, piece of cake." (Archer and Trip, regarding the Nausican)
"As you're aware, my engineer and I were falsely arrested. We almost wound up in Canamar. It makes me wonder how many others don't belong there. You wanted a report? You've got one." (Archer, tersely, to Enolian)
Rating: 8/10. Some nice details and guest stars bring it up from an average rating.
Next Week: Repeats as far as the eye can see. February sweeps are officially over. ENT needed a strong showing this month, and got it, for the most part. 'Canamar' was the weakest sweeps ep, and even it wasn't bad. We learned more about this century's Vulcans in 'Stigma,' and revisited the Andorian arc in 'Cease Fire,' and the cold war arc in 'Future Tense.' All in all, some solid stuff! See you in April!
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