monkee reviews 'The Seventh'
First Impression: So help me, I kinda liked it!
I didn't like it, actually, the first time through. I guess I found it disconcerting that T'Pol was practically sobbing for most of the episode. But once I accepted that, and watched the episode again, I found it quite enjoyable.
What Vulcans are These? The thing is, though, why should I have to dismiss everything I know about Vulcans to enjoy this show? It ain't right! I miss Spock! Tuvok, too! The Vulcans simply couldn't have changed that much in the hundred years between Archer and Kirk. In Archer's time, too many of them seem to be on the brink of emotional upheaval. And look at their track record with 'defectors.' They sent 109 operatives undercover, and a whopping 19 of them didn't return. That's 1 in 6! In 'Carbon Creek,' they lost 1 in 3! Are Vulcans that eager to explore alternate lifestyles when they're exposed to them? Whatever happened to their emotions being dangerous? And I'm starting to think Voyager's EMH was right when he was ranting about Vulcan mind melds and the like. Certainly the memory-erasing procedure T'Pol underwent wasn't very effective, was it?
T'Pol: It's hard to know what to make of T'Pol so far. It could be that she's a Vulcan who just, for whatever reason, hasn't completely repressed her emotions, hence her experience with jazz on earth, and her inability to deal with guilt in her former position. That could be interesting, if it were explained in some way. It would give her an internal conflict much like Spock's, especially since it will only get worse the more she lives among humans. It hasn't been explained, though, and what's worse is that it seems like she's not that much of an exception to the rule. A lot of the other Vulcans we've seen in this series seem to be struggling with their emotions. Even Ambassador Soval (if he's a Vulcan at all!) I can't blame Blalock for the inconsistencies I've seen. She's doing the best she can with the lines that are written for her. And there are things I like about her portrayal of T'Pol. Often, when she's leaving a room, and Archer has teased her, or said something significant, she hesitates. It's as if she thinks some sort of response might be appropriate, but she doesn't know what. I like that. She's getting more comfortable with humans, but they're still, bottom line, an alien culture, and she isn't good at banter yet.
Archer Watch: Let's move this section up, since we're on the subject of character inconsistencies. We saw two completely different Archers this week – it was just about giving me whiplash! First, he was his usual sarcastic and immature self. Comments like "Thanks for being so enlightening – dismissed," and "If the Vulcan High Command doesn't approve of the water polo match I'm watching, I can easily find another," do nothing to endear Archer to us. And I couldn't believe he was trying to peer around her to watch the TV – er, viewscreen – when she came to talk to him about something that was clearly important to her. If that was supposed to be funny, it fell flat. If Archer has a chip on his shoulder, fine. Let's just not have him act like an adolescent about it, okay? But that was the first Archer. The OTHER Archer was wonderful! The Archer who felt honored (as well he should) by T'Pol's trust and agreed to help her. The Archer who kept looking at her with friendship and concern. The Archer who kept her focused when she was agitated, and reminded her about her priorities. Now THIS is an Archer I could learn to love as much as Kirk, Picard, Sisko and Janeway. I hope we see a hell of a lot more of him from now on, and not that first guy.
A Matter of Trust: The theme of trust running through this episode was quite nice, and it reminded me, a lot, of some of the finer moments in previous Treks. T'Pol doesn't know Archer all that well, but she senses that she can trust him, perhaps even more than her own people. And I think he's starting to feel the same way about her. I love this! And this is why I'd rather not see this relationship cluttered up with romance and sex. If these two can become the first human and Vulcan in Starfleet to forge a close friendship and command partnership, that's more than enough, and it would be fun to watch.
Menos: Nice job by the guest star, Bruce Davison. It could have been unbelievably obvious that he really was guilty, but I wasn't sure of it until the end. Both Menos and Davison were convincing.
COOL Sets: Not your run-of-the-mill cave set this week, thank goodness. I loved the shots of the landing docks in the snow. And the seedy alien bar was fabulous, along with all the alien extras. If it was supposed to remind us of Mos Eisley Cantina, it worked! I loved Archer's interaction with the hulking, grumpy alien dude! The only things missing were light sabers and dismemberment!
One thing, though. How could those little straps have protected T'Pol's shoes and feet from ½ centimeter of powerful acid on the dock?
The Agorans: We learn of a new species, the Agorans, allies of the Vulcans. When the alliance was forged, there were a lot of corrupt factions on Agora, which the Vulcans, with the help of the 109 operatives, helped to overthrow. When 19 of the operatives didn't return, a special security force, including a younger T'Pol, was sent to retrieve them. This is interesting in that it shows another unusual trend with ENT era Vulcans – they certainly have their noses in a lot of other peoples business!
Oh, one other thing. When T'Pol was pursuing the sixth and seventh of her assigned 'defectors' on Risa, why was her phaser – or phase pistol...whatever – set on kill? Couldn't she just have stunned the guy? Think of all the guilt she could have avoided!
Vulcan writing: Is that the first time we've seen it? In the teaser, T'Pol is reading through a journal, or something. Vulcan writing goes up and down, rather than from side to side. Fascinating!
Acting Cap'n Tucker: The B story was a little silly. While Archer is away on the mystery mission, Trip gets to play Captain, something he enjoys when he can set up lunches in the Captain's mess, but not when he actually has to make executive decisions. It was cute and harmless, I suppose, but nothing to write home about. I did enjoy it when he actually had to impersonate Archer to fool the Captain of a Vulcan ship. Trinneer does a damned good Bakula, I must say! I'm not sure it was supposed to be hilarious, but it was! Perhaps, in time, Bakula will be almost as much fun to mock as Shatner.
Naaaaa.
Character Interactions: Archer and T'Pol had some wonderful scenes. Mayweather was there, too, but once again, the poor guy, while pivotal in the action (he's the one who actually captures the fugitive), hardly gets to say a thing! Phlox and Reed were amusing in their scene with the reluctant acting Captain.
'shipper Watch: You could read romantic affection into the Archer/T'Pol scenes if you were so inclined, especially since Archer was constantly grabbing her by the shoulders. Kinda sweet, I suppose, but I'd really rather they didn't go that route.
Best Lines:
"Move over, Porthos. Let the lady sit down." (Archer, to his beagle, his pal)
"I'd prefer if you came with me, Captain." "Why?" "I need to be with someone I can trust." (T'Pol, Archer, T'Pol)
"Sajas incas!" "I couldn't agree more." (hulking alien in bar, Archer)
"Let me get back to you." (Acting Cap'n Tucker, to everyone)
"I'm not certain what this means. The Admiral asked me to inform you that Cal beat Stan Ford seven to three." (Vulcan Captain, to Trip as Archer)
"We don't do quickly and quietly very well, but we're pretty good at arithmetic. It seems there are three of us and only one of you." (Archer, to Menos)
"Why did you want me here?" "Because I trust you." "Then trust me, you were sent to apprehend him, not to judge him." (Archer, T'Pol, Archer)
"You do have a way of putting questionable actions behind you." (T'Pol, to Archer – well, he'd have to, wouldn't he?)
"When you don't have the ability to repress emotions, you learn to deal with them and move on." (Archer, to T'Pol)
"If you ever need someone you can trust..." "I won't forget." (T'Pol, Archer – awwww!)
Rating: 8.5/10. Despite the flaws, it was entertaining and had some really nice moments. With a better B story and more logical Vulcans, it could have been higher.
Next Week: The Communicator. This is an intriguing idea, and has been ever since TOS's 'Piece of the Action' aired. What happens when a piece of technology gets left behind by accident? Oh, and it looks like Archer's going to get smacked around again real good, always a fun thing, in my book!
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