monkee reviews 'Babel One'
First Impression: Initially, it seemed like a jumbled hodge-podge, but on second viewing, the elements came together pretty well. A good start to the mini-arc.
Shran's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: How does an Andorian face the Kobayashi Maru? Shran faces it the same way he faces everything else, with grit and determination. In the teaser, his ship is attacked by a Tellarite vessel. He is forced to order his surviving crew into escape pods before his warp core breaches. "Tellarite swine! They'll pay for this!" he vows, with gusto.
Diplomatic Preparations: Enterprise, not knowing of the attack on Shran's vessel, is preparing to escort the Tellarite ambassador across Andorian space. An important trade conference between the Tellarites and the Andorians is to take place on a neutral planet, Babel. Hoshi coaches Archer on the proper way to address a Tellarite - they thrive on argumentative, insulting behavior and are offended by anything else. She also cautions him to keep Porthos out of sight. Apparently, Tellarites consider canines a delicacy. Oh dear!
This is an enjoyable scene, particularly because once we get to know Ambassador Gral, we can imagine how his communication officer must have briefed him on human behavior. "Say, 'Nice weather we're having,' and for God's sake, don't eat the dog!"
When Gral arrives, Archer is ready. "You people are even uglier than I remembered," he says, by way of greeting. Gral tentatively reaches out with a handshake, and for one awkward moment, it seems Archer's overture has fallen flat. Soon, though, Gral understands that he will be able to be himself, and the two of them are hurling insults back and forth with gleeful abandon. Hee.
There is a reception. Chef has prepared Tellarite food to perfection, but Gral gripes because he wanted to try human food. The conversation takes on a more serious tone when Gral refers to the Andorians as 'blue demons' and expresses his doubts that the humans, who have worked with Andorians in the past, will be able to be neutral under the circumstances. Archer says that they will.
The reception was staged to look very much like the one in TOS's 'Journey to Babel,' and I thought this was a nice visual nod to the earlier episode. There are quite a few parallels, actually, and the plots are similar. I didn't mind this, though. Neither the Andorians nor the Tellarites will change much in the next hundred years, and they'll still be having similar conflicts. To me, that seems pretty realistic.
The Plot Thickens in a Cloud of Debris: Enterprise has picked up Shran's earlier distress call. They are closer to the coordinates than any Andorian ship, so they go to render assistance. Sadly, it is too late. All that is left of Shran's ship is a cloud of debris. There are life signs in some escape pods, though, and the survivors are brought aboard and treated in sickbay. There, Archer must tell Shran that of his crew complement of eighty-six, only nineteen have survived. Shran tells Archer about the attack. He had been escorting the Andorian Ambassador's ship to the conference - the debris cloud contains the remains of both ships. He is furious when he finds out there are Tellarites aboard. It's all Archer can do to hold him back. He must post guards with both factions to prevent violence.
The 'black box' containing Shran's sensor logs back up his story. They do show a Tellarite vessel attacking, and an analysis of the debris shows damage consistent with what you'd expect from Tellarite weapons. Gral vehemently denies that the Tellarites had anything to do with it, though, and points out that Andorian technology is more advanced. A Tellarite cruiser wouldn't stand a chance against two Andorian vessels.
Yet Another Attack: An Andorian vessel appears and attacks Enterprise, despite Shran's attempts to stop it. The ship won't respond to hails, and even though Shran shows Reed where to fire to hit a critical system, a direct hit fails to disable it. Enterprise escapes, but now the Tellarites accuse the Andorians of luring Enterprise into the attack with a fake distress call. The shipboard conflict intensifies - Shran and Gral would very much like to tear each other apart. Archer threatens to let them do it...in the brig.
An analysis of both attacks reveals that the Tellarite vessel that attacked Shran has the same power signature as the Andorian vessel that attacked Enterprise. "What are you suggesting," Shran shouts, "that these two vessels are actually the same ship?" Archer is trying to remain calm. "I don't know what I'm suggesting," he says, "but we need to keep our minds open." Unfortunately, open minds are in short supply at the moment. Shran even lashes out at T'Pol, suggesting that perhaps the Vulcans are responsible.
Quiet Dinners Between the Turmoil: Interspersed among the action scenes are two quiet meals. First, Archer and Shran toast Shran's lost ship and crew. Shran had commanded the first-of-its-kind ship for twelve years, and had known most of the crew, which he considered to be family, for even longer. Archer is in a position to understand such a loss, given the turmoil of the past year with the Xindi situation. The two of them also discuss Shran's recent involvement with Talas. Later, Archer is dining with T'Pol, but not eating very much. She's astute enough to call him on it, and he expresses rare and candid doubts to her about whether or not humans are ready to play such a large role in galactic politics. She points out that the Vulcans couldn't take charge of this conference because the Andorians don't trust them. She has a good point - the humans are neutral by virtue of the fact that they haven't been around long enough to really alienate anyone yet! T'Pol confides in Archer, too. She tells him that her marriage has now been officially dissolved. He seems genuinely sorry to hear it, or at least sorry that she's troubled.
Scenes like these two can really put a lot of heart into an episode. I enjoyed the further development of Archer and Shran's strange friendship. And I always love a good Archer and T'Pol moment.
The Mystery Ship: Enterprise locates the power signature of the vessel they believe to be responsible for both attacks, and intercepts it. No one is terribly surprised to discover that it is neither Andorian nor Tellarite. Instead, it is an unfamiliar configuration. There are spikes protruding from the hull that contain subspace transceivers. The hull is also lined with multi-spectral emitters. T'Pol won't speculate about their purpose. The ship isn't moving and no one responds to Enterprise's hails. Reed finds only indeterminate life signs. Archer sends an away team - Trip, Reed and two MACOs - to investigate.
ROMULANS! At this point in the episode, the audience is made privy to information the characters don't have. We see ROMULANS! They are standing on what we assume to be the bridge of the mystery ship. In the center seat is someone almost completely concealed in some sort of interface suit. Two Romulans work nearby, occasionally inputting data into the interface suit. Their propulsion systems are down and they know they've been boarded. They are prepared to overload the engine core to keep the ship out of Starfleet hands, but it doesn't come to that. The propulsion systems are repaired, and the ship activates and begins firing on Enterprise again.
Because the mystery ship's inertial stabilizers are off line, the away team is thrown about violently. One of the MACOs is injured. Enterprise manages to beam to two MACOs out before the transporter system is damaged. Trip and Reed are stranded, and Enterprise must retreat before it is destroyed. To make matters worse, Reed's air supply hose is jarred loose. Trip gets it reconnected, and shares his oxygen with Reed, but now both of them are dangerously low. They have to get the mystery ship's life support going, or they'll die.
T'Pol Figures it Out: T'Pol says that, using holographic projection, the mystery ship can make itself appear as any kind of ship. She has also analyzed the data she uploaded from Trip shortly before the mystery ship reactivated. She's discovered that some of the technology on the vessel has similarities to what Enterprise found several years earlier in the...Romulan minefield. She doesn't like to speculate, but she thinks it's at least a remote possibility that the Romulans are behind the mystery ship. Archer, who does like to speculate, reasons that since the Romulans can't possibly find the Andorians, the Tellarites or the humans that much of a threat, they may feel threatened instead by the possibility of an alliance.
Andorian Troublemakers: If only the Romulans could see how far-fetched a notion that is at the moment! Both the Tellarites and the Andorians are still stewing on Enterprise. Neither side trusts the other, and both sides think the humans are more sympathetic to the other faction. Shran feels like if he could just interrogate the Tellarite Ambassador (Shran's into interrogating ambassadors, remember?), he could get to the bottom of the whole mess. Talas attempts to distract the MACO guard outside their quarters with her pink underwear and female Andorian wiles. The guard, to his credit, isn't buying it (they're made of stern stuff, those MACOs!), but it works well enough so that Shran and Talas can knock him out and escape.
Shuttlepod One, Redux: Tromping around on the mystery ship, Trip and Reed have time to bond again, in scenes reminiscent of the earlier episode, 'Shuttlepod One.' The subject of T'Pol's 'bum' even comes up again, when Trip tells Reed that his relationship with T'Pol has ended. They still don't know what to make of the ship, though - they're starting to wonder if it even has a life support system, or a bridge. They do find oxygen, though, as part of the maneuvering system. A starship engineer and chief of security can be quite resourceful under pressure. They tap into the tank and refill their supplies.
Showdown: The Andorians break into the Tellarite's quarters and Shran starts questioning the ambassador at the point of a phaser rifle. "I don't know much about Starfleet weapons," he snarls at Gral, "but I believe this setting will bore right through that thick hide of yours." Oh dear. Archer and security arrive just in time. Archer says they've learned more about the mystery ship and appeals to Shran's sense of reason, one Captain to another. Shran lowers his weapon, but one of the other Tellarites grabs Talas's rifle and uses it to shoot her. One of the MACOs stuns him. Shran is relieved to find that Talas' injuries are superficial. He seems quite fond of her.
Meanwhile, back on the mystery ship...Trip and Reed's manipulation of the maneuvering system has gotten the attention of the Romulans. The two humans have become more than a nuisance - they've seen too much. The Romulans order evasive maneuvers, and Trip and Reed are tossed around again. They have to magnetize their boots in order to get around. But get around they do - eventually, they clomp their way to the bridge.
Revelation: But what's this? The bridge is empty except for some sort of machine in the middle. We see the Romulans and the figure in the interface suit again, monitoring Trip and Reed. The camera pans away to reveal a window...in a building...on a planet that looks like it might very well be Romulus. The mystery ship is being controlled remotely from this location.
To be continued...
And we're nicely set up for whatever comes next. Like I said, there's a lot going on - almost a little too much action and exposition for my tastes, but enough character work and heart to keep me satisfied. The squabbling factions will have to work together to solve the mystery of the Romulans - that's the sort of thing that just might bring about the founding of, say...a federation, or something!
Character Interactions: Archer got the best scenes this week. I loved the diplomacy lessons from Hoshi, and his nice dinner with T'Pol. He also got to spar with Gral - very amusing - and his interactions with Shran are always interesting to watch. And we haven't gotten a solid Trip-Reed friendship scene in quite a while, so that was most welcome.
Archer Watch: As a Captain, he did very well this week. Sometimes his generally cranky disposition is a plus - he seems to be at his best when everyone around him is cranky, too. And even though he's a 'pink-skin,' he has managed to earn Shran's respect and friendship. Something tells me that is not a trivial accomplishment! He can also be compassionate when he needs to be. T'Pol was reluctant to talk about her personal problems, but he drew her out and was sensitive and kind. Nice.
'shipper Watch: Nothing much doing on the 'shipper front, at least with T'Pol. Archer is her friend, and Trip has accepted that his relationship with her is over. I like to think Reed is too smart to make a move at this time, despite Trip's tacit permission. Sure, he likes her bum, but she's a woman on the rebound, and I don't think she's going to be affectionately calling him 'Stinky' anytime in the near future.
I like Talas! She's feisty and resourceful, and she speaks her mind, respectfully, to Shran. Despite the fact that he's her commanding officer, their relationship seems to be working out pretty well so far. He clearly adores her, too, which gives us a chance to see our favorite Andorian's soft side. The relationship is bad news for my strange Shran/T'Pol fixation, though. I guess I'm going to have to give up on the notion!
Mayweather Watch: Hahaha! We're back to the same old song for Mayweather. No dialog to speak of, but he did get to crank the ship up to warp 5.06, a new space speed record for the humans. And he did get a nice pat on the back from Archer. If you're Mayweather, that's not a bad week...
Best Lines:
"The food on this ship isn't fit for animals. That mangy pet of yours would probably taste better. You can either take me home, or find a new chef - it's that simple!" (Hoshi, to Archer)
"I wasn't kidding about Porthos." "You think he's mangy?" "No, but you might want to keep him out of sight. Tellarites consider canines something of a delicacy." (Hoshi and Archer)
"Whimper." (Porthos, to Archer - translation: 'Dad, I don't WANT to be a delicacy!')
"I'm told this ship is the pride of Starfleet. I find it small and unimpressive." "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you." (Gral and Archer)
"I like these people more than I thought I would. They don't hold anything back. It's refreshing!" (Trip, to Archer and T'Pol)
"Why don't you change your uniform before you stink up the place?" (Archer, to Trip)
"You'd better keep them away from us, or there WILL be bloodshed." (Shran, to Archer, regarding the Tellarites)
"Andorian women are far more aggressive than earth females. She made an overture. I had a choice - charge her with assaulting a superior, or mate with her." (Shran, to Archer, regarding Talas)
"I'm not paranoid - you people ARE trying to kill us!" (Shran, to Gral)
"I've heard enough from you. Vulcans are expert liars - perhaps YOUR people are behind this!" (Shran, to T'Pol)
"You wanna fight? I'll throw both of you in the brig. You can tear each other to pieces!" (Archer, to Shran and Gral)
"I'll try to get life support on line." "Right. With our luck, they probably breathe fluorine." (Trip and the ever-optimistic Reed)
"So, I understand our first officer is no longer married. I was wondering what your intentions are." "What are you - her father?" (Trip and Reed)
"I've never had relations with a member of your species. I was hoping you'd...indulge me." "Go back to your quarters." (Talas and dutiful MACO guard)
"Well, you said she had an awfully nice bum." "This is true." (Trip and Reed, regarding T'Pol)
"You're BOTH being set up. Your ship was attacked because someone didn't want this conference to go forward." (Archer, to Shran and Gral)
"I'm asking you - one captain to another - look at the evidence before you do something you're going to regret." (Archer, to Shran)
Rating: 9/10. I love Shran!
Next Week: A duel to the death between Shran and Archer? Heck - I know who *I* want to win!
Next Year: *SOB* Well, the news has come down, and now it's official. This is Enterprise's last season. I can't say that I'm surprised - the writing's been on the wall, I suppose, since last season. I can say that I'm very disappointed. Enterprise is an outstanding show, and deserved better. I blame the show's demise mostly on external factors - the decline of western civilization, the entertainment industry's blind and pointless struggle to appeal to the very lowest common denominator, the huge amount of competition, and the huge fiasco that is UPN. But the people behind the franchise have to shoulder some of the blame, too. I know they tried, and I know they tried hard. They had to balance the need for ratings with respect for the franchise and its fans, and it wasn't easy. It was a good show - a solid show. If you sit back with some perspective and look at its quality - ounce for ounce, episode for episode - it was at least as good as most of its predecessors. But here's the thing - after so many years, and so many hundreds of hours of Star Trek, it needed to be more than 'just as good or a little better.' It needed to stand out in a big, big way, and it just fell short.
For what it's worth, I don't think we've seen the end of Star Trek. A few years of rest will be good for it. For one thing, it'll give an increasingly contentious and picky fan base a chance to find out what a life without Star Trek is like. We'll all be poorer for the lack of its optimistic voice in our complicated world. A break will also give Star Trek a chance to regroup and find a new path. It probably needs some new people to give it fresh energy and ideas. Let's let it stew and season for a while. It's a rich universe full of possibilities and potential for some creative minds. I can think of a few ideas myself, although I doubt they're financially feasible. That'll be the biggest challenge - to come up with something unique and special that can be produced in the current sorry state of the entertainment industry.
There are reasons to be grateful. I think Manny Coto, and, yes, Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, will give us a heck of a final season. In its fourth year, Enterprise is finally exploring its vast potential as a prequel. We've revisited the Eugenics Wars, and Vulcan society, and now we're getting a look at the founding of the Federation. They've said that the end of the series will be a valentine for the fans. I like the sound of that! And in the fallow years, we have the technology and the time to revisit the other series. I, for one, will not be without Star Trek next year. Guess what I get to do, now that 'netflix' exists - I finally get to see Deep Space Nine in its entirety! Now there's something to look forward to!
In closing, I'll use the old rallying cry from the 70's, when we were struggling to get Star Trek back on the air in any way, shape or form. Star Trek Lives! And it will be back, better than ever!
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