If humanity was going boldly and calmly unto the stars after last week's successful launch, this week's tale brings an anxious look at some risks we might face. Talk about a reversal of fortune! Archer begins the day troubled by a squeak in the floor and ends it almost killing all his crew.

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." One gets the impression that the Vulcans shy away from nearly any strange new contact in space, aware of situations like those brought on by the hostile "spider-ship." They dismiss space exploration as "foolish missions" in ways that's hard for humans to argue back.

In fact, were it not for the sudden appearance of the second Axanar ship, the Enterprise crew would be just that much more meat a-swinging. ("Why don't she write?") Like the autopsy in the pilot, the bodies of the dead ship's crew set a new degree of realism for televised Trek, and I found myself genuinely apprehensive as the action drew on. (The original hanging corpses appeared in "The Wrath Of Khan" of course.)

Some may differ, but I regard Hoshi Sato's terrified reactions as credible. A pile of little things brings her to a breaking point of sorts, and she succumbs as humans do. Yet (goaded by Archer, to be sure) in time she found the will to overcome her fear. Whatever it is you fear, the fear itself is worse.

After all, anyone who insults a Vulcan to their face (while speaking Vulcan!) must have a few good points. Believably, it seemed her ear worked better after hearing the Axanar captain speaking. Let's see a Vulcan child's toy do that!

Unfortunately also in the frighteningly real department - the NX-01 will clearly get creamed in any heavy combat. (If Reed didn't know that before he does now!) It's good to see the new photon torpedo even if its development does include a few runaways. This ship is going to need serious protection and fast.

As miscellany, the series seems confident proceeding with direct dates. Also, it's interesting to see how they handle ship to ship traveling - docking procedures, airlocks, pressure suits, etc. (Can we expect later improvements using the grappler and a dedicated boarding tube?)

Phlox sniffing up his mates while they're eating or after they exercise may not endear him with them very fondly after awhile. (He smells too much like Guinan now if you ask me.) And Travis Mayweather is simply not receiving enough screen time. I grow concerned for him.