Six new episodes remain undelivered towards the first season of "Enterprise." This almost mercilessly overanalyzed Trek series has withstood the strain of launch admirably. Somewhat ahead of schedule, "Dear Doctor" proved that the show could raise a fuss even if the dilemma involved was a little removed from more prosaic matters.

A product of the 1960's, TOS embraced controversial social causes even when its resolution was not so clear. (The "balance-of-power" mess left behind on Neural in "A Private Little War" jumps out as a prime example.) In contrast TNG, for all its good things, only half-heartedly tried to make today's world a better place. A product of the 1980's, ethical dilemmas rarely troubled Picard more than the weekly alien soap opera crisis did.

Where we find our world a mess the best of Trek provides a common frame of reference to foster communication and growth. From that standpoint Trek should never be considered in isolation - it's something much better shared. One might say, "It's why we're aboard her."

My friend, longtime fan Roger Richards, understood that. Back in the TNG days we were working side-by-side coding control systems, but sure enough every Monday morning brought our reviews to bear on NCC-1701-D. Part of the discussion would inevitably cover the preview for next week. (It seems a Trek truism that sometimes the preview is the best part of an episode!)

Over the series' run my friend made an eponymous observation now introduced for future reference: Richards' Law of Inverse Expectations. Richards' Law says that a program usually rewards the viewer inversely according to how much one looks forward to it. (STX:Nemesis, an even numbered movie, already has a positive Richards' quotient pressuring it.)

Anyway the subject arose in my mind because I'm looking too much forward to "Detained." (I'm no "Leaper" either - to me Dean Stockwell is the traitor Dr. Yueh from "Dune.") But it just simply must not suck. The opportunity for ENT to distinguish itself picking up the social responsibility dropped by the middle Treks is too great.

Busy up above, shuttle Atlantis arrived at ISS Alpha today to begin the next phase of major construction. Busy down below, leaders invoke war as a means to achieve peace. With the large brain power ubiquitously blessed to Star Trek fans though, I'm confident that come what may we shall discharge our duty to the world and surmount even the worst catastrophe.

But regarding our united peaceful trek to the stars, can't we for once get ahead of schedule also?


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