Beginning the recap: "One hundred light years from home NX-01 stumbles across a drifting weathered capsule." (OK, I cheated. That's actually the first line of this column only one week ago. Go figure.) Somewhat over-hyped as a visit to "the worse prison in the galaxy," rest assured the reputation of Rura Penthe has not suffered the teensiest blemish; the heralded "Enterprise Event" unfolds as a combination of "Trip & Loveable Alien" (two this time in fact) and the old trusty "Archer gets a beating" (rather shameful after his recent superior pugilism against the Andorians).

Anyway this week the busted and tumbling derelict is Shuttlepod One, foul victim of anonymous weapons fire, and minus its expected complement of Captain and Chief Engineer. Archer's Log replays his visit to the Enolians to study their variation of water polo, kid ya not. Hijacked while returning (and after a limp-wristed battle apparently) Archer and Trip find themselves bound up in a prison transport ship off to Canamar, a penal colony with a savage reputation. This setup resolves into a predictable "Con Air" or "Fugitive"-style jailbreak in which Archer sings convincingly about his life as a smuggler and takes over as a damn good pilot. He saves Trip first, then everybody else!

Comfortable in his disguise he cozies with Kuroda, casualty of circumstance and escapee of Canamar determined never to return. (Trek veteran Mark Rolston gives the episode one good solid character at least.) Archer and Trip make a good team together, and Trip comes out the better man even managing to pull a thank you from a Nausicaan (right before he knocks him out!). His agonizing time spent with the loquacious Zoumas - tickling his gill flaps, nice touch - soon turns to jocose begging for but a few minutes of silence.

Several effects stood out well, like the floating PADD, the NX-01 continental fly-over, the over-the-shoulder viewscreen shot, and especially the decaying orbit and de-coupling of the doomed ship. The (too?) impressive weapon of igniting plasma exhaust to take out more powerful ships is similar to tricks used in "Precious Cargo" and "Civilization" (with a tip of the hat to Coridan). Caught in perhaps "the worst speed-trap in the galaxy" Archer indeed intends to file a report regarding his wondering just "how many more don't belong" in Canamar as guests of the Enolians. Like the Suliban in the Tandaran prison camp, like Zobral's people in "Desert Crossing," the Great Warrior picks up another cause celebre. (Think he could wrap one up before uncorking another?)


Back to Dr.TOS
Back to top