Unexpected

DVD, Enterprise S1 (Unexpected)

A lot of firsts in this one. First appearance of Randy Oglesby on the series, pre-Degra, first holodeck, first view of a Klingon Battlecruiser, first man pregnant... The last being something Trip would rather forget! But that's what makes the episode. Sure, it's an old sci-fi concept, but as the first episode to be played for comedy it does a fine job.

The series continues to go out of it's way to provide different experiences never seen on Trek, and Trip's trip aboard the Xyrillian ship is one that makes that definition. It's not as simple as beaming over to similar corridors, he goes through a disconcerting process as he acclimatises to their environment, senses impaired, and a truly organic ship, where food grows on the walls and grass on the floors! It's quite radical compared to most episodes identikit ship corridors. (The time he had to spend with the Klingons in that little decon tube would have made a good scene!).

You would have thought though, that with the aliens experience of other species visiting their ship, they would have come across Trip's problem before... In places the episode is hilarious, with Trip trying to keep his pregnancy quiet, while acting like a mother, not to mention Archer and T'Pol's grilling when he's first diagnosed - Archer is barely restraining his bemusement.

We find out a few facts too: Trip has been in Starfleet for twelve years, and eight of those Archer's known him. And the Klingons consider their debt to Archer repaid now. First contact didn't go too bad, but post-contact has not been a bed of roses with the Klingons.

There's a funny deleted scene on the DVD, where Malcolm is trying to get Trip's help with the sensors, while the engineer is about to throw up. 

The series continues it's high production values and variety of story, and the strong start is, so far, maintained.

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