Stigma

DVD, Enterprise S2 (Stigma)

One of the few issue-driven stories of the season, and a loose sequel to Season 1's 'Fusion' in which T'Pol was forced to mind meld against her will. This was part of a network agenda of programmes dealing with AIDS, but I found it most interesting from the Vulcan perspective. They believe melds are dangerous (and it seems they are to some people), though in later series', melds appear to be a common practice among the race, so a cure must have been discovered. The only thing is, and this is something that applies to many aspects of Vulcan culture which have been altered in 'Enterprise' as opposed to how they were portrayed in 'TOS' and later, is that the time difference for Vulcans is minimal between the 22nd and 24th centuries, since they tend to live to over 200 years. This means that many people that were born in the earlier century went on to be seen in the 23rd and 24th centuries, and yet they have so completely changed, become so much more emotionless, with so many different attitudes.

Vulcans seem to change or approve of change so rarely, that to see so much difference in only one or two generations has always been hard to swallow for me. They are so linked to their ancient past, too, that to have a blip of a hundred years or so is difficult to comprehend. I know that they went about showing how Vulcan society changed in Season 4, but it's still hard to accept, and this is another episode where the Vulcans get angry and raise their voices, speak with passion or act dishonourably, one of my biggest annoyances with the series.

It was still interesting to watch thanks to some nice, informal scenes between crew members, such as Trip and Hoshi (with some Denobulan-speech, plus subtitles, which I always appreciate), or Trip and Malcolm, showing their friendships a little more, essential to a rounded story. The 'humorous' B-story of Phlox' second wife Fesal coming aboard and becoming rather taken with Trip was a bit of an embarrassment amid such weighty goings-on on the Vulcan side, undercutting the serious scenes a bit, its only reason for being to show the different ways of Denobulans, who seem to have a very loose definition of family. How a society could survive with such casual ways, I don't know (just as the Ocampan's short lifespan and only one mate made it difficult to see a future in their society!), but there is some fun seeing Trip struggle with his quest to escape Fesal, and Phlox' reaction to his qualms.

The CGI rendition of the alien conference planet was well done, with some beautiful shots of the different times of day, though whenever people are shown they still aren't up to scratch, walking stiltedly. The NX-01's own conference room, which seems to have appeared from nowhere this season (last seen in 'Precious Cargo'), is used again, though I can't quite see the whole command staff sitting round a table discussing events, like they did in all the other series'. Somehow, the area at the back of the bridge is more suited to the action-focused style of this series. Actually, I think this is one of the few episodes in which the bridge isn't seen on screen.

T'Pol was by far the most restrained of the Vulcans seen, and her desire not to taint the reputation of the melders by admitting that her illness was caused through coerced meld was admirable. Archer's forceful assistance was also good to see, as was Dr. Yuris', sacrificing his own career to get T'Pol her treatment showed that not all melders were like the one that attacked her. It is ironic that mind melds should become so much a part of Vulcan life, but even more so that they went away from the founding precepts of the past to become closed-minded to the custom. I doubt if most people watching saw the story as anything other than the sci-fi context it was placed in, and it isn't the most gripping episode either. Its main legacy was annoying me with the way the Vulcans act, but it did have a certain watchability to it thanks to good direction.

**