The Augments

DVD, Enterprise S4 (The Augments)

I don't know whether it was my disappointment with how the story concluded, but on original transmission I felt this was not much of an episode. Seeing it again without the feeling of a new season and the excitement of where the series was going, I actually liked it about as much as the first two parts, and 'Borderland' didn't make the same impact it did before, so all three are much closer in quality than I thought they'd be. One thing that made a significant improvement over 'Cold Station 12' was the lighting, perhaps because it was mainly on the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, and the NX-01 (it would be interesting to see if it was done by a different person), but whatever the case, there was none of the ugly, flat lighting that blighted the former episode - I was used to the lighting on 'TNG,' and it suited that series, but this was like the difference between that and their first film, 'Star Trek: Generations' in which the lighting was so much more dramatic. Not that lighting really makes that much of a difference if a story's no good, to repeat my sentiments expressed in the previous review, but I like my Trek to look good as well as working in all the other departments. I didn't bring up 'Generations' on a whim, it also holds a connection that struck me for the first time on this viewing: the opening of the episode is similar to that of the film, with both Archer and Kirk taking on a mission to save the station/ship personally from a specific operations console in the bowels of their facility/vessel. They're successful, then both are sucked out into space. Poor Archer, though, there's never a Nexus around when you need one!

I loved that opening, even though it's almost the only time you see Phlox, and we're back to the age-old complaint that he, Mayweather and Hoshi (Malcolm could be added to the roster this time, too), had barely a line, and were basically just extras with familiar faces. It's incredible in such a day and age of TV that fully paid-up actors, in starring roles, were given so little to do, and more so because this was a three-parter which had more time to tell its story than usual! Even Trip and T'Pol were reduced to mainly spouting technobabble in what was essentially a chase, the Enterprise tracking the errant Augments throughout. Suddenly the BOP is no match for the 'Enterprise' (I'm getting flashbacks to 'Generations' again!), and they must flee! It's not like Earth has a huge fleet of ships that are going to track down these people, which is what they seemed to be worried about. However, it did lead to a continuity reference overdrive with Brent Spiner wanting to go back to 'Star Trek: Insurrection,' reassuring his 'children' they'll be safe in the Briar Patch (known as Klach D'Kel Brakt to the Klingons, which is a fun 'DS9' reference as it refers to a battle of the past, so connecting 'Star Trek IX' and 'DS9' - and I've always loved that name!), which I never realised was in Klingon space. Mind you, borders can shift in two hundred years…

If they'd found the Ba'ku planet and it's wonderful life-giving rays, they might have been able to settle down happily and live forever. It would have been quite a sight for Data to arrive on the planet in the ninth film and discover his creator's ancestor still alive and well, residing over and empire of both Augments and Ba'ku! Actually, the Ba'ku might have been able to calm Malik's manic tendencies down. Either that or he'd have killed 'em all, as that was his modus operandi: death to everyone that opposed him, or even might oppose him in future. If he wanted a lonely existence, he was going the right way about it. The Briar Patch wasn't the end of the references: we finally hear the big man's name. Yes, I'm referring to Khan, of course, and not only that, but the Botany Bay (something these episodes score one over on 'Star Trek Into Darkness'). Only, subverting expectations, Malik thinks of Khan as a bit of a coward, someone who ran away, just like Soong wants to do, who, himself, says the Botany Bay was just a myth. I like that it's gone down as this mythical creation, almost from a legend that's been passed down beyond the third World War, when presumably many historical records would have been lost.

I wish we'd learned more of the Eugenics Wars and the circumstances of all that, as well as the leaving of those Augments, but we had quite enough Trek connections to be happy with, such as Archer's comment that 'superior intellect breeds superior ambition,' something Spock warned in 'Space Seed,' only now we learn that this was a quote from one of those that created The Augments and was killed by them for his trouble. The story even plays out a little like 'Star Trek II,' not just visually (we see a torpedo streak round a destination planet, except this one didn't carry Spock, but a deadly pathogen, another parallel with 'DS9' as biological weapons were used in that way in 'For The Uniform' when Sisko attacked a Maquis-occupied world), but thematically as well: Malik is the equivalent of Khan, he's injured in the Enterprise's attack (those Klingon ships really have some problems with their design!), crawls around the bridge a bit, and practically 'spits his last breath at thee' when blowing up the Bird-of-Prey. Okay, so after that they did what Trek II never tried, which was have him miraculously appear on the Enterprise until he's shot through (literally - I can't remember a scene like that since Beverly Crusher phasered Jo'Bril in 'Suspicions'!), by Archer. At least Arik wasn't standing directly in front of Malik. Or was he?

There are other points I could grumble about, such as Soong displaying disappointment at Malik having killed Archer (irritation that Malik kills without his permission, or that Malik kills at all?), then when Archer comes after him, he shows no surprise he's still alive, whatsoever, either in relief that the death of a high-ranking Starfleet figure won't bring Earth's forces crashing down on him, or that he kind of liked the guy, or that Malik 'bungled' again. It was also very hard to stomach such reasonable behaviour from the Klingons, who, upon having the situation explained to them (off camera), don't use it as an excuse to go to war, but stand down from their high horses. Does this sound like typical Klingon behaviour? Not that this series ever really got the Klingons quite right. We never saw a logical reason why first contact with humans and Klingons went badly, or why they didn't just swoop in and destroy Earth (respect for the Vulcans?), and they were portrayed as either stupid thugs or as minorities figures with little choice, and very little honour to rub between them. But that's not this episode's concern, even though it should have been since they were mostly in Klingon space. At least it gave us a good scene partially reminiscent of 'Star Trek VI' where Archer has to talk his way out of being boarded, which would have been interesting to see as I'm not sure we've ever actually seen a Klingon aboard NX-01. It's good that the Universal Translator worked this time, but it meant Hoshi's no longer essential to communication with other species, now she's written a subroutine for some Klingon dialects…

It was fun to hear period details such as who the current Chancellor is (M'Rek), though as usual, Klingons were too easy to bluff with threats of hindering their superiors. It's a shame we didn't see the interaction (about the only Klingon we did see was played by Mark Rolston who'd been a villain in Season 2's 'Canamar'), something else that lessened the episode a little: missing scenes. We weren't privy to the rescue of the Denobulan pilot as she and her ship were dropped into a planet's thermal layer so Soong could escape. A rescue mission would have been ideal to show the crew doing what they're good at, rather than sitting at their consoles pushing buttons. Obviously that's part of the deal, but when that's all you see them do it's a missed opportunity for the characters. Trip and T'Pol squeeze in a little exchange regarding Trip's avoidance of her, and that a human and a Vulcan don't match. It wasn't much, but it made me wonder what it would have been like to see a couple such as Sarek and Amanda as young people, and how they interacted, as it would have been quite unique. Trip and T'Pol are just like any old couple and it's easy to forget she's Vulcan, but at least it lifted my thoughts onto greater themes. One theme that could have done with much exploration was that of genetic meddling. Malik's outraged that Soong is removing the tendency to anger and aggression from the embryos, but that's as far as the it goes. It's difficult to follow through on a debate happening so far back in Trek's history, perhaps one reason why the prequel series idea didn't do so well?

In the end I'm not sure you could say the story really went anywhere, it was more about the prestige of using Khan-type characters and stunt casting, bringing Brent Spiner on to up the viewing figures, than really delve into the issues or fully utilise the cast, and that's a real shame. But as a further example of no-holds-barred storytelling, picking up any of Trek's long canon to create an exciting, action-packed story, it worked. And there was plenty of that flavour to enjoy in this concluding part, too, with ship-to-ship firefights and hand-to-hand combat between Persis and Malik. It was also nice to see Klingon spoken with subtitles, although in practice a little pointless since they had no trouble communicating and it was more Soong showing off than anything. Levar Burton, back as Director (how I wish we could have had one last Geordi/Data scene somehow worked in), did a fine job, the effects and music were really good, and, finally, it was Spiner that helped to make this trilogy better than average (I thought he got killed by Malik, but that wouldn't make sense as I also remembered the ending!), and as almost his last, and certainly his last significant contribution to Trek, this was a nice way to bring him back, fitting to end on such an uplifting coda in which he claims to be done with human manipulation and is considering cybernetics - he all but says that Noonian Soong will continue the work (if he knew the name of his descendant), as it is the origins of Data he's thinking up as he sits down again in his cell and gets back to his simple pencil and paper. From such trifles are great creations born.

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