Observer Effect

DVD, Enterprise S4 (Observer Effect)

A classic Trek episode, combining character development, a moral issue, and cleverly integrated prequel series delights that neither mess with canon, nor prove a disappointment! And all without resorting to explosions or fight scenes, which, admittedly, have their place, but are too often the deepest level this series attempts. Not so this time, as we meet the Organians for the first time (they who prevented war with the Klingons back in 'TOS,' or forward in this case!), a couple of observers waiting to see how humans would react to an incurable disease. A way to explore the Prime Directive before it's invented - by turning it on its head. Instead of the usual debate of later series' on whether the Federation/Starfleet has the right to interfere in a species' natural development, it's the humans who have this non-interference attitude applied to them. If there was one complaint, I would have liked them to say official first contact wouldn't be ready for a hundred years, rather than a thousand, since that is indeed how long it would be before Captain Kirk made their acquaintance, and, like Archer here, reasoned with these more advanced beings to make that interference (or was it, to do something to protect themselves…). It's an inspiring tale, and even though I remembered the story, I still found myself bemused at Travis suddenly becoming a genius chess player in the teaser! Yes, they got me, and it was almost as much surprise to see Travis having more than one line, so maybe I was still staggering from that initial shock - it took me a while before I realised this wasn't Travis, which made me smile!

How often did 'Enterprise' surprise me, or make me smile that I had been duped? Not so much as other Trek, that's for sure, but here the writing was very well fashioned to carry the weight of what is traditionally not the kind of Trek narrative this series attempted, and something that it so badly needed: issues and character. And both of these are served nicely, with this being a bottle show, taking place almost entirely on the ship (except for Hoshi's brave piloting of the shuttlepod into the launch bay for the first time ever). Hoshi's really come on since those early days when her main thrust was overcoming fear, an inspiring trait, but one that was never going to last forever as she became familiar with space travel and its foibles. Although this episode felt like it was from Season 1 or 2, the key difference is that she's now a fully capable member of the crew. What we learn in her and Trip's forced confinement (mirroring his and Reed's similar situation in 'Shuttlepod One'), are new facts about her, and that she wasn't the scaredy-cat good girl on Earth that she started out as on joining the NX-01 - she actually broke a superior's arm when at STC (presumably Starfleet Training Camp, or something like that), for upsetting her gambling ring! Not what we could ever have guessed about her before, and like Tom Paris, she was badly needed enough to be asked back on probation (the Captain even goes to another country to persuade her, just like Janeway with Paris).

Trip also gets to share memories, but that's not such a rare thing for him as his character had far more development than Hoshi's ever did. We're getting to know these people, and it feels strange, because such things were all but abandoned in Season 3, and Season 2 didn't always deal well enough with that side of things either. Probably because this series was designed to ape 'TOS' (maybe one reason it didn't survive to full term, just like 'TOS'), so the ensemble nature that most flatters the Trek style of writing and storytelling, was avoided. Intentions were good that it was to be something fresh, to escape the constraints, as they saw them, of the other Trek series', but what actually came about was certain characters being allowed to slip into the background, becoming less well used than even the recurring characters of 'DS9.' It was a tragic miscalculation, so it's with great delight I saw work like this being done with those I'm often complaining didn't get their dues. I can still argue that this wasn't much of an episode for Travis as he's pretty much only seen as a host for one of the Organians, but it's good to have Anthony Montgomery getting to play something different, even anything at all! He and Reed do a good job of turning on the oddness without going too far, which would alert their colleagues' suspicion.

Both creepy and funny was Travis' insistence on asking the very ill Trip and Hoshi all these questions about their illness and state of mind. The same could be said of Hoshi's delirious escape from Decon with Data-like ability to overcome security lock-outs (I was expecting forcefields to come down, but of course they didn't have them then), with the rationale that maths is just another language! I'm wondering why this skill didn't come to light earlier, as it's a great idea, makes perfect sense, and her a cooler character. It was also amusing when host Reed lets slip that the infected Klingons never even pleaded for mercy from their Captain, before covering it by saying that's how they would have behaved, being Klingon. You can see these beings are completely dispassionate, but without the Vulcan sense of duty and logical assistance. It's only because the Travis-hosted being is new to the job that he questions his co-observer's adherence to their strict rules of non-intervention. It's always a great pleasure when Trek casts get to act out of character, and even though I'd say this cast needed to be given more time to act in character generally (in other words, to become a cast with balanced screen time), it's still fun to see them as pawns for a higher power. It's a Trek staple, so it was right that 'Enterprise' should have its own variation. It shows you can redo stories over and over with each new series, because of new characters to try them with. They went for a prequel to get away from tropes (Holodeck malfunctions, Transporter accidents, etc), perhaps forgetting you lose some of the Trek style by doing that.

Phlox even gets a proper role, his skill as a doctor put to the ultimate test: a time limit in which to save his crewmembers' lives. It's not a fault with him that he fails, as he never gives up, and even when Archer sees there's nothing to be done, and he'll probably die, Phlox still reassures his Captain that there's time, and he'll continue his efforts. It's a wonderful moment, too, when he decides to remove the gloves of his EVA suit to work more effectively, which would expose him to the virus. He knows there's no cure as yet, but he's willing to risk his life if it will make a difference in his ability to treat his patients. So it's even more of a heroic moment when Archer forbids him, saying they'll still need a doctor, but he, as Captain, is expendable in this situation, and takes off his own gloves to better act as Phlox' hands. It's the kind of selfless act that Trek is made of, and something else that we don't always see from this Captain. Not because he isn't a hero, but because we don't often have these kinds of quieter dilemmas on the series. My estimation of him went up a notch, as it did when he pulls a Kirk, trying to talk round the Organians to show compassion. Like Phlox, he fails, and it's only because the Travis-alien has a different perspective than his older colleague and decides to help, that they are all saved, but he makes a good stab at it, and that's what counts.

What more is there to like? It was a joy to see the ship used so much, some atypical pairings (that's why Trip and Hoshi can reveal personal stories to each other, because they're so rarely seen together), cool moments, such as the sedated bodies of Trip and Hoshi rising up, or their dead bodies doing the same. All this and possibly the only reference to Cardassians on the series (the Organians mention them as being one of the races that destroyed their infected crewmates). How I wanted them to show up, because there are always ways around canon, and this could have been the episode for them, as the mind wipes would solve that problem. This episode showed what the series could do in regards to intelligent sci-fi, allowing its actors to act, and it was just a shame it had to be cancelled at the end of this season as who knows where it could have gone. We're not running around on planets or alien ships, this is more serious: dealing with an unstoppable threat, everyone doing their job to the best of their ability, sticking together and generally living up to the optimistic future that Trek propounds. It is inspiring, it is what 'Enterprise' has too often lacked, and even though it continues the Season 4 trend towards prequel setup (a good thing), it's in a more subtle style than recent episodes' cram-it-all-in approach - by the end, with the crew's minds wiped, it has no bearing on them, except for what they've been through, and sets up the Organians to go from observers to active participants in the galaxy by Kirk's time, stopping the Klingons and Federation from destroying each other. Not a bad legacy.

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