The effects were the best | Report this post to moderator
By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 00:02:08 on Feb 17, 2005

I absolutely LOVED the effects! These iceworlds just look better and better!

When it comes to the story, I am satisfied but since everyone wants me to be critical: There was a few scenes that felt like they were cut down in length either to save time, or because they weren't good enough. The story-flow felt disconnected because of it, IMO.

But the romulan characters got a little more fleshed out, the acting was good, and the story made sense although parts of it felt slightly like a cartoon.

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Save us! | Report this post to moderator
By: Hepkat (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:50:25 on Feb 16, 2005 | (1)

Oh merciful God in heaven above, how much longer must we suffer the tyranny of this abominable creation? The Vulcans initiated First Contact with Humanity over 90 years ago, hasn't it already dawned on Trip that they are NOT capable of returning his affections? Now in a dramatic display of grand stupidity and self-pity, he has requested a transfer off the ship. This last scene between Trip and Archer felt so affected and contrived that if its purpose was to engender some sort of compassion for Trip's dilemma, then it failed most miserably. I felt nothing, nada, zilch, zero emotion. Good riddance, was all I could say.

If anyone thinks I'm being too harsh, ask yourselves this question, if a member of Enterprise were killed off, how would people react? Now ask yourselves the same question in regards to TNG. Even the Christian Science Monitor, for Pete's sake, did a report on how uninteresting these characters are!

Can't wait for the final episode of this series to air. At this point, I'm only watching out of pure loyalty to the franchise.

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Another spot on review | Report this post to moderator
By: Peacekeeper (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:16:00 on Feb 15, 2005

The episode was indeed weak and felt hurried up. It felt to me that somehow they heard that cancellation storm is not going to miss them so they just let-go of all the momentum they build so adequately about BOTF in the last two episdoes.
Enterprise hit & miss tradition continues. Its not hard to see why Enterprise got cancelled.

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Not Bad | Report this post to moderator
By: NAFF (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:54:14 on Feb 15, 2005

A fair review. It was still an enjoyable episode, though. Somehow the pacing was just right for a change.

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Reviewing a dead series | Report this post to moderator
By: Sennik (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:04:04 on Feb 14, 2005

I've never been a fan of O.Deus's reviews. From way back in season 2 I thought his reviews were negative towards Enterprise just for the sake of being negative. If he had solid reasons for his dislike of an episode, it would be one thing, but it seems like he just doesn't like Enterprise, and where the writers have taken the series in the past 4 years. I detest what Berman & Braga have done to the franchise, but even I can be objective when watching an episode. The whole Trip/T'Pol romance felt forced last season, because it was forced on us. And it wasn't written well at all. With someone new behind the scenes, it is coming along much better. Maybe it was just me, but I thought the scenes between Trip and T'Pol in "The Aenar" were acted quite well, and they were given good dialogue to work with. Also, the parts of the episode with Archer and Shran meeting the Aenar had a strong feel of TOS. And that is a good thing. Yes, TOS would've spent the episode with Kirk and co. on Andor meeting this new culture, but on Enterprise this was part of a larger story and that just wasn't possible. Perhaps a wasted opportunity, but the series is dead anyway.

Also, O.Deus shows his complete lack of objectivity when he complains that the bad Romulan guys were always on the planet, far removed from the action. Does he not remember TOS episode where it's stated no one has seen a Romulan before? Wouldn't make much sense for Trip and Reed to run into someone who looks a lot like a Vulcan when they were rummaging around the drone vessel, now would it? I think that would throw continuity out the window, which O.Deus would then complain about. The fact that the Aenar are blind also preserves continuity because they can't possibly know what a Romulan looks like either. I thought that was a nice touch, something O.Deus didn't even comment on.

The Aenar had a nice touch of TOS to it, and wrapped up the 3 part arc while setting up the stage for the episodes coming up leading to the big series finale in May. It could've been better, yes, but we can say that about all 4 years of Enterprise. Give the series some credit for at least trying to be a good show.

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The Aenar was the point of the arc | Report this post to moderator
By: Nuclearmothman (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:42:52 on Feb 14, 2005 | (1)

O. Deus has clearly missed the point of the arc. It wasn't about the "birth of the Federation" at all. That there is an temporary alliance of bitter enemies that will eventually lead to the founding of an overarching organization called the UPF is really only a subplot. The arc is really a mystery story. The mystery? Who attacked Shran's ship at the beginning of "Babel One." THAT is what this arc is about.

Each episode of the arc revealed more and more pieces of the mystery. In "Babel One" the Andorians and the Tellerites each accuse the other in the attacks. It is only when Enterprise gets involved that it's revealed (to the characters) that it's a "chameleon" ship capable of disguising itself as another vessel. (We the audience are let in on the fact that it's the Romulans behind it all).

The revelation that the ship has no crew, but is being piloted remotely leads to the next mystery. Who is piloting the ship? That is revealed at the end of "United." But who is that albino Andorian with the glaucomic eyes?

The answer to that mystery is answered in "The Aenar." We learn that the pilot is Gareb, kidnapped "some time ago" while hunting the snow-worms. We learn the Aenar are blind and psychic, and are pacifists. We learn Gareb has a sister, Jhamel, who willingly goes against the pacifist code of her people to help her brother. Ultimately, Gareb realizes the harm he's done and helps destroy the probes, even at the cost of his own life.

A weak ending? Hardly. The arc ended exactly as it should. The mystery is solved, the bad guys are thwarted (for the time being), the Andorians and the Tellerites learn they can get along, at least for a little while.

EDIT: Oops! I should have posted a "SPOILER WARNING" in the subject line. My apologies to anyone who hasn't seen the arc.

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, cigar in one hand, favorite beverage in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!"

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Enterprise handles things a little differently than other Treks | Report this post to moderator
By: Cap'n Calhoun (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:39:14 on Feb 14, 2005

Specifically, multi-part episodes.

For TOS, TNG, Voyager, and parts of Deep Space Nine, multi-part episodes were usually treated as a single long episode with a cliffhanger at the end of each part (other than the last, of course).

For Enterprise, or at least the fourth season of it, they seem to be treating it as a mini-serialization of the show, where each part is usually a self-contained story in addition to being part of the larger story. This has held true to various extents for the Soong arc, the Vulcan arc, and the Andorian arc. In addition to the main story that continues (sometimes almost in the background), each episode brings in (and finishes) enough elements that it can stand fairly well on its own. This is something that was seen previously in DS9 in the are-they-multipart-or-aren't-they episodes that comprised the beginning of season 6 (when the Dominion controlled the station) and the series finale. Others are a little closer to TNG's "Birthright", where the B-plot of Data's dreams about his creator started and ended in Part I, with the Worf story comprising the entirety of Part II.

Personally, I like the flexibility that Enterprise has been using lately, dancing back and forth between single episodes, mult-part episodes, and serialization, but it also makes it a little harder for me to judge the episodes as beginnings or ends of arcs, even when that is a major part of the episode. After all, even "The Aenar" ended with quite a cliffhanger, even though it marked the "end" of the story.

As a stand-alone episode, I thought it was very strong, as was its immediate predecessor. I don't know if either quite lived up to "Babel One", but I've definitely enjoyed each of them quite a bit on their own merits. As I've said a thousand times before, why did they have to cancel the show just when it was getting good???

Unrelated, a quick question for you, Deus: I've noticed that, whereas most of the fans have either been singing the praises of season four or bashing it (frequently without watching it), you've definitely been more evenhanded, indicating that the season has had a lot of ups and downs, with seemingly more of the latter. I was wondering if you agreed with Manny Coto's assessment that this season was about on the same par as seasons one and three, rather than "the best season ever" as many (myself included) proclaim? I personally thouught that Coto was being far too modest, but I was wondering what your thought was on the matter.

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"You know what six movies average out to be really good? The first six Star Trek movies!" -- Fry, Futurama

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"United" was alot better than what Dues gave it credit for | Report this post to moderator
By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:46:30 on Feb 14, 2005

I do agree with Aenar seemed sort of tacked on to the whole thing. the birth of the Federation was the underlying theme that drove the first two episodes. This was just a way that wrapped it up that barely considered the first two episodes in there.

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An elephant never forgets . . .TO KILL!

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uh... | Report this post to moderator
By: JediFonger (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:32:58 on Feb 14, 2005

babel1&united were great because one event in babel1 affected another in united. it should be a two parter... but we're left with aenar, the leftover! it's like @the end of united we reveal... THE AENAR! it's totally retarded. this shoulda been a standalone episode.

the worst problem with the episode was "shran left behind to help us track down the marauder"... what? why in hell would he do that?

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"LET THEM DIE!!!"

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Finale Concerns | Report this post to moderator
By: jdm (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:00:04 on Feb 14, 2005

I'v enojoyed Enterprise since the beginning. And its really kicked it into high gear this season. I only hope that the PTBs don't leave us with a cliffhanger for a series finale. We all recall that the PTBs over at Angel said they were going to give closure to the series. Some of the arcs were concluded, but it left us with a hell of a cliffhanger.

Don't get me wrong, I thought "The Aenar" was a fine episode.

But in my opinion, the second arc episode "United" could had been a good series finale. You had an awesome shot of a multi-alien fleet. The precursor of the Federation.

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Great Review - Honest and to the point | Report this post to moderator
By: OzOr (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:54:06 on Feb 14, 2005

If you read between the lines of Deus's review I think he wasn't bashing the show but was wondering what happened to the "arc and birth of the federation". They were trying to please too many people in these three scripts instead of just focusing in on one powerful theme.

Good job Deus

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Why even bother | Report this post to moderator
By: jamesrkirk (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:27:41 on Feb 14, 2005

As I have said before I have had, and continue to have, real issues with Deus's reviews.........

That said, why are we even bothering with reviews at this point. Enterprise is dead, as is, for the short term, the future of the franchise. Why waste time, effort, and bandwidth with a negative review. What do you hope to prove? That the show will get better in your opinion between now and May? That Manny will read the review and go "Damn he's right, let's take the last episodes and address these issues."

Beating a dead horse is a waste of energy. Why are you still reviewing? I guess the only saving grace is that after May, when Trek passes away for the next decade or so, we won't have to deal with all the negative energy anymore, from BOTH sides of the debate.

I just wonder how Deus is going to deal with the unemployment. Perhaps start reviewing TOS episodes?

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Clearly not a Star Trek fan... | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:58:21 on Feb 14, 2005

... not that you have to be a Star Trek fan to be a good reviewer... in fact, it probably helps to not be a fan of something that you review. I would think that it helps you to maintain your objectivity.

However, it is more clear to me now (more than ever) that you dislike Star Trek, and are more than likely hoping that Enterprise will be the end of the Star Trek franchise. You seem to actively look for faults, as opposed to objectively look for both the good points and the bad.

For example, you refer to the ongoing "soap opera" of Trip & T'Pol: while I don't argue the point of their being a mis-match and poorly handled last season, I do think that they have been hadled extremely well this season. Keep in mind that in ENT's timeframe, it's only been a couple of months for Trip. I don't know about you, but it's taken longer than a couple of months for me to get over past loves. Keep in mind that Trip & T'Pol work together, so he doesn't have the buffer of distance to help him deal with the end of the relationship.

Another example of your dislike of Star Trek: you barely touched on Shran's passion for the Aenar girl, only stating that they seemed to connect more than Shran and Talas. You seem to have forgotten that Andorians are passionate people, and by that nature are very intense. If you consider the overall circumstances surrounding Shran and the Aenar girl, I think that the intensity between Shran and the Aenar girl is understandable.

I don't expect any of this to sway your viewpoint, and that was not my intention. However, I do hope that you see that you no longer seem to be objective in your reviews of Enterprise. And that's unfortunate.

LLaP

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Kira: Well, now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?

Sisko: No. It just means I'm never wrong.

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Another great episode... another imbecilic review... | Report this post to moderator
By: Phaethon (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:39:49 on Feb 14, 2005

With the prospect of Star Trek coming to an end, it would have been nice if Trekweb could've managed to wrangle the services of an intelligent reviewer.

Alas, all we get is O'Dios and his drivel.

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