Episode 47: The Breach

In the second fairly thoughtful episode in a row, Phlox is forced to confront his own feelings with regard to the centuries old antagonism between his race and the Antarans when confronted with a dying Antaran researcher who refuses help from a Denobulan.

Written by Chris Black and John Shiban, "The Breach" mixes the thoughtful and emotional Phlox plot with the ridiculous story of efforts by members of the Enterprise crew (Tucker, Reid and Mayweather) to rescue a Denobulan team of scientists working deep beneath the surface of a planet that has just ordered all offworlders to leave, on threat of imprisonment or execution.

Black and Shiban do not shy away from the intensity of the emotions that must exist between two races that have been at war (in one way or another) for hundreds of years, each demonizing the other to the point of obsessive loathing, even though no member of either race has seen a member of the other races for more than 100 years. Phlox is convincing in his attempts to overcome the Antaran's loathing while struggling with the racism he himself learned at his grandmother's knee.

It's a well-written, well-acted, well-timed plot that perhaps resolves itself a little too quickly and easily but that can be put down to the challenges of television drama.

The other plot, well, I'm not sure what to say about it. Archer decides to send the three boys down to find and rescue the Denobulan scientists but does not include Phlox, who would be an obvious choice to lead since 1) he is Denobulan and would be most likely to be able to communicate with his fellows, 2) he is a doctor and could have help address any injuries they might have suffered since they went missing and 3) as we find out at the end of the show (in one of the most ridiculous turns in the series so far), Denobulans can climb sheer cliffs without the help of any equipment so Phlox would have been a real asset.

Then you have Tucker and Reid (having left Mayweather behind after he breaks his leg) finallly finding the Denobulan team after two days' of searching, deep beneath the planet's surface and then bullying them into leaving when the scientists do not wish to leave and appear to be so difficult to find and reach that they probably are in no danger anyway.

Nothing like having Tucker shouting at you four seconds after you meet him, then having him threaten to fire a phase pistol up your ass to make you love and trust him.

 Still, if we accept for some reason that Phlox should indeed have stayed aboard ship, the doctor's emotional struggles with his Antaran patient are worth watching.