ENT: “Rogue Planet”

Date: November 3, 2021

Season 1, Episode 18

Music Video of the Day:

Interstellar News: Today was another incredibly busy day at work. I had a doctor’s appointment this morning and then went into the office for two virtual meetings and about 50+ emails. I’m close to being at the end of busy season, and it feels good. During dinner we watched Hocus Pocus, as I’ll be on a panel tomorrow evening dedicated to its anniversary.

TL;DR: The crew encounters a planet that has broken its orbit. It also happens to be the once-every-four-years hunting ground of the Eska (who are sort of like Hirogen or the aliens from “Captive Pursuit“). As they share a meal, Archer keeps seeing a beautiful woman. The “animals” the Eska are hunting are telepathic shapeshifters and they reach out to Archer for help. With the help of Dr. Phlox, Archer deploys something so the creatures can’t be found by the Eska any longer.

Favorite Quote:

Archer : Do Vulcan captains have their portraits hanging at the High Command?

T’Pol: Vulcans are revered for their accomplishments, not for the way they look.

Tucker: Except for the really important ones, who get mummified.

Archer is uncomfortable having his portrait commissioned.

“What are the chances you’d encounter a half-naked woman who you think you know dozens of light years from your home world?”: This was an interesting episode. In reading back through my “Captive Pursuit” post, Sisko was stuck behind the Prime Directive and couldn’t do much. Here, Archer has no such directive but he’s also trying to make friends and not enemies. It doesn’t take more than a minute to realize the hunted are sentient and that the Eska are being less than truthful – but the crew still helps where they can. Dr. Phlox is always on top of things and he’s so very compassionate. I did love the bit at the top where Tucker and Reed were comparing their merit badges in the dorkiest dick-measuring contest ever. This episode doesn’t leave much of an impression on me, though. It’s a cool bit of technobabble with a planet that’s no longer in orbit, and it’s interesting to meet a new species and have them discuss their traditions with the Enterprise, but it’s just some naked woman running through the woods and Archer being absolutely un-captainly running after her. I think that means it’s only 5 stuffies for Porthos to look longingly at, but can never destroy.

TA Out!