Enterprise Review – “Judgement”

"I want the gagh!"

"You can’t handle the gagh!"

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Enterprise LogoJudgement

 

Cast & Crew

Director: James L. Conway
Story By: Taylor Elmore & David A. Goodman
Teleplay By: David A. Goodman

Starring
Scott Bakula as Captain
Jonathan Archer
Connor Trinneer as Chief
Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker III
Jolene Blalock as Sub-commander
T’Pol
Dominic Keating as Lt.
Malcolm Reed
Anthony Montgomery
as Ensign Travis Mayweather
Linda Park as Ensign Hoshi
Sato
John Billingsley
as Dr. Phlox

Guest Cast
J.G. Hertzler as Kolos
Daniel Riordan as Duras
Victor Talmadge as Asahf
John Vickery as Orak
Helen Cates as Klingon First Officer
D.J. Lockhart as Cell Guard
Granville Van Dusen as Magistrate
Danny Kolker as Guard

Airdate Information

Originally Aired: April 9, 2003
Season: Two
Episode: Twenty
Production: 045

This Week on EnterpriseWhat Happened

Captain Archer stands accused before a Klingon tribunal of conspiring against the Empire, and his only hope of escaping a death sentence or life in the dilithium mines of Rura Penthe is an aging and disenchanted Klingon lawyer with little energy or enthusiasm for the case.

Review

I was almost ready to apologize for so soundly trashing the show last week, after seeing this episode, but no, last week’s still sucked and will always suck. This week, however, we’re treated to some good old-fashioned Klingon drama. In Star Trek, we’ve spent a lot of time before Klingon tribunals. But, before you complain, think about this idea: What would expect from a culture so gung-ho on honor in every aspect of their lives?

On a side note: How many people caught the trivia nugget with regards to the demoted Klingon captain?

High Point

The “Warrior Class” speech while waiting for a verdict. In one shot we gain new (and intelligent) information about Klingon history as well as a quick update on where they’re at now. This is what the series needs to be about.

Low Point

Not much of a dramatic rescue, was it?

The Scores

Originality: It smacks of The Undiscovered Country, but isn’t as bad a rip-off as I’d feared. 4 out 6.

Effects: Sharp work for the battle in the rings. 5 out of 6.

Story: The down-on-himself lawyer redeeming himself at the last moment has been done to death, but the surrounding elements (changing Klingon culture) keeps it fresh. 4 out of 6.

Acting: Digging into that oh-so-well-stocked bag of DS9 guest stars, J.G. Hertzler (Chancellor Martok) makes his Star Trek return. 5 out of 6.

Emotional Response: As the trial winds down, you aren’t sure how it’ll turn out, but once they reach Rura Penthe, the resolution is obvious. 4 out of 6.

Production: The tribunal is cool (basically the same set from Star Trek VI), but the mines looked a little too bright to be Rura Penthe. 4 out of 6.

Overall: Infinitely better than last week. Why can’t B&B leave the show alone and let the good writers have at it? 4 out of 6.

Total: 30 out of 42

Episode Media

From StarTrek.com

Next Time on Enterprise (April 16, 2003)

Next Time on EnterpriseHorizon

When Enterprise reverses course to go investigate a planetary phenomenon, Ensign Mayweather takes the opportunity to visit the cargo ship where he was born and raised, the E.C.S. Horizon. But his father, the ship’s captain, just recently died, and Travis finds that things at home haven’t been the same since.

Additional Notes and Comments

If you’re interested in what’s in the review queue, check out my What’s Coming page.

TheAngrymob

10 replies on “Enterprise Review – “Judgement””

  1. No wonder it’s called Gagh
    This episode didn’t do a thing for me. It wasn’t that it was so bad, it was just not good. No emotional response.
    The Klingons at the tribunal acted like morons (the stupid chanting). The old klingon advocate and the way he became the guy who would change the empire was the coolest part. The rescue was obviously there out of necessity and it was very rushed. I did like that they resorted to bribery though.

    Next season I’m sure we’ll see an episode where Archer the escapee is back with the klingons. Maybe they’ll be smart enough to make him appear tough and earn respect, like Picard did…

  2. Trivia nugget?
    On a side note: How many people caught the trivia nugget with regards to the demoted Klingon captain?

    OK I missed it. What about the captain?

    • Re: Trivia nugget?

      On a side note: How many people caught the trivia nugget with regards to the demoted Klingon captain?

      OK I missed it. What about the captain?

      I missed it as well, someone please tell us! Was that captain someone famous who shows up in a later series?

      • Re: Trivia nugget?

        I missed it as well, someone please tell us! Was that captain someone famous who shows up in a later series?

        I noticed that he shared a name with Duras, eventual leader of the Klingon High Council, but I’m not sure that’s all of it. Perhaps this Duras was an ancestor of that Duras…

        The best thing they could do to follow up this episode, in my opinion, is use Archer’s escape from Klingon custody and his subsequent Federation protection as one of the major reasons to start the war.

        • Re: Trivia nugget?

          I noticed that he shared a name with Duras, eventual leader of the Klingon High Council, but I’m not sure that’s all of it. Perhaps this Duras was an ancestor of that Duras…

          Give the man a cigar! What’s more, according to IMDB, the actor will be returning as Duras in the season finale.

          The Duras in TNG is the one that killed Worf’s lover (and Alexander’s mother) as well as made Worf’s life a living hell within his own people. It was his father, and not Worf’s, that led to the Khitomer massacre. Oh, and remember Lursa and Bhetor? They’re his sisters.

  3. The ending
    I’m not generally as harsh on Enterprise as a lot of people are (although last weeks’ episode was so lame), but I have to say that ending was so lame. LIke the writer’s didn’t know what to do, so T’Pol just says “diplomatic ties” and Archer’s in and out of the (allegedly) toughest prison in the galaxy.

    I know they would never do this, but it may have been interesting to see an entire episode dedicated to getting him out. We could get more “Badass Klingon Shit” as well as have a sensible ending, and a decent two-parter.

    • Re: The ending

      We could get more “Badass Klingon Shit” as well as have a sensible ending, and a decent two-parter.

      Agreed. Especially if it was in place of another, lesser quality episode.

      • Re: The ending

        We could get more “Badass Klingon Shit” as well as have a sensible ending, and a decent two-parter.

        Agreed. Especially if it was in place of another, lesser quality episode.

        I guess it’s true then: when a show in the Trek universe needs to become better, just add Klingons.

  4. The Rediscovered Storyline…
    Next Week On Enterpoop ! ….
    Archer is entrusted with delivering a top secret computer program which when activated will construct a complete set of moral and ethical laws from whatever society powers it up. The call it – "Project Levitticus".

    Along the way Archer meets an old enemy who gets really mad and tries to blow up the ship. T’its dies saving everybody on board. Meanwhile, down in engineering, Trip keeps mutterring… "Humans, they’re so illogical. Captain’s kinda cute though…"

    • Re: The Rediscovered Storyline…
      Usually I’d agree with you TechnoGirl, but you have to admit, for a rip-off of Star Trek VI, they did a heck of a good job. I was really impressed with Judgement, as after last week I was almost ready to give up on the show. In all honesty, if they could keep the quality up I wouldn’t complain if they did rip off Wrath of Khan.

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