Good umak is hard to find, but not a good review of the latest installment of Enterprise.
Be sure to check out the two new sections: Science Flubs and Featured Star Trek Site.
Acquisition
Cast & Crew
Director: Allan Kroeker
Story By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga & Chris Black
Teleplay By: Chris Black
Starring
Scott Bakula as Captain
Jonathan Archer
Connor Trinneer as Chief
Engineer Charles 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
Jeffrey Combs as Krem
Ethan Phillips as Ulis
Clint Howard as Muk
Matt Malloy as Grish
Airdate Information
Originally Aired: March 27, 2002
Season: One
Episode: Nineteen
What
Happened
The opening shot shows Enterprise drifting through space, apparently with no
rhyme or reason for it’s random spin through space. They are approached by an
alien vessel, as we see the interior we find out the ship belongs to Ferengi.
The Ferengi have managed to knock out the entire crew (except Trip who was
sleeping in decontamination) with a device he brought back from a moon he was
exploring. After boarding the ship, they begin stripping it of anything valuable
that they can move, rip, or remove from Enterprise. Trip, moving the
ship observes the Ferengi at a distance, trying to determine their motives.
Ulis (Ethan Phillips), the Ferengi captain, unable to find the Enterprise‘s
vault, wakes Archer and interrogates him. Archer insists that the ship has no
vault, but the Ferengi don’t believe him (and what self-respecting Ferengi would).
So they leave him and Krem (Jeffery Combs) to finish stripping apart the ship
while they finish searching the ship. Meanwhile Trip manages to revive T’Pol,
but it’s the last dose of stimulant in the hypo he stole from a Ferengi.
Archer works on Krem, playing on his obvious greed and low standing with the
crew. T’Pol further insites the other Ferengi by stealing their ill-begotten
wares and causing them to turn on each other.
Trip, along with Archer, manage to dupe the Ferengi into leaving Archer alone
so they can go with Trip and get into the vault. With all three officers free
they subdue their invaders and send them packing (with Krem in command).
Review
At last! An episode worth watching all the way through. Sharp dialogue, fun
situations make for a worthwhile introduction for the Ferengi.
Yes it’s a stretch to bring them in this early in the Trek timeline, but, if
I remember correctly, their first appearce on TNG Picard asks for information
on the species and Riker gives him a quick rundown of their greed, stating something
to the effect that the Federation has had limited contact with them. They may
have simply decided that Terrans and Vulcans just aren’t worth pursuing and
dealt with other species for a time. I don’t know, nor do I care that much.
We all knew there were going to be painful continuity errors, and we’ll drive
ourselves insane goofing around with it.
At any rate we got some awesome guest actors, and good turns from our three
main characters. Don’t be surprised if the series becomes more and more about
them. Paramount is no doubt trying to replicate the holy trinity from TOS.
High Point
"Just because a guy’s in his underwear you assume the worst." Man
if I had a nickel for everytime I’ve had to say that. Umm…nevermind.
Low Point
Ok, they quarentined Trip, but not the artifact he brought back? Not all that
smart if you ask me.
The Scores
Originality: When was the last time you saw the Enterprise (any of them)
chop-shopped? 4
Effects: Not too many here, but what we did (Enterprise listing through
space; Ferengi exteriours) see was well done. 4
Story: Fun story, perfect introduction to the Ferengi. 4
Acting: Brilliant guest cast, but then, that was a main point of the episode.
5
Emotional Response: Funny, even T’Pol had something laugh-worthy this time
around. 5
Production: Great make-up (as always Mr. Westmore). Bland construction of the
Ferengi ship interiors, though. 4
Overall: The best episode I’ve seen in a LONG time. 5
Total: 31 out of 42
Episode Media
- "Not
that interesting…?" - Try not
to Muk it up - …and
your little dog, too! - Ulis
and Krem survey the spoils - Archer
shackled to the wall - Captain
Archer aboard Ferengi ship - T’Pol
is ready to kick some lobe - 20-second
episode preview (QT, WMP)
From StarTrek.com
Science Flub of the Week
Just because Mayweather was asleep at the wheel doesn’t mean the Enterprise
would go cartwheeling through space. Though it is almost exusable as it sets the
mood at the beginning of the episode by saying "Something’s wrong here."
Featured Star Trek Web Site
Learn more about the Ferengi
Rules of Acquistion. Quote them at conventions, parties, and at work.
My person favorite: Rule of Acquisition #208: "Sometimes the only thing
more dangerous than the question is an answer."
Next Time on Enterprise (Apr 3, 2002)
OasisWhile exploring a crashed vessel on a desolate planet, the Enterprise crew
is haunted by some ghostly figures, and they encounter an alien race that has
survived despite insurmountable odds. Trip helps repair their derelict vessel
and is befriended by Liana, an attractive humanoid alien who develops feelings
for him.
Guest stars include Tom Bergeron (Hollywood Squares) and Rene Auberjonois
(Odo from DS9).
Good show!
Well the Enterprise crew finally meet the Ferengi. This episode showed the Ferengi in a somewhat better light than we first saw them in TNG, but they still have a silly side.
I remember when TNG first aired a friend asked me what I thought of the Ferengi. The first thing that came to mind was they were like “Polish Klingons”. OK not politically correct, but back then we didn’t think about that.
I agree this was one of the best written Enterprise shows. Also well acted (playing a Ferengi must be TOUGH between the makeup and the character).
Re: Good show!
playing a Ferengi must be TOUGH between the makeup and the character
Not at all!
They’re all played by network TV execs.
Type casting you know.
Re: Good show!
Basically the Ferengi were to replace the Klingons (since we now were all friends) as the main villians. Greed was to be the new evil (this was still the 80’s, remember?). As it turned out the Ferengi were little more than pests for much of TNG.
It wasn’t until DS9 that they were fully realized characters. Less emphasis on their military, and more on the sheer, unadulterated quest for money. I kept waiting for a parody of Michael Douglas’ (as Gordon Gekko) “Greed is Good” speech somewhere in that show.
I dunno
Ok, I’ll admit, there was some funny stuff in this episode. The way the Ferengi were just ripping the place apart, that was hillarious. The puppy joke would’ve been funny if they hadn’t showed it in the previews. And am I mistaken or was this the first Vulcan nerve pinch? I missed one or two episodes, but this is the first time I saw it.
But I had a couple of problems with this one… for one, I’ve seen better Ferengi costumes at the Paramount theme park in Canada. I don’t know why, but the makeup looked REALLY horrible to me.
Then, as pointed out in the review, why the HELL did the artifact just go in engineering, no tests, nothing?
Third. Archer had about a gazzilion oppertunities to overpower.. whatever his name was. There were only four of them! Knock over that guy, then you have (A) A weapon, and (B) The element of surprise, coupled with a detailed knowledge of the ship, and Trip as an ace-in-the-hole! And they could’ve happily gone through the Ferengi ship looking for MORE weapons.
This week I just skipped it, preview seemed boring. I’m acting as if my TiVo’s already here! (:
Re: I dunno
T’Pol pinched Trip in a cave filled
with hallucinogens in one of the first five episodes,
if memory serves. Just go back and find the episode
with the cave. :)
I was seriously groaning…
… about this one when I saw the previews, but they actually pulled it off. It was far better than I expected.
However, we it is following a bad pattern. We have now seen a holodeck, shapeshifter types, Ferengi, and a hologram crew outside of a holodeck (in the yet to be reviewed show). I too figure it is just a matter of time before the writers submit to the temptation to bring Q in for a few episodes.
If this series was wanting to be something different than other Treks, then going down the current path will lead to failure, even if every episode is a good as this one.
One thing I particularly liked was the lack of understandable dialogue at the beginning.
The Acquisition, What A Show…
Did Anyone Else Notice That The Alien Race Never Identified Itself. We Know They Are Ferrengi, But They Didn’t Actually use The Word ‘Ferrengi’ In the Episode, So Even If It’s A Well Documented Report, The Name ‘Ferrengi’ Isn’t Going To Be In It. Just ‘Random Alien Race Number 42’