Enterprise Review: “The Catwalk”

It’s a little late, but you were all busy this weekend, weren’t you?

Enterprise LogoThe
Catwalk

 

Cast & Crew

Director: Mike Vejar
Written By: Mike Sussman & Phyllis Strong

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
Scott Burkholder as Tagrim
Zach Grenier as Renth
Aaron Lustig as Guri
Elizabeth Magness as Female Crewmember
Danny Goldring as Alien Captain
Brian Cousins as Alien Lieutenant
Sean Smith as Alien Crewman

Airdate Information

Originally Aired: Dec. 18, 2002
Season: Two
Episode: Twelve
Production: 038

Precious CargoWhat
Happened

When a deadly radioactive storm threatens Enterprise, the entire crew must
take refuge for eight days in a small maintenance shaft. As they weather the
storm, the crew discovers that alien intruders are trying to steal Enterprise
— and may turn the crew’s save haven into a death trap in the process.
In order to stop the aliens and save the ship, Archer and his officers must
battle against time … and the deadly storm.

Review

New Starfleet protocal when meeting new aliens: If they can’t give you a straight
answer to a simple question when you first meet them, (like, “What brings
you out into space”), shoot them, repeatedly. Answers like “We’re…um…cartographers,”
should set off all sorts of alarms.

That silliness aside, this was a fairly watchable episode, with a little character
development, a little action, some new sets and some spiffy special effects.
I just wish things were not so utterly predictable. Sure there was a twinge
of surprise to find out the three passengers weren’t working for the invaders,
but still, we all saw it coming.

High Point

The withering exchange of looks from Malcolm to Trip when handed the frying
pan in silent answer to the armory officer’s complaint about pot roast.

Low Point

Capt. Archer’s “Gasp, I’m dying” routine while stalling the invading
aliens. Too stupid

The Scores

Originality: The close quarters bit was a fun way to get a little more character
interaction, not unlike “Shuttlepod One.” 3 out 6.

Effects: Cool effects, but (as Fiziko mentioned to me) didn’t the plasma wave
seem a little flat? Why not fly over/under it? 4 out of 6.

Story: Two steps forward, one back. Doesn’t get very far in the end. 3 out
of 6.

Acting: Bakula’s delaying ploy was really bad and the guest cast just stunk.
Trineer and Keating keep things flowing with their usual banter. 4 out of 6.

Emotional Response: A little surprise, but fairly predictable. 3 out of 6.

Production: The catwalk was an excellent set. Cramped and tense. 5 out of 6.

Overall: It’s obvious it isn’t a B&B episode, but we need better tension
if this show is going stay on the air. 4 out of 6.

Total: 26 out of 42

Episode Media

From StarTrek.com

Next Time on Enterprise (Dec. 25, 2002)

Next Time on EnterpriseMinefield
Originally Aired 10/2/2002 (See My
Review
)

After unwittingly wandering into a minefield in Romulan territory, Enterprise
becomes trapped when struck by an undetonated mine. When Reed takes a space
walk to try to defuse the mine, he inadvertently gets pinned to the outer hull
and Archer must choose between saving Reed or abiding by the Romulans’ orders
to depart immediately. See
Video Preview

TheAngrymob

4 replies on “Enterprise Review: “The Catwalk””

  1. Come ON, UPN, Pick Up Firefly!!!
    This Enterprise ep was “The Perfect Storm” without George Clooney and with the bad guys as bandits instead of off-stage repo men. Give me Capt. “Tight Pants” Mal Reynolds any day!!! Come ON, UPN, Pick Up Firefly!!!

  2. Historical Landmark Episode
    I might be wrong about this, but was this not the first time in Star Trek History where bathrooms are mentioned?

    Maybe in the ‘past’ they didn’t have the whole Semi-Transporter Colonic Implants yet (;

    Other than that, wow, what a boring episode.

    You know, Babylon 5 ruined Trek for me. They tried to kill it before it was over, but only managed to wound it a bit (S5 was not so good).

    Then Farscape came along and ruined Trek for me, but I guess THey learned their lesson and killed it.

    Then Firefly ruined Trek for me… this is getting silly!

    I know I’ve said this before, but I’m thinking of just getting a nice iMac and a DV camera and making my own Firefly episodes. If anyone wants in (preferably who knows how to, well, make TV shows), let me know! The only stipulation really is that I get to play Jayne, because (A) I’m cheaper, (B) It was my idea, (C) I don’t want to shave the beard off ALL the way, and (D) I always wanted to be called Jane.

  3. we get crap like this??
    It just ceases to amaze me that we get crappy boring episodes like this instead of Farscape and Firefly.

    I finally remembered it had aired and watched it on my TiVo last night. could have forgot about it for another week or two.

    So right now, I only have Odyssey 5 and Jerimiah to fill my sci-fi needs. They’re almost to the point where I’ve seen em all though (just got showtime in September)

    • Re: we get crap like this??

      It just ceases to amaze me that we get crappy boring episodes like this instead of Farscape and Firefly.

      >

      I couldn’t agree more….I;m not even motivated to say all the things that are wrong with the show.

      It’s Voyeger (Boringer) all over again :(

      It’s such a waste of talent….look what Bacula was able to do with some *real* writers behind him in Quantum leap. And the guy that plays Trip definitely has potential…sadly it’s all wasted while B&B sniff the profits of their "franchise" up their respective noses.

      You know scifi fans are really good about organizing letter writing campaigns for really good scifi shows (like firefly and Farscape) – maybe we should organize a boycott of shows that really suck? Like – Bragaprise.

      I want my (real) StarTrek back!! For god’s sake somebody go out and clone Rodenberry!

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