SEASON TWO


Maybe his next leap will be the leap home!

Episode 27
"Shockwave Part II" Airdate: 09.18.02
Director: Allan Kroeker
Written By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga


Intent on stopping Archer and Enterprise's mission, the diabolical Suliban take the crew hostage when it is discovered that Archer has mysteriously disappeared off the ship. While stuck in the decimated remains of the 31st century, Archer and Daniels work to find a way to get back to Enterprise; and Daniels worries that the future existence of The Federation may be in jeopardy as a result of his impulsive action to remove Archer from Enterprise, forever changing the course of history.

Source: “Shockwave, PartII” Star Trek. Com 12 Sept. 2002. 17 Sept. 2002 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 6.5/10
Popcorn's Comments: While it is true that I love a good time travel story, I am not so sure that "Shockwave" qualifies as one. I was eagerly looking forward to discover how the temporal dilemma Archer found himself in was going to be solved, but the solution left me feeling empty and even a little chaeted that I waited 3 months for the solution. I understand the quandry of the writers to not want to toy to much with an already existing future, but if that is the case, then they should stay away from time travel stories. I did however like the fact that this episode laid the foundation for the origins of The United Federation of Planets. Better luck next time.


The origin of Velcro as we know it!!!

Episode 28
"Carbon Creek" Airdate: 09.25.02
Director: James Contner   Story By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Teleplay By: Chris Black


T'Pol tells Archer and Trip a story about her great-grandmother T'Mir and three other Vulcans who made first contact with humans after crash landing in a small Pennsylvania town in the 1950s. T'Pol's story shocks Archer and Trip because her account is much earlier and very different from what history books reported.

Source: “Carbon Creek” Star Trek. Com 19 Sept. 2002. 20 Sept. 2002 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 9/10
Popcorn's Comments: As I have stated before, I am a sucker for time travel stories,and even though this technically was not one, it had the spirit of a time story. I enjoyed watching the Vulcans interact with 1950's America. I especially like the way Mestral embraced humanity. It was refreshing to see a Vulcan who does not look down on humans. This show has done an excellent job adding depth and dimension to the Vulcan race, and I hope they keep it up.


Help!!! I am falling and I can't get up!!!

Episode 29
"Minefield" Airdate: 10.02.02
Director: James Contner
Written By: John Shiban


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.

Source: “Minefield” Star Trek. Com 25 Sept. 2002. 30 Sept. 2002 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 8.5/10
Popcorn's Comments: I must really take my hats off to the Enterprise creative team. Not only did they give us Romulans, but they did not toy with the intricacies of the Trek timeline. I am really beginning to understand why Malcolm is such a well like character. His quit reserved nature leaves a wealth of room for writers to explore his character. I am glad that he was the focal point of this story.


What is that smell???

Episode 30
"Dead Stop" Airdate: 10.09.02
Director: Roxann Dawson
Written By: Mike Sussman & Phyllis Strong


Enterprise, in desperate need of extensive repairs, docks with a mysterious, high-tech, automated space station that inexplicably and amazingly fixes everything, making it almost too good to be true. While waiting for the repairs to be completed, the Enterprise crew searches the unmanned space station and discovers its unique and horrifying power source.

Source: “Dead Stop” Star Trek. Com 03 Oct. 2002. 10 Oct. 2002 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 7.5/10
Popcorn's Comments: I like that fact that we got to see how Enterprise was repaired. In the days of no replicators, I was curious to see if the filmmakers would simply fix her, or explain how she was repaired. That being said, I did not find this episode particularly compelling. The show lingered on Archer's discomfort with an alien repair station. Perhaps the problem was that there really was no need for worry or concern until Mayweather's accident. I would like to see this living vehicle again. I thought the closing shot of the staion repairing itself was brilliant.


What does a girl have to do to get the Captain's attention???  Get on all fours and bark like a dog???

Episode 31
"A Night in Sickbay" Airdate: 10.16.02
Director: David Straiton
Written By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga


Archer spends a fretful night in sickbay with Dr. Phlox after Porthos, Archer's pet beagle, picks up a deadly virus on an alien planet. Meanwhile, crew members believe Archer's increased stress level is due to Porthos' illness, but Dr. Phlox suspects it has to do with Archer's repressed sexual tension and urges Archer to discuss it with T'Pol.

Source: “A Night in Sickbay” Star Trek. Com 10 Oct. 2002. 10 Oct. 2002 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 9/10
Popcorn's Comments: Finally, we get to learn a little bit about Archer and his character, beyond Archer as captain. This story worked well on several levels:first of all, we could see Archer's affection for his dog, Porthos; second, it laid out the sexual tension that underpins the Archer/T'Pol(in the future this may inspire scholars to respond in contrast to the Kirk/Spock latency issues), and finally we saw a growth in the Archer/Phlox friendship. With the exception of the overly corny apology scene, this episode was top notch.


"...You can't be afraid of the wind..." Jonathan Archer

Season 2 Episodes Enterprise Episode Guide