Episode 7
"The Andorian Incident" Airdate: 10.31.01
Director: Roxann Dawson   Written By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga and Fred Dekker

The Enterprise crew pays a friendly visit to an ancient Vulcan spiritual sanctuary, despite T’Pol’s concerns that her human colleagues will be an awkward and disruptive presence there. Upon landing, they discover that the monastery has been forcibly taken over by the Andorians, a paranoid and highly excitable race of aliens with a long history of conflict with the Vulcans. Archer soon discovers that the Enterprise crew has gotten in the middle of an interstellar Pandora’s Box and now must find a way out.

Source: “The Andorian Incident” Star Trek. Com 25 Oct 2001. 25 Oct. 2001 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 9/10
In this episode we met the Andorians, and, more importantly, we learned about the Vulcans. We learned that the Vulcans are not always as up front as they seem. One of the more interesting facets of new Trek series is the ability to re-evaluate and reinvent classic aliens. In TNG we learned that the ruthless Klingons actually valued honor, even if they did not always practice it. Tonight we learned that the Vulcans are not as honest as they appeared (remember the classic debates between Savvik and Spock regarding lying). In a move worthy of a Romulan, the Vulcans decieved not only the Andorians and Humans, but also other Vulcans and a peace treaty. The greatest strength of this series really is the dimensions that the producers are giving the Vulcans. Voyager didn't really utilize Tuvok to explore this race (in Voyager's defense being light years away from other Vulcans might have had something to do with this), but it appears that Enterprise will take full advantage of T'Pol to explore this race. I look forward to a more well rounded and developed race during the run of this show. I only hope that it is not the humans who ultimately set the Vulcans on an honest path... but that is another issue, worthy of more discussion then this column will allow.

Episode 8
"Breaking the Ice" Airdate: 11.07.01
Director: Terry Windell   Written By: Maria & Andre Jacquemetton

Trip learns that T'Pol is transmitting secret messages to a Vulcan ship, which has been shadowing Enterprise for weeks. Meanwhile, Archer must attempt a dangerous rescue to recover two crewman stranded on a rapidly disintegrating comet.

Source: “Breaking the Ice” Star Trek. Com 2 Nov 2001. 3 Nov. 2001 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 9/10
Okay, I must admit that based on the preview of this episode, I thought it would be a rip off of Armageddon. To my surprise this episode more fully developed T'Pol and Tucker. The title Breaking the Ice, while on one level means the breaking of the ice on the comet, it also refers to Tucker and T'Pol "breaking the ice" between them, and Capt. Archer's attempt to "break the ice" with the Vulcan captain, Vanik. While it is unclear why the Vulcans continue to show up where Enterprise is, it is clear that T'Pol is beginning to value the companionship of those around her. It might be possible that she is the one to smooth the relations between Earth and Vulcan. While the scenes on the comet left much to be desired, the events on board the ship made this episode priceless: Archer and the crew answering school children's questions, T'Pol confiding in Tucker, and Archer fighting to contain his anger and pride while interacting Vanik. The best episode to date.

Episode 9
"Civilization" Airdate: 11.14.01
Director: Mike Vejar   Written By: Phyllis Strong & Michael Sussman

Captain Archer and the crew discover a fully inhabited, civilized though less advanced Earth-like planet. Disguised to look like its inhabitants, they pay the planet an exploratory visit where they learn that a pernicious illness is afflicting the local population. As Archer seeks to help them find the malady’s source, he finds himself in a close encounter with a comely female alien.

Source: “Civilization” Star Trek. Com 7 Nov 2001. 8 Nov. 2001 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 7/10
Tonight the Enterprise made first contact with a preindustial alien race. While they were there, they happened upon another alien race that was exploiting the resources of this planet. First of all, it was great to see the captain fulfill the vacated shoes of Captain Kirk and woo an alien woman. It seems that in an era of political correctness, it was no longer appropriate for the captain to have a labido. But there is nothing wrong with the Archer being a romantic lead. It would have been a tired cliché had the other captains been the romantic lead type. I am glad the series took this opportunity to focus on its captain. In writing this I realize that Archer, while a main character, has not been the central character. I believe that the structure of an ensemble can only serve as an asset to the show. I only hope that the producers resist the temptation of later focusing on the popular characters.

Episode 10
"Fortunate Son" Airdate: 11.21.01
Director: LeVar Burton   Written By: James Duff

The Enterprise crew is dispatched by Starfleet Command to assist Fortunate, a human freight vessel that has been attacked by Nausicaan pirates. On arriving, they are surprised to find that Fortunate's crew is resistant to Archer's efforts to help them and determined to seek revenge against their attackers, no matter what the repercussions.

Source: “Fortunate Son” Star Trek. Com 16 Nov 2001. 18 Nov. 2001 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 8/10
Tonight we learned a little more about "Boomers", or freighter crews. We also saw the Enterprise begin to establish Starfleet as an intergalactic peacekeeper. It was interesting that while morally the Enterprise was in the right, they really had no jurisdiction, which is going to be an interesting facet of this show. When it first aired, I felt that the lack of a prime directive could open up narratives to a wide variety of themes. Now I am excited to see how the Enterprise fares in its exploration (or domination) of space. While it is true that Voyager never really had any jurisdiction, they were on their way home, and while it is always important to make a good impression during first contact, their prime concern was returning to Earth. Enterprise is going to have to voyage through space into unkonwn cultures, keep and possibly even establish a kind of peace in space, which begs the question: What is Starfleet's jurisdiction and how will they establish themselves as the intergalactic power in the galaxy. One more positive note about tonight's episode was the return of Porthos.

Episode 11
"Cold Front" Airdate: 11.28.01
Director: Robert Duncan McNeill   Written By: Steve Beck & Tim Finch

Archer and his Suliban nemesis meet once again. When the Enterprise comes in contact with an alien vessel transporting stargazers to observe a spectacular stellar event, Archer invites them aboard the ship not realizing that Silik, a Suliban enemy, is among them. Archer quickly realizes that Silik is engaged in a nefarious time-travelling mission and must stop him before he can tamper with the course of history.

Source: “Cold Front” Star Trek. Com 22 Nov 2001. 23 Nov. 2001 {http://www.startrek.com.}

Popcorn's Rating 9.5/10
This episode could possibly be the episode to define Enterprise. We have the return of the Suliban from the first episode. While I was not too impressed with this race after the first episode, I was very intrigued by them after last night's episode, especially the Temporal Cold War. This could be the story arch that could carry this series for a couple of years (similar to the way the Doninion War carried DS9 for years). This could also serve to establish the liniage of great Enterprise crews... however, I do think that the fewer characters who know about this, the better. This would serve to establish haw some of the more advanced things they discover (such as tacions) would not be know by later crews. I look forward to another visit from the Suliban, and the Temporal Cold War has the potential to do for this series what alien conspiracies did for The X-files.