Enterprise: United & The AenerWith this now being the final run of
Enterprise episodes, it seems highly likely that this will be the last time we see Jeffrey Coomb's wonderfully portrayed Shran on screen. If this is it for the character, than it was a great way to go out on top.
Coomb's work in this trilogy of episode has been superb and it's nice to see that Shran gets a chance to bid farewell before Enterprise rides off into the sunset.
That said, this trilogy was simliar to the other three-part storylines we've had all year long--start off with a bang and then slowly lose momentum as we get to the finish line. This one may be the most guilty of it, simply because there were so many good ideas floating around only to have to spend too much time on the surface of Andoria. Part two did a great job of bridging a gap--showing how Archer and company are going from the role of new kids on the block to the leaders in the quadrant for bringing different alien races together. Also, the battle between Archer and Shran was reminiscent of Kirk and Spock's epic battle from "Amok Time" even down to a loophole that gets everyone out of trouble and still saves face for all the respective parties. I liked seeing how Archer creates the fleet, builds trust between two enemies and then sees some of the reward when they decide to sit down and talk about their differences rather than just blow each other up.
That said, I'm not sure there was a lot of story left for part three. And it showed. "The Aener" were an interesting idea, though I guess they're only going to be a one-episode wonder. It felt as if we had created an alien-race just so that we could have a telepathic alien controlling the Romulan ship. I'm not sure who would have fit better under the mask, but after the big reveal to end part two, the storyline lost all momentum. Part of it was that I felt as if Archer and company should be out there trying to keep the quandrant stable or continue the fleet defense agianst the drone while everyone heads off to Andoria. Also, I wasn't really all that compelled that the Aenar forced to commit all these crimes was another's brother who we just happen to run across. I wanted to see more of the finding of the Romulan ship and maybe a bit more of an ending space battle than we got.
And I had to admit I was really over the whole Trip/T'Pol unrequited romance thing, until the last two or so minutes when Manny Coto suddenly redeemed the whole thing. Seeing Trip go to Archer and ask to be transferred was a nice way for it to go. I didn't really see that one coming--again, thankfully I am not a huge SPOILER junkee. I liked the tension between Archer and Trip as Trip refuses to give any good reason as to why Archer should transfer him. Of course, I think Archer is a smart-enough cookie that he can put two and two togther and figure it out, but I get the feeling he wanted Trip to admit it. Of course, we all know that Trip will be back on the ship by series' end, though it could be interesting to see how he gets back.
Battlestar Galactica: LitmusAfter a Cylon agent sets off a bomb in a secure area of Galactica, Adama and company are left with no choice but to bring the rest of the population in on the fact that Cylons are among us and they look like us. Adama also appoints a tribunal to look into things, which quickly gets out of hand when several of Tyrol's subordinattes cover for his sneaking off to be with Boomer.
One thing that this show is really doing well is giving choices conseequences. Adama made a choice to not tell the fleet of the new Cylon threat, thus leading to his being brought in front of the tribunal. (Great scene and I gain more respect for Edward James Olmos every week). Tryol and Boomer made a choice to continue their romance despite being ordered not to and it cost one man his freedom and several people their lives. Seeing Tyrol break up with Boomer because the price of being with her wasn't worth it any more was a great scene. (One thing I did wonder about was--why didn't the tribunal try to piece together the accident a few weeks ago with this bombing now..in both cases, Tyrol was tangentially involved)
Everyone makes their choices and they have to live with the consequences, as highlighted by the scene between Adama and Tyrol. Boy, Adama is not having a good month when it comes to trusting those around him--first Starbuck and now Tyrol. One can only imagine what will happen if and when he finds out Baltar is betraying them all to the Cylons.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 2/14/2005 01:40:00 PM |
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