1.9 : Civilization.

[Neo]

Episode 1:9 - Civilization

A new Enterprise episode will start shooting on the Paramount lot next week that will live up to the producers' promise of having more romance for the ship's captain.

Sources reveal that in 'Civilization,' the ninth episode of the season, the Enterprise will discover a planet with a technological level comparable to that of late-19th century Earth. The crew decide they want to study this planet's culture, and an away team has its appearance altered to resemble the alien population and blend in easily. But after they are on the planet, they are drawn into a deadly mystery that has already cost the lives of several locals.

In 'Civilization,' Archer will be getting one of his first love interests of the series: Tyala, a beautiful scientist. After meeting the captain, she is at first suspicious, but eventually falls in love with him. After Archer has won her trust, they work together to solve the mystery.

Another alien who will appear in the episode is Garos, a shopkeeper who at first seems quite friendly. However, it turns out he is hiding his true identity and intentions, and turns out to be involved in the mystery.

'Civilization' will be directed by Mike Vejar, a long-time Deep Space Nine and Voyager director who has helmed such episodes as 'Barge of the Dead' and 'Pathfinder.' Vejar has a considerable amount of science fiction experience, having directed several important episodes of Babylon 5 and the upcoming Legend of the Rangers telemovie.

As usual, please be aware that Paramount has released no official info on this episode yet, and until that happens, all information from unofficial sources should be treated as you would any rumour.

 

[Neo]

Episode 1:9 - 'CIVILIZATION' (SPOILERS)

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'CIVILIZATION'
Episode Number: 109
Production Number: ENT 40358-009
Original US Airdate: 14.11.01
Original UK Airdate: 16.04.02
Mission Date: Unknown

The Enterprise discovers a planet with a technological level comparable to that of late-19th century Earth. The crew decide they want to study this planet's culture, and an away team has its appearance altered to resemble the alien population and blend in easily. But after they are on the planet, they are drawn into a deadly mystery that has already cost the lives of several locals.

 

[Neo]

The Enterprise crew get more than they bargained for when they infiltrate an alien culture in the upcoming episode, 'Civilization'.

StarTrek.com today released the following official synopsis of the episode:



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.

 

[Highlander II]

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!






















this was a pretty good episode --

first mention of what is to become the 'Prime Directive' -- T'Pol mentions that it is 'customary to not make contact w/ a world until they have developed Warp technology' (not a direct quote, but a paraphrase) --

they go to the planet - Trip breaks into a shop - where they think some 'machine' is generating whatever is causing the illness.

it's not full of action - it's more 'interactive' -- John (yes, he uses his 1st name) interacting w/ the alien species -

there is a (predictable) scene where Archer's translator fails and to try to fix it w/o being detected, he kisses the woman; turns out she's not as naive as he thought --- b/c later, when he kisses her again, she asks if his translator was broken again ---

only problem i'm seeing with these last few episodes - they seem to center a lot around Trip and T'Pol and Archer -- Hoshi (who was sort of in this episode a little more than usual), Reed, and the others on the bridge/ship seem to get ignored and left behind --

i mean - when are these other ppl gonna have stories focused on them? we need to learn more about the rest of the characters - i mean there are still characters on the bridge that i don't even know if they have names b/c no one ever talks to them -
and that entymologist from the 'rock ppl' ep? - where is she? she was in one ep - then <poof> gone -

more episodes focused on the rest of the cast would be quite helpful --

what does Reed do? not just on the bridge, but in his 'down' time? what else is he capable of? is he acaemic? athletic? does he sleep standing on his head? what? same w/ Hoshi, and that other guy who's on the bridge - (don't know his name) --- and Phlox -- why are the doctors always left out of storylines unless someone's dying?? (exageration, i know - but you get the idea) --

 

[Mellian]

I agree that it would be nice to see more of the rest of the crew. It does take time to build character but there does seem to be more emphasis on the main three.

Once again the captain, first and second officers all go down to the surface. Once again Tucker challenges T'Pol's orders on the bridge. Hopefully he will eventually learn to trust her.

They where actually lucky that they didn't affect the inhabitants cultually. Also they ended up with a good reason to be there because of that other race interferring.

 

[Neo]

It was definately good to see the other crew...

 

[Neo]

Was actually a good episode... except for archer kisssing th women... bit like kirk... not impressed..

The story was well written and interesting... the ending came around a little too fast. and before u knew it the ending credits were up... ????????

 

[padders]

A good episode, one where going against the prime directive turned out well. I imagine as they seasons go on this will change I guess.

Agree with you about kissing the woman, not sure if that was necessary or not. Will see how they go with this.

 

[Dave]

There is a lot of comedy in these 'Enterprise' episodes and I like them. Not all the comedy works though.

This week they investigate a Menshara class planet in a very cunning alien disguise. T'Pol quite rightly lectures about cultural contamination and we get proto-prime directive nods and winks, but luckily someone else has already culturally contaminated the planet, so they can put it all right again, just like Kirk would. I see that Archer is also going for the Kirk Award for alien smooching and fisticuffs too. At least Archer doesn't get pregnant while he is 'enjoying his tea' with Tyala (as T'Pol put's it.)

Universal Translators and alien disguises.

A lot of problems with Universal Translators (UTs) are problems in the whole of the Star Trek universe -- lack of lip-synch would be one when used secretly like now -- and I guess this episode would never work without the portable UTs, they also explain away much of the unbelievable parts of recent episodes, but if it works so well, why do they need Hoshi at all? And does it translate their own speech into alien, without any accent? The alien Mr. Big, Garos, has never even heard of Earth, but he speaks excellent American English. But if I suspend my disbelief of the UT for a little while, ignore the fact that what Archer spoke was still being translated back to the alien woman while his Translator was shut down, and ignore the fact that their make-up could also make them look exactly like the aliens, I still find it hard to believe that they could exactly replicate the clothing and forged documents. It's all too easy! And notice that T'Pol with her ears, is the only one not to have a hood.

T'Pol would, by now, already be finding it easier and more logical, to simply tell the humans what they want. She may not have emotions herself, but she certainly understands them and what drives the humans, so the teaser at the beginning, when she leaves the Earth-like planet until last, although humorous, was not very logical in my opinion.

T'Pol says that the fear of alien abductions caused anxiety for centuries on Earth. Archer believes that aliens have landed in cornfields long before Klingons ever did.... Which aliens were they then? Did they stop making contact when the Vulcans did? Or was it the Vulcans all along? We really need to know I think!

Archer: "Starfleet could have sent a Probe out here to make maps and take pictures. But they didn't. They sent us. So that we could explore with our own senses."

But if they did that, we couldn't wander around aimlessly from planet to planet for no good reason.

Archer: "If you take away our technology we're not that different."

I agree, they seem just like Earth-men, but Gene Roddenberry didn't, he thought we need to develop more, overcome world wars and social upheavals, and only then would we be eligible to join the galactic community, when we develop Warp Drive -- otherwise why don't the Vulcans give us their technology now? Why don't we just hand ours out to everyone we meet? Why do we need a Prime Directive at all? I know this subject has been covered before, but why give Archer this throwaway line and just leave it? They should have developed it more.

The biggest problem with the plot is that if Garos was so unconcerned about loss of life, "a few thousand" dying out of millions didn't bother him, why not just kill off everyone in the town immediately. Then he could dig out his veridium isotope all day and have it taken away in a big ship, instead of those little wooden boxes secretly during the night.

Oh! And it's a pity that the Mallurian's star system gets wiped out a hundred and fifty-one years later (in 2262) by the Nomad probe in the second season TOS episode "The Changeling." So that's what happened to them!

 

[Neo]

LOL... i was upset to hear they were destroyed in years to come...

 

[Dave]

You see, proof that all their technology means nothing next to Kirk's ability to confuse intelligent machines to self-destruct.

 

[Neo]

Kirk always had a great ability to do that.. he never stops to amaze me..