3.03: Extinction

[Dave]

On a mission to investigate an abandoned Xindi vessel on a jungle planet, Archer, Reed and Hoshi succumb to a virus that mutates them into a primal life form.

Rick Berman: ...a genetically engineered virus, designed by a desperate race on the verge of extinction, transforms Archer, reed and Hoshi into alien creatures.

 

[Mariel]

Kinda reminded me of that episode of TNG where Goerdi is transformed into that alien that can't be seen in normal light.

Archer, Hoshi, Malcom and T'Pol go down to a planet to investigate a Xindi ship. All but T'Pol are transformed into an alien species(don't remember the name) and they are drawn to a city on the planet. As it turns out the aliens that once inhabited the planet had died and they made this virus to transform other aliens into their species. Archer and the others are cured and Phlox asks if Archer wants to distroy the virus. The virus is kept because Archer feels like the aliens who developed it would truly be dead if he did.
:blpaw:

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Mariel
Archer and the others are cured and Phlox asks if Archer wants to distroy the virus. The virus is kept because Archer feels like the aliens who developed it would truly be dead if he did.
:blpaw:

Two things come to mind: I hope that they put one of those warning buoys in orbit to keep away other ships, and doesn't Phlox deserve some kind of Carrington Award, like Dr. Julian Bashir was nominated for, as Phlox seems to be even more brilliant than him.

 

[skoon]

This ep was just like the Stargate ep Bain...which I found boring as heck, however, the Enterprise version was a bit more interesting. Still, I don't see how they could 'change them back' & all even if the initial change is possible in the first place.

 

[Dave]

I've not seen it obviously, but it also sounds a little like the 'Star Trek: Next Generation' episode 'Genesis'.

 

[Dave]

Well I have seen it now, and really don't have much more to add. I thought that the first half was tedious and the science shakey, but the second half picked up a little and in the end it wasn't that bad. The dark lighting made it very difficult to watch though.

Those other aliens had spent 60 years trying to eradicate the virus, so either Phlox is absolutely brilliant, to cure it in a single day, or else they were extremely lucky to have a Vulcan along with those useful antibodies in her system.

And changing them back in a matter of minutes....? Well all I can say is that it's not the first time they've done that in 'Trek'. It doesn't make it anymore believable this time though.

 

[ray gower]

Think the science was beyond shakey.
A three day old bite from a peach is enough to supply all the fresh Vulcan DNA to create a vaccine and not a bat in sight. I suppose if it had been a day fresher they could recreate a fresh T'Pot?
And the virus manages to create a genetically generated map to make them return home?
It was a tried and tested plot, not just Genesis, but anything involving Borg assimilation requires major genetic restructuring of the infected person as well. In the science stakes, I think I would give the nod to the Borg for believability.

But actually my largest quibble is with Archer's decision at the end. The race is dead, man!
The only way to resurrect it is to destroy another race. Even then it must evolve into something intelligent again, where upon they are even less likely to be original.
Which all goes to highlight the dicotomy in the treatment of the Borg. Resist a Borg recrutment attack, but happily roll over to become another bunch of foreigners that are definitely dead!

And of course we have the required T'Pot/Trip neck massage. Makes the score T'Pot 3 Xindi 1

 

[Dave]

You're very insightful. I just saw it in same way as how we still hold on to the Smallpox virus, even though it only now exists within a laboratory. You are correct though, it's much more akin to the Borg and there nanoprobes which are always portrayed as 'evil'. So, what is the difference? Why did Archer give orders to destroy the individuals infected with one, but want to protect the individuals infected with the other?

 

[ray gower]

I always thought that Smallpox was only dead because of the worldwide vaccination plan which is still in operation. If we stop vaccinating, within a few years it will start to reappear again like TB has?

 

[Dave]

The vaccination plan worked so successfully that in no longer exists 'in the wild' as it were. So, if they destroyed the laboratory stored samples it would be extinct. (unless doctor evil or some mad dictator has some stockpiled away)

I think that may actaully be the reason, it could be a very potent weapon in the future when no one is vaccinated any more.

Anyway, I digress... anyone else still watch this series?