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Upon approaching a black hole, the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise starts exhibiting strange behavior and uncharacteristically obsesses over trivial matters. “Singularity” is a slow building mystery that effectively combines Enterprise’s mastery of horror and dread with a subtle change in characterization over the episode. It might be a rather traditional “people on the ship start going crazy” episode, but after the rough stretch that Enterprise has had, it’s nice to get a solid outing to bring things back into the center lane.
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Singularity”:
It is August 14, 2152, and Enterprise decides to explore a unique black hole nestled within a trinary star system. Cruising at impulse, it will take a few days to get there, freeing the crew up for other activities. Captain Archer uses the chance to work on the preface for a book about his father, and also asks Commander Tucker to look at the Captain’s chair on the bridge. Meanwhile, Ensign Sato volunteers to help in the galley, Lieutenant Reed begins works on some new ship wide security protocols, and Doctor Phlox examines Ensign Mayweather’s headache.
Over the next few days the crew starts obsessing about their selected tasks. Their behavior is also affecting their interactions — Reed and Tucker nearly come to blows, and Phlox sedates a frustrated and non-consenting Mayweather to perform an invasive medical test. The situation becomes so acute that Sub-Commander T’Pol, who remains unaffected, easily notices that everyone else is behaving oddly. Her investigation into the cause reveals that a peculiar form of radiation emitted from the black-hole is the underlying cause. Unfortunately, it will take two days to reverse course and leave the radiation field, and while she was determining this, everyone else on board has fallen unconscious.
There is an alternate path, but it will require piloting Enterprise closer to the dangerous black hole and she cannot navigate the treacherous field and pilot at the same time. T’Pol rouses the groggy captain with a cold shower and hot coffee, enough that he is able to man the helm. His ability to fly is sluggish however, and as they near the exit, a large crumbling asteroid blocks Enterprise’s path. Reed’s obsession created an automatic “Tactical Alert” that automatically kicks in and brings all defensive systems fully online, thus allowing T’Pol to blast the asteroids with the fully charged phase cannon. Once clear, things on-board soon return to normal, with the exception of the captain’s improved chair and Reed’s newly proven security protocol.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Singularity” and debate whether or not being weird is enough to carry an episode. Plus! The guys talk about can openers, those desks from high school, and how Enterprise chooses to end episodes.