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Star Trek: Enterprise has been playing it subtle. Hinting at the War on Terror and 9/11 without actually getting into the weeds with politics and religion. With “Chosen Realm”, however, the series makes the jump into a far more recognizable plot with direct connections to jihad, suicide bombing, and ethnic cleansing. We’ve been complaining that Enterprise is treating its subject matter with kid gloves, but is that all about to change?
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Chosen Realm”:
Commander Tucker and Ensign Mayweather are gathering readings on a third sphere in the Delphic Expanse. Enterprise receives a distress call from a Triannon ship which reports they have been damaged by a spatial anomaly. Enterprise takes them aboard, and D’Jamat, the leader of the group, has dinner with Captain Archer where he explains they have been on a year-long pilgrimage to a sphere. They believe deities, called the “Makers,” constructed the spheres to transform the expanse, their “Chosen Realm,” into a paradise. D’Jamat then rejects T’Pol’s scientific logic that there are only 59 known spheres.
Later, D’Jamat demands Archer turn over control of the ship or it will be destroyed, and demonstrates this by having one of his group self-detonate, killing one crew member. Having little choice, Archer submits. D’Jamat then sets a course for his home world and explains that he intends to use Enterprise to end a religious civil war that has embroiled his planet for a century. D’Jamat also examines the ship’s records and finds that Enterprise had extensive contact with the spheres—a severe violation under his faith. He then erases 19 XB of sphere data, and demands that Archer choose one crew member to die.
While Archer is contemplating his decision he approaches Yarrick, D’Jamat’s deputy, questioning his resolve, but Yarrick rebuffs him. Archer then tells D’Jamat that he has selected himself to be killed, but requests it be done using a device they use for “waste disposal”. That device turns out to be the transporter, which T’Pol uses to beam Archer elsewhere on the ship. Archer then contacts Doctor Phlox and they develop an airborne agent to neutralize the Triannon’s organic explosives. Archer again confronts Yarrick and convinces him to help disperse the agent throughout the ship, and learns that the religious war is primarily based around a difference of opinion over whether it took nine or ten days to for the Makers to complete their work. Meanwhile, four ships from the “heretic” Triannon faction intercept Enterprise. During the fight, the crew manage to subdue D’Jamat and end the battle. In the brig, D’Jamat remains convinced his actions were justified, so Archer takes him down to their planet. The Triannons are left staring in horror at their completely devastated world, which lies in ruins, having been ravaged by the religious war.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Chosen Realm” and the utter failure of the M.A.C.O.’s. Plus! The guys chat about charismatic villains, not having a backup hard drive, and homages to The Original Series.