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Star Trek: Enterprise follows the “North Star” and takes a page out of the third season of the Original Series. “Western” is the genre of the day! The western is a classic staple of genre shows (outside of being a genre itself). The previous Trek series have all done their own version of the western, to varying degrees of success. In the ninth episode of its third season, Enterprise takes a step back from the Xindi Conflict of the early 2000s and delivers an episode that feels much more of the ’60s in tone and concept. Is it a welcome reprieve?
The Wikipedia plot summary for “North Star”:
While in the Delphic Expanse, Enterprise discovers a planet inhabited by 6,000 humans who are living in the fashion of the 1860s American frontier. Captain Archer, Commander Tucker and Sub-Commander T’Pol beam-down to the surface in period costume to investigate. They head into one of the numerous towns to observe the humans and aliens first-hand, and while Tucker and T’Pol acquire a horse, Archer stops Deputy Bennings from belittling a “Skag” waiter in the town’s tavern. After questioning Archer on his plans and intentions, Sheriff MacReady tells Bennings to keep a close eye on Archer.
Archer, wishing to learn more about the Skagarans, enters the house of a teacher named Bethany he had seen earlier. The two depart for “Skag Town”, the remnants of a 300-year-old wrecked spacecraft, but the deputy notices them leave. They arrive and meet Tucker and T’Pol, who had arrived earlier. Tucker and T’Pol travel back to Enterprise to investigate some data logs found in the wreckage, while Archer stays behind. On Enterprise Ensign Sato discovers that the humans overthrew their Skagaran masters after being brought to the planet. Bennings arrests and imprisons Bethany for teaching the children. Archer helps her to escape, but she is shot by Bennings. Archer orders an emergency beam-up in front of Bennings and other locals.
Doctor Phlox treats her injury and discovers that she is one-quarter Skagaran. Meanwhile, back on the planet, Bennings hands in his deputy badge after MacReady orders him not to take further action against the Skagarans. Archer returns in a shuttlepod along with T’Pol and a security crew, led by Lieutenant Reed — all wearing their modern uniforms. Landing in the center of town, he informs the Sheriff that he is from Earth and will return to help them once their mission is over. Bennings then shoots MacReady, starting a firefight. In the chaos, Archer is also shot by Bennings, but finally overpowers him in a fistfight. Enterprise then departs, but not before returning Bethany to the surface, and providing her with a PADD to educate the local children about Earth’s recent history.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “North Star” and Enterprise finding a genre to match its storytelling habits. Plus! The guys chat about avoiding the Prime Directive, bad alien acne, and not having enough room to give someone a ride.