Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Enterprise returns to a somewhat serialized narrative with “Shadows of P’Jem”! After the events of “Broken Bow” and “The Andorian Incident”, “Shadows of P’Jem” finds our heroes returning to the ruins of the Temple of P’Jem. An Andorian attack has leveled the temple. In response, T’Pol is being summoned back to Vulcan by the petty Vulcan High Command. Archer and the crew, in the meantime, find a planet on the verge of civil war (I think?). Archer and T’Pol are captured and forced to play sexy Twister. And eat cold oatmeal without a spoon!
The Wikipedia plot summary for “Shadows of P’Jem”:
“A Vulcan delegation, headed by Ambassador Soval, complains to Admiral Forrest about the recent diplomatic incident at P’Jem. Soval blames Captain Archer: in response, joint fleet operations are suspended, and Sub-Commander T’Pol is to be recalled from her post. Enterprise, however, is already on its way to Coridan, a planet which has a mining agreement and the largest starship construction yards in the sector. As Archer and T’Pol head to the capital city, their shuttlepod is captured. Later, they try to escape, but are soon recaptured by Traeg, an anti-government leader, who then sends a ransom request of weapons to Enterprise.
After refusing to co-operate with the Vulcans (sent by Soval to return T’Pol to Vulcan) and their rescue mission, Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed mount their own, leaving Sato to somehow distract them. The pair are soon ‘captured’ by Commander Shran and Tholos of the Andorian Imperial Guard, who want to repay Archer for his interventions at P’Jem. The humans and Andorians covertly break into the rebel compound where Archer and T’Pol are being held, while the Vulcans, led by Captain Sopek, attempt a more direct rescue mission.
The rival groups then confront one another amid the wreckage of the compound. As they argue about treaty violations, T’Pol notices Traeg targeting the group. She pushes Sopek out of the way and takes the phaser blast meant for him. Archer gathers her up and leaves with his away-team. In Sickbay, Doctor Phlox treats her, and Sopek arrives to ask about her condition. Archer asks that T’Pol be given a second chance, and he agrees to lobby the Vulcan High Command on her behalf. As they leave, Phlox revives T’Pol with a hypospray, and Archer says that she will be on Enterprise for a while longer.”
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss Enterprise’s attempts at serialized storytelling and whether or not the franchise as a whole needs to pick a narrative direction. Plus! The guys talk about taking a punch to the stomach, the weird characterization of the Vulcans, and the sexual frustrations of Shran!