53: Extinction – Star Trek Enterprise Season 3, Episode 3

by



Matt and Sean talk about ripping yourself off, hard science vs. schlock, and an ending that seems… hopeful(?)

00:00 – Intro
01:29 – Viewer Feedback
04:56 – Today’s Episode
08:37 – This Time in History
12:02 – Episode Discussion

Support the show: https://trekintime.show/join

Audio podcast: https://trekintime.show

Get in touch: https://trekintime.show/contact

Follow us on Twitter: @byseanferrell @mattferrell

source

6 thoughts on “53: Extinction – Star Trek Enterprise Season 3, Episode 3”

  2. Not much else to say, great enterprise episode. Good show guys.
    I think Scott, Dominic and Linda had to much fun being monkeys to even want to evolve. 😁

    Reply

  3. I loved the concept of this episode. A virus that mutates humanoids into a species with instinctive memories. It's like a genetic time capsule. I think it mirrors the TNG episode about the alien time capsule that changes the ship (and Data) into characters from their mythos. I think this episode would've been better without the blood thirsty aliens though.

    Reply

  4. I thought the language problem had more to do with the instincts programmed into them not including any actual culture because they were assuming there would be people left to teach the newcomers.

    Reply

  6. I was enlightened by Sean’s theory that Archer, in similar fashion to Pickard’s ‘second life’ experience, had taken on (via genetic memory) the feeling of personal loss of an entire civilization and therefore felt compelled to preserve the virus’s genetic content.

    [REED ALERT] I didn't feel this last segment of the episode as either 'rushed or ham-fisted', if you consider my theory for the 'real' reason why Archer ordered Phlox to preserve the virus.

    [My Theory]
    At the beginning of the episode, ‘Extinction’, T'pol and we (the audience) are ordered with urgency to the Command Center' where we're informed that Archer has learned of the existence of yet another ‘member’ species of the Xindi who, like us humans, have ‘arboreal’ origins, (humanoid physiology/DNA?). He's worked throughout the night analyzing, decoding, mapping, tracking and now pursuing, the Xindi vessel. {bookend-setup}

    The moment Phlox was told to ‘keep it on ice, put it in stasis, whatever, Understood?'(as fresh as peaches?), I surmised that Archer is considering the ready-availability of the virus as a potential weapon against the Xindi threat. Sure, I understand not all Xindi are humanoid but by infecting those that are (humanoid), Archer could introduce chaos into the Xindi sociopolitical infrastructure. (Obviously for defensive purposes only, ahem.) {bookend}-payoff}

    side note >> Look at the manner in which Archer handles the vial. Is he saying one thing, while thinking another? Does he look like someone deferentially, delicately handling one of the rarest 'jewels' in the universe? Or does he regard this 'vial of virus' less like a 'civilization savior' and more like a 'glass grenade' ready for deployment, if necessary?

    I prefer the latter perspective. To me it broadens Archer's 'story arc' with a more 'ominous' feel and makes me ask the question, 'How far would a determined Archer really be willing to go to eradicate the Xindi threat'? As far as the self-appointed, fire-wielding exterminators we met in this episode were willing to go?
    And how far is too far? By deploying the virus, Archer wouldn't actually be killing anyone, right? And he'd be ensuring not only Earth's survival but also the survival of another previously doomed civilization. A tale of two species, if you will. Oh, and Phlox 'understands' this, by the way.

    Reply

Leave a Comment