I doubt I'll be awarding many 10s on a 1-10 scale for anything ever.
There was absolutely no flaw in this episode, but that's not enough, it actually went way beyond what could have been a 'good' story and hit the peak with everything working towards a compelling experience with no preaching or lameness, yet demanding consideration.
Enterprise is a sci-fi series. It's also part of the Star Trek universe, obviously. Enterprise is also a story of human exploration, dilemmas, and triumphs.
This particular episode hits every one of those right on the head, it's a true sci-fi story - but not beyond enjoyment by those who might be hesitant to watch hard sci-fi. It's a wonderful addition to the Trek universe, dealing with real issues with the Trek storyline as backdrop, yet accessible even to those who don't follow the various series. And the human element is abundant, every bit of it.
The acting by everyone involved was superb, and the plot excellent. The directing had the perfect balance between the harshness demanded by the story and the subtlety required to cover the intricacies involved.
I wanted to point out some specific scenes, but there were several and I can do this without any spoilers. Suffice it to say the dialog and character interaction varies from chilling to heart-rending - with plenty of subtleties along the way.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this episode to anyone, and if anyone involved ever sees this, congratulations on taking the allotted 40 something minutes and delivering something profound that all by itself justifies the entire Enterprise series and does the genre proud.
