The Andorian Incident

When the Enterprise is close to the Vulcan sanctuary of P'Jem, a sacred spot where Vulcans go to meditate and no technology is allowed, Archer and Tucker decide to visit the location and invite T'Pol to go with them. T'Pol teaches the protocol to the earthlings, but when they reach the monastery, they observe that some objects are out of place. Sooner they are captured and find out that the Andorians have taken the sanctuary and arrested the dwellers, suspecting that the Vulcans spy their planet with a powerful sensor. When the distrustful Andorians scam the Enterprise and see the officer of science T'Pol, they believe that the starship crew collaborates with Vulcans and they decide to interrogate Archer. When Lieutenant Reed is transported with two security guards to protect the hostages, they chase the Andorians through the sacred catacombs, where they discover a hidden secret.

"The Andorian Incident" is so far the best episode of the First Season of Enterprise. The story introduces the Andorian breed, and discloses the real behavior of the Vulcans, who does not walk the way they talk. The disappointment of T'Pol with her own people is very clear and may change her relationship with Archer and the Enterprise crew. I liked very much watching the "Reanimator" Jeffrey Combs in the role of the Andorian Commander Shran. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Incidente Andoriano" ("The Andorian Incident")

Archer and company have a close encounter with Jeffrey Combs and his band of paranoid Andorians in this minor adventure. The depth of Fred Dekker's script is close to a "Lost in Space" episode that the grandeur of Star Trek.

Visiting a Vulcan religious retreat on a distant planet gets our heroes in hot water, held hostage by Combs. The ongoing rift between humans and Vulcans is only a subplot, but seems to be heading somewhere here, but no meaningful message is delivered.

Even a hint of potential romance when Scott and Blalock cuddle up under a blanket against the cold in captivity leads nowhere. In the great scheme of things, a minor excursion.

The Enterprise visits the Vulcan monastery at T'Jem.

This is the strongest episode of the series so far giving us a riveting hostage drama with a twist in its tail.

We learn about the relationship between the Vulcans and Andorians and witness the first humans entering the tense politics between the two neighbouring peoples.

It works well if you have prior knowledge of the original series, particularly from watching the episode 'Journey To Babel'. Although some die hard Trek fans hate Enterprise for its portrayal of the Vulcans, especially in this episode. I did struggle a little bit with this aspect of it, but that (for me) doesn't take away the fact that it is very well made episode. Another way of looking at it is that if all Enterprise did was tell us what we already knew from other series it would be quite boring.

Archer has a decent showing in this one along with Tucker and Reed in moments. T'Pol again is as ice cold a Vulcan as you will come across. I can't tell if it's just a lifeless performance or intended to be that way. Either way it works when you have a character who is not meant to show emotion, in the same way that Arnold Schwarzenegger works as the Terminator. Jeffrey Combs makes a great Andorian, both looking and acting the part.

The resolution of the story is not everyone's cup of tea but I'm glad they included it as it raised the story up a few levels of interest.

I remember from the original Star Trek we would see an occasional Andorian in a mixed group. Archer decides he would like to see the place where Vulcans have gone for centuries to meditate and restore their emotional distance. But when the Enterprise crew comes to the entrance, they are met by Andorians who are combing the sanctuary, trying to find the Vulcan's spyworks. They are an emotional and violent people, blue in appearance, with antennae on their heads. Archer is repeatedly beaten because they suspect he knows more that he is letting on. They are unable to contact Enterprise because their communicators have been smashed. This could lead to an all-out attack on the facility. Malcolm and his away team are able to get a signal from Trip and arrive. The conclusion is quite interesting.