"Stigma"

Written by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga
Directed by David Livingston


In which a rare disease contracted through mind-melds makes T’Pol a pariah among her people...

Synopsis - Analysis - Memorable Quotes - Observations


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Synopsis

As the episode begins, Dr. Phlox informs T’Pol that treatment for some affliction has become ineffective. But there is a medical conference coming up, and Phlox is positive that he can inquire as to possible treatments without tipping off the Vulcan delegates. T’Pol is not nearly so certain, but she reluctantly agrees.

At the Interspecies Medical Exchange conference, one of Phlox’s wives comes aboard to help with the installation of a new neutron microscope. Phlox hasn’t seen Feezal in more than four years, which astounds Archer and Trip. They are even more amazed when Feezal and Phlox practically demand that she begin work immediately.

On the planet, Phlox meets with the three Vulcan delegates. Phlox claims that he desires information on the treatment of Pe’Nar Syndrome because it might give him insight into a Denobulan disease back on his homeworld. The Vulcans are skeptical, and also relucntant to talk about a disease that afflicts only a small percentage of an “undesirable minority”.

Feezal helps Trip install the neutron microscope. Throughout the entire exercise, Feezal flirts with Trip, sometimes more than a little blatantly. Trip is obviously uncomfortable with her behavior.

Archer meets with Archer for breakfast, and wonders if T’Pol would like to go down to the conference and meet with her people. T’Pol declines, but then the Vulcans request to meet with Archer, T’Pol, and Phlox on the Enterprise. The doctors ask Archer to leave, and then ask Phlox for more detail on his request.

The Vulcans find it hard to believe that Phlox would not have consulted T’Pol on Pe’Nar Syndrome. In fact, they drill T’Pol on her knowledge of the disease. She explains that the syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal side effect of mind melds, a practice which in her time is restricted to a Vulcan subculture. Knowing that the doctors are quite aware of this information, T’Pol demands to know why she is being questioned.

The Vulcan doctors believe that Phlox was attempting to retrieve information about the syndrome for T’Pol, especially after she admits to having met several “melders” in the past. They want to know if she condones their behavior. Also, because the disease is confined to “undesirables”, a cure for the syndrome is not a priority. They leave without providing the information, and once back on the surface, they use an acquired DNA sample to determine that T’Pol has Pe’Nar Syndrome.

Meanwhile, Feezal continues to instruct Trip on the use of the neutron microscope. All the while, Phlox and Feezal trade some gossip on the extended family. Feezal continues to flirt with Feezal, right in front of Phlox, which makes Trip nearly faint.

Archer calls Phlox to his ready room, where T’Pol has already been called. Archer informs them that he has been contacted by the head Vulcan doctor, and they have told him about Phlox’s deception. Archer wants to know why they lied, especially considering the seriousness of the disease. T’Pol explains that if the Vulcan High Command were to learn about her condition, she would lose her commission.

Archer doesn’t understand, until T’Pol explains that the telepathic minority on Vulcan is prejudiced against, and only members of the minority can initiate a mind meld. T’Pol reminds Archer that she was attacked by a member of that minority (“Fusion”), which was the source of her infection. Now that the symptoms have progressed, Phlox can no longer contain them.

Archer goes down to the conference and demands to speak with the Vulcans. He attempts to persuade them to share their research on the syndrome, but they continue to deny the request. When it’s clear that the Vulcans will not help, Archer tries to stop them from informing their High Command. But even in that, the Vulcans refuse to help.

Sometime after, T’Pol receives a message from the surface. Afterward, she meets with Archer, and she tells him that Dr. Yuris, the youngest delegate, has requested to speak with her alone. When she goes to the meet with Yuris, he provides her with the research. He is risking his career to give her the information because he himself is a part of the telepathic minority.

In the mess, Trip and Hoshi are speaking together when Feezal joins them. Hoshi and Feezal begin speaking Denobulan, which makes Trip paranoid. Feezal’s little game of footsie doesn’t help. When Hoshi leaves, Trip notes that Feezal is a married woman, but that doesn’t seem to matter to her.

Thrown for a loop, Trip stammers his way out of the conversation. Trip meets up with Reed in the gym. Reed teases him a bit, and then cautions Trip not to say anything to Phlox. But Trip thinks it might be best just to lay everything out on the table.

Phlox and T’Pol go over the research. Phlox is positive that the research will be enough, but Archer comes down to inform T’Pol that she’s been recalled. When the conference is over, the Vulcan delegates will take her back to Vulcan with them. Archer tries to convince T’Pol to tell them how she contracted the disease, but she refuses to use that as a defense. After all, if she does, she would be condoning the prejudice against the minority.

Archer goes back to the planet, demanding to see Dr. Oratt, the head of the Vulcan delegation. Archer unbraids Oratt on his bigotry, and then reminds him that anyone charged with ethical misconduct has the right to a hearing before the ranking medical officer. Even though Oratt believes it to be a waste of time, he concedes to Archer’s demand.

Trip stops by sickbay to speak with Phlox. He explains that Feezal has been trying to seduce him, which Phlox takes extremely well. In fact, he practically tosses Trip into Feezal’s arms, and doesn’t understand Trip’s reaction at all. But she refuses to mention how she was infected.

Archer informs T’Pol about the hearing, but T’Pol doesn’t want to defend herself. Archer counters that she ought to at least use the hearing to defend the minority, if that’s what she believes. The Vulcan delegates maintain their stance, no matter what Archer argues. Archer points out their lack of acceptance of diversity, regardless of their claims to the contrary.

When one of the other delegates calls for the hearing to end, with the decision still standing, Dr. Yuris changes her mind, revealing that he is one of the minority. More than that, Yuris reveals that T’Pol was violated and infected against her will. T’Pol still refuses to confirm it, and Archer stands by her decision.

Sometime later, Trip and Phlox say farewell to Feezal. Phlox laments that Trip and Feezal were unable to get together, and wish them luck should Feezal ever return to Enterprise. Trip, frazzled, stammers off, to the amusement of the Denobulans.

T’Pol meets with Archer, and learns that Dr. Yuris has been suspended. However, the delegation believed Yuris when he said T’Pol was forced, and so she will be allowed to stay on Enterprise. At her request, he grants permission for her to contact the High Command and defend Yuris. They both express the hopes that this incident will help others speak out against the prejudice against victims of Pe’Nar Syndrome.


Analysis

This episode continues the grand tradition of tackling difficult social issues within the context of the Star Trek franchise. While some efforts are more effective than others, this episode manages to avoid some of the more obvious pitfalls. Some moments are more preachy than others, but in many ways, there are justifications for those moments, both within the script and within the wider social context.

Pe’Nar Syndrome is, of course, a thinly veiled analogue of the AIDS virus. It’s just as obvious that the telepathic community is meant to be an analogue of the homosexual communities. Framing the entire situation as a Vulcan matter, and using it to expand on the differences between the Vulcans of “Enterprise” and later time periods, allows the writers to make pointed accusations at groups that would let people die horribly because they engage in “unacceptable practices”.

It may seem like liberal preaching, but there are lessons to be learned. Research on the AIDS virus and efforts to help those suffering from its effects are often held back by closed-minded prejudice and outright hate. Tellingly, such actions are often undertaken or supported by so-called “religious objections”, which is the epitome of hypocrisy. Regardless of the cause, no religion advocates the tolerance of suffering.

The above is far from an out-of-context diatribe, because of all the species shown in the Star Trek franchise, the Vulcans have been the most spiritually inclined. Therefore, the analogy works rather well. The cultural desire to repress and control emotions is tantamount to a religion on Vulcan, and it has already been shown that those engaging in mind melds to share emotions are considered “heretics”, a specifically religious term.

Early in the history of the AIDS epidemic, victims were painted with the same broad brush. T’Pol finds herself the victim of such assumptions in this episode, and it is an interesting and engaging twist. It ties the episode into the larger context of T’Pol’s personal evolution and her experience in “Fusion”. It also happens to give the writers a way to have T’Pol stand for her principles, yet ultimately remain on Enterprise.

All of this serves to underscore how different the Vulcans of “Enterprise” are from Spock’s time. While there have been hints that there were significant differences, now it has been confirmed. This is not the Vulcan culture that has embraced IDIC, but rather a far more insular and arrogant Vulcan society. This puts the entire portrayal of the Vulcans from the inception of the series into perspective, and highlights how well the Vulcans have been written.

It’s plain that the writers and creators intended for the Vulcans to be less enlightened, so as to allow humanity to give them the unique perspective necessary to help them better themselves. It is this process of cultural awareness that is certain to lead to Federation. It is a credit to the writers that they were able to render the Vulcans so similar to their later counterparts, making the change in their perceptions subtle rather than massive.

Incorporated with these elements are insights into the relationships between Archer, T’Pol, and Phlox. Archer is given his strongest showing yet, and Phlox reveals just how far he is willing to go for the sake of those in his care. T’Pol shows a passionate determination to stand by her principles, and her barely restrained emotions are a testimony to how far the character is being pushed to her limits.

The “B” plot for this episode doesn’t live up to the main plot. Feezel’s advances are clearly meant to show how human morality can seem peculiar to alien cultures. While the audience is meant to agree that the Vulcan morality is skewed and incorrect, there is a suggestion that Trip’s reaction to Feezel’s flirtation is an example of aliens finding human morality to be skewed.

That point could have been drawn a bit more clearly, allowing the episode to explore a broader perspective. But as it stands, the Feezel plot is used for comic relief, and the larger implications and philosophical points are lost.

In essence, this episode was a reaction to Viacom’s request that series on UPN address various aspects of the AIDS crisis. The writers effectively used that mandate to further explore the universe of “Enterprise”, and clarify the Vulcan culture of its time.


Memorable Quotes

FEEZAL: “It’s very simple. Insert the thick end into this opening…”

FEEZAL: “I wasn’t exactly…pulling your leg, was I?”

TRIP: “She’s your wife!”

TRIP: “Well…I ought to get make to my warp engines…the plasma’s running a little hot…”
FEEZAL: “I know how it feels.”
TRIP: “Pleasure meeting you…”
PHLOX: “Humans!”


Observations

- I don’t know about anyone else, but it’s nice to see all of these dedications to the crew of Columbia. For this series, of course, it reminds us of the similar dedication to the Challenger crew before “Star Trek IV”.

- Oh, look, another teaser that lasts less than 60 seconds…

- I love Archer and Trip’s discomfort whenever Phlox and Feezal “kiss”!

- Hmm…female Denobulans are just as much fun as the male kind, it seems…

- If T’Pol has had the syndrome for nearly a year, that means that at least that much time has passed since “Fusion”. That would place this episode late in 2252, continuing the accelerated passage of time.

- What’s with the running subplot of the mysterious “chooser of the movies”?

- Is it me, or did Oratt look like he wanted to knock Archer on his ass…

- Mayweather’s little scene was a complete waste of time!

Overall, this episode presented strong performances by Archer, T’Pol, and Phlox, while also expanding on what has been revealed about Vulcan society during the years prior to Federation. The subplot was weak in comparison, but that did not detract from the strength of the episode.

I give it an 8/10.


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