"The Breach"

Written by Chris Black, John Shiban, and Daniel McCarthy
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill


In which Dr. Phlox is faced with a patient with no desire to be treated, thanks to the past atrocities of the Denobulans, forcing Phlox to consider what the right decision might be...

Synopsis - Analysis - Memorable Quotes - Observations


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Synopsis

As the episode begins, Dr. Phlox feeds his animals as Hoshi walks in. He shows her a tribble, which he then feeds to one of his meat-eating planets. Hoshi is a little put off by it, but she’s there to delivery a message from the Denobulan Science Academy...a message that he finds troubling.

Shortly, Enterprise is on the way to a planet called Xantoros, where a xenophobic military faction has taken control. All aliens are being forced off-world in a matter of days. Enterprise has been asked to find three geologists who have been out of contact for weeks in some deep caves. Archer assigns Mayweather, who has caving experience, to lead the mission, with Trip and Reed rounding out the spelunking team. As the team prepares, Archer informs them that they only have three days before the deadline, so if they can’t find the Denobulan scientists within 36 hours, they are to turn back.

Not long after, Enterprise intercepts a distress call from one of the departing transports, which has encountered a rupture in their reactor room. The Xantoros forces threaten to fire on the transport if they attempt to land. Archer intervenes, docking with the transport and bringing the injured on board. Phlox is startled when he recognizes something about one of the patients, to the point where he is stunned.

Down on Xantoros, the rescue team enters the cave system and finds a massive shaft leading downward into darkness. Mayweather sets his line first, and then begins the descent. The others reluctantly follow.

In sickbay, Archer checks on the status of the injured aliens. One of the patients, an Antaran, is dying. Phlox knows what to do to save the man’s life. However, reacts badly to Phlox when he comes back to consciousness. He tells Archer that he would rather die than be treated by Phlox. Archer is stunned, but Phlox appears to understand why the patient would react in such a manner.

Outside of sickbay, Phlox explains to Archer that the patient is an Antaran, and up until 300 years ago, the Denobulans and Antarans were at war. The conflicts were so terrible that the Antarans and Denobulans no longer have anything to do with each other. Phlox doesn’t even think that discussion over treatment options would help.

Since the will of the patient is the cornerstone of Denobulan medicine, Phlox cannot simply treat the Antaran without the man’s consent. Archer is appalled, since preserving life by any means necessary is more or less the human standard. Phlox doesn’t feel compelled to change his medical ethics for Archer’s comfort, even when Archer makes it an order.

Back in the caves, Trip and Reed find the climb somewhat difficult, but Mayweather gets them through to the first ledge. Mayweather continues on as they rest at the ledge, and notices that the shaft continues far into the darkness below. Trip and Reed notice a Denobulan sample container hidden behind some rocks, and realize they’re on the right track.

Archer visits the injured Antaran, who wants to return to the transport. Archer tries to convince the man that Phlox is an excellent doctor, but the man counters with information about the brutality of Denobulan war practices. Archer is bothered by the information, but he insists that Phlox is still an honorable man and doctor. The Antaran doesn’t want to get to know Phlox well enough to make that individual judgment.

A little later, Archer speaks to Phlox about the matter, and the history between the two species. Archer wonders if the Denobulans and Antarans have made things worse by not speaking to one another since the wars. Phlox doubts that Archer realizes how demonized each race has been by the other, but Archer passionately insists that Phlox find a way to gain the patient’s trust.

In the caves, the team reaches another ledge, where several side passages branch out. They choose the passage with the most interesting rocks, figuring that it would have attracted the interest of the geologists more than the others. The passage takes them to a narrow ledge over another deep shaft. They reach a steep section of the ledge, but before Mayweather can secure a safety line, Reed slips. Trip goes tumbling after, and the safety line rips off the rock. Mayweather grabs the line, trying to stop the others from falling down into the shaft. But Trip and Reed go flying off the edge, and Mayweather only manages to stop himself from also falling in by wedging his foot into a gap in the wall at the end of the ledge.

As Mayweather struggles to hold onto the end of the safety line, Trip and Reed swing for the wall of the shaft. Just as the rope slips from Mayweather’s fingers, Trip manages to anchor the line on the wall. After Trip and Reed climb back to the ledge, they confirm that Mayweather’s ankle is broken. They order Mayweather to stay on the ledge, despite his protests to the contrary, and continue on their own.

In sickbay, Phlox checks on the Antaran’s biosigns, and tries to start up some small talk. The Antaran mocks him all the while, wondering if Phlox thinks that saving one Antaran life will wipe out the guilt of his entire species. The Antaran asks Phlox if he taught his own children to hate Antarans, and what they would think of the fact that his father was speaking to one. Phlox snaps back at the patient, and then storms out of sickbay.

Sometime later, T’Pol finds Phlox sitting alone in the mess. Phlox reluctantly invites T’Pol’s company. Phlox admits that he understands the Antaran’s wishes. When Phlox was young, he wanted to visit an arboreal planet, but his grandmother wouldn’t permit him to go...because once, Antarans had been there. Phlox didn’t go on the trip, but later, he took his own children there. He tried to teach his own children not to judge the Antarans by the old prejudices, but when he leaves the table suddenly, it’s clear that he was not entirely successful.

Back in the caves, Trip and Reed scurry along a constricted passage, and begin detecting Denobulan biosigns. They emerge into a wide cavern, where the three scientists are performing a number of tests. The scientists are startled by the intrusion, and even less happy when Trip explains that they are being ordered to leave. The scientists thank the humans for their trouble, but refuse to go. Trip makes it clear that regardless of his respect for the scientists’ wishes, they have orders. Trip is ready to force them to leave, so the scientists eventually consent to leaving...so long as the humans help them carry out some samples.

Back in sickbay, Phlox informs the Antaran that he intends to carry out the treatment for his injuries. The patient insists on receiving no treatment. Phlox informs the patient that he used to have nightmares about the “evil Antarans”, thanks to the stories of his forebears. He also tells the patient that he was honest with his children. Despite those efforts, Phlox’s youngest son was seduced by one of the remaining anti-Antaran groups, leading to a rift between father and son that has lasted ten years. Phlox tried to set an example for his children, and he challenges his patient to live for his own children.

In the caves, Trip and Reed lead the scientists through the cramped passageway. Trip loses his patience when one of the scientists stops to collect more samples, but then the ground begins to shake. The group struggles to move faster, and high above, Mayweather clings to the wall. As the group reaches the bottom of the shaft, Reed recognizes the tremors as the result of weapons’ fire. As more and more rocks begin to fall, the group is forced to move more quickly.

On Enterprise, Archer contacts the Xantoros regional governor, wondering why the Xantoros forces are firing on the area where the extraction is underway. Archer insists that the weapons’ fire stop, but the Xantoros regional governor declines to stick to the original agreement. When Archer threatens to fire on the Xantoros forces, regardless of the potential consequences, the regional governor wisely stops the military operations.

In sickbay, the patient tells Phlox that he recognizes that the doctor was being sincere, and after thinking about his own family, he accepts treatment.

In the caves, the team and the scientists make it to the top of the first shaft, but they are past the deadline. On Enterprise, Archer is ready to mount a rescue, but then Trip contacts the ship with news that they are on the way. As the shuttlepod leaves the planet, they are fired upon by a Xantoros patrol ship. But Trip recognizes that it’s just a warning, rather than an attempt to shoot them down.

In sickbay, Phlox informs Archer that the treatment has been successful. Archer wants to know how Phlox managed to turn the situation around, but Phlox doesn’t want to discuss it, claiming confidentiality.

Archer sees the Antaran back to the transport, which has been repaired. Archer explains that the three Denobulan geologists are using the transport to return to their homeworld, and that they have been informed that the Antaran will be on board. They have told Archer that they are willing to travel on the same transport, if the Antaran is equally willing. The Antaran seems pleased by that response.

Sometime later, alone in sickbay, Phlox records a heartfelt letter to his youngest son.


Analysis

This episode, like many of the recent episodes, is difficult to evaluate. On the one hand, this is some of the best characterization that the series has seen all season long, and by focusing on Dr. Phlox, it plays to the strength of the cast. On the other hand, there are some aspects of this episode that feel exactly like a “Voyager” retread, and considering what most of those episodes felt like, that’s definitely not a good thing.

As with most of the Berman era characters, the most alien character of the cast is the one that receives the most depth. Phlox is by far the most developed character on “Enterprise”, with T’Pol coming in a close second. But whereas T’Pol is typically placed in neatly packaged situations that are intended as clear-cut plot development, Phlox has been allowed to develop in a more natural way.

Phlox was given a great deal of development in the first season, which has unfortunately fallen to the wayside ever since. No doubt this was intentional, so that the human characters could be given more room for exploration. It’s telling, then, that this one episode centered on Phlox covers more emotional depth and provides more character insight than the rest of the season has afforded the human crew.

If this episode is meant as some kind of setup for future plot threads devoted to Phlox, it’s not blatantly obvious. That is perhaps the best part about the episode. There are a number of areas that could be explored based on what is revealed here, not the least of which is a deeper understanding of Denobulan society. Too many of the episode this season were obviously intended to address a particular plot point, where the writers simply dumped the information on the audience.

It’s interesting to see Phlox, who is usually played for light humor, given such a dramatic turn. The depth of his emotional investment in the situation is clear, and it certainly allows the character to explore areas that haven’t been touched upon for some time. Much like last season’s “Dear Doctor”, arguably the best episode of the series to date, a somewhat stock plot scenario is made far more interesting by the nuances of the actor.

Unfortunately, that only highlights one of the continuing weaknesses of the series. With a character like Phlox, it’s said to think that the writers can only think of a tired plot device to give the character more scope. Considering how many times Mayweather has been written into episodes for no apparent reason, other than as an excuse to give the character something to do, there had to have been something more original that the writers could have conceived.

Like too many episodes of “Voyager”, there are conveniences written into the script to force the necessary confrontations. As involving as the Phlox material turned out to be, and as entertaining as the rescue mission was, certain questions still come to mind. Why didn’t Phlox bring up the fact that Denobulans are natural climbers? Given the time restraints, wouldn’t it have made more sense to send Phlox into the caves as quickly as possible?

Of course, there was the little matter of the alien transport and their wounded. But that might have been equally interesting in the long run. After all, without the doctor, what would the crew do in the event of a medical emergency? Unlike “Voyager”, where there was a plot-driven reason to assign someone to the sickbay for training, the matter hasn’t really been addressed on “Enterprise”. How would Archer’s command decisions have affected the outcome? It’s a minor complaint, of course, since the episode managed to rise above those plotting concerns.

But where the medical drama gives Phlox adequate room for deeper characterization, the rescue mission in the caves has all the hallmarks of the bad writing from “Voyager”. For one thing, that entire plot could have been on “Voyager”, for all that the characters were written as distinct individuals. Only Trip was given a unique voice. Reed and Mayweather could have been extras, or for that matter, replaced with characters from “Voyager”. It would have been exactly the same.

The two plots were obviously meant to play off one another, but the message didn’t quite gel. In both situations, the “saved” characters had to be convinced to live, but the circumstances were so different that the context made a real parallel plot development impossible. In any case, the cave rescue was so lightweight in comparison to the medical issues that it wasn’t clear how one was meant to draw the full parallel.

What was needed, and what has been missing from the series as a whole, is a distinct human voice. On the original series, Kirk’s expression of the human point of view was practically an extension of his being. On “Enterprise”, none of the human characters have enough gravity and presence to make the human side of the argument compelling.

Archer gets as close to that kind of presence as he has been allowed to get in this episode, and it still isn’t enough. There is more of an attempt in this episode to show Archer interacting with Phlox, fleshing out the relationship and revealing something of both men, but in the end, Archer is there as a mouthpiece. One gets the impression that Archer isn’t speaking from a personal belief, but rather, from the needs of the plot.

Once again, it’s clear that when the writers give Scott Bakula something to work with, he has the talent to make it work. Bakula works on a completely different level than, for instance, Tony Montgomery. But that points back at the lack of depth given to the human characters. If the humans were written with half the care given to Phlox, then the series would be given a massive boost in quality.

In looking at this episode, it becomes a question of whether or not the quality of the episode is merited by the writing, or if it simply appears to be better because of the focus on the one character that has been fleshed out properly. The unfortunate truth is that this could have easily been rewritten to be just another episode of “Voyager” where, for instance, the Doctor has to deal with an alien’s distaste for a holographic doctor.

In other words, there is nothing about this episode that is distinct to “Enterprise”. As well as it works for the character of Phlox, the overall situation doesn’t speak to the specific setting of the series. And that is the hallmark of the Berman era, where beyond the general setting of the series, everything is the same. More of the episodes should delve into what makes this time period and crew dynamic unique. Instead, even with the characters that are there, the situations might as well take place 300 years later. And that just doesn’t make sense.


Memorable Quotes

MAYWEATHER: “We take out everything we bring in...”

REED: “You don’t suppose Denobulans carry out everything they bring in?”

MAYWEATHER: “Respectfully, sir...it’s not me that I’m worried about...”

TRIP: “If you don’t start in the next five seconds, I going to take out by phase pistol and shoot you in the ass!”
SCIENTIST: “These rock crystals are priceless!”
TRIP: “One!...Two!...”


Observations

- Robert Duncan McNeill, of course, played Tom Paris on “Voyager”, which no matter how well he directed the episode, is just more evidence of how in-bred the current production team for the franchise has become...

- Interesting way to re-introduce another species from the original series!

- Perhaps it’s just an odd coincidence, but the transport ship looks an awful lot like a Minbari ship from “Babylon 5”...

- There’s nothing that can be done about it, but it’s hilarious to see the actors jump down the same fake wall scene after scene!

- So humans figure that everyone in the universe is attracted by sparkly things?

- Was anyone else laughing hysterically when Mayweather’s foot lodged in the conveniently placed gap in the shaft wall?

- The scene with Trip and the phase pistol had to be one of the funniest moments of the entire season!

- Interesting how the Denobulans are able to climb so easily...as though they were faking it while being pulled up on a wire...

Overall, this episode gives the audience another excellent look at Dr. Phlox, in a situation that forces him to reveal a more personal side of himself. On the other hand, too much of the episode plays like a holdover script from “Voyager”, and considering that this series is set 300 years earlier, that shouldn’t happen. In the end, the strengths and weaknesses balance out.

I give it a 7/10.


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