Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 17:03:04 -0800
From: Danielle Ni Dhighe <morrigan@morrigan.net>
>As far has this episodes allegory with AIDS, they should
>have aired it back in the late 1980's/early 1990's when
>AIDS awareness was at its most need!
Early on in the show, my exact thought was "this is an allegory about AIDS".
>I really don't like how Vulcan society has been portrayed
>in Enterprise, especially in this episode.
I agree. Granted this takes place a century before the Vulcans we're most
familiar with, but even then, these Vulcans are less logical than the
humans on the show.
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 20:32:07 -0700
From: Jacob Albretsen <jakea@xmission.com
> There was definitely a continuity violation with Enterprise's own
> history on mind-melding. In 'Fusion', T'Pol had referred about how
> not only her, but how Vulcan society seemed unaware of mind-melders.
> And now in this episode, she and the rest of her fellow Vulcans are
> completely aware of mind melds, though during this era it is looked
> down upon. Plus, T'Pol willing went through the mind meld in
> 'Fusion'. She was not forced or coerced. Oh well, go figure.
Wasn't there a point where she told whoever to stop and he didn't? It's times
like this I wish I had the $$$ to buy tapes and record the episodes so I can
go bad and look.
> I
> find it hard to believe how during the 22nd century, mind melds are
> limited to only a very few Vulcans with the genetic trait, only to be
> a widely common practice among all Vulcans and accepted in the 23rd
> and 24th centuries.
This story line still has room to be developed. I am interested to see what
they do with it. This is Star Trek after all, we just need some technobable
to solve issues like this.
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 18:58:39
From: Boris Badenov <bbad@frostbite.falls.state.mn.us>
|I thought the subplot with Trip and Feezal was great! There were
|some really good hilarious moments worth laughing over! In some ways
|it was even more entertaining than the main plot. It was good to see
|some more good character development of Phlox and a "peak" at his
|multi-wived culture and lifestyle. In fact, there was enough
|material to do a whole story on this topic. If there had been any
|doubts about Trip's gentleman-ness in 'Precious Cargo', well, this
|experience with Phlox's wife will certainly straighten him out for a
|while.
Overall, nice review, MJC. This point has not been discussed enough, both as a standalone
topic, and any relationship it might bear - in addition to being in the same story - to
the T'Pol storyline, and the intended allegorical issues addressed. I'm not sure there
are any, but HIV is an *S*TD, so the question bears asking. One also must wonder, in view
of the allegorical context overall, what role STD's play in the Denobulan culture
|As far has this episodes allegory with AIDS, they should have aired
|it back in the late 1980's/early 1990's when AIDS awareness was at
|its most need!
There is much to say here that hasn't been. First, the public service announcement at the
end was subtle and very well done. If you're going to do a preachy story, this is the way
to do it. Some here found it heavy handed. I found it restrained to the point of being
lost. There is no doubt in my mind, for example, that many people watching that episode,
and talking about it later, will exclaim in astonishment, "That was about *AIDS*?"
When that thought occurred to me [viewers won't see the connection], then I began to
explore the notion of how well the story worked *without* the connection. And, the answer
there, I thought, is very well. This was a well-written, well-acted, tightly-plotted
episode that worked for me without needing any references to modern day social problems.
I'm inclined to think, even saying so, that you can't divorce the story from its
connection to our times, because it appears that Berman and Braga really wanted to do a
first-rate social problem story, and they poured their hearts and souls into this for that
reason.
It was a good job. This may be the best episode yet, and ranks up there with Dear Doctor
and Carbon Creek on my list of personal favorites. I tried hard not to like it. I really
did, because I don't like preachy stories like Drumhead, and The High Ground, and the
Outcast and Who Watches the Watchers. But, I couldn't. This was first rate storytelling,
and this is so irrespective of references to modern day social problems.
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:58:09
From: "Lisa <sestra15@y...>"
> Synopsis: T'Pol contracts a disease that would forever stigmatize
> heramong her people.
Ok, so we know that Dr Phlox can control the advancement of the
disease but not cure it. So are we to assume that T'Pol will have
this for good and that symptoms may pop up from time to time?
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:57:39
From: "ace1174 <dacaria@a...>"
In the episode "Fusion" T'Pol did ask the Vulcan (don't remember his
name) to stop the meld, but he didn't, she was finally able to push
him off but not before he caused her neurological damage which sent
her to the sick bay for a few days. That could be what they were
referring to. As for the whole mind-meld issue, Vulcans are very
secretive, look at the Pungfar (sp?) subject. Perhaps they didn't
want outsiders to know of their abilities. Also, since mindmeld does
cause neurological damage, perhaps it became a more common practice
once they found a way to prevent this damage. So with the stigma of
the disease no longer an issue, more Vulcans would reveal themselves
proving that more than a limited group of Vulcans have this ability.
Just my theory.
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 14:20:31
From: "Deity" <worship@myfeet.com>
I loved this ep too!