Enterprise 1.21 FAQ

What’s it called?

“Detained.”

Who’s responsible?

Teleplay is credited to Mike Sussman & Phyllis Strong (“Strange New World,” “Civilization,” “Shadows of P’Jem,” “Fusion”).

1.21? Is next week the season finale?

No. “Enterprise” is one of the few series left that actually produces 26 hours of programming each season, the way God intended.

What does TV Guide say?

“Dean Stockwell appears in a well-written tale that reunites him with his former Quantum Leap costar Scott Bakula. The story opens with Archer (Bakula) and Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) in a Tandaran prison alongside members of the shapeshifting Suliban. Col. Grat (Stockwell), the commandant, explains that the Tandarans are at war with the Suliban and that Archer's shuttle was impounded after it entered a restricted area. ‘You might think about putting up a “no trespassing” sign,’ quips Archer. But Archer's not amused when a prisoner (Dennis Christopher) tells him the Suliban - women and children included - are being imprisoned solely because of their race.”

The imprisoned Suliban can shapeshift?

I’m a little unclear on this. They’re certainly not shown shapeshifting. Can all Suliban shapeshift or just the genetically-enhanced ones?

What is TV Guide not telling us?

There are echoes of “The Enterprise Incident.”

The big news?

Reed takes a ride on the transporter.

What’s good?

The most compelling scenes are the ones featuring Stockwell as the passive-aggressive warden, anxious to squeeze info out of Archer. Also fun is the way a bloodied Mayweather offers his keepers cheerful chattiness toward episode’s end.

What’s not so good?

The allegory is laid on pretty thick; this sort of thing was handled with a lot more care, wit and finesse on “The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine.” (It doesn’t help that this installment focuses on the series’ two least interesting characters.) Oh, and? How many episodes this season are going to center around Archer escaping from alien captors?

How does it end, spoiler boy?

Everybody busts out.

Herc’s rating for “Enterprise” 1.21?

**1/2

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

• ***** better than we deserve
• **** better than most motion pictures
• *** actually worth your valuable time
• ** as horrible as most stuff on TV
• * makes you quietly pray for bulletins

I am – Hercules!!

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