Daedalus

When Dr. Emory Erickson, the inventor of Transporter technology comes aboard the Enterprise to test his latest idea which, if it works, will make it possible to transport people over inter-planetary distances Trip is keen to meet him. As the work starts however it seems as if something isn't quite right; he is insistent that only he can do the required work and won't even let Trip take a look at his notes. When they enter an empty area of space where they are due to carry out the experiment something strange happens, some sort of entity appears on board and when it comes into contact with a crewman that man dies. It soon becomes clear that the experiment was just an excuse to get Enterprise to that part of space; Dr Erickson lost his son in a transporter accident fifteen years before and he believes that because of the properties of space in that area it will be possible to rematerialise him.

After several multi-part action packed episodes this one felt a little slow. It seemed a little too obvious that the great Dr Erickson wouldn't be quite as great as everybody thought. I was a bit surprised when Captain Archer agreed to continue with Dr Erickson's plan even though he'd lied to him and it has already caused the death of one crewman. The ending wasn't quite as I expected and that is a good thing, although I won't spoil it I think the way it ended was right.

In this episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise", familiar character actor Bill Cobbs stars as Dr. Erickson. Erickson is aboard to the ship for a stated reason...but really is there to try to correct a transporter accident many years ago. It seems that in these early days of transporters, accidents were common and Erickson's son was lost during this time. His plan is to try to get his son back...but is it possible if he's been lost all that time? As for Trip, he's worried about Erickson's experiments and the Captain is all for letting the old guy give it a go.

This is an amazingly bland and adequate episode. While there was nothing particularly bad about it, there wasn't a lot right--other than getting a chance to see a guy whose face is a bit scrambled due to the transporter! Fair to middling at best.

Captain Archer welcomes his old friend and inventor of the transporter technology, Dr. Emory Erickson, and his daughter Danica on board of Enterprise. Dr. Erickson is assigned to perform tests on sub quantum transportation to long distances in a desert area of the space called The Barrens and is worshiped by Commander Tucker. However, Tucker suspects that the scientist is not telling the truth about his experiment and discloses his concerns to Captain Archer. When a crew member of Enterprise is killed by a strange life force and T'Pol is wounded in her hand, Dr. Emory finally reveals that the experiment is indeed his last attempt to bring his son Quinn back from an accident with the transporter fifteen years ago.

"Daedalus" is one of the weakest and most incoherent episodes of Enterprise, with the attitude of Captain Archer risking Enterprise and its crew to satisfy the experiment of his friend to bring his son back. The hand of T'Pol, injured by Quinn, apparently is recovered by Dr. Phlox since there is no further reference to the incident. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Dédalo"

At the end of the last season (or the first of this one?) they were so solemn about the death of 23(?) crewpersons. Now someone dies and Archer doesn't care. That was disgusting.

There's no reason for it. If the writers aren't going to use the full impact of the death, then don't kill him. The writers should have only injured the first victim. Phlox would say that "Another cm to the left and it would have killed him." Then Archer would know the danger and debate if it is worth continuing.

Then, on top of that, the crewperson died because of the deception of the visiting engineer Dr. Erickson, yet no-one even yells at Dr. Erickson. Perhaps it could be resolved with "the damage is done, we now know the risk and how to mitigate it, so we will continue" rather than Archer flying off the handle.

I completely agree with the other reviewers who say that Archer is a horrible captain. He rarely convinces people of things, he mostly uses anger, threats and, of course, rank.

The Enterprise takes Dr Emory Erickson to a region of space known as the Barrens to experiment with transporter technology.

This episode has been slated by most critics and IMDb reviews but I didn't think it was that bad. I think the worst thing about it is that it's a bit cliched and unoriginal, but if you can get past that it's not as bad as others make out.

The story follows the standard Star Trek 'mad scientist' path with a Daedalus and Icarus theme thrown in. Whether or not it grips you depends largely on how much you come to care for what Dr Erickson is trying to do. It doesn't help that the guest characters are known to Archer but nobody else, particularly in one scene where he and Trip clash over what course of action should be taken. I guess you need to put yourself in Erickson's position to get emotionally invested, which I appreciate may be difficult for some as the character is not written particularly well. Actor Bill Cobbs makes the best out of the material he's given and I found his performance quite compelling.

This is a good episode for Trip Tucker who has a number of good scenes in the main plot and also the sub-plot involving T'Pol. It's funny how every time he clashes with Archer I feel like he should mutiny and take control of Enterprise.

Archer has had some spectacular moments in the show's four series, but episodes like this don't help his standing as a lead character. It recalls some of his worst moments such as in Cogenitor and One Night In Sickbay. This is not a criticism of Scott Bakula or the direction, it's more an observation of how the character is written. As frustrating as he is and as much as I dislike the things he does, I think the scenes are still pretty well made.

The ending is downbeat but works for what the writers are trying to do with the character of Erickson by highlighting how powerless mankind is regardless of how much it attempts to conquer the natural laws of the universe and it brings closure to his situation.

It's not a particularly strong Star Trek episode, but I think most opinions of it are quite harsh.