Dead Stop

This episode is a follow-up to the previous one. After the Enterprise is damaged by a Romulan mine, Trip is worried that they cannot repair the ship themselves and have to travel back to Earth space to fix the ship...a very long voyage considering that their warp speed is compromised. However, when they send out a distress call, the Tellerites respond--with an automated repair station. The repairs it can make are incredible and the cost seems extremely reasonable...but Archer is worried that it's all too good to be true. And, in the end, it turns out he's true...the computer system that runs the place is truly nasty and has a very hidden agenda.

This is a very good episode. It's not a great one but it is original and the hidden agenda is pretty creepy. Worth seeing.

The Borg. done done darr Is this the start of the Borg unimatrix 0001 of 1

Now this is more like it!

After the major canon faux pas of Carbon Creek it's great to see a return to some pure sci-fi.

The great thing about this episode is that it is completely self contained. No big story arcs running through it and no dangerous and disrespectful shoehorning in of races like Ferengi or Romulan that hadn't even been discovered by TOS crew as seen in previous episodes of Enterprise.

A very creepy vibe throughout as it is set on an unmanned and automated alien space station, the best part being that it is left open to speculation as to just who built it creating some great mystery.

This is pure Star Trek and pure sci-fi glory diving headfirst in to new territory and no relying on old gags.

Brilliant!

It broke my heart to see one of the crewmembers die, then at the end ... but I won't spoil it for you. Enjoyed hearing "B'Elanna's" voice (from "Voyager") as the repair station's computer. The tension really builds in this hour so that made it very unusual. And that final shot ... wow! Really good.

What begins as a fairly routine repair stop at an advanced, automated repair station turns into a tense and exciting bout between the Enterprise and a highly advanced technology that has lured our heroes into danger. It's a visually striking and very creative segment.

The action follows directly on the end of the previous episode "Minefield", with the Enterprise in great need of repairs. While Malcolm Reed is in sick bay getting physical therapy for his injured leg, Archer and his crew marvel at the wonder of the automated facility that has unbelievable capacities to repair their ship and even heal Reed.

Captain Archer is instantly suspicious of the station and its absent creators, with an effective subplot demonstrating the human frustration with automated, non-human systems, which cannot communicate with us.

There are thrilling plot twists along the way until our crew finally triumphs over the evil station, and the show ends on a subtle but eerie note.