Fallen Hero

This episode sees Archer make one blunder after another.

1) He would risk an Earth-Vulcan incident bc the ambassador wouldn't tell him her secret mission.

2) He turns the ship around making him that much further away from the Vulcan ship.

3) He let's the enemy onto his ship with weapons and greets them without any weapons or a security detail

4) He lets the enemy shoot up the Enterprise sick bay and stands around like a cuck

Either Archer is the worst, most hardheaded Starfleet captain of all time. Or this is just epically terrible writing. It's episodes like these that leaves a terrible after taste in your mouth and you're left wondering, why do I like Star Trek. These types of 1st draft, novice plots should not exist in 2002.

T'Pol suggests and Captain Archer accepts a leave for the crew in planet Risa, famous for the relaxation technique of the local masseuses. However, Captain Archer is called by Admiral Maxwell Forrest, who assigns the Enterprise to bring the Vulcan ambassador V'Lar from planet Mazar to the Vulcan warship Sh'Raan. V'Lar has fallen in disgrace with the accusation of being a criminal, and the Vulcan High Command requested her urgent removal from the planet. T'Pol prepares the Enterprise to welcome the ambassador, and after a brief meeting with V'Lar, she becomes disappointed with her former idol. Out of the blue, the Enterprise is attacked by a Mazarite ship, whose captain demands that V'Lar should be delivered to them. Captain Archer asks V'Lar the reason for the attack, but she does not justify, pleading classified information, and Archer decides to return to Mazar. After having a private meeting with V'Lar, T'Pol goes to Captain's Archer's cabin and asks him to return immediately to the course to Sh'Raan.

"Fallen Hero" is one of the best episodes of this First Season. The beginning is hilarious, with T'Pol suggesting a "relaxation" of the earthlings due to the reduction of productivity and need of "relieving the stress" of the command of the Enterprise. The gentle and nice ambassador V'Lar seems to be a path to approach the relationships between Earth and Vulcan. Jolene Blalock is fantastic in the role of a Vulcan woman with bond of trust, respect and friendship with Captain Archer and the Enterprise crew-members. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Herói Decadente" ("Decadent Hero")

We're treated to a top actress as guest star (for a change) with the wonderful Irish thesp Fionnuala Flanagan as a Vulcan ambassador that the Enterprise escorts on a secret, and ultimately dangerous mission.

She brings gravitas to the show, and presents a different sort of Vulcan personality, idiosyncratic and far from the stereotype. Her interactions with both Archer and T'Pol are very effective, thanks to solid writing by Alan Cross, especially giving Jolene Blalock a chance to shine while still staying in character.

After a cutesy opening scene, I greatly appreciated the serious tone of this episode, enhanced by the fine acting.

The humans are on their way to Risa in order to get la...I mean, have some shore leave. However, they are once again diverted from this by an emergency mission to collect a disgraced Vulcan ambassador from some crappy planet. The Mazarites seem very keen to get rid of her and the Enterprise takes her aboard. However, a short time later, a Mazarite ship arrives and demands they hand over the ambassador! What gives? At the same time, the ambassador is acting kind of strange--especially for a Vulcan. What gives?!

This is a great episode because it does quite a bit to further the overarching plot about the Earth-Vulcan relationship, the relationship between Archer and T'Pol as well as being very exciting. Too bad all the episodes aren't this exciting and there's little not to like about this one...unless you are a nitpicky jerk.

The Enterprise is on its way to Risa for R & R when they are redirected to pick up a Vulcan diplomat who has been expelled during a mission. She has been accused of a crime and put on board ship. The Mazarites are the aliens that have put her off. She is a really interesting woman who is known for her incredible diplomatic missions and treaties. She is a hero of T'Pol's but her unconventional behavior puts the science officer off. The Mazarites change their minds and ask for her back. Soon, they are firing on the Enterprise and pursuing her across the galaxy. The problem is that because of a trust issue, the ambassador can't explain why she is in the situation she is in. This episode has a really satisfying conclusion and some very interesting plotting by Archer and his people.