“First Flight” 20th-anniversary reflections

While observing a dark matter nebula, Captain Archer receives a message from Admiral Forrest informing his that one of his old comrades from the early warp program days has died while climbing Mt. McKinley. Reflecting on the loss, Archer tells T’Pol the story of how he competed with this fellow pilot, AG Robinson, for the chance to captain Enterprise, and how the two overcame Vulcan obstruction to keep the NX program on track.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 2 with “First Flight” as we discuss how the story serves as a resounding proof of concept for the original idea for the series, meeting Trip, how Archer’s experiences with AG prepared him to be a leader, and more. We also enjoy a plate of the 602 Club's famous fried mushrooms.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Getting Away from Space (00:04:29)
T'Pol’s Growth (00:14:24)
Archer’s Path to Leadership (00:18:08)
When Johnny Met Trip (00:25:06)
Vulcans Can’t Think Outside the Box (00:28:39)
The 602 Club (00:30:22)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:34:44)
Closing (00:36:15)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Regeneration” 20th-anniversary reflections

A research team in the Arctic uncover mysterious cybernetic beings while examining the wreckage of an alien ship that dates back more than 100 years. Unaware of the danger, they quickly find themselves assimilated by regenerated drones from a previous attempt by the Borg to assimilate Earth and stop first contact. The Enterprise is ordered to pursue the researchers’ vessel, now under the control of the Borg, and Archer must make some difficult decisions as he quickly wakes up to the threat posed by this mysterious alien menace.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 2 with “Regeneration” as we discuss using the Borg at a time long before they were known to Starfleet, how to do a prequel right, how the story sets up Archer and his crew for the challenges of Season 3, and more.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
An Unplanned Contingency Plan (00:02:46)
Prequel Proof of Concept (00:11:06)
Borg Instinct (00:15:45)
Phlox’s Semi-Immunity (00:21:56)
Setting Up Season 3 (00:27:49)
Time (and Exploration) Is Loopy (00:33:20)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:36:03)
Closing (00:39:10)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Cogenitor” 20th-anniversary reflections

The Enterprise makes first contact with the Vissians, a species that has a lot in common in with humans, such as a love of exploration, a fascination with ice cream, and an interest in large tactical arrays. But they also have key differences, like a third gender that enables reproduction. Given the specialized role these cogenitors, as they are called, play in Vissian society, they have little need for niceties such as literacy. That doesn't sit well with Trip, who befriends the cogenitor of the Vissian chief engineer and his wife, Calla. When Trip teaches the cogenitor to read, it leads to them questioning—and taking—their own life. While Trip’s intentions may have been good, the outcome was not.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 20th-anniversary retrospective that takes you through all of Star Trek: Enterprise, one episode at a time. In this installment, we continue Season 2 with “Cogenitor” as we discuss first contact, equal rights, cultural relativism, missed opportunities, and why we wish this important story had been expanded and revisited.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Moral Quandaries and Fast Friendships (00:02:49)
Trip’s Dilemma (00:09:05)
Restraints of the Format (00:14:40)
The Dangers of Labeling (00:16:43)
Archer vs. Trip (00:20:10)
Does the Framework Work? (00:25:02)
Equal Rights and Opportunities (00:30:12)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:22)
Closing (00:35:45)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)