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FIGHT OR FLIGHT
“It goes without saying that you’re going to encounter
the unexpected.” – Dr. Phlox
Episode: 1.3 Original Airdate: 10/03/2001
Mission Date: 05/06/2151
“It goes without saying that you’re going to encounter
the unexpected.” – Dr. Phlox
Episode: 1.3 Original Airdate: 10/03/2001
Mission Date: 05/06/2151
| SEASON 1 |
SYNOPSIS
Two weeks into their mission, the Enterprise crew is anxious to encounter other intelligent life and decide to
explore a derelict space vessel for clues. But they soon make a horrifying discovery on the abandoned ship that
puts them and their new mission into a dangerous situation. With an unknown ship attacking, the ship's
inexperienced exolinguist, Hoshi Sato, is the only one that can save the ship from the murderous aliens.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Axanar, Sluggo, Unknown Species (Triglobulin Gatherers)
Stellar Phenomenon: Unnamed Planet (Sluggo’s new home)
Technology Encountered: Defense Shields, EV Suits, Hydro-Skimmer, Pulse Rifles, Spatial Torpedoes
Phlox’s Pets: Pyrithian Bat
Historical Facts:
This episode gives the audience their first look at the Enterprise NX-01 weapons with the introduction of the
spatial torpedoes (which do not appear to work very well). The older style hand weapons the crew was sporting
in the pilot get a name here, EM-33’s, while the larger silver barrel weapons are called pulse rifles.
Trip mentions briefly that resequenced protein is what makes up most of the food that the Enterprise crew
consumes.
We also get a good look at the display readout on T’Pol’s scan viewer and Hoshi’s communication ear piece. It
is interesting to note that both, the scan viewer and the ear piece, were designed to be primitive versions of the
familiar ones used in Star Trek: The Original Series.
The Axanar, the aliens encountered in this episode, were a species mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original
Series episodes “Court Martial” and “Whom Gods Destroy”. This is the first time we ever actually see them. We
also learn the Axanar are an androgynous race and live for 400 years.
We also have our first reference to the Nausicaans in the series and find out their sweat is quite pungent.
This episode marks the first time we see the new copper and silver EV suits created especially for the series.
Unlike the previous shows, where budget prohibited such complex costumes being used, the new E/V suits
would see heavy use, helping to convey the more primitive state of the 22nd Century’s technology.
We get our first look at the Armory which is missing its raised control platform. That edition would be made later
in the second season.
According to T'Pol, only 1 in 43,000 planets are capable of supporting humanoid life.
This episode provides us with some useful character information. We are given the location of Hoshi quarters as
port side E deck. Though she gives the exact location to Archer (E Deck, Starboard Side, Section 5) we can only
assume she stayed on the same deck but just switched sides with Ensign Porter. Phlox’s species do not talk
during meals because they see it as a waste of time. According to the good doctor, Crewman Namod likes to
eat, Ensign Socorro sweats a lot, while Crewmen Bennett and Hayden may be preparing to mate. We also hear
the first reference to Porthos’ love-hate relationship with cheese.
Production Facts:
Jeff Rickets, who makes a brief appearance as the Alien Captain, is well know in genre circles as one of only
four actors to have worked in all of Joss Whedon’s television series. He was also the first actor to appear in 24.
He makes another appearance as Kovel in “The Andorian Incident”.
As a tip of the hat to another SciFi great, the set decorators chose to use the same style of Danish designed
silverware in the Captain’s Mess that was used in Kubrick's ground breaking science fiction film 2001: A Space
Odyssey. This tableware would be featured several times through out the show's run.
We also see another redress of the Borg Queen’s Chamber as the communications room on the alien vessel.
In the scene where Phlox is feeding Hoshi’s slug a protein supplement, he uses a modified Gilson pipette, a
device used in laboratories for administering precise amounts of fluids. Unfortunately, being an actor and not a
lab technician, he is using it incorrectly.
And speaking of errors, since this is only the second episode, there were bound to be mistakes made due to the
production still working out the new ship and its technology. The passing warp stars seen out the window of the
Captain’s Mess indicate that the Mess Hall is far more forward than it is shown later in the show. (The production
may have realized that the exterior forward windows on the CGI ship didn’t match the set and moved it.) We also
see the shuttlepod returning to the wrong Launch Bay and facing the opposite direction.
Two weeks into their mission, the Enterprise crew is anxious to encounter other intelligent life and decide to
explore a derelict space vessel for clues. But they soon make a horrifying discovery on the abandoned ship that
puts them and their new mission into a dangerous situation. With an unknown ship attacking, the ship's
inexperienced exolinguist, Hoshi Sato, is the only one that can save the ship from the murderous aliens.
EPISODE DATA ANALYSIS
Alien Species: Axanar, Sluggo, Unknown Species (Triglobulin Gatherers)
Stellar Phenomenon: Unnamed Planet (Sluggo’s new home)
Technology Encountered: Defense Shields, EV Suits, Hydro-Skimmer, Pulse Rifles, Spatial Torpedoes
Phlox’s Pets: Pyrithian Bat
Historical Facts:
This episode gives the audience their first look at the Enterprise NX-01 weapons with the introduction of the
spatial torpedoes (which do not appear to work very well). The older style hand weapons the crew was sporting
in the pilot get a name here, EM-33’s, while the larger silver barrel weapons are called pulse rifles.
Trip mentions briefly that resequenced protein is what makes up most of the food that the Enterprise crew
consumes.
We also get a good look at the display readout on T’Pol’s scan viewer and Hoshi’s communication ear piece. It
is interesting to note that both, the scan viewer and the ear piece, were designed to be primitive versions of the
familiar ones used in Star Trek: The Original Series.
The Axanar, the aliens encountered in this episode, were a species mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original
Series episodes “Court Martial” and “Whom Gods Destroy”. This is the first time we ever actually see them. We
also learn the Axanar are an androgynous race and live for 400 years.
We also have our first reference to the Nausicaans in the series and find out their sweat is quite pungent.
This episode marks the first time we see the new copper and silver EV suits created especially for the series.
Unlike the previous shows, where budget prohibited such complex costumes being used, the new E/V suits
would see heavy use, helping to convey the more primitive state of the 22nd Century’s technology.
We get our first look at the Armory which is missing its raised control platform. That edition would be made later
in the second season.
According to T'Pol, only 1 in 43,000 planets are capable of supporting humanoid life.
This episode provides us with some useful character information. We are given the location of Hoshi quarters as
port side E deck. Though she gives the exact location to Archer (E Deck, Starboard Side, Section 5) we can only
assume she stayed on the same deck but just switched sides with Ensign Porter. Phlox’s species do not talk
during meals because they see it as a waste of time. According to the good doctor, Crewman Namod likes to
eat, Ensign Socorro sweats a lot, while Crewmen Bennett and Hayden may be preparing to mate. We also hear
the first reference to Porthos’ love-hate relationship with cheese.
Production Facts:
Jeff Rickets, who makes a brief appearance as the Alien Captain, is well know in genre circles as one of only
four actors to have worked in all of Joss Whedon’s television series. He was also the first actor to appear in 24.
He makes another appearance as Kovel in “The Andorian Incident”.
As a tip of the hat to another SciFi great, the set decorators chose to use the same style of Danish designed
silverware in the Captain’s Mess that was used in Kubrick's ground breaking science fiction film 2001: A Space
Odyssey. This tableware would be featured several times through out the show's run.
We also see another redress of the Borg Queen’s Chamber as the communications room on the alien vessel.
In the scene where Phlox is feeding Hoshi’s slug a protein supplement, he uses a modified Gilson pipette, a
device used in laboratories for administering precise amounts of fluids. Unfortunately, being an actor and not a
lab technician, he is using it incorrectly.
And speaking of errors, since this is only the second episode, there were bound to be mistakes made due to the
production still working out the new ship and its technology. The passing warp stars seen out the window of the
Captain’s Mess indicate that the Mess Hall is far more forward than it is shown later in the show. (The production
may have realized that the exterior forward windows on the CGI ship didn’t match the set and moved it.) We also
see the shuttlepod returning to the wrong Launch Bay and facing the opposite direction.
Written By: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Directed By: Allan Kroeker
GUEST CAST
Efrain Figueroa Translator Voice
Jeff Ricketts Alien Captain
Directed By: Allan Kroeker
GUEST CAST
Efrain Figueroa Translator Voice
Jeff Ricketts Alien Captain
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| SEASON 4 |