Episode Report Card Keckler: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Starfleet and Coffee, Maple Syrup and Damn
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 26 | Aired on 05.20.2003
The Suliban pods run away. In his Ready Room, Quantum rubs his face while T'Pol questions Shower Guy's motives. "Why didn't he tell you all of this before millions of people were killed?" she asks. Good point. "They didn't think we'd believe them!" Quantum shouts. So? Why would you? Why are you now? Furthermore, why are you shouting at T'Pol? You know what, don't answer -- just shut up, Quantum. T'Pol thinks the Vulcan High Command and Starfleet will find a "far more logical" explanation for the attack on Earth. Quantum shouts that Shower Guy may be telling the truth. "If he is, I need your sup-PORT [I hope Jolene had a tissue to wipe that spit off her face], not your damn skepticism!" Quantum rants. How are you going to prove that Shower Guy's telling the truth?
Quantum logs that the journey home has been very difficult, and they now know that over seven million people were killed in the "swath." On the Bridge, Little May Cor-weather points out their distant sun on the viewscreen. Reed announces that a vessel is dropping out of warp behind them. Before T'Pol can identify the ship, they are fired upon. We see a Klingon Bird of Prey wing in.
I think Marky Mark needs to stop thinking he can remake classic movies.
The Bird of Prey and Enterprise have a big ol' dogfight. Hoshi reads back a message that the Klingons sent out: "Archer's an enemy of the Empire. He must be brought to justice if honor is to be regained." "Duras," Quantum says. Now how exactly does he know that? Other Klingons and bounty hunters have been after him since his escape from Rura Penthe -- why would he immediately fix on Duras who, when last they met, was a lowly baggage handler? It could be those Klingons in "Bounty" that he escaped from, seeking to restore their honor which was sullied when they allowed a prisoner to beat them off and escape from their ship. They fight some more. The Klingons are about to board Enterprise when three Earth vessels -- one of them even looks very much like a smaller Enterprise -- fly into the picture and start attacking Duras's ship. The Klingon shields and weapons fail, and they withdraw. On the Enterprise Bridge, Hoshi reports, "It's Captain Ramirez, sir, from the Intrepid." That must have been the one that looked like Enterprise. Captain Ramirez's face appears on the viewscreen as he smirks, "What the hell was that all about?" and welcomes Quantum home, though he wishes it were under better circumstances.
Overhead shot of Enterprise orbiting Earth. The whole crew looks pensive as they see Florida. Except Trip, who doesn't look up at all but stands with his head bent and his eyes on the floor. There's a great shot from behind Quantum and Trip with the viewscreen shot of the damaged Florida right between their two heads. Considering my opinion of Quantum's behavior thus far in this episode, it's fitting that they show Florida to be dividing the two men. Ass.