Episode Report Card Keckler: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Crazy Like A Phlox
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 21 | Aired on 04.22.2003
Sick Bay. Quantum tries to badger De-Not-Bulan into accepting treatment from Phlox. Denotbulan gives Quantum some details to think about, like the fact that Denobulan battle tactics resulted in twenty million Antaran casualties. Why is it that, whenever we hear of alien battles, they always have these astronomical casualties? Do they just have much larger populations? Do they breed faster? Have better nutrition? Aren't afraid to have gays in their military? Quantum is taken a bit aback, so he goes off into a corner to furrow before asking if Denotbulan wants to become just another casualty of a war that ended three hundred years ago. When Denotbulan doesn't deign to answer, Quantum talks up Phlox's résumé, and encourages Denotbulan to spend some time with him in order to find out for himself what a salt-of-Denobula kind of guy Phlox really is. And of course, Quantum adds that Denotbulan might then reverse three hundred years of bigotry. Denotbulan invites Quantum to spend some of his time in the Antaran historical archives so he can get a clear idea of what really happened between the two races. Now, is that online? Although it's not like historical archives have ever been altered or selectively edited to flatter any one side of a conflict or anything. Luckily, Quantum prefers to get his information from primary sources, and says that while he respects their histility (hostility and history -- geddit? Oh, shut up), the Denobulans that Denotbulan is describing are not the same Denobulans Quantum has met. Of course they aren't. First of all, Quantum has met, like, two fucking Denobulans --"With an emphasis on the 'fucking,'" Mathra comments. And also, it's not like the Denobulans would act toward a human the way they would act toward an ancient and mortal enemy. "Don't sacrifice your life based on preconceptions," Quantum advises as The Strings Of Aesop's Fables play on.
Phlox's Quarters. Done badgering the dying alien, Quantum decides to badger his doctor. He demands to know why Phlox never told him of this situation before. I don't know -- do you tell every alien you meet all about the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World Wars Parts 1-3? No, because it's not really their business, and it's also not necessarily the most uplifting cocktail conversation. Phlox says it wasn't their proudest moment, and they've managed to put it behind them. Even the fact that Denotbulan is the first Antaran Phlox has ever met, and vice versa, does nothing to change Phlox's stand on treating him against his will. "Doesn't that seem odd to you? That...in...three...hundred...years...neither side has tried to reconcile? May...be youputitbehind...you...too...quickly," Quantum tries to sage. Ugh, he is still delivering his lines like a two-by-four! Phlox snaps that the situation is complicated, and goes on to elaborate on how Antaran children are taught to fear and revile the other race. There's a nice bit of set detail here as I notice that Phlox has Dendrobium orchids in his room. See: Denobulan/Dendrobium, and the fact that "Phlox" is also a flower. "This is your chance to prove them wrong," Quantum thunders. "I doubt I could," Phlox shrugs. "Set aside your preconceptions," Quantum orders, almost angrily -- which makes no sense, as I really don't see where the motivation for anger is coming from -- "I made some headway with him [where was I when that happened?], but I won't be the one holding the scalpel. Show him that he can trust you." "Do you believe I can earn his trust in less than thirty-six hours?" Phlox wonders. Sure, just make him stand up in front of you and tell him to fall back into your arms. The tricky part is to catch him as he falls and then all will be well. "All I'm asking is that you try!" Quantum thunders. I really don't see why he needs to get so mad and ordering about this. Bakula has Quantum lose his temper all too often, if you want my opinion, and even if you didn't, I'm the one recapping so you're kind of stuck with it. Quantum tells Phlox that while his ethics keep him from treating Denotbulan, nothing is preventing him for having a little chin-wag with the alien. "You're a doctor, he's your patient. FIND A WAY TO HELP HIM," Quantum commands, and stomps out.