Episode Report Card Keckler: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Sexperiment in Criticism
By Keckler | Season 3 | Episode 15 | Aired on 02.10.2004
Breathe. Inhale though your core and into the back of your head, down your funny bone, and around your teeth, and distance your mind from the ridiculous theme song. Breathe. Relax your body without collapsing your body under the weight of the mas-crap-one cheese lyrics. While your mind observes the steady flow of breath, stick your leg out, and beat the hell out of Russell Watson. Breathe.
Quantum builds a log cabin out of Degra's Red Giant coordinates. As he gives the date, I realize that it's two days after Christmas -- interesting that there's no acknowledgement of it. Although maybe that's what Not'pol was doing -- giving Trip his present.
In his Ready Room, Quantum tells Reed that Uh-Oh Hayes will be putting senior officers and Reed's security team through training drills. Reed fusses. Quantum tells him to deal with it. Reed leaves.
Sickbay. It's feeding time at Phlox's Menagerie of Weird and Wonderful Things That Go Wibble. Like Cpt. Blackadder, not like the web lingo. T'Pol stops by, and Phlox thanks her for coming so quickly. The camera angle makes it look like we're inside one of the cages as Phlox reaches in with a worm. A pair of claws reach up to grab it with a delighted whistle. Phlox tells her that Amanda Cole (Not'pol) has been having repeat headaches for a week. He ran a bunch of tests, but couldn't figure it out until Not'pol told him that Trip had been Nudging her. T'Pol sort of snaps to attention and supposes that Phlox believes the Novice Nudging is the reason for the headaches. That's pretty much what Phlox is saying. Phlox says he spoke to Not'pol about using caution (of the Trojan variety?), but thinks T'Pol should speak to her as well. "Gladly," T'Pol says, holding a cage lid for him. "Is everything all right?" Phlox pushes. "Yes," T'Pol grits out, and starts to leave. Phlox asks if she could possibly work in a Nudge session with Not'pol and undo Trip's handiwork. T'Pol says nothing and leaves. Phlox smiles, satisfied. Man, Phlox is such an instigator! He's tried to get T'Pol and Quantum together at least twice and now he's definitely pushing for Trip and T'Pol, just as he has on other occasions. I think he just wants the entire ship became one big orgy. Then he could observe human sexuality more fully. And join in when the mood struck, of course. "Now Ensign Roskikoff -- you must try this, I just learned it. Cmdr. Reed -- where on earth do you think you're going with that? Oh, well, all right. Just this once, because it's all in the name of science!"
Reed and Hayes argue about the drill schedule. "I prefer to train in the evenings," Reed says. "Any reason?" Hayes asks. Yes, it's more romantic. Reed has a slight tantrum and gets his way.