by asearcher » Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:55 am
I chose other because I find it so hard to chose for any one episode.
All through the show, there was a distinct Archer/T'Pol storyline running. I'll just put a few episodes not listed above down to illustrate. I could point out much more, but that would get tedious. While some of these are not 100% A/T episodes...they do show the arc throughout the series.
Broken Bow: His initial attitude, his surprise that she would continue the mission, his willingness to put aside his pride to ask her to continue with them shows his willingness to change deep seated attitudes
The Andorian Incident/Shadows of P'Jehm: A potent combo. Who could ever forget T'Pol taking the cover in the former. I loved that piece. And Archer's outrage in the latter is directly related to his seeing that T'Pol has acted honestly and is being punished for it.
Breaking the Ice/Fallen Hero: Although this is not specifically a combo, both show more on the tensions that Archer felt with most Vulcans but his willingness to learn from T'Pol is evident. He's still not 100% but the trust between them is growing stronger.
Acquisition/Two Days Two Nights/Singularity/The Catwalk/Future Tense/Extinction/Carpenter Street/Damage/Bound/These Are the Voyages: I love the various interactions between A/T in all of these. They all show growth in the relationship between the two...the deep seated friendship and trust between them. Quite a bit of humor as well.
Shockwave: Having T'Pol stand up to the Vulcans, her willingness to go with something Archer asked her to believe even when it went against her beliefs, and Archer's coming to her in the night to thank her as soon as he knew were all important parts of the ongoing storyline.
Fusion/Stigma: This combo is another where Archer is facing that the reality that his own actions and prejudices have lead to this issue for T'Pol. If he hadn't pushed her to spend time with that group of Vulcans because on the outside he preferred them, she wouldn't have contracted Penar's syndrome. Again, there's the "I'll fight for justice for you" in Archer's actions with the doctors.
Impulse/Twilight: Another combo. Archer's concern for T'Pol and his refusal to leave her behind (not on the Selaya but when she asks to be dropped off after she begins to recover in sickbay) is a critical part of this episode. He knows that they should line the hull but he's unwilling to put her at risk. Add to the storyline her self created addition to Trellium and the fact that if the ship had been lined, Twilight wouldn't have occurred and you again have almost a reverse (although not exact) of the Fusion/Stigma situation.
E2: I realize that many will see this as purely a T/T episode (and I will agree that is a major component.) However, it is telling when Archer and the older T'Pol meet. There is a connection there and it's potent. It also seems very clear that after the alternate Trip died, Lorian transferred a good deal of his feelings towards the alternative Archer. It is not stated specifically, but I would imagine after alternative Trip's death, the alternative Archer took on a fatherly role for Lorian, hence his devotion to the promise he made at that Archer's deathbed. This isn't to say alternative Archer supplanted alternative Trip in Lorian's mind, rather that as Trip's best friend, Archer would try to provide that balance for his friend's son. Again, at the start, when T'Pol tells Lorian to seek out the original Archer and throughout the episode, there is a trust between the alternative T'Pol and Archer that is played throughout the episode.
Like I say, many, many episodes where that relationship is fleshed out. This is not to denigrate any other relationships built throughout the show, but simply is stating that the A/T relationship was based (as the show evolved) on a greater and greater mutual appreciation, friendship, and trust between those characters.
Whereas the building relationship and heavy romance between T/T was a distinct part of the show, that doesn't preclude any later relationship between A/T which (based on Home), Archer would never have actually pursued while T'Pol was under his command (Starfleet based or not.)
Just my take on the whole thing.
H'Len
*******
I'm a BLONDE Vulcan...I'm MOSTLY logical.