(1x09) Kiss Me, I'm Deaf: Civilization!

[Aquarius]

(Sorry--too last minute for a witty title! I got your "Civilization" thread right here! Will edit post to insert vital stats later.)

This is the discussion thread for S1E9, Civilization! All Delphic Expanse rules of engagement apply.

Written by: Mike Sussman (lots) and Phyllis Strong (lots)
Directed by: Michael Vejar (Unexpected, Shadows of P'Jem, Marauders, The Catwalk, Rajiin, Carpenter Street, Stratagem, Cold Station 12, Observer Effect, The Aenar)

[entkayjay]

You're two minutes faster than me. I'm exhausted so I'll have to do whatever later if no one else does.

[Aquarius]

No worries. i only did it because I hadn't seen ya in a while, and we were starting soon so I wasn't sure. I wasn't even sure if we were still doing the chat tonight because everyone had been unusually quiet about it for a few days.

It's all good.

[Honeybee]

More thoughts later - but I did enjoy the little dust up between TnT over who was in charge before the battle. I had totally forgotten about it, and I love it when they fight.

Fine line and all!

[ezridax]

Have fun with y'all for Civ. Looking forward to next week

[Honeybee]

It's not my favorite episode, but it's cute. I just kept being mesmerized at how clean and pretty and not witch-burn-y this pre-industrial society was.

There were two good tnt moments, the little moment in the shuttle where he tells her that her ear is showing and then their dust up on the bridge. She doesn't even seem at all mad at his insubordination, maybe because she expects him to still have an issue with her rank or maybe she expects him to be emotional about saving the captain. She just kind of tells him that she's not going to break orbit and he believes her.

Also, it is kind of cool when T'Pol shoots Apothecary Babe, who is kind of annoying. We do get a bit of Archer's bull-in-a-china-shop exploration tactics, and the bad guy is all bad guy-y.

[Brandyjane]

Well, now that CBS.com yanked Enterprise from its streaming videos, I'm out of the re-viewing fun. Hopefully the rumors about Netflix streaming it in April are true!

I did happen to watch several episodes up through "Fortunate Son" not too long ago. Right before we decided to do this group rewatch party, I was doing it on my own. I remember that I initially really didn't care for this episode, but on watching it again, I decided that it wasn't that bad. It's not the best episode by any means, but it did have its cute moments.

I like this one between Archer and T'Pol:
ARCHER: A farm?
T'POL: It's remote and sparsely populated. If you're exposed, there's a reduced risk of cultural contamination.
ARCHER: This must be why aliens are always landing in cornfields.

That whole theme of them being the aliens really ran through the whole episode. There's another scene where Trip talks about maybe taking one of the sick people aboard Enterprise to see what's wrong with him and T'Pol advises against it citing some humans' fears about alien abductions in earlier centuries.

Of course I love the ear thing between Trip and T'Pol. I also like how calm and cool she is during Trip's little near-mutiny. She sounds so powerful and confident when she delivers this line: "I didn't say leave orbit, I said prepare to leave orbit. I have no intention of abandoning the Captain, dead or alive." Again, for much the same reason, I like when she says, "If they want it so badly, maybe we should give it to them," and then has Malcolm blast away the reactor. T'Pol was just so awesome in this episode. While I like a lot of the arc her character went through, she started to become weaker and weaker throughout the series. I miss the badass T'Pol we saw in this episode. She's completely logical, but she looked gorgeous in the Akaali costume, and she inserted a bit of humor into some of her exchanges.

My favorite line, though, was T'Pol's delivery of "Enjoy your tea."

[Honeybee]

It's very interesting that T'Pol is completely unfazed by Trip's mini-insurrection. A human commander would have likely been not only furious but would have demanded disciplinary action. But T'Pol isn't a human, she sees things differently. She seems to not only understand but expect Trip's actions based on the fact that he doesn't understand that she has no intention of abandoning the captain. She informs him of that and moves on, it would seem without a second thought. I can see her thinking, obviously I haven't made my intentions clear and Tucker doesn't trust me yet. So, I have to handle this.

And I agree, I like the tough, competent T'Pol here. She's not as stuck up as she is previous episodes, and she just does her job to the best of her ability.

[Mistress Euclid]

While this isn't the most standout of episode, I concur that T'Pol is very competent here. She's very essential to the success, and she works well with Jon. The A/T-er in me is disappointed that she seems amused rather than jealous of Jon's flirtation with Apothecary Babe, but give her time! The TnT moment in the shuttle is all kinds of adorable, though!

[tish]

I like the camaraderie in the first scene, with the crew being comfortable enough to play that joke on Archer of saving the Minshara class planet until last of possible exploring options.....

Cool to discover that there was a quartermaster on the ship responsible for getting them the correct kind of clothing for their away missions. That would have been a really fun job, in my opinion, for anyone who like to travel and likes fashion!

Another sweet moment in the development of Trip and T'Pol...

TUCKER: T'Pol. (gestures her to cover her ear tips with the long wig, she covers it, looks back at Trip for assurance, and he gently nods)
The way he says her name is so very intimate to me.....quietly sensual. No wonder I get chills when I hear Connor's Nike ads! (I also like Sam Elliott's Ram ads and Mike Rowe's Ford ads for the same reason....all three have voice patterns that give me goosebumps!)

As a science teacher, I liked Riann's laboratory. Even recognized some of the instruments! (good ole pH paper for T'Pol to test the waters)

and this was cool.....
RIANN: (peaking in Akalii so Archer kisses her to shut her up while he adjusts the translator. It doesn't work first time so he kisses her again)
YAAA, kisses for ARCHER!

RIANN: (putting bottle in case with others) Who'd believe me anyway? Where is your starship headed now?
ARCHER: There are lots of inhabited planets to see, but I doubt many will be this memorable. (kisses her)
RIANN: Is your translator broken again?
ARCHER: I'm sorry? I don't understand a word you're saying. (kisses her again, with passion)

YAAAA more kisses for ARCHER!!

This is a seamless episode, with the flow of writing, acting and scene changes being very tight, entertaining, and interesting for the viewer. Well done.

Should the sub title be..... Alien Renaissance Faire: Civilization (?) That is what those clothes make me think of when I watch it!