(1x24) Desert Crossing: Nothing to see here, move along

[Honeybee]

Okay, it's a little late, but discuss Desert Crossing here!

[Aquarius]

Jon. Trip. Shirtless.



'Nuff said.

(I'll be back with relevant, cogent remarks later.)

[Brandyjane]

That geskana match is...wow! Aquarius just said it best.

Zobral is a good, complex character. He is bound by his own sense of honor, but it's not a simple, easy code. He shows that he is willing to abandon Jon and Trip to the desert, but ultimately does not. He's a terrorist (or freedom fighter, depending on your point of view), but, as Jon acknowledges, it sounds like his cause is actually just. This episode could have been very heavy-handed politically, but fortunately the writers stayed away from making really obvious parallels with current events on Earth.

Even more than shirtless Trip and Jon, I think the best thing about this episode is how it ties back to "Detained" and shows that there are repercussions for freeing the Suliban. One of the things that always impressed me about Ent was how the writers frequently made references to previous events. For all the grumbling I've heard from Ent-bashers about the lack of internal consistency within the show, things like this make me wonder if they actually sat down and carefully watched it. (Although, yeah, there are a few goofs, like Henry Archer's two deaths. )

The "essence of the male" bit and Trip's reaction to it was one of the funniest bits in any Enterprise episode.

The part that I don't like, though, is that in order to tell the story, Trip is made into a bit of a weakling. Don't get me wrong, I love the caring that Jon shows for Trip. They had some really, really great scenes together. The acting from SB and CT was just amazing! But I wish a better explanation was given for why Trip, the younger, seemingly-healthy man, was affected so much more than Jon. Trip grew up in Florida! He should be able to handle heat. I know, desert heat is different, but still. It's annoying.

I have to read Alelou's really excellent missing scene every time I watch this episode, because she gives two really great reasons why Trip can't handle it as well as Jon.

[Honeybee]

Actually, Brandyjane, in the rewatch, I notice a clear explanation for why Trip isn't handling the heat as well. He was injured during their alien lacrosse game - either a bruised or broken rib. So, I think that detail was meant to explain why he deteriorated faster.

[creek_chub]

Trip grew up in Florida! He should be able to handle heat. I know, desert heat is different, but still. It's annoying.

The dry heat of the desert and the humid heat of Florida are two completely different animals...I know this from experience. I grew up in Florida and when I was 25 moved to Utah. I was young and healthy and even though I lived there for two years I never was able to become accustomed to the dry heat. My biggest problem was no matter how much I water I drank (and trust me, I was drinking more than the required 8 cups a day) I was always on the verge of being dehydrated. Not only that but the dry heat was just very uncomfortable to me, which made it hard to be out doing any kind of activity for an extended period.

[Honeybee]

Okay, some cohesive thoughts:

Yes, it was nice to see the whole shirtless guys in the desert. Very nice.

Anyway, there was still a pretty tightly plotted and interesting episode. Often times in a Trek episode, you have to go through the motions of explaining why they don't use the transporters and/or the communicators are down. This episode has to do that, but it is all very plausible given the insurgency/war that is happening on the surface.

Zobral is a commanding presence, and his whole "I'm genial but don't cross me" vibe adds a great element to the episode.

Jon and Trip's friendship is also in display here, and it's nice to see Jon taking command.

I like the scene where Malcolm debunks Zobral's story about the Suliban. T'Pol isn't in the episode much, but she knows just how to handle Zobral.

The whole episode is a good one, and it does illustrate the complexities of rendering aid or not rendering aid and what possible consequences can be.

[EntAllat]

Trip grew up in Florida! He should be able to handle heat. I know, desert heat is different, but still. It's annoying.

The dry heat of the desert and the humid heat of Florida are two completely different animals...I know this from experience. I grew up in Florida and when I was 25 moved to Utah. I was young and healthy and even though I lived there for two years I never was able to become accustomed to the dry heat. My biggest problem was no matter how much I water I drank (and trust me, I was drinking more than the required 8 cups a day) I was always on the verge of being dehydrated. Not only that but the dry heat was just very uncomfortable to me, which made it hard to be out doing any kind of activity for an extended period.

Ditto that.

The humid heat of Houston, where I grew up, was something that always forced me to drink plenty of water and to see cool shade, etc. It wasn't a very conscious act on my part since you just end up sweating buckets and thirsty and HOT. Dry heat sneaks up on me, and I end up dehydrated very quickly.

I very nearly had heat stroke once (this was a long, long time ago) on one of those rare dry heat kind of days. After feeling very, very thirsty but not getting any water, my thirst went away and I felt RAVENOUS (I totally understand Trip's desire for steak), then my vision went bye-bye, I felt god-awful and very nearly passed out. I had to be helped into a fan-cooled shaded area with wet towels on my neck, drinking water when I wasn't lying down feeling awful. I was so embarrassed because, you know, I should be used to the heat!

[Putaro]

It's all what you're used to. I've gone backpacking in the desert (Anza Borrego, near San Diego - it's more rocky and not lots of sand dunes so it's easy to walk) and it's not bad for me, except for all the water you have to carry. High humidity I can do without.

Since I've been out in the desert on foot, when Trip and Jon set out with that dinky bottle of water and no idea of where they're going I have to yell "Nooooooo!"

Zobral was a good character and Archer's larger than life legend coming to bite him was fun.

[Hummingbird2]

I know I'm repeating myself, but I love this episode. For me, this is the quintessential Archer and Trip friendship/father/son story.

I also think this episode, along with Carbon Creek, Regeneration and Similitude, has one of the best music scores of the series.

[paulinem]

I can so relate to everyone's experiences with the heat. I've never had heat stroke, but I did get sunstroke after spending 8 hours, in 40 deg (c) heat, on the beach without shade or sunscreen. Yup! Lobster...Yes, the thing with dry heat is that it does sneak up on you. I didn't noticed I was burning, no one did, until later that night when I went to mass and had to leave the church to throw up! Talk about your glow in the dark later on! It was the last time I did that!

Yeah, that was me that mentioned about the rib. I rolled a rib about 10 years ago, and it hurt like blazes! I couldn't walk, couldn't stretch, couldn't take a deep breath, had me in tears. The doctor said it was just as bad as breaking a rib and there wasn't anything that could be done. One of the things that the doctor told me to remember to do was to take deep breaths because by not doing so there is the possibility of getting pleurisy. So when I remembered my own experience it went a long way in explaining, for me, why Trip deteriorated like he did. He would have already been fighting to get a deep breath and in considerable pain before he went into the desert, add to that the heat and dehydration that came with it, it was no wonder why he got so sick. But, in saying all that, what I found confusing was the way the writers focused on heat exhaustion as the cause. Making a point that Trip could go into a coma because of it. Yes, there is that, but his injury was the catalyst and I think the story would have benefited by sticking to that as the reason, hence explaining why the heat effected him so much. Hopefully that made sense! *rolls eyes*

I love this episode. This was the one that got me into Enterprise hook, line, and sinker! I think it's because this showcased the friendship between the two men, and I remember thinking at the time when I first watched it, that I wondered if the actors were close off screen as well because of they way they interacted.

I think I also made an observation about Malcolm's reaction to Zobral, the way he backed off when Zobral stood over him. At the time I wondered why, being the security officer, he would look like he's cowering away from this man, but in hindsight I now wonder if it's because of his Section 31 background, Malcolm being aware of what he is totally capable of and doing his best to hide it from everyone else (hopefully that made sense???). Just a thought.

And, I liked the interaction between Hoshi and T'Pol when they are discussing why the Vulcans contacted the American's first. I think this was the first time that I saw T'Pol explaining something without the Vulcan superior attitude. It was a nice touch.

And yes....

Half naked hunks...

Always makes my day...