Keywords:
  • Spin-off series
  • Discovery
  • Exploration

STARRING:  
Scott Bakula - Capt. Jonathan Archer
Jolene Blalock - Subcommander T'Pol
John Billingsley - Dr. Phlox
Dominic Keating - Lt. Malcolm Reed
Anthony Montgomery - Ensign Travis Mayweather
Linda Park - Ensign Hoshi Sato
Connor Trinneer - Cmdr. Charlie "Trip" Tucker

Transmitted: September 2001 - May 2005 Seasons: 4
Overall Rating: Last Updated: 30th April 2009

Fourth of the Star Trek spin-offs and, it seems, for audiences at least this was a spin-off too far.
Set shortly after humans have achieved warp travel, Scott 'Quantum Leap' Bakula plays Captain Archer, in charge of the fastest, sleakest, most up-to-date vessel at Starfleet's disposal.
With an uneasy relationship between many of the humans and the Vulcans - effectively overseers of humanities transition to a warp capable society - this is an attempt to go right to the roots. The technology is less advanced than the Trek we are used to - though the quality of the special effects seems to be something of an anachronism as, for obvious reasons, it looks much better than both The Original Series and The Next Generation - and the dealings with other races is less sophisticated and, indeed, many of the races we are familiar with are being encountered for the first time.
So, is it any good?
Well, yes it bloody well is.
Despite a critical mauling and the fact that it shed viewers faster than an Angelcorpse riff, it really is entertaining.
The crew are quickly well established and, with the exception of Mayweather and Hoshi, well rounded, and a likeable enough bunch they are too, my personal favourite being Dr Phlox.
The sticking point for many seems to be the theme song, which is dreadful and, truthfully, put me off for some time. But I got over it, and you should too.

As ever, Trek is an acquired taste, but if you have it, you will like this.

Season 1 Season 2
Season rating: Season rating:
       
TITLE RATING TITLE RATING
Broken Bow (1) Shockwave (Part 2)
Broken Bow (2) Carbon Creek
Fight or Flight Minefield
Strange New World Dead Stop
Unexpected A Night in Sickbay
Terra Nova Marauders
The Andorian Incident The Seventh
Breaking the Ice The Communicator
Civilization Singularity
Fortunate Son Vanishing Point
Cold Front Precious Cargo
Silent Enemy The Catwalk
Dear Doctor Dawn
Sleeping Dogs Stigma
Shadows of P'Jem Cease Fire
Shuttlepod One Future Tense
Fusion Canamar
Rogue Planet The Crossing
Acquisition Judgment
Oasis Horizon
Detained The Breach
Vox Sola Cogenitor
Fallen Hero Regeneration Yet to see
Desert Crossing First Flight
Two Days and Two Nights Bounty Yet to see
Shockwave (Part 1) The Expanse
       
Season 3   Season 4  
Season rating: Season rating: Yet to see
       
TITLE RATING TITLE RATING
The Xindi Storm Front (Part 1)
Anomaly Storm Front (Part 2)
Extinction Home
Rajiin Borderland (Part 1)
Impulse Cold Station 12 (Part 2)
Exile The Augments (Part 3)
The Shipment The Forge (Part 1)
Twilight Awakening (Part 2)
North Star Kir'Shara (Part 3)
Similitude Daedalus
Carpenter Street Observer Effect
Chosen Realm Babel One (Part 1)
Proving Ground United (Part 2)
Stratagem The Aenar (Part 3)
Harbinger Affliction (Part 1)
Doctor's Orders Divergence (Part 2)
Hatchery Bound
Azati Prime In a Mirror, Darkly (Part 1)
Damage In a Mirror, Darkly (Part 2)
The Forgotten Demons (Part 1)
Terra Prime (Part 2) Yet to see
The Council These Are the Voyages … Yet to see
Countdown    
Zero Hour