Moral ambiguity and ethical dilemmas abound in Star Trek.
This episode puts Archer and Phlox at odds as they decide their roles in the fate of two species. This episode also put your hosts at odds as they wrestled with their own questions. Did Archer make the right choice? Was Phlox being reasonable? Is Crewman Cutler perfect?
There Are Four Mics is a weekly podcast starring a group of nobodies talking about Star Trek episodes and movies in chronological order.
Join Anna Heiser, Jason Allen, Joe Heiser and Joshua B. Jones as we discuss the thirteenth episode of Enterprise, Dear Doctor.
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Music credits:
Faith of the Heart/Where My Heart Will Take Me – performed by Russell Watson
== Show Notes ==
Cold Open
Doctor Phlox is in the sickbay feeding the many creatures he keeps, he also eats a caterpillar.
Act I
Hoshi delivers a letter from Phlox’s counterpart in the Interspecies Medical Exchange, Doctor Lucas, currently residing on Denobula. Through voice over narration we hear Phlox’s response to his colleague’s observations on Denobulan society, and Phlox makes his own observations dealing with an all human crew, emphasizing humanity’s capacity for compassion and emotional investment.
We witness some of the day to day events of Phlox’s routine and see him treat an injured crewman, diagnose a gastro-intestinally distressed Porthos, and take part in Movie Night. After the movie, Phlox and Cutler walk down a corridor while Phlox quizzes her on the cardiopulmonary system. By the end of the night Dr. Phlox, reveals to Dr. Lucas that he is beginning to think Crewman Cutler has a romantic interest in him.
On the Bridge, a ship lists on the viewscreen. After a few attempts at contact, two weak lifesigns are discovered. Archer orders the ship brought into the Launch Bay. Phlox examines the two aliens while Hoshi attempts to program the Universal Translator. The alien explains they are in search of advanced civilizations to help them overcome an illness sweeping their species. Archer and T’Pol briefly discuss options, coming to the conclusion that there is low risk of cultural contamination considering the aliens have already encountered other warp capable species.
Through voice-over narration, Phlox apologizes to his colleague for a late letter, citing the unusual medical case brought to his attention through an act of human compassion, highlighting that he may now be responsible for over 50 million lives.
Act II
Hoshi and Dr. Phlox sit in the messhall, Hoshi speaking Denobulan to the doctor, who congratulates her on her improvement. Hoshi notes that Phlox and Crewman Cutler have been spending a lot of time together, in response Phlox asks for tips on how to proceed.
The Enterprise approaches Valakis while Phlox comments to Dr. Lucas on how struck he is with the human capacity to help others, despite knowing nothing of them a few days before. In the Valakian hospital, Dr. Phlox learns more about the disease and requests all of the medical information the Valakians have already gathered. Meanwhile, Hoshi asks a passing hospital employee about the astronaut they rescued. She and the rest of the crew discover that the employee is actually a Menk, a species that evolved alongside the Valakians that have not been affected by the disease. Phlox asks for all the data available on the Menk to be sent to him as well.
Phlox describes his work with the Valakians as incredibly rewarding, though worries about raising their hopes considering the massive scale of the disease. He enlists Crewman Cutler to assist him in his research, inviting her down to the surface to help collect blood samples from the Menk. She is grateful for the opportunity, while Phlox tells Dr. Lucas he continues to be perplexed by her affections.
Dr. Phlox meets with T’Pol in the sickbay and informs her she has a cavity. She begrudgingly accepts treatment and Phlox uses the opportunity to ask for her advice on how to proceed with Cutler. T’Pol warns him that humans become easily infatuated by new things, and that in her experience, they lack the necessary maturity for inter-species relationships. Phlox reveals to Dr. Lucas that her pragmatism sometimes leaves him unsettled.
Phlox is called to Archer’s ready room. Phlox reveals that the disease is actually the deterioration of the Valakian genome, warning that they will likely become extinct within 200 years. He also states his belief that the Menk may be the secret to creating a cure.
Act III
Dr. Phlox continues his letter to Dr. Lucas, describing the exciting opportunity he has in studying two sentient species that managed to evolve and coexist on the same world. Through work with the Menk, who appear to live a very rustic lifestyle, Cutler and Hoshi begin to feel that the Menk are being taken advantage of by the Valakians, exploited for being hard workers and forced to live in compounds despite their apparently high intelligence. Phlox remarks to Dr. Lucas that the humans are quick to rise to their defense, despite no Menk requesting such help.
After gathering their samples, Phlox and Cutler talk about the relationship between the Valakians and the Menk. Dr. Phlox believes Cutler and Hoshi’s opinion that the Menk are oppressed comes down to cultural difference between Valaakians and humans, and need not be made into a larger issue considering the normal evolutionary progression for sentient lifeforms. Cutler disagrees, as an example Phlox begins to talk about his own culture, revealing he is not only married, but has three wives, as is pretty average for Denobulans. He questions Cutler on whether this cultural difference matters to her, she claims it does not, but Phlox seems doubtful. Cutler states she just wants to see where things go.
Archer visits the Valaakian astronaut rescued earlier in the episode. He seems to be in very poor shape. He thanks Archer for bringing him back before the end, and makes a request: warp technology. He states that millions more will die before their next ship even leaves, but with warp technology they could seek out help rather than wait for someone to pass by. Archer informs him that not everyone they encounter would seek to help them. He is then called away by Phlox over the communicator and leaves the hospital.
On the Enterprise, T’Pol informs Archer they’ve received numerous hails and turned down several ships that believed a cure had already been discovered. Archer asks T’Pol to join him in his ready room where he reveals to her that the Valaakians have asked for their warp technology. T’Pol and Archer discuss the risks associated with anti-matter and the possibility of the Enterprise staying to help. T’Pol counters that the Vulcans decided to help Earth 90 years ago and still haven’t left. Archer concedes that he is beginning to understand how the Vulcans must have felt
In the sickbay, Phlox is studying some DNA. What he see’s seems to disturb him greatly.
Act IV
Phlox enters the mess hall late at night, finding Archer already deep in thought. They quickly get to discussing the potential cure for the Valakians. Phlox has misgivings about curing the disease, considering his findings and the presence of the intelligent race of Menk. Believing that correcting the now understood inherent defect in the Valakian genome would be interfering in the natural evolution of the planet, destroying the chance for the Menk, who are on the cusp of an evolutionary awakening, to flourish without the Valakian influence. Archer vehemently disagrees, believing they have an obligation in the here and now to the people who have asked for help. At the end of the conversation, after some hesitation, Phlox reveals he has already discovered the cure.
Phlox continues his letter to Dr. Lucas, stating this is the first time he has been in direct conflict with his captain though he believes he owes it to Archer to trust him to do the right thing. Later, Archer enters the sickbay. Phlox begins to reiterate his position but Archer cuts him off. He has come to a decision that goes against all of his principles, firmly stating that until someone drafts a directive stating so, he will have to remind himself every single day that they didn’t come out here to play God. Phlox is taken aback, and through narration tells Dr. Lucas he is ashamed to say he nearly kept his findings from his captain.
On the planet surface, Archer and Phlox deliver medicine to the Valakians. Suggesting that they should ease the symptoms for a decade or more. Archer also comments that he wouldn’t be surprised if they found a cure all on their own. Phlox continues his letter, stating that had he hidden his findings, he’d be no better than the Vulcan diplomats that believed humanity couldn’t be trusted to make their own decisions.
Back aboard the Enterprise, Dr. Phlox finishes his letter and gives it to Hoshi to send out in the morning. Following Hoshi’s advice to get out of sickbay, Phlox invites Crewman Cutler out for a meal.