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Similitude - Official Review Thread; ***Spoilers***
Topic Started: Nov 19 2003, 04:06 PM (807 Views)
Minuet
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
Hello everyone. Time for a new episode and reviews. Witchita has informed me that the word on the net is that this is a not to be missed episode, so everyone should watch and weigh in with an opinion.

See ya all here later!
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starbase63
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The Old Man
First of all, my compliments to the UPN advertising department on a job well done...how many of those who were ready to start writing letters to Paramount a few days ago to complain about Trip and T'Pol hooking up, having a baby, etc. were sitting there going "But...but...but..." As my favorite song from Blue Oyster Cult intones, "...the joke's on you!"
Yet another well done episode that DOESN'T bear a Rick Berman writer credit. And in true Star Trek fashion, a commentary on the controversial cloning-for-harvest dilemma...what would we do if clones grown for human "spare parts" were cognizant of their world and maybe didn't want to die for someone else's benefit?
Connor Trinneer's portrayal of Sim, the Trip-who-isn't-really-Trip was moving...who wants to bet that, since Trip now has part of Sim's brain as part of his own, Trip might eventually come across some of Sim's memories? "T'Pol, I had the strangest dream that you kissed me..." "You're just imagining things, Commander..."
From what looked like a cheap Trip-and-T'Pol-get-busy story to a genuine Trek social commentary, I say "Similitude" ranks with Enterprise's better episodes to date. I had it all figured out by 8:17, but it was worth following through.
Time for a drink...
B}
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
I thought this was a really good episode. Why?

Pros

First, this episode made me cry. :cry: I could see the sadness in T’Pol’s eyes at the potential loss of Trip and the eventual loss of Sim. I know Vulcans are supposed to act more reserved, but I couldn’t help but enjoy seeing T’Pol show emotion towards Sim. I recognized that these emotions were primarily felt for Trip…but Sim was able to encourage the physical manifestation of those feelings (in a good way…a small kiss, eyes tearing up, showing that she was struggling with the situation). Not suggestively sitting on the floor rubbing each other (a B&B bad scene teaser).

Second, I saw Connor Trinneer reach a whole other level in his portrayal as Trip/Sim. He was able to show a range of acting and emotions that IMHO weren’t even displayed in the Expanse or the Xindi (two episodes that were really suppose to highlight his range of emotions). :yes:

Third, this episode posed a series of interesting ethical questions. Is it ethical to clone/create a sentient human being for body parts? Is it ethical to clone/create a sentient human being, knowing that the clone will not live after the harvesting has taken place? :yes: :no:


Additional Pros

Mayweather actually got to use his piloting skills. :o

This episode was directed by LeVar Burton. Go Geordi!!!! :D


Cons

The neuro-pressure scenes are verging on tacky. The suggestive foot groping, the breasts practically in Trips face and the exasperating comments… “fine-tuning a piece of machinery.” The scenes are really becoming laughable (in a bad way).

Does anyone else think that Phlox is becoming more ethically challenged? I am inclined to think he is. This might create a deeper character, but I don't know if I like a major character going down that road...unless it is building up to some life-altering future situation for Phlox.


General Comments

I still hate the Intro music. :blink:

I just want to laugh every time the Enterprise is forced to use the grappler hooks/cables. I keep thinking, "damn…can’t they just use their tractor beam?" When is this bit of treknology supposed to be invented/borrowed/stolen for use by Starfleet? I think it is time for Starfleet to start begging the Vulcans for the treknology. :yes:

Phlox made a comment about the passing on of memories through DNA…and the possibility of this being a wonderful new human discovery. I know why this aspect was added for the story…but it seemed like such a false-hood and improbability (in real life). That bugs me for some reason. I’ll have to think about this one some more. :huh:


Silly

I still want to know where Porthos goes to the bathroom. :no: I mean, I don’t see any of the crew accidentally stepping in a pile anywhere. :wow: :whistle:

The Zefram Cochrane statue in Archer’s room still makes me laugh. The last time we saw the statue, it was stuck in a Xindi. :lol: :)


I give this episode :) :) :) :) out of 5 :)
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
Hmmm, has anybody watched this episode? I know I won't see it until the weekend but by now most folks have weighed in with their rants and raves....

It's quiet tonight... Almost too quiet... <_<
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bonja
Commodore
Swidden
Nov 19 2003, 11:19 PM
Hmmm, has anybody watched this episode? I know I won't see it until the weekend but by now most folks have weighed in with their rants and raves....

It's quiet tonight... Almost too quiet... <_<

I don't know about the others but I need a little more time to think about this one.

It was very good though.
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ImpulseEngine
Admiral
I really liked this episode. In my opinion it was the best of the season so far and one of the best of the series. Even though as soon as the cloning idea was mentioned, it was predictable who the baby would be and who was really in the casket, it held my interest throughout the hour. :yes:

The ethical conflict was well written and presented and it was nice to see the examination of several different sub-issues to this dilemma. I also thought that was an interesting twist with the piece of information that Phlox decided not to mention that potentially could have saved Sim's life.

One thing that I especially liked about this episode was that it reached me at an emotional level - a rare thing with Enterprise. I could feel what each of the significant characters of this episode were going through - Sim, Archer, T'Pol, and even Phlox when he knew he had disappointed Archer by not being able to complete the operation at the expense of Sim's life. I even felt for Trip when he was standing there watching Sim's funeral - what must have been going through HIS mind at that moment... :o

There were a few more-of-the-same negatives, like the foot massage scene, but they were well overshadowed this week by the positives in the rest of the episode.

Wow, Mayweather hasn't lost his voice! He uttered at least 2 whole lines! :P :rolleyes:

This one gets :) :) :) :) out of :) :) :) :) :) from me.
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starbase63
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The Old Man
24thcenstfan
Nov 19 2003, 10:14 PM

Phlox made a comment about the passing on of memories through DNA…and the possibility of this being a wonderful new human discovery. I know why this aspect was added for the story…but it seemed like such a false-hood and improbability (in real life). That bugs me for some reason. I’ll have to think about this one some more. :huh:


The idea of "racial memory" has been around for some time...I remember Spock mentioning it in an episode of TOS...
B}
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
^^^
Gordon R. Dickson used it in part of his Childe Cycle series (aka the Dorsai series).
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ImpulseEngine
Admiral
24thcenstfan
Nov 19 2003, 10:14 PM
Phlox made a comment about the passing on of memories through DNA…and the possibility of this being a wonderful new human discovery. I know why this aspect was added for the story…but it seemed like such a false-hood and improbability (in real life). That bugs me for some reason. I’ll have to think about this one some more. :huh:

24thcenstfan, here's a story for you. I saw a variety show with a friend once in which my friend was an audience-participant for a hypnotist. My friend was hypnotized and was told to go further and further back in time progressively to his teen years, then childhood, then infancy, then before he was born. When he got to the before he was born part, my friend started speaking in a language that he had never spoken before. (This was a long time ago in college and I don't remember exactly what language it was now.) The supposed explanation was that he had tapped into the DNA memories of his ancestors... :huh:

I don't know if I believe that explanation, but it is food for thought. :)
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Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
Folks, once again I got home late. We caught the last fifteen minutes and I could not make hide nor hair of this episode.

I don't know how a cloned Trip got the other one's memories, unless through Fal Tor Pan (ref. ST:III).

Second, why is it that the FULLY Vulcan T'Pol is so anxious to experience all the things fanboys dream of (kissing, wearing next to nothing), when the half-human Spock was quite prim and chaste? I'm sorry, but the "to better understand them I need to experience their emotions" is just so much BS.

Third, why is it that you waste a perfectly good photon torpedo tube on a clone? Now I'm getting a little miffed at Nick Meyer for starting that back during ST:II... because it is soooo overdone. Wrap him in canvas, weight him down, and drop him over the side... or at least a 22nd century version of that. The whole fire the torpedo sendoff, even if he's just ejected, is so damned hokey.

I'll give a FULL review after I see it on Sunday. I would have been home sooner, but my son and I were helping Grandma (my Mom) shop for Thanksgiving. (By the way, what is it with kids and the cranberry sauce in a can? Is it because it reminds them of jello?)
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ImpulseEngine
Admiral
Admiralbill_gomec
Nov 20 2003, 12:04 AM
(By the way, what is it with kids and the cranberry sauce in a can? Is it because it reminds them of jello?)

:lol: LOL! :lol: I was one of those kids once who couldn't get enough cranberry sauce. In fact, my mother used to joke that she was going to put a can in my Christmas stocking. For me, I just liked the flavor - and still do.
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Wichita
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The Adminstrator wRench
Admiralbill_gomec
Nov 20 2003, 05:04 AM
Folks, once again I got home late. We caught the last fifteen minutes and I could not make hide nor hair of this episode.


Bill, after seeing your review of "Dear Doctor", I can't wait to see what you say about THIS episode. :o :)

I'm with Bonja personally. This episode takes some digesting. :ermm:

The whole issue of how the clone was grown is preposterous, but then so are many issues in sci-fi. The massage scenes continue to convince me there is NO personal attraction between Trip and T'Pol which is going to make the inevitable result even more of a downer when it happens.

Note: During Season One, I thought sparks flew between the two every time they were on screen. The personal chemistry was obvious IMO. Now that they are "scripting" the "relationship" with the massage scenes, I literally couldn't care less. With every passing week, T'Pol becomes less and less of a "presence" on the show IMO. She's also running out of body parts to stick in people's faces. :rolleyes:

As to the rest of the episode ...

I liked it because it took a chance. I liked Archer, as portrayed, because he wasn't particularily likable, he knew it, and made the decisions anyway.

Why IS Travis still a character? There inability to write for him first season was noted, but understandable. Now, it's literally a joke - sort of reminds me of the the SNL skits years ago about the Spanish dictator - "He's still dead."

Porthos, on the other hand, had some GREAT scenes. His look in the shuttle bay scene was priceless. :yes:

Why does being a science officer make you an expert engineer - especially someone who has spent years as a security officer and in the diplomatic field? I could have seen T'Pol focusing on getting the stuff off the hull of the ship - more on that later - but wondered why Trip's second in command wasn't overseeing the repairs. The only reason I could see for it was so that T'Pol could interact with Sim more to set the stage for the kiss. :rolleyes:

Speaking of the stuff on the hull .... what happened to it? Originally it took multiple shots of a phaser rifle to get a few pieces free. Later, it all just apparently fell off. If it had to do with the magnetic properties, wouldn't it still stick to the hull even after leaving the cloud?

And saving the best for last ...

The whole thing worked because of Connor Trineer. The kid playing his younger version was great as well, but the adult actor made it all possible. Somebody else in the role of Trip could have made the show a total disaster - he seems to just get better and better - even with some pretty bad writing.



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Fesarius
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Admiral
Admiral,

Cranberry sauce--LOL! No kidding. If I understand what you were saying, I've gone through that too with my children. :)

BTW, prim and chaste Spock--agreed. I recall an episode (perhaps it was The Immunity Syndrome?) where Spock *almost* said he was 'sorry,' but stopped short--and the viewer only heard 'Captain, I'm sss.' Goodness, it was agony for him to almost say that. I do wish the T'Pol emotional elements were toned down substantially.

Quote:
 
Second, I saw Connor Trinneer reach a whole other level in his portrayal as Trip/Sim. He was able to show a range of acting and emotions that IMHO weren’t even displayed in the Expanse or the Xindi (two episodes that were really suppose to highlight his range of emotions).

24thcenstfan,

I haven't seen it yet (won't for about a month or so), but this really intrigues me no end! I like reading that this range (Trinneer) is there. :)

Quote:
 
I think it is time for Starfleet to start begging the Vulcans for the treknology.

Think of this line for a moment--doesn't this speak volumes for the believability of Trek in general, when characters (Vulcans) are so real to us that we think of them in this way? In other words, thinking of them as an entity in and of themselves that we need to consult?
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
Fesarius
Nov 20 2003, 09:08 AM
Think of this line for a moment--doesn't this speak volumes for the believability of Trek in general, when characters (Vulcans) are so real to us that we think of them in this way? In other words, thinking of them as an entity in and of themselves that we need to consult?

Do you mean that Star Trek isn’t real? :o :cry: :( ;)


Quote:
 
(By the way, what is it with kids and the cranberry sauce in a can? Is it because it reminds them of jello?)


I don't know about only kids liking it. I love the stuff. I have two cans in my pantry just waiting to be opened, sliced and arranged in a lovely circular pattern for Thanksgiving dinner. :D
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Quote:
 
I don't know about only kids liking it. I love the stuff. I have two cans in my pantry just waiting to be opened, sliced and arranged in a lovely circular pattern for Thanksgiving dinner.

24thcenstfan,

10,000 quatloos says the sauce doesn't make it until Thanksgiving. :wow:
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