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North Star - Official Review Thread; ***Warning - Spoilers***
Topic Started: Nov 12 2003, 05:05 PM (498 Views)
Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
I'm sorry, I missed the first half of the episode. I was too busy lecturing NZ on American politics. The second half of the episode? Not too bad, but I'm going to have to see the whole thing before I pass any kind of judgement. I need to fill in a few holes in my episode knowledge.
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Dandandat
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Time to put something here
Wichita
Nov 12 2003, 11:22 PM
*They found a way to get even the schoolmarm in minimal clothing.

*Archer as a cowboy. :drool: :drool:

I was thinking the same thing about the teacher? why was her belly showing in the biobed? and why did flox take the time to wrap the towel(?) around the woman’s breasts so neatly that you could see ever curve - is he a perv?


Not to sound gay (not that there is anything wrong with that) I thought Bakula made a good cow boy too.
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Admiralbill_gomec
UberAdmiral
Wichita
Nov 12 2003, 10:22 PM
.

POSITIVES:

*Archer as a cowboy. :drool: :drool:

I get it... those are supposed to be "drool" smileys! I thought they were someone smoking. I guess I'll have to reactivate Java.
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
Wichita
Nov 12 2003, 10:22 PM
*Archer as a cowboy. :drool: :drool:

I had a strong suspicion the second Archer entered the scene as a cowboy that I would be seeing Smilie Drooly in your post tonight. :lol: :drool:
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ImpulseEngine
Admiral
Well, here I go again. I'm just disappointed with this season. This episode was ok from an entertainment perspective, but it had too many problems.

Positives
- It held my interest (that always counts)
- Mildly interesting moral message (although it didn't really make you think much)
- It was a good choice when Archer decided to tell them who they were at the end
- It was nice to see the school teacher's character - not every human believed in the Skagarans oppression. In fact the differences between her character, the Sherriff's, and Bennings' characters provided some interesting contrasts.

Negatives
- They never explained what they were doing on the planet to begin with
- Where did the horses come from? They abducted humans to be slaves. Did they abduct horses too? It seems unlikely and they never explained this.
- More unrealistic flash gimmicks. Example, the scene where Reed shot T'Pol. I laughed at this like probably most people (so I suppose it did its job), but my next thought was, "if he could shoot T'Pol, he could just as easily have shot the cowboy too". Was it to prevent accidental weapons fire? Maybe, but startling the guy by shooting T'Pol could have caused accidental fire too.
- Another nearly naked woman in sick bay. What is it with Phlox anyway?
- Just a filler episode which contributed nothing to the Xindi story arc.
- Does Archer ever not make a serious mistake in a fight?
- Archer dropped his weapon (did I see that right?) and then Bennings just left it there...

I'm still looking for better. :) :) out of :) :) :) :) :)

Things that caught my attention in next week's preview:
- Tripp was in the coffin :o (not Mayweather? :o :o :o )
- Tripp and T'Pol kissing (I don't think they're a couple, but they're sure trying to convince us)
- Phlox was holding baby (whose?)
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Wichita
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The Adminstrator wRench
Based on the previews/spoilers for the next episode, what we saw onscreen actually makes sense. The episode may inspire a "Dear Doctor" type of ethical discussion though.

All of that is nothing compared to the published spoilers for February sweeps though - they actually made me think the Starfleet Academy idea wasn't such a bad idea after all. :P
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TribbleMom
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Commodore
Well, Capt. Archer got himself captured AGAIN. Isn't that like the twentieth time? Someday I'll have to review all the episodes again and make an actual count. It'll be a minor miracle if this guy manages to get back to Earth, considering all the times he gets himself take prisoner. The new twist on it this time was that he was captured by Humans, and this time the crew didn't have to break him out.

The episode seemed a bit out of place this season. I wondered while watching it if there would even be any mention of the Xindi at all (since that's what this season seems devoted to). I'm anxious to get this Xindi arc resolved so that maybe we can get back to peaceful exploration and the development of the Federation, so I found myself feeling like, "Let's get on with this, already, so we can get it over with." Would be interesting to see if later in the season the Xindi make any reference to having knowledge of the Skagarans or the Humans on that planet.

The change of scenery was a nice change of pace, a "breather" in the Xindi War which probably many fans were ready for, and it was probably fun for the actors to stretch and play different roles. Thankfully, the story had something of a moral to it, and that saved it from being strictly "filler," IMO.

Poor Travis only got to speak ONE line. You'd think once in a while they'd want the guy who pilots the ship to pilot the shutle down to a planet.
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
ImpulseEngine
Nov 13 2003, 12:07 AM
Things that caught my attention in next week's preview:
- Tripp was in the coffin  :o (not Mayweather?  :o  :o  :o )
- Tripp and T'Pol kissing (I don't think they're a couple, but they're sure trying to convince us)
- Phlox was holding baby (whose?)

IE, this has to be some kind of freaky dream sequence or maybe the crew slipped into yet another timeline. :rolleyes: Killing Trip off? I don’t buy that. <_<

I certainly haven’t heard anything about contract cancellations or renegotiations. :no: The turkeys at Paramount must have some idea that Trip (Connor Trinneer) is probably in the top 3 of most liked on the show. :yes:

We'll see....
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Swidden
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
TribbleMom
Nov 13 2003, 05:19 PM
Well, Capt. Archer got himself captured AGAIN.

Well, that seems to be a TOS standard (Kirk, Spock and McCoy. along with disposable red shirt, beam down and getting captured)

I watched the episode last night and again was surprised how much I liked it. The plot gaps (like why bring horses, etc) were no worse than what I would have expected in a TOS episode. So the whole premise (dealing with racsim) was handled well.

I would like it very much, if Enterprise survives a couple more seasons, if this planet is looked in on again. What if the people there decide not to return to Earth but figure it is their home? It would be interesting, if that choice were made, to have a 23rd or 24th century vessel stop by for a visit. Perhaps you might end up with a world that is a combination old west and contemporary (to the 23rd or 24th century).

It was a good change of pace episode. I also think it's execution was well done. Furthermore, if it had been done in either of the first two seasons it would have been a standout episode.
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Fesarius
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Admiral
Okay, I've seen North Star three times thus far. I did like it, but probably not for the reasons already stated.

Bethany was a compassionate character, and one that I could relate to while watching the episode. At first, she was understandably cautious--not knowing if Archer was a Skagaran or not. Once she realized he was 'on their side,' so to speak, she let down her walls somewhat. But her suspicions were well-founded and (IMO) convincingly portrayed. I also liked what seemed to be her genuine dedication to teaching the little ones their reading and 'numbers.'

The deputy (Bennings) played his part well. He wasn't quite as menacing as BC was in Past Tense (DS9), but he made me believe he was from that time. He portrayed the 'bad guy' almost as well as any I've seen in The Rifleman over the years. He was a pain in the neck, but he was supposed to be just that. He was usurping the sheriff's authority, and that lent a degree of tension to the episode. (One thing that always works for me is when a supposedly 'good' character, such as a deputy, isn't 'good.' N.B.: Data does this better than anyone, IMO--and I'm not speaking of when he was 'Lore.') In any event, the deputy deserved the 'Dalby' (tm: Fesarius) that Archer gave him right before the jailbreak. (Side note: I didn't like seeing Bethany shot, and I am wondering just how the deputy became such a crack shot. ;))

In the saloon, Archer almost looked the part of the mysterious stranger--I liked the way his hat rested on his head and tilted 'just so' over his brow, and how he very covertly turned his head about ten degrees when the Skag was being tormented. I also liked how Archer, when he was told that it was a bit 'hot for coffee,' almost reciprocated--but instead, kept the peace for the common (or perhaps greater) good at that point. Nicely done.

The fight scene (not counting the initial shot--there was a pause after that) lasted for a solid two minutes. I think that's rather rare for Trek, isn't it? (I'm not counting the DS9 fight scene in To the Death--which, if one were able to count the censored footage, might be longer.) It was a bit of a stretch to me that Bennings(?) didn't shoot Reed after Reed stunned T'Pol. But, the head tilt (Reed) just before he shot him made up for it. (BTW, was anyone amused when T'Pol said, in response to the question regarding their horses, that 'they perished'? LOL! Huh?)

This episode will make a nice trilogy for me and my family every now and then. (We often have Star Trek 'theme' nights.) We'll watch North Star, then Spectre of the Gun, and finally, A Fistful of Datas.

This episode was IMO the 'darkest' of the western-themed Trek episodes. I give North Star 3.5 stars out of 5. :)
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Cool Vulcan
Captain
North wasn't bad, it was pretty good for an episode, godg you were right, like some of it does get good. I am enjoyiung this season, and you know what I am a little surprised no meantioned that the deputy was the same actor who Worf beats up in "A Fist Full of Datas", also we finally get to hear where Archer was born, sorry to gloat but it had to be New York upstate. But my question is where was Mayweather?
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Minuet
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
Gabe, I know you are behind in getting the shows, but there are official review threads for all of the third season shows. It is ok to revive an old thread to post you comments. I will combine this review with the others in the review thread. Thanks.
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Cool Vulcan
Captain
I knew I saw it somewhere but it may of been pretty down the pages to get at it. So thanks Min. Well actually I counted how many episodes compared to North America's, UK has only had 7 I think and the US is around 19 or so episodes ahead. They should add UPN on the channels here and it would boost ratings too.
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