"Civilization" is the ninth episode (production #109) of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, and was written by Phyllis Strong and Michael Sussman. Mike Vejar served as director for the episode.
Enterprise investigates a pre-industrial civilization of about 500 million people. They discover that there is another warp-capable species among the unsuspecting inhabitants. After Captain Archer, Commander Tucker, Ensign Sato, and Sub-Commander T'Pol arrive, they discover a local scientist who believes that a newly arrived merchant is causing a sickness in the town.[2]
Enterprise locates a planet inhabited by pre-industrial humanoids called Akaali. Scanners also detect technology which does not correspond with the planet's technological level. Against Sub-Commander T'Pol's recommendation, Captain Archer decides to visit. Going in disguise, T'Pol suggests a distant rural landing site. Once in the Akaali city, Ensign Sato notices inhabitants that appear sick. Scans lead them to an old curio shop, but they encounter a force-field blocking the way. They are then confronted by a local apothecary, Riann. T'Pol stuns her, and when she awakens, Archer convinces her that he is an investigator from another city.
Archer and Tucker revisit the shop during the day posing as antique collectors. They confront Garos, asking him why his DNA is not Akaali. After confirming Tucker and Archer are not natives either, he freely admits his origins: he is part of a survey mission from Malur, and the power source is merely a fabrication unit to provide food and clothes. Archer tells him about the illness, but he claims it is an incurable indigenous virus. Doctor Phlox discovers that the water near the shop has been contaminated with a highly toxic chemical, tetracyanate 622.
Archer and Riann observe the shop at night to try to see what is being delivered to Garos. They follow a man leaving the shop with a delivery. He leaves the crates in a forest clearing, and Archer is then attacked by a Malurian. Under the shop, Archer and Riann then discover that Garos is mining a veridium isotope, and the poisoned water is a by-product. Archer orders the reactor beamed up by Enterprise but the Malurians now have a warship in orbit. T'Pol beams the power plant into the alien ship's path, using torpedoes to detonate it and crippling their shields. On the planet, Archer provides Riann with the antidote, and assures her that the Vulcans will monitor the planet to ensure the Malurians do not return.
Production
Writing partners Phyllis Strong and Mike Sussman had previously been staff for the last season of Star Trek: Voyager.[3] Sussman thought it was funny to make the Malurians the bad guys in this episode, knowing that in the future their species is wiped out by Nomad in the episode "The Changeling".[3]
Guest star Wade Anthony Williams who plays Garos, previously appeared on Star Trek: Voyager in the episode "One" as Trajis Lo-Tarik.[6][5]
When it was first broadcast on UPN this episode included a PSA where Scott Bakula welcomed home the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65).[7]
Music
Jay Chattaway's music for the episode was released on compact disc as part of the four disc Star Trek: Enterprise Collection on December 2, 2014, including the orchestral pieces:[8]
2-2
Ye Olde City
2:33
2-3
Entering The Reactor / Reactor Surprise
3:12
2-4
Memorable
0:29
Reception
Civilization was first aired in the United States on UPN on November 14, 2001. According to Nielsen Media Research, it received a 4.6/7 rating share among adults. It had an average of 7.1 million viewers.[9]
Entertainment Weekly said "T'Pol steals the show again" and said she was more interesting than Captain Archer. The romantic subplot with Archer and Rainn was described as "sweet but unaffecting."[10] Michelle Erica Green of TrekNation called the episode "a predictable fable of alien interference" which "gets no marks for originality." Green was positive about the performances of guest star Diane DiLascio (as Riann) and Jolene Blalock.[11]Aint It Cool News gave the episode 2 out of 5, calling it "pedestrian". He compares the poisoning story to a "medieval alien Erin Brockovich", and is annoyed that the episode has no impact on the ongoing plot.[12] Keith DeCandido of Tor.com gave it 5 out of 10 in his 2022 rewatch, and called it "a relentlessly average first-contact story".[5]
The book Beyond the Final Frontier said "It feels like a Riker episode of The Next Generation, and the story doesn't amount to much, but there's something cathartic about seeing a Starfleet officer who isn't restrained by the Prime Directive starting a gunfight in an alien street."[13]
Home media
This episode was released as part of Enterprise season one, which was released in high definition on Blu-ray disc on March 26, 2013;[14] it has 1080p video and a DTS-HD Master Audio sound track.[15]
References
^. StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on 2001-11-09.
^Jones, Mark; Parkin, Lance (2003). Beyond the Final Frontier: An Unauthorised Review of the Trek Universe on Television and Film. Contender books. p. 362. ISBN9781843570806.
^Scott Collura (March 26, 2013). "Remembering Star Trek: Enterprise with Scott Bakula". IGN. Ziff Davis. from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
^"Star Trek: Enterprise - Season One Blu-ray Release Date March 26, 2013". Retrieved 2021-06-11.
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Civilization is the ninth episode production 109 of the television series Star Trek Enterprise and was written by Phyllis Strong and Michael Sussman Mike Vejar served as director for the episode Civilization Star Trek Enterprise episodeEpisode no Season 1Episode 9Directed byMike VejarWritten byPhyllis Strong Michael SussmanProduced byDawn ValazquezFeatured musicJay ChattawayProduction code109Original air dateNovember 14 2001 2001 11 14 1 Guest appearancesDiane DiLascio Riann Wade Anthony Williams Garos Charlie Brewer Alien Akaali 1Episode chronology Previous Breaking the Ice Next Fortunate Son Star Trek Enterprise season 1 List of episodesEnterprise investigates a pre industrial civilization of about 500 million people They discover that there is another warp capable species among the unsuspecting inhabitants After Captain Archer Commander Tucker Ensign Sato and Sub Commander T Pol arrive they discover a local scientist who believes that a newly arrived merchant is causing a sickness in the town 2 Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Music 4 Reception 5 Home media 6 References 7 External linksPlot EditEnterprise locates a planet inhabited by pre industrial humanoids called Akaali Scanners also detect technology which does not correspond with the planet s technological level Against Sub Commander T Pol s recommendation Captain Archer decides to visit Going in disguise T Pol suggests a distant rural landing site Once in the Akaali city Ensign Sato notices inhabitants that appear sick Scans lead them to an old curio shop but they encounter a force field blocking the way They are then confronted by a local apothecary Riann T Pol stuns her and when she awakens Archer convinces her that he is an investigator from another city Archer and Tucker revisit the shop during the day posing as antique collectors They confront Garos asking him why his DNA is not Akaali After confirming Tucker and Archer are not natives either he freely admits his origins he is part of a survey mission from Malur and the power source is merely a fabrication unit to provide food and clothes Archer tells him about the illness but he claims it is an incurable indigenous virus Doctor Phlox discovers that the water near the shop has been contaminated with a highly toxic chemical tetracyanate 622 Archer and Riann observe the shop at night to try to see what is being delivered to Garos They follow a man leaving the shop with a delivery He leaves the crates in a forest clearing and Archer is then attacked by a Malurian Under the shop Archer and Riann then discover that Garos is mining a veridium isotope and the poisoned water is a by product Archer orders the reactor beamed up by Enterprise but the Malurians now have a warship in orbit T Pol beams the power plant into the alien ship s path using torpedoes to detonate it and crippling their shields On the planet Archer provides Riann with the antidote and assures her that the Vulcans will monitor the planet to ensure the Malurians do not return Production EditWriting partners Phyllis Strong and Mike Sussman had previously been staff for the last season of Star Trek Voyager 3 Sussman thought it was funny to make the Malurians the bad guys in this episode knowing that in the future their species is wiped out by Nomad in the episode The Changeling 3 Production halted for a day in response to the September 11 attacks 4 5 Guest star Wade Anthony Williams who plays Garos previously appeared on Star Trek Voyager in the episode One as Trajis Lo Tarik 6 5 When it was first broadcast on UPN this episode included a PSA where Scott Bakula welcomed home the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise CVN 65 7 Music EditJay Chattaway s music for the episode was released on compact disc as part of the four disc Star Trek Enterprise Collection on December 2 2014 including the orchestral pieces 8 2 2 Ye Olde City 2 332 3 Entering The Reactor Reactor Surprise 3 122 4 Memorable 0 29Reception EditCivilization was first aired in the United States on UPN on November 14 2001 According to Nielsen Media Research it received a 4 6 7 rating share among adults It had an average of 7 1 million viewers 9 Entertainment Weekly said T Pol steals the show again and said she was more interesting than Captain Archer The romantic subplot with Archer and Rainn was described as sweet but unaffecting 10 Michelle Erica Green of TrekNation called the episode a predictable fable of alien interference which gets no marks for originality Green was positive about the performances of guest star Diane DiLascio as Riann and Jolene Blalock 11 Aint It Cool News gave the episode 2 out of 5 calling it pedestrian He compares the poisoning story to a medieval alien Erin Brockovich and is annoyed that the episode has no impact on the ongoing plot 12 Keith DeCandido of Tor com gave it 5 out of 10 in his 2022 rewatch and called it a relentlessly average first contact story 5 The book Beyond the Final Frontier said It feels like a Riker episode of The Next Generation and the story doesn t amount to much but there s something cathartic about seeing a Starfleet officer who isn t restrained by the Prime Directive starting a gunfight in an alien street 13 Home media EditThis episode was released as part of Enterprise season one which was released in high definition on Blu ray disc on March 26 2013 14 it has 1080p video and a DTS HD Master Audio sound track 15 References Edit Next on Enterprise Civilization StarTrek com Archived from the original on 2001 11 09 Civilization StarTrek com a b Larry Nemecek Enterprise scribe PDF LarryNemecek com Studio Production Halted Following NYC Pentagon Attacks StarTrek com 2001 09 12 Archived from the original on 2001 09 26 a b c DeCandido Keith 17 January 2022 Star Trek Enterprise Rewatch Civilization Tor com Retrieved 17 January 2022 12 26 01 Sensor Sweep Who s in Movies StarTrek com Archived from the original on 2002 06 23 Retrieved 2021 07 14 Dispatch Enterprise NX 01 Salutes Enterprise CVN 65 StarTrek com 2001 11 16 Archived from the original on 2002 04 06 Various Star Trek Enterprise Collection Original Television Soundtrack Discogs Retrieved February 5 2015 Episode List Star Trek Enterprise TVTango Archived from the original on February 15 2016 Retrieved April 1 2021 Sunny Lee November 15 2001 T Pol steals the show again Entertainment Weekly Green Michelle Erica Civilization Episode Review The Trek Nation Trek Today Retrieved 2021 01 01 Hercules Strong Nov 14 2001 HERC Reviews ENTERPRISE 1 9 Aint It Cool News Jones Mark Parkin Lance 2003 Beyond the Final Frontier An Unauthorised Review of the Trek Universe on Television and Film Contender books p 362 ISBN 9781843570806 Scott Collura March 26 2013 Remembering Star Trek Enterprise with Scott Bakula IGN Ziff Davis Archived from the original on July 28 2020 Retrieved May 31 2015 Star Trek Enterprise Season One Blu ray Release Date March 26 2013 Retrieved 2021 06 11 External links Edit Civilization at IMDb Civilization at Memory Alpha a Star Trek wiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Civilization Star Trek Enterprise amp oldid 1132078579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
