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Stigma (Star Trek: Enterprise)

April 11, 2024

"Stigma" is the fortieth episode (production #214) of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, the fourteenth of the second season. This science fiction episode has a story about a spacecraft crew in the 22nd century, dealing with an alien disease, and also a morality play about sexually transmitted diseases.

"Stigma"
Star Trek: Enterprise episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 14
Directed byDavid Livingston
Written byRick Berman
Brannon Braga
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Production code214
Original air dateFebruary 5, 2003 (2003-02-05)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Cease Fire"
Star Trek: Enterprise season 2
List of episodes

In the episode, it is revealed that Sub-commander T'Pol has a degenerative disease, pa'nar syndrome, contracted from her undesired mind meld in "Fusion". She must face being ostracized by Vulcan society and losing her position on Enterprise.[1]

Plot edit

Doctor Phlox tells Sub−Commander T'Pol that his treatment of her potentially fatal disease, pa'nar syndrome, is losing effectiveness, so he would like to make confidential inquiries with Vulcan doctors attending an interspecies medical exchange on the planet Enterprise is now orbiting. T'Pol resists, but Phlox chooses to go anyway. Before he does, his second wife, Feezal, arrives to help install a new microscope, and she soon begins making amorous advances on Commander Tucker. A confused Tucker cannot quite wrap his mind around polygamy, which, in Denobulan culture, is quite a normal practice.

On the planet, Phlox's inquiries with the Vulcans yield little information. When the Vulcans request to visit and interview Phlox and T'Pol, it is clear that the subterfuge had failed, since the Vulcans trick T'Pol into providing a medical sample, which confirms their suspicions. Pa'nar syndrome is only transmitted via mind-meld, a practice which is considered taboo on the Vulcan homeworld. Captain Archer is upset to learn about T'Pol's condition from the Vulcans. Archer then pays his own visit to the Vulcans - a visit which is no more fruitful than Phlox's first. One of the doctors, Yuris, sets up a secret meeting with T'Pol to give her the information she seeks. He reveals a closely guarded secret: he himself is a mind–melder. T'Pol tells Yuris that the meld which gave her the disease was forced on her. Yuris begs her to tell the others before the Vulcan High Command is informed of her condition, but she declines.

It then comes out that T'Pol could lose her commission since pa'nar is a stigmatized disease. Archer uses a loophole in Vulcan protocol to force a hearing. T'Pol remains silent, but Archer stands by his science officer, all the while resisting the Vulcan doctors. Yuris then reveals his status as a melder, and exposes T'Pol's secret. As a result, he is suspended, but T'Pol is allowed to remain on Enterprise. She continues to stand her ground and states her intent to inform the High Command of recent events, hoping to defend Yuris and encourage others to challenge prejudice.

Pa'nar syndrome edit

Pa'nar syndrome is a fictional neurological ailment, fatal to Vulcans, and transferred between them via a mind meld. At this time in the Star Trek universe, only a small portion of Vulcans are believed to have the ability to initiate mind melds. Furthermore, Vulcan society has "more intolerance today than there was 1,000 years ago" (a statement by Dr. Yuris, in this episode) and melding is not accepted by Vulcan society in general. People suffering from pa'nar syndrome are therefore stigmatized – a situation that will not begin to change until the fourth season story arc culminating in the episode "Kir'Shara".[2][3]

T'Pol contracts this relatively rare disease from a member of a rebellious Vulcan sect which had cast aside the rule of logic and experimented with mind melds and emotions. The event is seen in "Fusion",[4] where T'Pol, apparently unaware of the risks, willingly participates in a mind meld initiated by Tolaris, but later resists the process. In "Stigma" she discloses that she was forced into it. In the fourth season episode "Awakening", T'Pol learns that the condition was caused by an improperly trained melder and, contrary to the public declarations of the Vulcan High Command, it was actually curable (in T'Pol's case, via a meld provided by future Vulcan elder T'Pau). It's later mentioned in "Daedalus" that other pa'nar victims are coming forward to be cured and the disease is no longer the source of stigma that it once was.[5]

Production edit

In late 2002, Viacom, the owner of the UPN network on which Enterprise was aired, mandated that all fictional programs on its schedule would, sometime during the 2002–2003 season, produce a special episode addressing the AIDS-HIV pandemic.[6][7][8]

Brannon Braga wanted to write an AIDS awareness story that was a subtle allegory, and that wasn't too preachy or tried for cheap sympathy. The story was more about the stigma and prejudice surrounding the disease than the disease itself. Braga was also aware of the failed attempt to tell a similar story in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the script "Blood and Fire" by David Gerrold that never made it out of development and into production.[9] Rick Berman thought the episode was in keeping with the tradition of Star Trek, tackling the premise of AIDS through metaphors, he said "We dealt with an alien situation, something that would turn the whole idea, the whole initiative, on its ear to be looked at in a different way."[10]

The plastic Vulcan posters seen in the Vulcan Medical Facility, which featured a Vulcan script and medical diagram, were designed by Timothy Earls. The props were also used in the episode "Impulse" and later went to auction.[11]

Reception edit

"Stigma" first aired on February 5, 2003. It opened with a tribute to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia.[12] According to Nielsen Media Research it was rated 2.9/4.[13] The episode was watched by 4.4 million viewers.[14][13]

Entertainment Weekly gave the episode a B+, calling it "a thoughtful examination of both pride and prejudice" although they found the B story involving Dr. Phlox's wife incongruous.[15] G.J. Donnelly of TV Guide was critical of the script, and the subplot, but praised Blalock's performance: "Blalock lends T'Pol a dignified vulnerability worthy of the subject matter. Unfortunately, the resolution is predictable, and the tone throughout is a bit too politically correct."[16] John Ruch of the Boston Herald felt that the episode's social commentary was too timid and that it failed to fully address sexuality-based discrimination.[17] Others responded positively to the parallels between the episode and the intolerance in human society.[18]

In 2021, The Digital Fix said this T'Pol centric episode was a morality play about AIDS, but that it "feels a decade too late in its approach" and although the idea was an interesting concept, it "is never explored outside the episode and the whole story feels a little heavy handed in its approach".[4]

In 2015, Den of Geek in a review of important show characters, recommended this episode as important for understanding the character of Doctor Phlox.[19]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Stigma". StarTrek.com.
  2. ^ . StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  3. ^ . StarTrek.com. 2002-11-22. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  4. ^ a b Baz Greenland (2021-03-22). "Star Trek: Enterprise Revisited - A Look Back At Season Two". The Digital Fix. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  5. ^ Jordan Hoffman (July 31, 2012). "One Trek Mind #37: Sick In Space". StarTrek.com.
  6. ^ Chabria, Anita (January 13, 2003). "Edelman joins forces with Viacom on HIV AIDS education initiative". www.prweek.com (Press release).
  7. ^ Steve Krutzler (3 February 2003). . TrekWeb.com. Archived from the original on 2004-01-26.
  8. ^ . STARTREK.COM:News. Archived from the original on 2003-04-22. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  9. ^ John Coffren (February 5, 2003). . sunspot.net - arts/life. The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2003-02-19.
  10. ^ Caillan (February 1, 2003). "'Enterprise' Cast & Creators Talk 'Stigma'". TrekToday.com.
  11. ^ 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection. Christie's. 2006. p. 155.
  12. ^ . STARTREK.COM:News. Archived from the original on 2003-04-01. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  13. ^ a b . TV Tango. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Brian Lowry (February 12, 2003). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2003-02-22. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  15. ^ . Entertainment Weekly. 2003-02-05. Archived from the original on 2003-02-07.
  16. ^ G.J. Donnelly (2003). . TV Guide Online. Archived from the original on 2003-04-19.
  17. ^ John Ruch (February 5, 2003). . webpan.com. Archived from the original on 2003-08-04.
  18. ^ . 2007-10-07. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  19. ^ Lisa Granshaw (September 26, 2019). "Star Trek: Enterprise and the Importance of Its Characters". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2021-04-01.

External links edit

April 11, 2024
stigma, star, trek, enterprise, stigma, fortieth, episode, production, television, series, star, trek, enterprise, fourteenth, second, season, this, science, fiction, episode, story, about, spacecraft, crew, 22nd, century, dealing, with, alien, disease, also, . Stigma is the fortieth episode production 214 of the television series Star Trek Enterprise the fourteenth of the second season This science fiction episode has a story about a spacecraft crew in the 22nd century dealing with an alien disease and also a morality play about sexually transmitted diseases Stigma Star Trek Enterprise episodeEpisode no Season 2Episode 14Directed byDavid LivingstonWritten byRick Berman Brannon BragaFeatured musicDennis McCarthyProduction code214Original air dateFebruary 5 2003 2003 02 05 Guest appearancesMelinda Page Hamilton Feezal Michael Ensign Doctor Oratt Bob Morrisey Doctor Strom Jeffrey Hayenga Doctor Yuris Lee Spencer Vulcan DoctorEpisode chronology Previous Dawn Next Cease Fire Star Trek Enterpriseseason 2List of episodesIn the episode it is revealed that Sub commander T Pol has a degenerative disease pa nar syndrome contracted from her undesired mind meld in Fusion She must face being ostracized by Vulcan society and losing her position on Enterprise 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Pa nar syndrome 3 Production 4 Reception 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksPlot editDoctor Phlox tells Sub Commander T Pol that his treatment of her potentially fatal disease pa nar syndrome is losing effectiveness so he would like to make confidential inquiries with Vulcan doctors attending an interspecies medical exchange on the planet Enterprise is now orbiting T Pol resists but Phlox chooses to go anyway Before he does his second wife Feezal arrives to help install a new microscope and she soon begins making amorous advances on Commander Tucker A confused Tucker cannot quite wrap his mind around polygamy which in Denobulan culture is quite a normal practice On the planet Phlox s inquiries with the Vulcans yield little information When the Vulcans request to visit and interview Phlox and T Pol it is clear that the subterfuge had failed since the Vulcans trick T Pol into providing a medical sample which confirms their suspicions Pa nar syndrome is only transmitted via mind meld a practice which is considered taboo on the Vulcan homeworld Captain Archer is upset to learn about T Pol s condition from the Vulcans Archer then pays his own visit to the Vulcans a visit which is no more fruitful than Phlox s first One of the doctors Yuris sets up a secret meeting with T Pol to give her the information she seeks He reveals a closely guarded secret he himself is a mind melder T Pol tells Yuris that the meld which gave her the disease was forced on her Yuris begs her to tell the others before the Vulcan High Command is informed of her condition but she declines It then comes out that T Pol could lose her commission since pa nar is a stigmatized disease Archer uses a loophole in Vulcan protocol to force a hearing T Pol remains silent but Archer stands by his science officer all the while resisting the Vulcan doctors Yuris then reveals his status as a melder and exposes T Pol s secret As a result he is suspended but T Pol is allowed to remain on Enterprise She continues to stand her ground and states her intent to inform the High Command of recent events hoping to defend Yuris and encourage others to challenge prejudice Pa nar syndrome editPa nar syndrome is a fictional neurological ailment fatal to Vulcans and transferred between them via a mind meld At this time in the Star Trek universe only a small portion of Vulcans are believed to have the ability to initiate mind melds Furthermore Vulcan society has more intolerance today than there was 1 000 years ago a statement by Dr Yuris in this episode and melding is not accepted by Vulcan society in general People suffering from pa nar syndrome are therefore stigmatized a situation that will not begin to change until the fourth season story arc culminating in the episode Kir Shara 2 3 T Pol contracts this relatively rare disease from a member of a rebellious Vulcan sect which had cast aside the rule of logic and experimented with mind melds and emotions The event is seen in Fusion 4 where T Pol apparently unaware of the risks willingly participates in a mind meld initiated by Tolaris but later resists the process In Stigma she discloses that she was forced into it In the fourth season episode Awakening T Pol learns that the condition was caused by an improperly trained melder and contrary to the public declarations of the Vulcan High Command it was actually curable in T Pol s case via a meld provided by future Vulcan elder T Pau It s later mentioned in Daedalus that other pa nar victims are coming forward to be cured and the disease is no longer the source of stigma that it once was 5 Production editIn late 2002 Viacom the owner of the UPN network on which Enterprise was aired mandated that all fictional programs on its schedule would sometime during the 2002 2003 season produce a special episode addressing the AIDS HIV pandemic 6 7 8 Brannon Braga wanted to write an AIDS awareness story that was a subtle allegory and that wasn t too preachy or tried for cheap sympathy The story was more about the stigma and prejudice surrounding the disease than the disease itself Braga was also aware of the failed attempt to tell a similar story in Star Trek The Next Generation the script Blood and Fire by David Gerrold that never made it out of development and into production 9 Rick Berman thought the episode was in keeping with the tradition of Star Trek tackling the premise of AIDS through metaphors he said We dealt with an alien situation something that would turn the whole idea the whole initiative on its ear to be looked at in a different way 10 The plastic Vulcan posters seen in the Vulcan Medical Facility which featured a Vulcan script and medical diagram were designed by Timothy Earls The props were also used in the episode Impulse and later went to auction 11 Reception edit Stigma first aired on February 5 2003 It opened with a tribute to the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia 12 According to Nielsen Media Research it was rated 2 9 4 13 The episode was watched by 4 4 million viewers 14 13 Entertainment Weekly gave the episode a B calling it a thoughtful examination of both pride and prejudice although they found the B story involving Dr Phlox s wife incongruous 15 G J Donnelly of TV Guide was critical of the script and the subplot but praised Blalock s performance Blalock lends T Pol a dignified vulnerability worthy of the subject matter Unfortunately the resolution is predictable and the tone throughout is a bit too politically correct 16 John Ruch of the Boston Herald felt that the episode s social commentary was too timid and that it failed to fully address sexuality based discrimination 17 Others responded positively to the parallels between the episode and the intolerance in human society 18 In 2021 The Digital Fix said this T Pol centric episode was a morality play about AIDS but that it feels a decade too late in its approach and although the idea was an interesting concept it is never explored outside the episode and the whole story feels a little heavy handed in its approach 4 In 2015 Den of Geek in a review of important show characters recommended this episode as important for understanding the character of Doctor Phlox 19 See also editSexuality in Star Trek The Naked Time Original Series episode with disease transmission The Disease Voyager episode with alien STI References edit Stigma StarTrek com Stigma StarTrek com Archived from the original on 2010 04 06 Retrieved 2010 04 08 Production Report Blalock Billingsley Carry Stigma StarTrek com 2002 11 22 Archived from the original on 2010 01 04 Retrieved 2010 04 08 a b Baz Greenland 2021 03 22 Star Trek Enterprise Revisited A Look Back At Season Two The Digital Fix Retrieved 2021 04 01 Jordan Hoffman July 31 2012 One Trek Mind 37 Sick In Space StarTrek com Chabria Anita January 13 2003 Edelman joins forces with Viacom on HIV AIDS education initiative www prweek com Press release Steve Krutzler 3 February 2003 Berman Braga Bakula Talk Inspiration Behind AIDS Episode Stigma SPOILERS TrekWeb com Archived from the original on 2004 01 26 02 03 03 Paramount Series Raise HIV AIDS Awareness STARTREK COM News Archived from the original on 2003 04 22 Retrieved 2021 05 21 John Coffren February 5 2003 AIDS allegory raises awareness on Enterprise sunspot net arts life The Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on 2003 02 19 Caillan February 1 2003 Enterprise Cast amp Creators Talk Stigma TrekToday com 40 Years of Star Trek The Collection Christie s 2006 p 155 02 02 03 The True Heroes The Crew of STS 107 STARTREK COM News Archived from the original on 2003 04 01 Retrieved 2021 05 21 a b Episode List Star Trek Enterprise TV Tango Archived from the original on February 15 2016 Retrieved April 1 2021 Brian Lowry February 12 2003 Jackson interview tops chart Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 2003 02 22 Retrieved 2021 05 21 What to Watch Tonight s Best TV Entertainment Weekly 2003 02 05 Archived from the original on 2003 02 07 G J Donnelly 2003 A Change of Mind TV Guide Online Archived from the original on 2003 04 19 John Ruch February 5 2003 Trek s AIDS episode not so bold Boston Herald webpan com Archived from the original on 2003 08 04 Intolerance in the world 2007 10 07 Archived from the original on November 20 2008 Retrieved 2021 05 04 Lisa Granshaw September 26 2019 Star Trek Enterprise and the Importance of Its Characters Den of Geek Retrieved 2021 04 01 External links edit Stigma at IMDb nbsp Stigma at Memory Alpha Stigma at Wayback Machine archived from the original at StarTrek com Pa nar Syndrome at Memory Alpha Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stigma Star Trek Enterprise amp oldid 1216694798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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