Underrated Trek:Regeneration (ENT)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. I have done many of these articles by now covering the Berman era. Except for Enterprise, which I’ve only done three for and one of those was on a theme! Let’s just say I have my issues with that series but today the time has come to discuss an episode I’ve wanted to discuss for a long time. Not because of how bad it is, but how surprisingly good it is !

How did an idea that should have been dead in the water work? Let’s try to find out! 

Plot Synopsis:

In the arctic circle scientists find some aliens trapped in the ice. Unbeknownst to the scientists the aliens are actually the Borg. Survivors from “First Contacf” who awaken and start assimilating. 

The Enterprise is called to intercept these drones but a distress call gets their attention. They find the crew being turned into drones and Phlox becomes infected with the nanotechnology.

The Enterprise rushes to save the crew being assimilated and Phlox before the aliens complete their task. They aren’t called the Borg on screen more below. In the end the day is saved although a signal was sent and the crew fears that an invasion may be coming one day. 

Guest Stars:

Vaughn Armstrong does not get enough credit for how many Trek appearances he made. He honestly could give Jeffrey Combs a run for his money.

 

Episode pros:

Let’s start by saying as you can tell by the synopsis this a mostly action episode and a pretty good one. It’s important to reminder the Borg aren’t using there equipment or vessels so there defeat is believable.They were scary as usual and I have no complaints, though the music was only ok. 

At one point Archer tells how Cochran discussed meeting people from the future who were after “cybernetic” aliens. But then retracted that story later, which I find amusing. Guess he realized that getting around wasn’t a good idea. Nice way to remind the audience of the movie without being forced. 

Definitely one of the better Phlox episodes though some may scoff that he was able to avoid being assimilated it worked for me. He was a brilliant doctor (and obnoxiously annoying) so I can but it. Actually all the characters get some nice moments it’s nice to see. Archer chooses to kill the “aliens” to save his ship and it’s a nicely acted moment for Scott Bakula. 

And that tag is great. The line about delaying the invasion until the 24th century is wonderful foreshadowing. And it even explains why the Borg were charging to Earth the way they were in Best of Both Worlds. 

Episode Cons:

 

Let’s talk about the big elephant in the room. The continuity. If all you focus on is the fact no one heard about the Borg until Q threw the Enterprise in front of them, you’re gonna have problems with this episode. Even though the Borg were first hinted at episodes prior in “The Neutral Zone”.

However if you consider later events the episode works. Even in Best of Both Worlds Starfleet talks about preparing for them in a way that suggests they’ve known about them for awhile. It was just Qs actions that made them start to think they should actually prepare. Voyager established that 7 of 9s parents were investigating the Borg. Well how did they know about them in the first place? I think this episode answers that. After what happened Starfleet classified the information and no one knew about it even Captain Picard. And considering how the episode goes Starfleet would have far more questions than answers at this point. Some scoff at debris surviving to crash in the Arctic but if I can buy that it happened to the Death Star I can buy it here. 

While I understand why they were afraid to have them use there names it gets silly when the Borg don’t identify themselves at points they normally would have. And why didn’t the Borg adapt as fast as usual?  

Fast Forward Moment: 

The teaser isn’t pointless exactly but it doesn’t do much either it’s just the scientists finding a borg whoopie. The whole beginning kind of goes to long just get to it already! I think the creators were hoping we’d care about the scientists when they’re killed later but no. 

Final Thoughts: 

When I saw the preview I groaned very loudly. But the episode worked as did the retcon to the continuity. Maybe if more season 2 episodes had been this good I would have tolerated this series.