The Enterprise takes Dr Emory Erickson to a region of space known as the Barrens to experiment with transporter technology.
This episode has been slated by most critics and IMDb reviews but I didn't think it was that bad. I think the worst thing about it is that it's a bit cliched and unoriginal, but if you can get past that it's not as bad as others make out.
The story follows the standard Star Trek 'mad scientist' path with a Daedalus and Icarus theme thrown in. Whether or not it grips you depends largely on how much you come to care for what Dr Erickson is trying to do. It doesn't help that the guest characters are known to Archer but nobody else, particularly in one scene where he and Trip clash over what course of action should be taken. I guess you need to put yourself in Erickson's position to get emotionally invested, which I appreciate may be difficult for some as the character is not written particularly well. Actor Bill Cobbs makes the best out of the material he's given and I found his performance quite compelling.
This is a good episode for Trip Tucker who has a number of good scenes in the main plot and also the sub-plot involving T'Pol. It's funny how every time he clashes with Archer I feel like he should mutiny and take control of Enterprise.
Archer has had some spectacular moments in the show's four series, but episodes like this don't help his standing as a lead character. It recalls some of his worst moments such as in Cogenitor and One Night In Sickbay. This is not a criticism of Scott Bakula or the direction, it's more an observation of how the character is written. As frustrating as he is and as much as I dislike the things he does, I think the scenes are still pretty well made.
The ending is downbeat but works for what the writers are trying to do with the character of Erickson by highlighting how powerless mankind is regardless of how much it attempts to conquer the natural laws of the universe and it brings closure to his situation.
It's not a particularly strong Star Trek episode, but I think most opinions of it are quite harsh.
