Warp Five 152: Ode To Spiner / by Guest User

Season 4 Retrospective Part 2.

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Running Time: 1 hour 10 minutes 38 seconds
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Genetically enhanced humans have popped up in all forms of science fiction media for almost as long as the genre has existed, and Star Trek is no exception. Our first look at "augments," or genetically engineered humans, came in the original Star Trek series episode "Space Seed", when we meet the unforgettable Khan and learn about the Eugenics Wars of Earth past. Gene Roddenberry based this backstory on events from our own history during World War II, when Hitler began examining selective birthing to create a superior race of humans. The United States was not blameless, with physicians and lawmakers using imperfections in family history or other "unwanted" characteristics to deny rights to many citizens. And so we come to Star Trek: Enterprise's entry in the history, the three episodes known as "The Augment Trilogy", heralding Brent Spiner's return to Star Trek as Soong family predecessor, Arik.

In this episode of Warp Five, hosts Brandon-Shea Mutala, Patrick Devlin, Brandi Jackola, and special guest Chris Tribuzio take a look at the season four episodes "Borderland", "Cold Station 12" and "The Augments". We discuss ties to other Star Trek, religious meanings of augment names, big wrestlers and little women, and how a middle-aged man in prison could end up with children.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)
Welcome, Boomers! (00:01:31)
Borderland (00:11:08)
Cold Station 12 (00:33:37)
The Augments (00:48:21)
Final Thoughts (00:57:17)
Closing (01:01:58)

Hosts

Brandon-Shea Mutala, Patrick Devlin, and Brandi Jackola

Production

Patrick Devlin (Editor) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Floyd Dorsey (Associate Producer) Mike Morrison (Associate Producer) Tim Cooper (Associate Producer) Justin Oser (Associate Producer) Mark Flessa (Associate Producer) Chris Tribuzio (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Featured
Warp Five 253: Bringing It All Together (to Tear It All Apart)
Warp Five 253: Bringing It All Together (to Tear It All Apart)

“The Expanse” 20th-anniversary reflections. We close out Season 2 by saying bye-bye to Duras and hello to bigger fish as we discuss how the story sets the show on a new course.

Warp Five 252: Bitten by the Love Bug
Warp Five 252: Bitten by the Love Bug

“Bounty” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story marks the end of the show’s original concept, sets a course for serialization, adds texture to pon farr, and proves that Tellarites are terrible travel guides.

Warp Five 251: Proof of Concept
Warp Five 251: Proof of Concept

“First Flight” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story serves as a resounding proof of concept for the original idea for the series, meeting Trip, how Archer’s experiences with AG Robinson prepared him to be a leader, and more.

Warp Five 250: Popsicle Drones
Warp Five 250: Popsicle Drones

“Regeneration” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss using the Borg at a time long before they were known to Starfleet, how to do a prequel right, how the story sets up Archer and his crew for the challenges of Season 3, and more.

Warp Five 249: Linguistic Games
Warp Five 249: Linguistic Games

“Cogenitor” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss first contact, equal rights, cultural relativism, missed opportunities, and why we wish this important story had been expanded and revisited.

Warp Five 248: Bad Blood
Warp Five 248: Bad Blood

“The Breach” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore caves and discuss lingering animosity, overcoming preconceived notions, Archer as the voice of reason, adding depth to Denobulans, and that very special guest star.

Warp Five 247: The Other Side of Life
Warp Five 247: The Other Side of Life

“Horizon” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss  family dynamics, what could have been for Travis, Archer’s leadership, T’Pol's book club, and the unxpected connection between the Mayweather and Janeway families.

Warp Five 246: Challenging the Empire
Warp Five 246: Challenging the Empire

“Judgment” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story revisits The Undiscovered Country, works to maintain continuity, and challenges the concept of Klingon society..

Warp Five 245: A Slice of White Bread
Warp Five 245: A Slice of White Bread

“The Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story’s promising start, the Wisps, Archer’s actions, and missed opportunities to really explore the heart of Star Trek.

Warp Five 244: ’Tis a Scary Place
Warp Five 244: ’Tis a Scary Place

“Canamar” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the frightening encounters humans have with aliens during these early days of deep space exploration, how the story came to be, and what it has to say about attempts to control people and curb crime in real world societies.

Warp Five 243: Stop Messing with Time!
Warp Five 243: Stop Messing with Time!

“Future Tense” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story reminds viewers that the Temporal Cold War storyline still exists while saving itself from filler status by delivering important chartacter growth for T’Pol, plus some fun with time along the way.

Warp Five 242: Toward the Federation
Warp Five 242: Toward the Federation

“Cease Fire” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story brings the Federation’s founding worlds closer together through a growing relationship and trust among unlikely players.

Warp Five 241: An Element of Ignorance
Warp Five 241: An Element of Ignorance

“Stigma” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story, which aired during Viacom’s HIV awareness campaign in 2003, advances the development of Vulcan society while deftly balancing serious and comedic stories to make a strong statement about cultural differences and unfounded prejudice.

Warp Five 240: Darmok Lite?
Warp Five 240: Darmok Lite?

“Dawn” 20th-anniversary reflections. We ask whether this story is just an attempt to recreate the magic of “Darmok,” a clone of the film Enemy Mine, or something much more.

Warp Five 239: Deep-Fried Crew
Warp Five 239: Deep-Fried Crew

“The Catwalk” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a bag of Star Trek tropes is reassembled into a story which only this series could tell, and how the situation brings the whole crew together for the better.

Warp Five 238: It Happened One Night
Warp Five 238: It Happened One Night

“Precious Cargo” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss why the story is perfect for Trip’s character, try to explain away Padma Lakshmi’s cardboard delivery, revel in bad cop T’Pol, and consider why the creators themselves see this as one of the worst episodes they ever produced.

Warp Five 237: Eight Seconds of Insanity
Warp Five 237: Eight Seconds of Insanity

“Vanishing Point” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the mind plays tricks on us, boogeymen in the transport beam, and how the story’s mystery unfolds. We also debate what Mr. Sato’s confusion over physics and family says about how Hoshi views her dad.

Warp Five 236: This Old Chair
Warp Five 236: This Old Chair

“Singularity” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss discuss a story that’s been told many times before and ask how well it works this time around. We also search for the ideal klaxon, the perfect soup, and one kick-ass chair.

Warp Five 235: Peel-Off Prosthetics
Warp Five 235: Peel-Off Prosthetics

“The Communicator” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story takes a throwaway ending to an Original Series episode and addresses the real-world repurcussions of leaving technology behind on a less-advanced planet.

Warp Five 234: Secret Agent Pants
Warp Five 234: Secret Agent Pants

“The Seventh” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss what the episode has to say about Vulcan society, how it connects to the world 20 years after it was written, what is does for the Archer–T’Pol relationship, and more.

Warp Five 233: Seven Samurai
Warp Five 233: Seven Samurai

“Marauders” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story mirrors its Akira Kurosawa inspiration, Seven Samurai, grows the relationship between Archer and T’Pol, and gets the full crew involved.

Warp Five 232: T'Ponathan
Warp Five 232: T'Ponathan

“A Night in Sickbay” 20th-anniversary reflections. We take a look inside the heads of Archer and Phlox, chase bats, and explore sexy canines and shipping.

Warp Five 231: The Haunted House of Catfish
Warp Five 231: The Haunted House of Catfish

“Dead Stop” 20th-anniversary reflections. We enter a pristine house of horrors with offers that seem too good to be true—one that puts humanity in its place and proves that Roxann Dawson knows how to do eerie. Anyone up for a side of cornbread?

Warp Five 230: Dancing around Romulans
Warp Five 230: Dancing around Romulans

“Minefield” 20th-anniversary reflections. We get inside the heads of Reed and Archer to explore their relationship and discuss the value of simplicity in storytelling as well as the challenge of bringing the Romulans into the series years before that famous viewscreen moment.

Warp Five 229: I Love Lucy (And So Do You)
Warp Five 229: I Love Lucy (And So Do You)

“Carbon Creek” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore the rewriting of history, diversity among Vulcans, how the writers turned a grab bag of Star Trek's greatest time travel hits into a delightful chance to decompress, and the franchise’s tribute to Lucille Ball.

Warp Five 228: I Have a Son and He Will Go to Saturn
Warp Five 228: I Have a Son and He Will Go to Saturn

“Shockwave, Part II” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore a future in jeopardy, how portrayal of the future has changed over 20 years, the transformation of T'Pol, and how Jonathan Archer is so pivotal to the future of the Federation.

Warp Five 227: Let No Good Crisis Go to Waste
Warp Five 227: Let No Good Crisis Go to Waste

“Shockwave” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story moves the Temporal Cold War toward a hot one, Archer's guilt, the use of time travel, and the repercussions of the efforts of the Suliban and Future Guy to change history.

Warp Five 226: Intergalactic Florida
Warp Five 226: Intergalactic Florida

“Two Days and Two Nights” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss this fun shore leave story that brings some serious commentary, contrasting Hoshi's experience with that of Trip and Malcolm and discussing the portrayal of language, technology, and the ongoing Suliban plot.

Warp Five 225: Let’s Play Some Sand Polo!
Warp Five 225: Let’s Play Some Sand Polo!

“Desert Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the episode serves as a proto-Prime Directive story, Archer's reputation, shades of gray, and how the story could have benefited from more information and the mini-arc format found in Season 4.

Warp Five 224: So Much Unexpected Behavior
Warp Five 224: So Much Unexpected Behavior

“Fallen Hero” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story brings us an unexpected take on Vulcans and an ambassador who we wish we'd seen more of, as well as the realities of life in deep space and picking the right Hawaiian shirt.