Enterprise "Cold Front" UPN Episode Review

Title: Enterprise: “Cold Front”

Stars: Scott Bakula, Conner Trinneer, Jolene Blalock, Dominick Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, and John Billingsley

Guest Stars: John Fleck, Matt Winston, Michael O’Hagan, Joseph Hindey, and Leonard Kelly-Young

Writers: Steve Beck and Tim Finch

Based Upon “Star Trek” Created By: Gene Roddenberry

Executive Producers: Rick Berman and Brannon Braga

Director: Robert Duncan McNeill

Running Time: 45 minutes without commercials

Media: United Paramount Network Television Series Premiere (NTSC VHS Screener)

Episode Premiere Wednesday, November 28, 2001, at 8pm – 9pm (ET/PT)

Network: United Paramount Network (Check your local broadcast/cable/satellite listings for channel)

TV Rating: PG

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Just over four months have past since Captain Archer had come into contact with the Suliban while returning the Klingon courier back to his home world as depicted in the series premiere “Broken Bow.” Now when the Enterprise makes contact with an alien vessel transporting stargazers to observe a spectacular stellar event, Silik (John Fleck) the Suliban enemy whom Archer had last contacted while rescuing the Klingon courier from the Suliban array has found his way aboard the Enterprise in disguise among a group of aliens who Captain Archer had invited to tour the vessel.

Shortly thereafter, a crewman of the name of Daniels (Matt Winston) reveals himself to be a member of an agency from 900 hundred years in the future that ensures that time explorers do not disrupt the temporal prime directive. Daniels was sent to prevent Silik and the group who the Suliban has been working for from tampering with events in the 22nd century that can alter the flow of history. To compound matters, Sulibans are virtually impossible to identify under censors because of the genetic engineering their race has received. Since Vulcans do not believe in time travel, Sub Commander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) is skeptical of Daniels’ story leaving Archer too wrapped up to discover the one natural item that that appears to be able to detect a Suliban aboard the Enterprise; the Captain’s dog.

Enterprise: “Cold Front” is a terrific follow-up to the series premiere “Broken Bow.” It raises the bar on the tensions regarding the mysterious “Temporal Cold War” and tests the gung ho and naïve nature of the Captain Archer and his mission without becoming too pessimistic. We learn a bit more about the Suliban and a few hints of the universe 900 hundred years in the future without ever ruining the mystery. In fact I think while some issues are made clearer there are some new questions raised as well and the episode does not conflict with anything Trek viewers have learned from watching the original series and “Voyager.” In fact, former “Voyager” star Robert Duncan McNeill, who played ensign Tom Paris on that show, directed the episode.

Enterprise: “Cold Front” will premiere on Wednesday, September 28, 2001, at 8pm (ET/PT) only on UPN.

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