Episode 032 – Enterprise 2×05 – A Night in Sickbay
Name a few characters on Enterprise you love. I’d wager Phlox and Porthos are among them. Well this episode features lots of Phlox and Porthos!
Though it ended up mostly ok. 🙁
Archer’s character kind of falls entirely apart this episode! There are some good lines, some fun scenes, and by the end, maybe we see some character development on Archer’s part. But every poor quality Archer has shown over the last 30-some episodes is magnified 10x this whole episode. Hopefully things turn around for Archer after this.
Also, Joe was totally right about the Phlox family vs. children number thing.
::Some of our audio is a little screwy on this episode, we’re working on a solution! Thanks for bearing with us.::
Enterprise 02×05 – A Night in Sickbay
Directed by David Straiton
Written by Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Guest Stars: Vaughn Armstrong
There Are Four Mics is a weekly Star Trek podcast discussing the Star Trek episodes and movies in stardate order. Join Anna Heiser, Chris Keeley, Jason Allen, Joe Heiser, and Joshua B. Jones as we discuss the 5th episode of season two of Star Trek: Enterprise, A Night in Sickbay.
A Night in Sickbay Direct Download
Subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes and Stitcher!
Music credits:
Faith of the Heart/Where My Heart Will Take Me – Written by Diane Warren, performed by Russell Watson, Jerry Lubbock, and the New York Trek Orchestra
Archer’s Theme – Dennis McCarthy and New York Trek Orchestra
===
Show Notes
Cold Open
In the decontamination chamber, Hoshi is rubbing down a scantily clad T’Pol, while T’Pol rubs down a shirtless Archer, while Archer rubs down an entirely nude Porthos. The Captain is getting increasingly agitated recounting their just completed unsuccessful visit with the Kreetassans, which ended similarly to their encounter with them last season. Phlox calls into the room and gives everyone the all-clear, except for the Captain’s dog who picked up something on the planet. Looks like he’s gonna have to spend…a night in sickbay.
Act I
Archer wants to storm off, but Trip says they really need a new plasma injector and the Kreetassans are the best option they’re aware of. Phlox lets the Captain know that Porthos is real sick, and Archer is suddenly in the mood to get to punching some aliens for not letting them know his pup would be in danger in their atmosphere. When T’Pol informs him that the Kreetassans are upset because his dog urinated on treasured cultural foliage, the surprisingly moody Captain promises to do some peeing of his own if Porthos doesn’t get better. Sleep escapes Archer, so he decides to snooze next to man’s best friend and spend…a night in sickbay. But it turns out to be not a restful night, as Phlox thinks it an opportune time to do annoying things like clip his toenails and scrape his uncomfortably long tongue. Once feeding time arrives for all of Phlox’s creatures, Archer has had enough of this nonsense and says he’ll check back in a few hours.
Act II
Archer seeks refuge in a workout, but finds T’Pol already in the gym, so he seizes the opportunity to be irrationally petulant towards her. T’Pol tells Archer he isn’t accepting the consequences of his actions, as the Captain keeps matching her pace on the treadmill. T’Pol tries to peace out of this weirdness, but Hoshi calls down and says the Kreetassans have responded with how they would like the Captain to apologize. Archer reads over the demands and decides to head back to sickbay for some shut-eye. Alarms shortly wake him up as Porthos takes a turn for the worst. Phlox gets it all under control for now, but the Captain’s tantrum has him thinking this might be about more than just his dog — the captain might need to get his intimacy on. On the bridge Hoshi is getting scolded by the Kreetassans for the Captain not having issued his apology yet, while in sickbay, the Captain’s night is once again interrupted by an escaped bat flying around.
Act III
Archer and Phlox join forces to capture the escaped bat and all manner of physical comedy bits ensue. While they fail to capture the creature, Phlox tries bringing up all that sexual tension Archer must be experiencing with T’Pol. Hoshi arrives in sickbay and grabs the bat like a boss, and Archer tries to get some proper sleep. BUT INSTEAD he has dreams about T’Pol comforting him at Porthos’ funeral, and an alternate version of the decon scene that started the episode — but this time both the Captain and T’Pol are forced to remain in the chamber alone and sexily rub medicine all over each other’s bodies. After waking up, T’Pol delivers some snacks to Phlox and the Captain in sickbay, and the captain accidentally keeps talking to her about boobs and lips. It turns out that the doctor’s treatment of Porthos was effective, but the pup’s internal organs are damaged and require a transplant from one of Phlox’s lizards. Archer questions the doc’s ability to perform this unprecedented surgery because his understanding of pets isn’t up to the Captain’s standards.
Act IV
While Phlox is performing life saving surgery on his pet, Archer tries to engage in smalltalk about his sexual attraction to T’Pol and what can be done about it. Phlox delves into some of his own personal relationships and talks about being alienated from his two youngest sons. On the planet, a once-again shirtless Archer performs an apology ceremony that involves him cutting up a log and organizing the pieces in a unique pattern. Back on the ship, Archer tells T’Pol that the Kreetassans gave them bonus plasma injectors cuz they were so impressed, and offers her an apology for his behavior recently. She accepts his apology and expresses a seemingly reluctant relief that they are not in a position to get involved romantically. The apology tour continues as Archer expresses regret and thanks to Phlox. Porthos is liberated from his medical prison in the final moments, and the Captain takes him home.