You know what, I love this episode.

I never thought Star Trek: Enterprise hit its stride until the fourth season, and whether or not you agree, Terra Prime is the true highlight of the entire series. I mean come on, Peter Weller as a baddie, a key moment in the formation of the federation and what has to be one of the most Roddenberry-like stories told in years!

When Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) walked the bridge of the Enterprise in 1966, Star Trek was quickly established as having a strong message of exploration, discovery, tolerance and equality for all. All races, all genders : were all human. But what if you arent human? Sure, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) got away with it for years, but didnt you ever wonder if there was a darker tale for human contact with aliens? Terra Prime was it.

The whole set up resonated perfectly with the Roddenberry philosophy that was the core of just about all of his ideas, and gave all the characters a personal mission more profound than even the Xindi threat that rejuvenated the series only a year earlier.

In this grand adventure, Earth is pretty much held hostage by Robocop, and he uses a hybrid child to draw Trip (Connor Trinneer) and TPol (Jolene Blalock) into his diabolical schemes. I loved the Trip/TPol relationship. It was fascinating to watch slowly develop and could have gone on to be so much more. Its too bad the episode ends with the death of little Elizabeth, because it could have been the perfect send off for the characters.

Everyone seems to have their own dark story at work, either through traitorous ex-girlfriends, secret agents at play and the weight of the world resting somewhat uncomfortably on everyones shoulders.

These are the kind of stories Enterprise should have told from the very beginning. Personal stories. Travis (Anthony Montgomery) for instance, finally got a chance to actually do something. For four years, I thought of Montgomery as just another prop; a little moving person like something from Disneys A Small World ride. But no, hes actually a part of the series and has his own role to play. And Hoshi (Linda Park), well let's just say shell be one bitch of a captain one day.

Why wasnt this the series finale? I wouldnt even ask the question, but it is safe to say that Terra Prime is more than capable of wrapping up the series and moving one step closer into Star Trek.

With all of this in mind, I think Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) said it best when he said, The final frontier starts here ... let's explore it together.

Terra Prime
Star Trek: Enterprise

RANKING: 35
WRITERS: Judith Reeves-Stevens, Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Manny Coto
DIRECTOR: Marvin V. Rush

Alan Stanley Blair is a staff writer and columnist for Airlock Alpha. He contributes from his home country of Scotland.

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