ENT: The Catwalk

         I had to stop and really think about this episode after I was done watching it. Upon reflection I think this would be a solidly average episode of any Trek series which is high praise in this land of ENT suffering. There is a decent A story with some B storyish elements and some actual character bits that actually make the crew more likable. Even Archer isn't totally insufferable which is a relief. I also liked the twist that the aliens from the open are actually not the bad guys trying to take over the ship. So often on this show the obvious and or dumb idea is the correct one and that is that. Also nice to see them do something other than the old fake warp core breach to solve their problems. Sure, it is a good tactic, but they have done it at least twice already and this is only halfway through the second season (oh god, shouldn't have thought about that right now).
         We open with Archer getting ready to go on a scouting mission when they are hailed by an alien vessel. The aliens ask for shelter from the huge neutronic storm that is bearing down on them at warp 7. The storm is dangerous enough that the crew won't be safe unless they all go into the access tubes in the nacelles, the catwalk. They have a few days to prepare and the crew are all moved in along with Portho plus Phlox's menagerie. The aliens from the opening show up we quickly learn they aren't all they seem, but we don't learn their secret (almost like they are trying to tell a story here or something). The storm arrives and after some bumps the crew starts settling in. However soon the engines start turning on which is bad for two reasons, they didn't do it and the access tube they are living in will turn into an oven if the reactors come all the way online. Trip goes out to investigate in a rad suit and discovers there are visitors. Archer questions their alien guests who explain they are actually deserters/refugees from the militia who seized the ship. Archer comes up with a plan to tell the maybe bad guys that he is alone to see how the react and then steer the ship to its doom if they don't leave. It works and Travis manages to keep them safe. There is a fun scene with the crew all watching a western and T'Pol figures out what is going on much better than Trip.

         Review: Not super memorable for most Trek series, but honestly pretty decent for ENT. Might even make a top ten list which is hella sad! But still, not bad, hope there are more like this.

5 out of 10