ENT: First Flight

         When it started it seemed this was going to be an episode about someone Archer admired and I was thinking, "ok, this might be ok, we might even see him learn something." But no, it turns out he admires the guy so much for letting Archer teach him how to be awesome. And not really that either, but I think that is what we are supposed to take from it. The fact that this is a 90% Archer episode is really going to hurt the score. It is totally unclear why he leaves Trip behind both times, he clearly could have used an engineer, especially in the flashback bit, but whatever, Archer is right, and when he is wrong that just means he is double right. Fuck this show.
         We open with Archer getting news that a collegue has died mountain climbing. Meanwhile Archer is determined to prove those dumb Vulcans wrong again by discovering dark matter or something. They have found a nebula he is sure will do the trick and has Trip rig up some bombs to make it visible. Archer is determined to go alone on the shuttle to find the nebula but T'Pol just makes up a rule about captains not being allowed off the ship alone (which is about the least supported by other Trek or even ENT episodes as to be literally laughable) but since she is I guess important to have there to hear Archer's story of heroism. It turns out Archer was on the first warp 2 test program but missed out on the chance to go on the first test flight. The guy who did is the one who died in the opening. It seems he refused to shut down the engine and cost the program a ship which of course almost got the Vulcans to shut the whole thing down somehow. Trip shows up hating Vulcans and determined to solve the problem so when Archer decides to steal the other ship along with the other guy they leave Trip behind to get arrested on earth instead of getting to go on the historic flight and maybe save their asses since he is the one actually getting the engine to work. It works and despite stealing a ship and being total assholes Archer is the hero. Also they prove the Vulcans wrong and find dark matter, but that wasn't really in question.

         Review: I am not sure I can like Archer any less, but they seem determined to try. Really hoping next season is enough different from this garbage to make me not dread my nightly Trek as much.

2 out of 10