I was starting to debate which was getting more annoying: waiting for Trip and T'Pol to hook up, or Malcolm and Hayes either actually killing each other or working shit out. I have to say I was shocked to see both stories work on in fairly satisfying ways in a single episode. Plus a C story about some inter-dimensional alien who may be from the race that got the Xindi on the path of destroying Earth. All three of these stories even manage to intertwine in ways that actually make sense. It is unclear just how interested in Corporal Cole Trip actually is, but you can't really blame him for giving up on whatever interest he may have had in T'Pol. She isn't exactly emotionally accessible.
We open with Trip giving out some Vulcan neuropressure, but not to T'Pol. Instead he is hanging out with one of the Maco's (I know I keep calling them marines and I still think that is what they should have gone with, but they are turning out to be an actually good part of the show so I will give up my hate fest for their dumb name). It seem he and the beautiful Amanda Cole have been hanging out a lot lately and literally everyone on the ship seems to know about it. Somewhere in here we get that Malcolm is pissed that Hayes has asked the captain to do combat training with the security personnel and senior staff which Malcolm feels is his duty. Also they encounter an area of extreme density of spacial anomalies. After taking some damage they find a strange pod with life signs and grapple the hell out of it. Inside they find an alien that Phlox gets to work on, but not after mentioning Corporal Cole's neuropressure sessions with Trip to T'Pol because they seem to be causing Cole headaches, this visibly upsets T'Pol.
At the training session Malcolm and Hayes are feuding all but openly. Trip and Cole though spend the entire time flirting while T'Pol flashes jealous eyes. The alien wakes up and is alarmed to not be in the pod and insists on getting back in, but for some reason I missed Archer is sure he knows something and probably something related to the Xindi. Trip and T'Pol meanwhile are having another neuropressure session and T'Pol is obviously upset about Cole but won't admit it. Instead she tells Trip about Sim telling her that he is attracted to her which makes Trip jealous and then they start kissing and more. Cut to Malcolm working out in the training room when Hayes shows up and the two start sparring, but really just beating the shit out of each other.
The alien meanwhile wakes up and knocks out Phlox before phasing through the ship which sounds alarms which bring Malcolm and Hayes back to their senses. The two team up to fight the alien, and badly damage the engine, but the important thing is they are doing things together. The next morning Trip and T'Pol have an awkward conversation in the mess hall and Trip is visibly upset that she doesn't seem interested in a relationship, but she is in for more "neuropressure." In the captains office badly bruised Malcolm and Hayes are being chewed out for getting in such a serious brawl at a critical time. But it is clear that he two have worked out their differences. Archer is called to sickbay by Phlox, the alien is awake again, but won't be alive for long. Archer confronts him one last time to be told that Earth will be destroyed and it is kinda implyed maybe these trans-dimensional beings were responsibly for the Xindi.
Review: I should have payed attention at the opening credits, but it turns out this was also written by Manny Coto and I can't wait for him to take over the show overall. This episode resolves so many loose plot threads in ways more satisfying than seemed possible, especially on ENT.
6 out of 10
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