ENT: The Observer Effect

         ENT is clearly determined to get back to its TOS roots at this point and in general that is fine. It is however risky to start revisiting the various god like races since they generally only raise more questions than they answer. In this case we see the Organians only instead of being total pacifists pretending to have bodies like in TOS this time they are scientists observing different species reactions to an incurable illness. Apparently humans are the most compassionate race they have ever encountered which leads them to save us in this case. My only serious objection is that by taking over the bodies of those working to cure the disease in this episode they are clearly slowing down the reaction of those they are observing. 
         We open with Travis and Malcolm playing chess, only it isn't them. It seems they have been taken over by aliens and are discussing how many members of the crew will die on this mission. Soon Hoshi and Trip approach on a shuttle but as they get close Trip starts coughing and collapses forcing Hoshi to bring them in. As soon as they get onboard they are in quarantine. Travis and Malcolm are fascinated by the humans reactions to the events. Soon Phlox figures out that the virus is silicon in structure but he still has no idea how to cure the disease. The two aliens start jumping between bodies to get an idea whats happening and we learn there is a conflict between the two over whether it is right in intervene at some point. Hoshi freaks out and tries to break out of quarantine almost going out an airlock before Trip can stop her. The two are sedated but the aliens take over their bodies for a talk and Phlox notices, but they just erase his memory. Eventually Phlox finds a cure, a dose of radiation delivered in sickbay but that means going into the quarantine which he and Archer do in suits. But it is impossible to carry out the treatment in the isolation gloves to Archer opens his suit which is something apparently no race has done before. Trip and Hoshi die but the Organians as they turn out to be take over their bodies and talk to Archer about how interesting the Humans reaction was before erasing all their memories and bringing Hoshi and Trip back to life cured of the disease. They put up orange cones around the planet and get the hell out of there.

         Review: An interesting idea for an episode that is ruined a bit by the fairly bland way of resolving it they come up with. Would have been more interesting if Phlox's curiosity or cleverness had been the solution rather than doing the thing every dumb human does in alien movies which is take off their helmet when it is clearly not safe to do so. But I guess this episode is saying that is literally what makes us human.

5 out of 10