Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) Dear Doctor (2002) User Reviews

Love it or hate it, it's bound to get a response

[bitomurder · 8/10 · 11 April 2018]

"Dear Doctor" is the first great episode of Enterprise and it is a prime example of exactly what makes Star Trek so great. The creative team gives us a story that weaves a touching tale of Phlox adapting to life on board a ship full of humans with a morality story that leaves the viewer asking questions long after it is over. Here we have an episode that has inspired vast amounts of love and hate among Trekkers, but in the end it does what it is supposed to do. It leaves you contemplating the ethics of Archer and Phlox's decision and questioning our existence.

The majority of this episode is a beautifully written character development tale concerning Phlox learning to integrate himself into the crew. His tale of an outsider trying to fit in is one in which most of us can understand and had this been the entirety of the episode it would easily have rated slightly above average. Then we throw in a very interesting and compelling society on a planet which has two humanoid species, one advanced and another primitive that leaves us wishing an episode of The Next Generation would have revisited this planet. Finally, we get to the meat and potatoes of "Dear Doctor", the morality story. Like all previous series, Enterprise gives us a prime directive story which could very well be the basis for the prime directive that has become so important in the later shows. It is truly refreshing to see a prime directive story that actually has our crew follow the prime directive instead of giving into our emotions and helping a species from eventual extinction. The decision is not easy for Phlox or Archer to make, but they make it and an entire society must face their natural course of evolution which could very well end in an extinction of an entire species. This one is a truly beautiful and telling story that leaves the viewer contemplating the implications. Agree or disagree it does exactly what it is supposed to and it is a prime example of what makes Star Trek so beloved.

Definitely my favourite episode of Enterprise so far

[alan_bloom · 9/10 · 9 October 2016]

The good thing about Star Trek is its willingness to tackle philosophical concepts and that is what makes this a good episode. Also by combining it with development of the doctor - my favourite character, nonetheless - I think it's the best episode of Enterprise I've seen so far.

I've seen negative reviews on IMDb, perhaps because the reviewers believe the "correct" answer is blatant. However, I would argue that the point is that these concepts should be explored. That the answers are not clear cut and that challenging one's established ideas is good. Each side has merit and the way this is explored is well written and presented convincingly.

This brings this series back to what makes Star Trek great.

Dr. Phlox's Trolley Problem

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 18 May 2017]

This episode generates a lot of heat within the Star Trek community. Even the word "genocide" gets tossed around flippantly. Many have argued that Dr. Phlox has misinterpreted evolution and his and Dr. Archer's decision not to give the Valakians the cure to their genetic mutation problem is a nefarious act of species genocide. Unfortunately, this seems to me to be more of a gray area than some people proclaim.

I'm not going to focus on the science of evolution (I'm not a scientist and have limited knowledge on the subject). I'll focus on the philosophical elements of the episode.

The Valakians are a dying breed and their downfall will allow the Menk to rise up and experience some type of revolutionary breakthrough (according to what we're told). This leaves Archer and Phlox with the old trolley problem. Do they pull the switch, saving the Valakians from their inevitable demise and endanger the amelioration that the Menk people are currently experiencing? Or do they let nature run it's course and allow the Menk to prosper and grow as the Valakians slip away into extinction?

Many have argued that Phlox has indirectly killed these Valakians via his withholding of a cure; I don't see it this way. Phlox's decision not to interfere has no mal-intent behind it. He doesn't see this species as "lesser beings" and is not out for blood, this isn't genocide. This planet's ecosystem is at a crossroads and if Phlox plays God, he is artificially deciding the victor in an environment he has no business controlling. If he were to save the Valakians, this race would be propped-up with a crutch and would be a genetically inferior race that should have been wiped out by natural process (bit of speculation on my part, I know). It's not in the Enterprise's job description to go out and preserve species for future generations. The Enterprise is in space in an exploratory capacity. This moral dilemma hints at future legislation dictating what to do in situations similar to this; but for now, Archer & Phlox must process with their best judgment.

I really enjoyed this episode and the quandary it sets forth. Dr. Phlox's sub-plot of dealing with his expatriate lifestyle and emotions of homesickness and isolation and his quest for companionship is a nice touch. This all hits home as he copes with both this and the Valakain dilemma. Phlox is my favorite member of the Enterprise crew so far and an episode dedicated to developing his character was a great idea.

Controversial yes, but well worth a watch.

Doctor's advice.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 3 March 2023]

The ethical dilemma episodes are some of my favorites when it comes to star trek and this one fits right in with a severe consequence to either decision. If Phlox saves the Valakian people then the Menk will remain a servent race for the forseeable future but if he doesn't save them then the Menk has the capability to evolve into more that just servents.

What I found interesting about the episode is that Phlox does not seem to have an issue with the way the Valakian people are treating the Menk ----- the ethical issue is strictly about whether or not he should change the society. His opinion was likely informed by the intelligence he saw at the camp where they were drawing blood.

I like messy situations that have no completely satifying answers. I though it was a nice touch that Archer reflected upon earths interactions with Vulcan in helping them prepare for exploring the galaxy. Going for a walk in anothers shoes tends to broaden onces perspective. I also liked that Archer went with the doctor's advice/recommendation instead of ordering him to save the Valakian people ---- it's not easy to go against your own beliefs or values.

A solid classic trek episode and the best episode of the season thus far.

Not Playing God

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 22 November 2007]

The Enterprise finds a primitive starship with two dying alien astronauts, and one of them tells that his Valakian race is extinguishing due to an epidemic. Archer travels to their planet and assigns Dr. Phlox to find a cure for the disease. Dr. Phlox, who is trying to understand his relationship with the human crewman Elizabeth Cutler, discloses that the planet inhabited by two humanoid races that pacifically coexists: the developed Valakian and the primitive workers Menk. Further, he discovers that the Valakian have genetic epidemic that will annihilate their race in about two centuries while the Menk have linguistic and manual abilities to be developed. With the dilemma of interfering in the development of races, Phlox has a serious conversation with Archer.

"Dear Doctor" presents a good discussion of ethical and moral concerns. The story is centered in the pleasant Denobulian Dr. Phlox, who is totally integrated to the human style of life but still have doubts related to relationship between male and female. The advice of T'Pol is very funny and logical, since she does not understand the matters of heart and love. The excerpts of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", showing the gorgeous face of Ingrid Bergman with about twenty-seven years old, is a plus in this great episode. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Caro Doutor" ("Dear Doctor")

Great episode, come on!

[jruuttunen · 9/10 · 17 August 2013]

This is a story about humans first getting a glimpse of why prime directive would be a good idea. Yeah, it sometimes means abandoning people to their own fate, but that sometimes that's the right thing to do.

A species A has a disease and the doctor on the ship has the cure. But there is another species B on the planet that doesn't have the disease. Do you give the species A the cure and help them become the dominant species on the planet, or do you just go away and let them die (in witch case species B will become dominant)... Probably, maybe...

It's like when the dinosaurs were the dominant species on earth before the meteor struck. Would it have been right if a warp capable species had interfered? Bumped the meteor off it's course? Dinosaurs could still exist but humans probably wouldn't. What's the right thing to do?! Who are better, dinosaurs or humans?

I don't know! Maybe let nature take it's course, not interfere. Prime directive! Great episode! I love Star Trek!

Prime directive is the "with great power comes great responsibility" of Star Trek. And it sometimes feels wrong but in the end you get why it's right. And I think this episode really captured what prime directive is all about. It's about admitting that sometimes you can't foresee all the consequences and when that happens you want to be really careful.

Thinky episode

[AgentLouisa · 8/10 · 28 June 2020]

This is not so much a review but a consideration of the themes of 'Dear Doctor'.

I did enjoy this episode but, after reading the reviews, changed my mind about agreeing with Archer's decision.

As some reviewers have said, evolution is about the best adaptation for survival in any given environment.

If we accept that our large brains have given human primates the evolutional advantage on earth, then any advantage our brains can afford is 'letting nature take its course'.

So although the Valakians have a disease arising from some evolutionary dead end in their physical make up, their larger brains gives them the advantage of space travel, which allows them to find, and ask for help from, a more medically advanced species.

Moreover, as has also been pointed out, how did the Menk evolve? If they are given everything they need to survive - food, water, shelter - then we could assume that their exposure to Valakian culture is the reason for their brain development.

This is the flaw with the (future) 'prime directive'. The prime directive assumes that any interference gets in the way of nature and natural development, unique culture, etc. And I can understand this urge not to repeat shameful history, given the interference of imperialistic Europeans on American, African and Australian indigenous cultures in particular, and the excuse of better medicine to subjugate a people.

But the ideals of the prime directive do not hold water in this instance. Dr Phlox and Captain Archer decide not to save the Valakians, and their decision is based on their own (limited) command of science and philosophy and their own cultural prejudices (and privilege). Surely this is the point of a prime directive, to make these hard decisions easy? Not when a principle lacks nuance, because, again, it relies on individual interpretation, namely that of the captain.

Better to think with compassion of the lives in the here and now, not those in the future.

Because scientific principles without compassion has also landed humanity in hot water.

That time the Enterprise commited genocide

[alv790 · 29 October 2021]

So, a whole planet of intelligent people is dying of a disease and you have the cure. But you decide to let them die instead, because you shouldn't interfere, and who knows, allowing them to die might allow another intelligent species in the planet to reach their full potential in the future. WTF? With doctors like that who needs genocides?

I mean, people talk about an ethical dilemma, but this is not really an ethical dilemma, it's just ethical bankruptcy.

Captain Archer lays the foundation for the Prime Directive

[tomsly-40015 · 8/10 · 24 February 2024]

One of the better Enterprise episodes so far. Even though I'm still not a fan of the doctor. Compared to EMH from Voyager or Bashir from DS9, this doctor is quite boring and also very annoying. The strange grin, the way he emphasizes his words and especially those ugly shirts. Couldn't they give him a proper uniform? However, there is a ray of hope: While the other doctors simply ran blinking tech gadgets 10 cm over the skin and healed both flesh wounds and complete broken bones, this doctor at least applies ointments or the like and carries out actual treatments on the body.

First of all, to the criticism of many commentators: NO, this is not about genocide and the crew of the Enterprise is certainly not committing genocide! Genocide is the deliberate killing of large numbers of people of a particular nation or ethnic group. Intentionally, actively and with the aim of extinguishing these people. What the crew is doing here is simply not interfering with a normal biological process of development or degeneration of a species. Enterprise, Starfleet and later the United Federation of Planets are not the Salvation Army of the Galaxy. Their goal is not and never has been to help every species from the outside and, so to speak, to shape them and pave the way for them.

This episode is basically the starting point of the Prime Directive. The basic guidelines that we will encounter again and again in Star Trek. If you don't approve of this episode, you should avoid Star Trek, because Star Trek is basically all about when and whether one civilization should interfere in the fortunes of another civilization. And Star Trek has always raised the warning finger that no good deed goes unpunished. The message has always been that a species, a culture, a civilization must develop itself and chart its own path into the future and must also make mistakes in order to learn and develop morally.

A big ethical dilemma

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 March 2015]

The Enterprise comes upon a ship where there are a few folks in stasis. When they revive them, the humans learn that these people are from a plague-infested planet and they sent ships to space to look for more advanced species that might be able to help them cure the disease. Unfortunately, Dr. Phlox is having a heck of a time treating the illness. Plus, there is a serious ethical dilemma, as allowing the species to die out might just be in line with what would later be known as the prime directive.

This episode is interesting because it's told from the Doctor's perspective. In addition to the main plot there are some interesting subplots involving romance in the air for the Doc as well as his learning that the Captain is actually a far more capable man than he'd assumed.

When You're Dead, You're Dead

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 10 March 2017]

Eventually, the Prime Directive became part of the soul of all Star Trek incarnations. This, of course, is the directive that prevents explorers from interfering with the natural evolution of a species. For instance, giving arms to an oppressed group so that they can even a score. Relocating a group to more fertile soil so they can become superior farmers. In this case, there are two species living side by side, one more intellectually evolved than the other, but that species is dying from a genetic disposition. Phlox is asked to come up with a medical treatment but since the "lesser" group is becoming more able, he sees perpetuating the dominant ones as a philosophical dilemma. It' the butterfly effect where everything we do sends waves out to change the fabric of the world. Of course, one could argue that interference is also a part of the natural order of things. It's certainly an interesting topic for conversation. I didn't appreciate the little Archer speech about "someday." It is kind of tacky. It's like Lincoln saying, "Someday, we will be able to talk to each other on devices we carry in our pockets." Kind of dumb.

Hooray for genocide!

[phenomynouss · 1/10 · 16 September 2010]

"Dear Doctor" is one of those episodes that act as proof that "Threshold" from Star Trek Voyager was no fluke; Berman and Braga know less about evolution than the average high school student.

It takes a long time to develop into the main plot, but ultimately the resolution of the plot completely undermines what is set up in the process.

The "process" I refer to is a series of narration voice-overs of Dr Phlox writing to a human doctor friend, telling about his experiences among humans, and with us getting insight into just how alien Phlox is---he cannot comprehend why humans would cry when watching a movie with fictional characters, for example.

Then the Enterprise comes across a bunch of alien astronauts who are sick, and have no warp technology. They came across two other aliens with warp technology (including FERENGI~!) who didn't help them, so they need help now.

This species has a sickness that is killing MILLIONS of them every few years. They also have another species like them (think Neanderthal to our Cro Magnon) that is less intelligent living with them. Contrary to the story of us, they've managed to live in peace with this inferior sentient species, and they care for them like a caretaker, giving them food and medicine and shelter and the like.

You could argue this is an imposition of ignorance; slavery with a smile; caring for an entire species so they cannot learn to care for themselves, and this IS a valid argument which is even addressed by the human crew members involved in helping them! Dr Phlox manages, as the token alien, to step outside of the human realm of ideals and points out that this is just how their culture works, and it's a marvel that the higher-class species has not simply wiped out the lower-class one in the previous millennia.

And discussing this issue WOULD have made for a spectacular Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. It would have made for an average Enterprise episode.

But that's not what the episode is about.

Instead, we get yet another "swing and a miss" bit of evolutionary understanding, where the writers state that these intelligent creatures are dying of a disease that has been EVOLVING within their entire race for THOUSANDS of years.

EVOLUTION DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY! Evolution is not a wonky magic fuxit-button that lets you sprout wings or grow a cool tail over generations, "Spore"-style. Evolution is the changes a species undergoes over many generations in order to best adapt to its environment.

Evolution does NOT make moral distinctions, nor does it affect the well-being of ONE species in order to affect another. It's not some mystical, sentient force or life spirit; it's the collective result of a species becoming better suited to SURVIVE in its environment.

The idiocy that is the Enterprise writers make it so that the magic pie from the 47th dimension called Evolution is causing an ENTIRE SPECIES TO DIE OUT so that a LESS FIT species can prosper. This is exactly NOT what "Survival of the fittest" means, and exactly NOT how Evolution works.

What makes the absurd into the audacious, even offensive, is that Dr Phlox realizes this, and says THEY SHOULDN'T INTERFERE! Before you can bring up the "playing God" discussion, Captain Archer goes over it with Phlox, with Archer arguing that DOCTOR Phlox is a DOCTOR, and thus he is morally and ethically obligated, as well as employed, to NOT HARM life, but to help save lives.

Phlox has the GALL to compare it with humanity and Neanderthals, asking what if aliens came and helped Neanderthals to survive instead of us, Cro Magnon? If that were the case, it would be Neanderthal descendants crewing the Enterprise.

This is also a horribly flawed argument given that Evolution clearly favored US, the STRONGER species; we were physically better adapted to more environments, even if we weren't as strong as them, and we were more INTELLIGENT than them. The Neanderthals were not killed off by us (though we did help); they died because they could not compete with us in the acquisition of resources and in prospering rather than just surviving.

By comparison, this alien species has already reached pre-warp space exploration technology, whilst the lesser technology has shown itself barely capable of doing anything other than growing food for itself.

So for no reason other than it's written in the script, Archer AGREES with Phlox, and ABANDONS these aliens to eventual extinction, with nothing more than some medical knowledge to make their deaths painless. Though we DO get a meta-referencing of a future set of rules that would tell humans what they could and could not do, some sort of "directive" Archer says with absolutely no subtlty in the writing at all.

Our heroes, ladies and gentlemen, the FLAGSHIP of Starfleet, the missionaries of humanity.

It's no wonder the Vulcans thought we weren't ready for space exploration.

Pandemic anyone?

[giftgoose · 7/10 · 26 February 2021]

In light of what the general public has learned about viruses since the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of PPE (Personal protective equipment) to protect individuals and reduce the spread of viruses, it makes me think the writers had little to no advice from any medical expert with knowledge about virology.

None of the doctors or workers in the hospital are seen wearing any PPE. I don't recall any mention of the possibility of crew members catching the virus either.

It would have been nice to further explore the issue of exploitation of one species by the other. Also, as is known now regarding interbreeding between Humans and Neanderthals, and the fact that we humans still have remnant genetic material from that association, I would think that in a civilization like that shown in the episode there would have been some degree of interbreeding and some people would have acquired enough genetic material such that they would not be victims of the genetic problem.

Another issue that could have been explored further is that of providing assistance with science and technology to a less advanced civilization. We have no problems in doing just that in the modern world, so why should there be any reluctance if we were to do so to an Alien species. The benefits would be mutual. If done correctly and without exploitation, we would be hopefully helping develop a strong ally.

Frankly, I find the whole idea of the "Prime Directive" rather poorly thought out. In so many episodes throughout the various Star Trek series we see the Prime Directive being ignored. Also, other Alien species of course have no obligation to even consider any such directive and, as is mentioned in this episode regarding the Ferengi can quite freely take any opportunities to exploit other species.



Regardless, it's an interesting episode that makes the viewer think. It just goes to show you don't always need violent conflict in space between starships, or gunfights/fistfights etc., to create an entertaining show.

I can recommend this episode to anyone who enjoys having some ethical dilemmas to think about.

Certainly worth watching.

might be the worst star trek ever.

[kenwiggins · 1/10 · 17 March 2012]

I love Star Trek and the Enterprise series is my 2nd favorite of the series but this episode is just bad.

The Enterprise series wishes to show how everything began in the Star Trek Universe. In trying to show the beginning of what would be known as "the prime directive" they completely misinterpret what the prime directive is (as well as leaving logic and common sense behind).

Everything everyone does affects everything.... that's life. If you leave 5 minutes early for work it might save you from an accident... then again it might put you in an accident... most likely neither. One does their best and the future takes care of itself. Does one kill a child because there is a chance that person may grow up to someday to be evil?

Somehow the doctor forgets logic and acts like he is outside of nature. He would help his known enemies if they were injured but would "interfere" by helping peaceful people!

beyond disappointing

[kateymaybe-98888 · 1/10 · 11 September 2015]

I realize that the intent of this episode was to provide some background for the development of the Prime directive, but it did so very poorly.

The Enterprise is asked to help a race called the Valakians who are suffering from a disease that is killing them by the millions. In the process of investigating the disease and the Valakian people, Dr Phlox discovers that there is a second sentient race on the planet; the Menk. Both species are living in apparent harmony, although the Menk are "less evolved" and the Valakians are clearly dominant. The Human crew feels that the Menk are being exploited, but Dr Phlox is dismissive of their concerns, blaming them on human cultural bias.

While working on a cure, Dr Phlox discovers that the disease is actually a genetic flaw, and predicts that the Valakians will be extinct within 2 centuries. When he reports to the Captain, Dr Phlox also reveals that the Menk are more advanced than believed, and states that if the Enterprise helps the Valakians, they will be "playing god" and interfering with the evolution of the Menk.

This is the point at which it really goes downhill for me. As another reviewer points out, the evolution of the so called "genetic defect" in the Valakians has some serious scientific flaws...it just doesn't fly. Also, why would anyone believe that the continued existence of the Valakians would be detrimental to the Menk? Their co-existence hasn't prevented the Menk from developing thus far. In fact, at this point, constant exposure to a more developed culture would likely create an environment which would encourage continued evolution of the Menk.

It would be one thing if both species were at a much lower level of development, such as the Neanderthal and Cro-magnon that Dr Phlox compares them to. At that stage, the races would have been fighting to survive, and would have been rivals for available resources; but they are well past that point. Or if the planet were dealing with overpopulation pressures...and that isn't likely an issue with the millions of dead, and the knowledge of the availability of space based options for expansion.

So, when it was thought that the Valakians were dying from a disease with a bacterial or viral cause, Dr Phlox was all (basically) "sure, let's find a cure. Oh, there's another sentient race? Fascinating! The Menk are being used as a servant class, have had their land taken from them, and generally the Valakian's treatment of them is somewhere between benevolent ownership and condescending guardianship/mentoring...but if you humans are bothered by it that you're just prejudiced. It works for them". But then when it turns out that the illness is genetic, suddenly his attitude is "Oh, those Valakians are interfering with the evolution of the Menk, so let's let all the hundreds of millions of Valakians - including all future generations - die, and the species become extinct." Yeah, that's a good plan.

I guess I'm just not a fan of Genocide, even the fictional variety.

Doesn't this series have science advisers???

[info-876-910949 · 1/10 · 9 December 2015]

********Spoiler alert********

I have never written a comment on IMDb before but after seeing this dreadful episode I couldn't just let this go.

I was shocked to hear the science of evolution explained so wrongly in this episode. To assume that one species is genetically being weakened by nature to allow another species to "evolve" indicates that the writers don't have a clue about the basics of evolution. Evolution doesn't imply that a species will be smarter, it just ensures the survival of the species that are best adapted to their current environment. Doesn't this series have a science adviser to cross check what they are saying?? AND on top of that, this misunderstanding forces them to a wrong conclusion by allowing a whole species to be wiped out by a disease that the crew have a cure for!!!!! Let's just sit back and watch millions of sentient beings perish... WOW.

I am horrified to see what Star Trek has become. Dreadful...

Ending wasn't what I was expecting

[tomas-344-902574 · 4/10 · 6 July 2012]

This episode surrounds discovering a new species who is rapidly dying of a genetic defect, to the point of total extinction in their near future. This species is pre-warp but technologically/industrially advanced.

There is a second species, probably of similar ancestry, who live primitively, where there are somewhat treated inferior by the dominant species. They seem to be immune to the disease that is killing the dominant species.

Once they mentioned that the 2nd species' immunity (and certain dependence/inferiority to the dominant species) I kept anticipating that Dr. Phlox would suggest interspecies mating to potentially weed out this genetic defect. It would solve the problem of the 2nd species being treated like inferior, as well.

Unfortunately that suggestion was never brought up and I guess the writer of the episode just wanted to bring up the "We can't play god" theme where you don't intervene technologically/medically with a less advanced species. Honestly you don't need to intervene medically to eliminate genetic defects - it's called diversification with mating. Telling the dominant species to integrate the other 'inferior' species into their own and interbreed wouldn't be the 'playing god' thing. It's just common sense for anyone who has any comprehension of (genetic) diversity.

An unfortunate misunderstanding of how evolution works leads to genocide.

[freddynostrils · 3/10 · 2 December 2021]

Possibly one of the most immoral decisions made by one of the doctors in Star Trek, and in fact by any lead character. I wonder if anyone read up on the theory of evolution by natural selection before writing this episode, their grotesque misunderstanding leads directly to the genocide of tens of millions of people, and the episode points towards this being the correct decision! I'm extremely disappointed by this as I enjoy the sub plots that give Dr Phlox some character progression.

Foolishness

[janderegg · 1/10 · 14 July 2021]

Evolution is a massive sequence of random mutations; it is no more moral or ethical for one iteration of it to occur than any other. It is certainly not a guiding principle of ethics. Even worse, Phlox has chosen a less ethical option by advocating for the survival of one race (the Menk) at the expense of the other (the Valakians) rather than healing the Valakians and allowing both to persist. Phlox has no problem giving the Valakians the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their contemporary treatment of the Menk, yet comes to the conclusion that they will oppress them in the future? Even Earth society in Roddenberry's universe with full-blown slavery eventually became enlightened enough to ban it.

No, Phlox holds an untenable position and even has the gall to be indignant about it. Archer was right all along: "Every time you treat an illness, you're interfering."

Good attempt, but not very well executed...

[abuonvinorosso · 3/10 · 3 August 2018]

This episode attempts to be a very classic example of what makes Star Trek rather unique -- on one level a straight forward science fiction show, but on a second level a program that addresses some very real and very interesting philosophical dilemmas that humanity either currently face, or might face, given certain conditions that our science and technology might someday present. This formula only works, however, when the writers of the episode understand the topic they are attempting to address. This story idea was really good and, as the current rating reflects (currently at 8.0), it is still, if only superficially, a pretty well produced episode. But, for many viewers who are knowledgeable of evolution and/or ethics, the fact that the writers really messed up both the science and the ethical philosophy that underlies the actions taken by Phlox and Archer, it makes this story rather contrived and hollow, and the conclusion rather ludicrous (e.g. since Phlox doesn't have a sound understanding of evolution and both characters reach a rather naive and unethical decision in the finale...under the misguided claim that they are making a hard, but ethical, decision). These problems don't kill the episode for many, but it certainly did for me.

Dr. Phlox, Human Babe Magnet

[evanjones-10395 · 2/10 · 16 February 2024]

This episode uses the tried-and-true plot device of one of the characters, in this case Dr. Phlox, narrating a letter he's written to somebody else. (Some might call this plot device contrived, trite and beaten-to-death rather than tried and true.) Phlox faces an ethical dilemma, blah blah blah... A more interesting aspect of this episode is the suspected attraction that Crewman Cutler may feel for Dr. Phlox. To paraphrase Dr. Carl Sagan, an alien would have just as good a chance at procreating with a petunia as with a human being. But that has never stopped Star Trek characters from feeling attracted to all kinds of bizarre aliens. On the Earth there is a name for this kind of attraction. It starts with B and rhymes with cordiality. But in the Star Trek universe, it's business as usual.

So Phlox is a Nazi?

[mylkione · 1/10 · 3 December 2021]

He's advocated for Eugenics, not Evolution. Archer is the scientist here. Does Hypocrites mean nothing in the 22nd Century? Darwinian theory is not a Socio-Political ethic. That still is true, despite gross misreadings of the current political landscape.

Eek.

A Senior Trekker writes...................

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 10 April 2022]

Dear Doctor has some serious issues to discuss and does so very well indeed. Confronted by two different humanoid races inhabiting the same planet but possessing conflicting developmental challenges, the crew experiences the type of moral dilemma for which the iconic Prime Directive was created. The problem for the Valakians and the Menk is that this new Star Fleet policy hasn't been ratified yet. Captain Archer very much wants to help these interdependent races but doesn't know who to assist or how to do so.

We see hear the story unfold through the means of a long letter in which Doctor Phlox documents his doubts and discoveries in order to shares them with his exchange colleague Doctor Lucas. This is a well constructed episode with both Rick Berman and Brannon Braga taking writing credit. John Billingsley turns in a faultless performance as he always does when given a worthwhile part and, apparently, particularly liked this episode because he felt it was his first opportunity to flesh out his character.

Movie Night aboard the Enterprise is a good idea which will be resurrected many years down the line in Star Trek Discovery but, as with all those theatrical performances which took place aboard the 1701D, we are often left wondering who is minding the store when so many cast regulars are taking the evening off.

David Kimbel as the Valakian, Esaak, and Alex Nevil as the unnamed Menk give credibility to the plight of their respective races and Kelly Waymire continues to stand out as the lively Crewman Cutler. Jeremy Lewis, recipient of the doctor's revealing missive, does not appear in person until the Fourth Season but establishing him in this episode helps to round out both the professional and the personal aspects of Doctor Phlox.

Senior Trekker scores every episode with a Five.

A Bad Espousement of Evolution over Compassion

[jseph1234-262-617488 · 4/10 · 24 April 2023]

Just got down watching this episode and after it to the end have to bitterly say that this was nothing but a poor excuse to spout of some nonsence that Darwininsm and Selective Evolution should be win out Over Love and Compassion.

Very disappointing to see that even in this supposed "Enlightened" Society that is portrayed in Star Trek in the 22nd Century that some Doctor would want to push this as a reason withhold treatment.

This episode also talks about the precursor to the "Prime Directive" something that would not even be a consideration in relationship to the this treatment nor has ever been a limiting factor in any Star Trek episode as it relates to Medical Treatment.

Rubbish Nonsense! 4/10.