Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) Judgment (2003) User Reviews

Justice, Klingon style....

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 27 March 2015]

When the show begins, Archer is in a Klingon prison awaiting a trial. Why he is being tried is unknown and the audience knows nothing about his predicament. But you don't learn it for some time. When you first hear about it, it's not from Archer but from his accuser in court. And, oddly, in this 'fair trial', the accused isn't even allowed to explain his actions or testify in any way. It's an obvious set-up, though I must say that Archer did apparently put himself in this situation by being the intergalactic nice guy and helping the wrong people. Surprisingly, the do-nothing defense attorney they assign to the case actually has the temerity to challenge the court and demand fairness and a chance for Archer to testify. What's next?

I liked this episode for many reasons. Seeing the Klingon justice system was rather entertaining and the defense attorney was an interesting character--and another chance to see J.G. Hertzler, who (in my opinion) played the best Klingon character of all in previous shows, the very honorable and entertaining General Martok. Well worth seeing.

the duras family has always been conniving

[lathamv · 9/10 · 10 June 2019]

TNG fans know how unhonorable the duras family is. Time and time again, they attempted to boost their honor by taking advantage of others, lying every chance they get. apparently, thats always been the case. even 200 years prior, during archers time, they tried to disrupt the klingon way of life.

this ep doesnt follow typical linear story telling. the actors are wonderful playing their klingon parts. the courtroom and mines were well created. i like that there are some honorable klingons willing to protect their way of life instead of just terrotizing everyone they come in contact with.

Must watch for Klingon fans

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 18 September 2020]

Archer is put on trial for his life at a Klingon court of law.

I enjoyed this episode for three reasons: Firstly, the bond that develops between Archer and Kolos is engaging and something I found myself caring about. Secondly, the focus on Klingon culture beyond the warrior class is something the franchise badly needed, particularly to give plausibility to the idea that such a seemingly barbaric race has advanced to the point of space travel. Lastly, the Klingon performances of J G Hertzler and John Vickery are so excellent they pretty much blow everyone else off the screen.

The only real issue I have is with how it ends. I don't hate it as some fans do, but I wish they had made this a two part episode. Part one would obviously be the trial, but part two would have been Archer's extraction from Rura Penthe. Imagine how cool it would have been to see it being done from Malcom Reed's perspective. Reed is a character badly in need of cool moments and this could have been one of them.

Archer and the Klingon Empire

[mstomaso · 9/10 · 14 April 2007]

This thoroughly satisfying episode of Enterprise recalls J. G. Hertzler to the franchise to play the aging legendary advocate Kolos, in an attempt to save Captain Archer from a death sentence for aiding fugitives from the empire and crippling a Klingon ship. As always, Hertsler makes a truly great Klingon, and he plays this role to the hilt. The court Archer must face operates in much the same way as a kardassian court. Trials are simply formalities which occur prior to sentencing. But of course, Archer, in his self-righteousness and sense of ethics, isn't going to let that happen.

I won't write a spoiler, but I do want to mention that unlike many episodes of Enterprise and Voyager before it, the end of this episode is not a cop-out and does not follow the usual formula.

Recommended!

He Sure Ticks a Lot of People Off

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 21 March 2017]

This episode is told primarily in flashback. Jonathan Archer stands before a Klingon tribunal, charged with aiding fugitives from the empire. It is a kind of kangaroo court (Klingaroo?) because once accused the chances of being found innocent are virtually nil. After lots of posing and harrumphing, Archer is pretty much done. He has been given an advocate who is of little use at first. But Archer is good with words and get the guy to pull up an old Klingon law that allows him to defend himself. Before that, Archer did not have the right to speak in his defense. But his advocate starts to amp up the case and there are some doubts. What transpires is not good but there are some interesting circumstances that can be used. The only criticism of the story is that Archer seems to spend as much time in prisons and prison camps as he does on the bridge.

Huge missed opportunity

[AdamGH86 · 6/10 · 16 August 2021]

'Judgment' is in many respects a reimagining of the DS9 episode 'Tribunal' except that it takes place in a Klingon rather than Cardassian court and the advocate is subversive rather than compliant.

Right out the gate the episode has a lot going in its favour with fan-favourite J. G. Hertzler making an appearance as the honourable but demoralised advocate Kolos. Through Kolos' frustration at the courts injustice and Klingon warrior class you have a setup to explore a totally different side of Klingon society that has rarely even been hinted at before. One also might expect there to be more to the trial than what there seems, perhaps the Duras were upto no good and Archer is being setup as a fallguy in their schemes.

Unfortunately most of the potential is squandered and undermined by how rushed and incomplete the story feels. Unlike in 'Tribunal' where we see O'Brien's arrest and the establishment of the Boone character we never see Archer's capture, there's no build-up or mystery behind the trial, no ulterior motive at play, no b-plot, Kolos is very easily swayed to zealously defend Archer and the conclusion doesn't even payoff later as Kolos never returns.

This feels to me like it should have been a two-parter and that there needed to be a deeper examination of the non-warrior class in Klingon society. There was real potential to have fun with Duras and have his family up to no good long before TNG, some plot or scheme that Enterprise became entangled in perhaps. The pieces are all there but examined only very briefly, there just isn't time for anything to breath and it's wrapped up at breakneck speed. Whole scenes feel like they were ripped out and cut for time.

Ultimately I give the episode a 6 largely because I love J. G. Hertzler's performance, he's a joy to watch I just wish he was given more to work with and the episodes premise utilised more completely. As the title of this review says I feel it was a huge missed opportunity.

only positive, almost

[lisawea · 9/10 · 2 November 2007]

I have nothing but positive things to say about this superbly acted and rather engrossing episode. Martok is back and I can't think of any other actor who could have come close to playing Kolos that well: Bakula's gives a strong performance as well.

*possible spoiler here*

The court scenes are dull to me now but look at them with a fresh eye and I could almost assure you that you will like them. I can honestly see no strong flaws, save that it grows tiresome and predictable the more you watch it. Actually there is one negitive: when Archer tells his side of the story. He should know klingons better than to tell it like that, or taken that long. It was done so that everyone could have time on-screen but was not practical

The conversations between Kolos and Archer are obviously strong positives. but there are strong ties to other Star Trek shows (and movies) that seem to add strength, purpose and, dare I say it, continuity to the episode! The ending is great and far from typical, in my view anyway. And yes you can call me a Trekkie! Feedback please!

Trial Without Justice

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 20 January 2008]

Archer is being judge by the Klingon court accused of conspiracy against their empire because he had responded a distress signal and helped the survivors of a Klingon colony. Archer convinces his lawyer to really help in his defense and stop the farce of his trial.

"Judgement' is an episode with a terrible beginning, since it is never disclosed how Archer was captured by the Klingons, and an awful conclusion, with Archer escaping from the mine of the penal colony. This is maybe one of the weakest episodes of the Second Season. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Julgamento" ("Judgement")

Law & Order: Space Crimes

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 29 November 2017]

In "Judgment", Captain Archer finds himself in front of a Klingon tribunal, charged with treason against the Klingon empire. It's up to Archer and his counsel to prove his innocence and escape the death penalty.

A courtroom drama was not what I expected out of ST:E but I was presently surprised by this episode. The supporting cast is wonderful and this is really well acted. Hertzler does a fantastic job in his role as Advocate Kolos and the set is a perfect backdrop for the trial.

I was also presently surprised with the outcome. Kolos' fate is not a fun one but I'm glad that the writers decided against the "happily ever after" conclusion that these episodes often use.

I also enjoyed the cold open. We don't know how Archer was captured or what has occurred. It leaves the audience almost as confused as Archer is; it works very effectively. Another plus for this episode was the dueling testimonies and perspectives we get from Archer and the opposing captains. They're stories don't line up and seeing Archer play a more villainous role in the Klingon's story was a nice touch.

Conclusion: An episode a bit out of the norm for this show, but definitely worth the watch.

Side note: I'm a big fan of that judge's metal ball gavel.

In the top 10 on my episode list

[ghanima_atrieadies · 8/10 · 30 January 2021]

Hertzler, Vickery, Riordan. Nerdvana for Star Trek, Babylon 5, and Mass Effect fans. What's not the like? This was a great episode. Well written, well acted, solid story. I love the not so perfect outcome.

Not bad

[shtoopid · 8/10 · 8 January 2022]

It's basically the Undiscovered Country trial shortened and it's just the captain. The doctor made a brief appearance, but not part of the trial. Rura Penthe, was little more than a hallway and the escape was super easy, barely an inconvenience (Screen Rant) nobody really even noticed.

Klingons are always entertaining

[zombiemockingbird · 8/10 · 5 June 2023]

I wish they had done this as a regular story, start to finish instead of doing flashbacks. They needed to add more to it; there was too much missing information and action and the ending was a little abrupt. Always a pleasure to see J G Hertzler; loved him as General Martok and he is excellent again as Kolos. The actors doing Klingons always seem to do a good job. It was interesting to hear Kolos talking about his family, like a normal family. The Klingons usually are just fighting and running amok and it seems hard to believe some of them are somewhat normal. Who knew they had a University? Good episode.