Dear Doctor
- Episode aired Jan 23, 2002
- TV-PG
- 45m
Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.
- Female Crewmember
- (uncredited)
- Ensign Billy
- (uncredited)
- Crewman
- (uncredited)
- Engineer Alex
- (uncredited)
- Ensign Tanner
- (uncredited)
- Valakian Doctor
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst indirect mention of the not yet existing "Prime Directive". This episode foreshadows more directly the concept, expanding upon brief mentions from Civilization (2001) and other episodes.
- GoofsWhen discussing Phlox's marital situation at the Menk camp, Ensign Cutler mispronounces Denobulans as 'Denoblians.'
- Quotes
Captain Jonathan Archer: Someday... my people are going to come up with some sort of a doctrine, something that tells us what we can and can't do out here, should and shouldn't do. But until somebody tells me that they've drafted that directive... I'm going to have to remind myself every day... that we didn't come out here to play God.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Star Trek Special: Flesh and Stone (2016)
- SoundtracksWhere My Heart Will Take Me
Written by Diane Warren
Performed by Russell Watson
Episode: {all episodes}
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.
- celineduchain
- Apr 9, 2022
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1