User Reviews

"The Andorian Incident" shows Archer, Trip and T'Pol visiting a Vulcan monastery on a social call, only to find it already hosting some unwanted visitors: The Andorians. The blue-skinned captors demand to know where a theoretical surveillance device is hidden. Archer, whose first meeting the Andorians is here, truthfully claims to be unaware of such a device. The Andorian leader warns Enterprise that if they attempt a rescue mission then then will kill the hostages. One of the Vulcans leads Trip through secret catacombs to an old transmitter. Trip gets it operational and contacts Enterprise. Reed comes down with a team and attacks the Andorians using a secret passage in the catacombs. A firefight ensues, leading Archer to find a secret vault, leading to a large chamber housing a surveillance device. Archer allows the Andorians to leave with a scan of the chamber, whose existence is in violation of a treaty.

Not a bad episode at all. A blend of mystery, action and drama, it does have a few problems. First, the coincidental visit of the Enterprise to the monastery was a bit contrived. Second, it was incredulous that the door to the chamber at the end was not locked with some kind of security code. It was also odd how Shran referred to his hostages as hostages; from his perspective, it would have been more strategic to have called them prisoners. While the Vulcans were apparently in violation of a treaty, it would have been in bad form for Archer to allow Shran to leave without some kind of penance for his own actions, which were also clearly out of place.

I liked the twist at the end with the young monk deciding to fight the Andorians, only to have his true intentions revealed as wanting to protect the secret surveillance equipment. The exchange between Archer and T'Pol while under the blanket was excellent.

Was really pleased with this show, and we were only onto the seventh episode! Was also delighted to see the underused Andorians in this too. Vulcan is an interesting planet and we don't know an awful lot about the planet or it's inhabitants. When Archer and co investigate a possible violation of Andoria's privacy by the Vulcans, we get to see that Vulcans do lie and don't always keep to their own rules!! The Enterprise crew are more than dismayed to find a Vulcan telescope for watching Andoria. Brilliant to see the legendary Jeffrey Combs as Shran in too. Was genuinely surprised that such a brilliant episode could emerge at such an early stage

One of the best aspects of "Star Trek: Enterprise" was its way it portrayed the Vulcans. Up until this series, they were shown as extremely honorable but dull. However, through the course of this newest series, you learn that they are a lot more complex...and a lot more duplicitous. This episode brings all this to a head...and in a very interesting and exciting way. It's the best episode of the series so far.

When the show begins, the Enterprise nears a Vulcan monastery, P'Jem. Archer suggests they visit but T'Pol isn't so sure, as she appears to think the humans are so crude and stupid that they'll be like a group of drunk hillbillies crashing a posh society wedding! Regardless, they DO land and find the welcome a bit strange and underwhelming. Where are all the Vulcan monks? They only see one and some other things seem weird as well...when suddenly a group of Andorians pop out and take them prisoner. What apparently has happened is that the Andorians don't like or trust the nice-guy Vulcans and they've landed to inspect this monastery. The paranoid Andorians think that the place is actually a ring of spies who are eavesdropping on them. While the Andorians come off like angry jerks most of the show, by the end it turns out that there is a bit to what they suspect....well, more than just a bit.

This episode not only sheds further light on the dark side of the Vulcans but it re-introduces the Andorians who were briefly seen in the original series. Now, in "Star Trek: Enterprise", they'll be a very important part of the series, as will their leader Commander Shran. If he seems familiar, it's played by the same actor who played the incredibly nasty Weyoun on "Star Trek: Deep Space 9". All in all, a terrific and very well written episode that isn't to be missed.

The other reviews hit the nail on the head: best episode of the series thus far.

The introduction of the Andorians and their complicated relationship with the Vulcans is all laid out quite nicely in this episode. I love how this show is trying to make the Vulcans a more complex race than you typically see them. The first few episodes, the humans typically bad-mouthed the Vulcans and it all seemed a bit discriminatory. Now we are presented with this evidence of the Vulcans' double-dealing, causing viewers to question their true intentions. These Vulcans preach pacifism, but is it all for show? I look forward to more adventures involving these two races.

I also enjoy the character of T'Pol more and more each time. She seems to be questioning the values of her upbringing more and more with each episode. The blanket scene was a nice touch, showing us that her grudging acceptance of humans may be turning into a bit of camaraderie as she accepts Archer's sign of goodwill. The big reveal at the end of the episode seemed to have hit her fairly hard as far as Vulcans go. We'll see how that affects her moving forward.

The twist at the end is great. Often times in these Star Trek episodes (as well as in a lot of shows & movies), we watch as the good guys battle the bad guys; everything's laid out in black & white. Here however, we see the episode turned on its head in the last instance, leaving the viewer questioning his/her understanding of the relationship on-screen. Typically, we only see these interactions from the perspective of the Enterprise crew. Maybe these episodes have more gray area than we assume.

T'Pol says the Andorians are scared of the Vulcans because of their superior technology and intellect, that Andorians are extremely volatile and untrustworthy towards Vulcans. Maybe they have a reason to be?

Well, looks at that ---- I have been sympathetic towards the Vulcan race because I happen to agree that humanity is way to emotionally charged to be exploring space without a leash. This episode manages to shake a few Vulcan pillars ---- The Vulcan's end up being the antagonists who are spying on the Andorians despite a declaration of peace between the two. More then that --- they lied about it! Say it isn't so!

The Andorians are not exactly shown in a good light either in this one. They beat up Archer and one of them alluded to using T'Pol as a sex slave. Bad form! They were certainly right about being spied on but did they really need to beat up our all American captain?!

Never let it be said that Captain Archer is not setting a fine example in regards to turning the other cheek ----- after discovering the Vulcan's have a secret spy lab he turns over the tricorder information to Shran.

I have heard rumblings before about how some do not like the depiction of the Vulcan's in Enterprise. Well, we need to remember that they do have emotions --- they just repress them and perhaps Spock was not an Avatar for the entire society. Maybe he was like Worf in the way that he inhibited all the good qualities of Vulcan? Am i talking out of my butt again?

This was pretty good. The andorians looks great.

My commentaries are about the ending. I find hard to believe that a secret spy complex would have a huge not concealed metallic door that could/would be opened from outside with not a single password or even internal guard and that it would lead directly to the main room of the complex. Secondly, as soon as Archer found the evidence he would/should let the Vulcans and Andorians deal with it, not taking part or picking a side (the first directive was not "on" yet, I supose), or, in any case, he should take the Vulcans side since they were some kind of allies.. In summary, this end makes no sense to me.