[ENT] Season 2, Episode 19 (Netflix: S2 E19): Judgment
Rating: 4
Most Star Trek fans like this episode, but still I think they miss the mark. The most common reactions I’ve read treat this episode as if the main point is to pay homage to Klingon stuff from other shows or movies. To me, it’s a great episode that happens to pay homage. It’s a great story about how the Empire is changing in this time period. It deepens the Klingon culture and history, answering how they can be so advanced, and brings the Klingons throughout the Star Trek universe into perspective. This is done through one of this episodes main characters, Kolos. Most Star Trek fans will see him as Martok in different make-up, but he’s an interesting Klingon character at a point where it was getting difficult to make new and intriguing types of Klingon characters. The change he goes through is interesting, and his bond with Archer feels genuine.
–
Read more at Memory Alpha
–
Notes:
Archer’s facing trial in a Klingon courtroom. Yes, it’s kind of like Star Trek VI
A member of the Duras family had a run in with Archer and testifies against him. What are the odds
The story is a little different from reality when told by the Klingon. It’s not exactly Rashomon, but it’s kind of funny
Archer’s advocate, Kolos, isn’t really helping
Archer eats some targ. Is that the only animal known to the Klingon Empire? Seems like it’s referenced a lot
Kolos seems like a defeated man. He talks about how the Klingon Empire used to be different
Archer gets to tell his side of the story. He helped some refugees that had been overrun by the expanding Klingon Empire
All judges, all across the universe, need to hit something to get people’s attention
Kolos talks about how his parents were a biologist and a teacher, and the warrior class of Klingons have taken over society. He talks about how honor used to mean courage, fighting greater opponents, and standing up for integrity
Kolos ends up standing up for Archer because the court acts like it’s been merciful to Archer for only sending him to Rura Penthe rather than having him executed. Now Kolos has to go with him
Archer and Kolos build a believable friendship throughout this episode. They earn each others respect in a way that makes sense, they stand up for each other, and are willing to suffer for each other.
This is Archer’s I’m-really-rugged-and-I-can’t-quite-hear-you face
<Previous Episode——————————————————– Next Episode>