Season 4
Episode 80 Borderland
This is where Enterprise begins to shine. It finally finds its footing. Instead of stand-alone episodes or season long storylines, the concept that worked for Enterprise was mini-story arcs. Season four also focused on filling in plot gaps between themselves and other Star Trek series. It all starts with Borderland.
A bunch of human augments steal Klingon Bird of Prey and Enterprise is sent to retrieve them because the Klingons are threatening war. Captain Archer recruits Arik Soong (Brent Spiner) a descendent of the guy who will eventually build Data. Soong is under arrest for illegal genetic experiments. He actually created the augments 20 years ago but was arrested 10 years ago.
While Enterprise is looking for the augments a bunch of the crew get kidnapped by the Oriens. The Oriens try to sell them into slavery but Archer and friends bust them out in-time. Soong tries to use the situation to escape but failed. Then the Oriens attack the ship but the augments in the stolen Klingon ship save them.
They break into Enterprise and free Soong. End of episode.
So much awesome in only 44 minutes! The augments are a throwback to Kahn and his people. That’s all original series references. Soong has his connections the Star Trek: Next Generation. The Oriens date back to the very first pilot of Star Trek the original series but in Star Trek canon we don’t see them until Star Trek the Menagerie. The Orien Syndicate is referred to as a type of recurring villain in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. All of those bits of magic converge into a nice action pact story that has solid payoff for genuine Star Trek fans.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
