Star Trek Episode of the Week: Dear Doctor

This week’s Star Trek episode comes from the often maligned first season of Enterprise.

Plot: This is a Phlox heavy episode in which the good doctor wrestles with both his ravenous desire for inter-species copulation and carefully considered philosophies regarding cultural contamination, although he seems unaware of the irony of his conflicting view points on the two issues.

In Dear Doctor, Phlox and Crewman Elizabeth Cutler reveal their attraction to one another, with Cutler unphased by Phlox already having several wives. The episode concludes with the two heading for a date. Sadly, Cutler could have been a fun minor character in the show, but she disappeared when the actor playing the character, Kellie Waymire, died.

In addition to Phlox chasing human tail, he also has to deal with creating a cure for the genetic illness of an under-developed alien culture. He ultimately decides that, of the two humanoid species living on a planet, only the healthy one should live, and that he won’t give out the cure he’s developed for the other, sickly species. I guess they should have used their bootstraps better.

Character Development: This episode reveals that Phlox is one serious player.

Forehead of the Week: That honour has to go to the Valakians, who did nothing wrong and only sought the help of more “advanced” cultures. It was eventually decided by the advanced culture they found that the Valakians deserved to die because they had a genetic disorder, even though a cure was available.

Memorable Quote: “It’s mating season, so you know how that goes.” – Dr. Jeremy Lucas, living with horny Denobulans.