This episode brings up a lot of plot holes that it fails to address satisfactorily: the lack of a frozen surface (I don't care how many thermal vents you have, that surface would be cold!), the breathable atmosphere, and the green vegetation. Lots of other reviews complain about these, as well as other problems, so I won't waste anymore time doing this.
This social commentary revolves around tradition versus moral principles. At what point do we cast aside traditions that have been passed down through generations in favor of modern morality? Is fishing for sport ethical? Is hunting game ethical? Is modern Japense whaling ethical? ST:E turns it full throttle by showing the Eska hunting sentient-beings (the Wraiths). In today's world, there are far more nuances and complications than is shown in this ST:E episode which makes this more difficult to answer.
My problem with this episode is that the writers have made this issue so cut and dry by pitting two sentient lifeforms against each other, that it more closely resembles genocide and murder than it does recreational hunting. It seems that this is a point that the writers are trying to make (that modern hunting is akin to murdering another lifeform). By creating this genocide-like setting however, the writers don't leave the viewer any room for interpretation or polarity between right and wrong. It becomes far too preachy: "This is right, this is wrong." A great sci-fi allegory involves a story where the viewer can see both sides of the coin and make judgments for him or herself. Unfortunately this episode doesn't allow us to do that.
Episode Note: Why do the most important and senior officers of the crew insist on exploring unknown planets by themselves first? (I know Enterprise isn't the only ST show guilty of this but can we fix it please? Shouldn't you send down some lackeys first to make sure it will be alright? Sending down the Captain (which should never happen), the Chief Engineer, the Armory Officer, and the Comms Officer seems extremely foolish and not planned out at all.
This social commentary revolves around tradition versus moral principles. At what point do we cast aside traditions that have been passed down through generations in favor of modern morality? Is fishing for sport ethical? Is hunting game ethical? Is modern Japense whaling ethical? ST:E turns it full throttle by showing the Eska hunting sentient-beings (the Wraiths). In today's world, there are far more nuances and complications than is shown in this ST:E episode which makes this more difficult to answer.
My problem with this episode is that the writers have made this issue so cut and dry by pitting two sentient lifeforms against each other, that it more closely resembles genocide and murder than it does recreational hunting. It seems that this is a point that the writers are trying to make (that modern hunting is akin to murdering another lifeform). By creating this genocide-like setting however, the writers don't leave the viewer any room for interpretation or polarity between right and wrong. It becomes far too preachy: "This is right, this is wrong." A great sci-fi allegory involves a story where the viewer can see both sides of the coin and make judgments for him or herself. Unfortunately this episode doesn't allow us to do that.
Episode Note: Why do the most important and senior officers of the crew insist on exploring unknown planets by themselves first? (I know Enterprise isn't the only ST show guilty of this but can we fix it please? Shouldn't you send down some lackeys first to make sure it will be alright? Sending down the Captain (which should never happen), the Chief Engineer, the Armory Officer, and the Comms Officer seems extremely foolish and not planned out at all.