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Star Trek: Enterprise
S1.E13
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IMDbPro

Dear Doctor

  • Episode aired Jan 23, 2002
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
John Billingsley in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.Phlox is asked to save the Valakians from annihilation by disease. However, he discovers something unusual about the Menk, another humanoid race on the planet.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • James A. Contner
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Brannon Braga(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • John Billingsley
    • Jolene Blalock
Top credits
  • Director
    • James A. Contner
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Brannon Braga(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • John Billingsley
    • Jolene Blalock
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    John Billingsley in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Kellie Waymire and Linda Park in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Scott Bakula in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    John Billingsley and Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Glen Hambly in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, and Linda Park in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Scott Bakula and Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Anthony Montgomery, and Linda Park in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Scott Bakula
    Scott Bakula
    • Capt. Jonathan Archeras Capt. Jonathan Archer
    John Billingsley
    John Billingsley
    • Dr. Phloxas Dr. Phlox
    Jolene Blalock
    Jolene Blalock
    • Sub-Cmdr. T'Polas Sub-Cmdr. T'Pol
    Dominic Keating
    Dominic Keating
    • Lt. Malcolm Reedas Lt. Malcolm Reed
    Anthony Montgomery
    Anthony Montgomery
    • Ensign Travis Mayweatheras Ensign Travis Mayweather
    Linda Park
    Linda Park
    • Ensign Hoshi Satoas Ensign Hoshi Sato
    Connor Trinneer
    Connor Trinneer
    • Cmdr. Charles 'Trip' Tucker IIIas Cmdr. Charles 'Trip' Tucker III
    Kellie Waymire
    Kellie Waymire
    • Crewman Elizabeth Cutleras Crewman Elizabeth Cutler
    David A. Kimball
    David A. Kimball
    • Esaakas Esaak
    Christopher Rydell
    Christopher Rydell
    • Alien Astronautas Alien Astronaut
    Karl Wiedergott
    • Larras Larr
    Alex Nevil
    Alex Nevil
    • Menk Manas Menk Man
    Jane Bordeaux
    • Female Crewmemberas Female Crewmember
    • (uncredited)
    Solomon Burke Jr.
    Solomon Burke Jr.
    • Ensign Billyas Ensign Billy
    • (uncredited)
    Amy Kate Connolly
    • Crewmanas Crewman
    • (uncredited)
    Mark Correy
    Mark Correy
    • Engineer Alexas Engineer Alex
    • (uncredited)
    Evan English
    • Ensign Tanneras Ensign Tanner
    • (uncredited)
    Brian Freifield
    • Valakian Doctoras Valakian Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James A. Contner
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
      • Rick Berman
      • Brannon Braga(showrunner)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First indirect mention of the not yet existing "Prime Directive". This episode foreshadows more directly the concept, expanding upon brief mentions from Civilization (2001) and other episodes.
    • Goofs
      When discussing Phlox's marital situation at the Menk camp, Ensign Cutler mispronounces Denobulans as 'Denoblians.'
    • Quotes

      Captain Jonathan Archer: Someday... my people are going to come up with some sort of a doctrine, something that tells us what we can and can't do out here, should and shouldn't do. But until somebody tells me that they've drafted that directive... I'm going to have to remind myself every day... that we didn't come out here to play God.

    • Connections
      Featured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Star Trek Special: Flesh and Stone (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Where My Heart Will Take Me
      Written by Diane Warren

      Performed by Russell Watson

      Episode: {all episodes}

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Ending wasn't what I was expecting
    This episode surrounds discovering a new species who is rapidly dying of a genetic defect, to the point of total extinction in their near future. This species is pre-warp but technologically/industrially advanced.

    There is a second species, probably of similar ancestry, who live primitively, where there are somewhat treated inferior by the dominant species. They seem to be immune to the disease that is killing the dominant species.

    Once they mentioned that the 2nd species' immunity (and certain dependence/inferiority to the dominant species) I kept anticipating that Dr. Phlox would suggest interspecies mating to potentially weed out this genetic defect. It would solve the problem of the 2nd species being treated like inferior, as well.

    Unfortunately that suggestion was never brought up and I guess the writer of the episode just wanted to bring up the "We can't play god" theme where you don't intervene technologically/medically with a less advanced species. Honestly you don't need to intervene medically to eliminate genetic defects - it's called diversification with mating. Telling the dominant species to integrate the other 'inferior' species into their own and interbreed wouldn't be the 'playing god' thing. It's just common sense for anyone who has any comprehension of (genetic) diversity.
    helpful•14
    28
    • tomas-344-902574
    • Jul 6, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 2002 (United States)
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Ventura Studios - 5301 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Network Television
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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