During the first couple of weeks of exploration the Enterprise comes across another ship and makes a nasty discovery.
I found this episode to be on par with the first. The plot isn't as exciting but it does cover a few more themes. The nature of exploration and the inherent danger that goes along with it. Also fear and self doubt are big factors in how some of the characters are portrayed, particularly Ensign Hoshi.
It's understandable that some may find Hoshi difficult to tolerate during this episode, however I do quite like this perspective on a Star Trek character. For so many years we are presented with characters who do extraordinary things on a weekly basis that take supreme skill and confidence levels. In this instance, we witness someone who has ability but no confidence and gets completely overwhelmed by situations. I found it refreshing. Things do get resolved in a rather silly way at the end, but I suppose we can't have everything.
Other characters get a bit more screen time. Phlox has some decent moments, but his slug analogy does get old quickly. Trip gives us the opposite side of the coin to Hoshi with his desperation to get off the ship and explore dangerous environments.
Archer and T'Pol continue to clash in their methods of space exploration, this time codes of behaviour is one of what feels will be many slanging matches between the two on board Enterprise. There is only so long that dynamic can go on before it gets a bit tiresome. This type of thing worked with Spock and Bones in the original series because they had excellent chemistry and Kirk's overarching authority had a perfect blend of logic and humanity.
Despite Enterprise's many detractors I haven't felt like switching off yet.