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Star Trek: Enterprise
S2.E8
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The Communicator

  • Episode aired Nov 13, 2002
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 43m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
Upon returning from covertly observing a pre-warp culture, Lieutenant Reed realizes he lost his communicator somewhere on the planet. Archer and Reed return to recover the lost technology, o... Read allUpon returning from covertly observing a pre-warp culture, Lieutenant Reed realizes he lost his communicator somewhere on the planet. Archer and Reed return to recover the lost technology, only to find the natives found it first. Captured and interrogated, the crewmen find themse... Read allUpon returning from covertly observing a pre-warp culture, Lieutenant Reed realizes he lost his communicator somewhere on the planet. Archer and Reed return to recover the lost technology, only to find the natives found it first. Captured and interrogated, the crewmen find themselves doing even more damage to the culture, who have scanned the prisoners and know them t... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • James A. Contner
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman(story by)
    • Brannon Braga(story by)
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • John Billingsley
    • Jolene Blalock
Top credits
  • Director
    • James A. Contner
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman(story by)
    • Brannon Braga(story by)
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • John Billingsley
    • Jolene Blalock
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos22

    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Dennis Cockrum in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Scott Bakula and Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Jolene Blalock, Anthony Montgomery, and Connor Trinneer in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Anthony Montgomery in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Brian Reddy in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Francis Guinan in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    Tim Kelleher in Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
    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
    Francis Guinan
    Francis Guinan
    • Gen. Gosisas Gen. Gosis
    Tim Kelleher
    Tim Kelleher
    • Lt. Pellas Lt. Pell
    Dennis Cockrum
    Dennis Cockrum
    • Alien Barkeepas Alien Barkeep
    Brian Reddy
    Brian Reddy
    • Dr. Temecas Dr. Temec
    Jason Waters
    • Soldieras Soldier
    Solomon Burke Jr.
    Solomon Burke Jr.
    • Ensign Billyas Ensign Billy
    • (uncredited)
    Evan English
    • Ensign Tanneras Ensign Tanner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James A. Contner
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
      • Rick Berman(story by)
      • Brannon Braga(story by) (showrunner)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the production report, this installment "explores a premise hinted at in the original Star Trek". More specifically, at the end of A Piece of the Action (1968) the "Chicago Mobs of the 1920s" story), when Dr. McCoy confesses to having left behind his communicator on Sigma Iotia II, and Kirk jokes that it "upsets the whole percentage". " 'The Communicator' picks up on this idea, but with a far more serious tone," the production report commented.
    • Goofs
      Having beamed a communicator into a prison for Archer previously, no one even suggests beaming out the communicator this time. However it was explained that the exact location of the communicator was unknown and unable to be located on sensors which explains why it couldn't be beamed back.
    • Quotes

      [Lt. Reed has lost his communicator on the planet of a pre-warp civilization]

      Lieutenant Malcolm Reed: Captain... my carelessness was inexcusable. I'm prepared for whatever reprimand you feel is appropriate.

      Captain Jonathan Archer: How about 30 years in the brig? Or maybe a good flogging?

    • Soundtracks
      Where My Heart Will Take Me
      Written by Diane Warren

      Performed by Russell Watson

      Episode: {all episodes}

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Recycled concept but pretty well done
    Reed loses his communicator on a planet and returns with Archer to retrieve it.

    Not an original idea but it's a fairly strong episode. Archer and Reed play it as tight lipped as possible not to cause cultural contamination with their technology or their true identities and have to suffer for it.

    This is a moral stand based on ideals created in the original series but it is as relevant today as it was back then. All you have to do is look into history where nation-states have interfered in other less developed nation-states and left nothing but war and destruction behind.

    Archer and Reed are pretty good. Although the writers make Reed look like a muppet for losing the device in the first place, thank goodness all his usual hysterical pessimism is toned down and he takes what appears to be the ultimate form of punishment with stoicism. As for Archer, he stands firm as an oak tree in the face of violent interrogation which is pretty impressive.

    What frustrates me is watching yet another annoyingly mistrusting, antagonistic alien species. I'm not sure how many more episodes with this formula I can take. On the other hand, each one should be judged on its own merit, so just because I've seen something similar in others I won't let it put too much of a dampener on it.

    There is also a pretty funny sub-plot involving Trip Tucker and an accident he has with working on a Suliban cloaking device.
    helpful•2
    0
    • snoozejonc
    • Sep 5, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2002 (United States)
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Network Television
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 1.78 : 1

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