So this is it: Star Trek's gay-episode. While I'm not a huge Trek-nerd, I've come to appreciate the franchise (minus most of the TNG-films) over the past few years. I'm also aware that they always wanted to do a "gay" episode but "never got around to it" until Enterprise. That in itself is fine by me, since making comments on current issues in a sci-fi-setting is one thing Trek has been known to do since TOS.
However: Making a statement about gay people/AIDS in 2003 is hardly what I'd call "being topical". It would've been a lot more appropriate or even daring in the 80s or 90s. Still: I didn't mind the subject matter.
What I did mind were some minor points with the plot.
Phlox setting the plot in motion almost makes him look stupid. Using the age-old "a *friend* of mine (who is totally not me) has this problem" request is bad enough. But he also doesn't address the fact that he's asking for data on a Vulcan disease while he has a Vulcan science officer on his ship. He should've just told the doctors beforehand "I have discussed this with T'Pol but her medical expertise is extremely limited ... that's why I'm asking you guys for help.". Also: His decision to not inform Archer before making his request is also kinda odd. Yes, there's doctor/patient confidentiality, but he should know by now that he can trust Archer *and* that this guy has a right to know about T'Pol's condition. Seems odd to me that he didn't try harder to convince T'Pol that Archer knowing would be in her best interest.
Anyhow: The whole analogy of "Stigma" couldn't be more obvious if the writers had called the disease "T'aids". Still: They make some valid points. The tone of the episode can be rather preachy at times, but when you're dealing with the discrimination of minorities and stigmatized diseases, it's kinda hard to not get preachy. Plus: The B-story of Phlox' horny wife trying to access Trip's matter-injector works pretty well as counter-balance.
Now, since a lot of people seem to hate ENT's Vulcans, and this is a very Vulcan-centric episode, here are my thoughts on them: I don't mind the Vulcans being different from the ones in earlier ST-series. I think it's actually pretty cool that the creators of ENT decided to make the Vulcans intolerant and somewhat hypocritical pricks. After all: This is 100 years prior to Spock et all, so why *shouldn't* those earlier Vulcans be different? It gives them a pretty cool arc, albeit a retrofitted one. It would've been a lot more boring to have them behave exactly like Spock and it would've made the Vulcans less versatile as characters. In fact: The characters themselves would've been a lot more boring. How interesting can you make people who'll always do what's logical, don't lie and never seem to have any egotistical motivations?
Vulcan behavior in this episode is a lot more varied than what we're used to seeing from the older shows: You have the intolerant doctors, the one doctor who secretly isn't so intolerant (and whose behavior foreshadows what the Vulcans of TOS will be like) and, of course T'Pol. Her decision to do what she thinks is right, even if it means losing her job, not only makes for the drama in the story, but advances the character and gains her respect from both the audience and her colleagues. I also enjoyed watching Archer standing up for T'Pol - probably marking his final acceptance of her as both his first officer and a person. Also good: Trip's uneasiness and Phlox' "tolerance" regarding Mrs. Phlox' not-so-subtle advances provided some much needed levity.
Overall, Stigma is a pretty solid effort in my book.
7/10
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