One-Off Aliens
Warp Five 245: A Slice of White Bread
“The Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story’s promising start, the Wisps, Archer’s actions, and missed opportunities to really explore the heart of Star Trek.
Warp Five 240: Darmok Lite?
“Dawn” 20th-anniversary reflections. We we ask whether this story is just an attempt to recreate the magic of “Darmok,” a clone of the film Enemy Mine, or something much more.
Warp Five 225: Let’s Play Some Sand Polo!
“Desert Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the episode serves as a proto-Prime Directive story, Archer's reputation, shades of gray, and how the story could have benefited from more information and the mini-arc format found in Season 4.
Warp Five 223: It’s All About Communication
“Vox Sola” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story approaches the importance of communication, the nuance of language, and cross-cultural misunderstanding from many angles, plus the attempt to bring a truly alien alien to Star Trek.