An alien life form gets aboard Enterprise, absorbing members of the crew into its own gelatinous, web-like mass. Yet there are signs that it may be possible to communicate with the life form, so it falls to Hoshi Sato to negotiate the release of her crewmates. But coming right on the heels of an embarrassing communications failure with a different alien race, she doubts that she's up to the challenge.
At the core of this episode is a great idea: a Star Trek alien that for once is not a human in makeup, something with a truly alien look and almost unknowable intentions. Almost. In classic Star Trek form, our heroes can make contact with it, and learn that it is an entity in need of help, not a menace to be eradicated. On paper, that's all great stuff.
But then there's how this creature looks. Maybe I have a filthy mind, but I look at it and can't see anything other than... how to put this? The fresh contents of a teenage boy's gym sock. The "money shot" of an adult film. All of these poor actors, including Scott Bakula and Connor Trinneer, spent many days of production on this episode trussed up in a harness, tied up in cling wrap, and hosed down to dripping with... some substance that looks like it should come with a content warning. Acting!
I try to imagine the alternate reality in which this creature doesn't look ridiculous, and I still think the episode is flawed. For one thing, we really need to find a new story for Hoshi Sato -- something other than self-doubt. For another thing -- it seems like the story could resolve without her! As the creature continues to absorb Enterprise crewmembers, we learn that they're developing a telepathic link and are able to read each other's thoughts, because they're literally becoming one with the alien. Ok, so... why can't they use that telepathy to communicate with the alien?
So yeah, the "A plot" of this episode seems laughably bad. But fortunately, there are other good moments sprinkled throughout. Taking Archer and Trip out of commission -- two of the show's three tacit stars -- makes room for secondary characters to each get strong moments. Phlox takes a strong stance against Reed when it comes to harming a life form for the sake of a tactical advantage. Mayweather is the only person available to take a "call" from returning aliens who demand an apology -- and he gives a really good one! Reed invents force field technology! (Though I have to say: just because force fields have tactical applications doesn't mean he should have engineering know-how to pull it off.)
Other observations:
- Actor Vaughn Armstrong is now Enterprise's go-to actor. Need a one-off alien? Armstrong's your guy. They know they can cover him in enough makeup that familiarity won't be an issue.
- Trip mentions playing 9-Ball with Archer at one point. With space at such a premium on this ship, I wonder where they keep the pool table?
- One of the poor ensigns ensnared by the creature is played by Renee E. Goldsberry. She was unknown at the time, but later would be part of the celebrated original cast of Hamilton on Broadway.
- When Archer and Trip watch a water polo match on TV, it's in the classic 4:3 aspect ratio. This even though Enterprise itself was made in 16:9 -- everyone knew at the time that 4:3 was going away. Come to think of it, the footage is all fuzzy too. So, like... are they watching footage of a water polo match from like the 1980s or something?
- Continuing the efforts to make this creature truly alien, its "speech" at the end of the episode is a screechy whale song. It conveys the otherness... but it'll blow out your sound system and your eardrums if you have the sound up too high.
"Vox Sola" may have originated from a good instinct about portraying aliens on Star Trek. It has a few very solid character moments too. But a recycled character story for Hoshi Sato and an unintentionally hilarious creature (I hope unintentionally) really brings the episode down. I give it a C.
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