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Originally posted by Malnurtured Snay:
Water polo, of course, essentially being volleyball in water. Besides, don't they both use the exact same ball?

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It's really hard to see the enlisted rank insignia. But I think Chris's initial comments on them are largely correct. They seem to be two pins: one is triangular (maybe arrow-ish) and the second is a block with squiggles on it. Definitely hard to see, though.

It's nice to see just how limited the technology in use is. The sensors didn't pick up the toxic pollens coming in from the mountains; the transporter fuses the hapless crewmen with debris. Nice touches. I'm very glad that they didn't just allow the crewman to die. The start of TNG had Dr. Crusher losing almost every patient that came into sickbay. He suffered complications, but he didn't have to die. Nice.

I like the fallibility of the characters that came out here. Tucker is so resentful of the Vulcans that he almost kills T'Pol. Phlox seems to be an excellent doctor, but did you check out the remorse on his face and in his voice when he realizes he may have cost Novakovich his life? It's also nice to see that not all of humanity is so hateful of the Vulcans. We see that at least Cutler was attempting to open a dialog with T'Pol.

I really liked the scene when they first arrived on the planet and Porthos is the first one out of the shuttlepod. Reminded me of all the jokes from The Original Series about the lack of bathroom. To paraphrase David Gerrold, "They're on a five year mission. Isn't that a long time to hold it?"

One thing I didn't like was Archer attempting to take the shuttle pod down there to rescue his crewmates in the storm. Then again, that's a complaint I've had with all of the series (putting the senior officers in constant danger). Another thing is that, yeah, the landing team was a bit understaffed and underequipped. I don't recall anyone down there having a phase pistol strapped to their sides when they were exploring. I'd also bet that a landing mission would have used more than one time and explore different parts of the planet. Of course, I realize that this was sacrificed in favor of dramatic effect.

I suppose they can't really afford to kill any of the Red Shirts (or Red Stripes) on a ship of only a hundred or so crewmen.

Another thing is that, yeah, the landing team was a bit understaffed and underequipped. I don't recall anyone down there having a phase pistol strapped to their sides when they were exploring. I'd also bet that a landing mission would have used more than one time and explore different parts of the planet. Of course, I realize that this was sacrificed in favor of dramatic effect.