Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) Extinction (2003) User Reviews

The Mysterious Virus

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 1 February 2008]

While investigating an abandoned Xindi ship on the surface of a planet in the Delphic Expanse, Archer, Reed, Sato and T'Pol are infected with a virus and are transformed in aliens. T'Pol keeps her memory and language, and using the translator, she understands that their mates are seeking the city Urquat. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is under siege of two alien ships with teams of exterminators that want to "neutralize" the infected crew to prevent an outbreak of the virus while Phlox researches the cure using the DNA of T'Pol.

In "Extinction", there is a break in the non-stop action of the other three episodes and Archer, Reed, Sato are transformed in obsessive aliens by a mysterious laboratory virus that changes the DNA of other races to the one that is near extinction without capability of breeding, while the Vulcan T'Pol is only partially transformed. I did not find anything special in this episode. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Extinção" ("Extinction")

Doc Phlox Saves the Day

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 7 January 2018]

In "Extinction", Archer, T'Pol, Reed, and Hoshi explore an uninhabited planet, pretty standard procedure. But things go awry when the atmosphere of the planet causes the trio of humans to alter into some type of alien lifeform. T'Pol's genetic makeup prevents her from being altered. Doctor Phlox must find a cure quickly before another alien race decides to exterminate the humans to neutralize the disease.

While a fun concept (although not entirely new), it isn't executed as well as it could have been. Some of the acting in this one is a bit cheesy and the CGI does not hold up at all to the modern eye.

It also always baffles me that Archer decides to head to these unknown planets and head down immediately without any kind of scouting team or using hazmat suits or anything like that. He just goes down and explores and it has led him into trouble multiple times.

Anyhow, this episode's fairly bland. It's not terrible but it does nothing to further the overall plot (besides the Enterprise learning of a new Xindi species).

I felt bad for the actors...

[Hughmanity · 5/10 · 9 April 2021]

...who had to put themselves through this ridiculous set of physical acting as a 'transformed' species.

Also took issue with the premise that they show up to this planet with nobody around and no warning signs of any kind, then as soon as they are immediately transformed on the surface, another species shows up and says they're under quarantine and the infected must be killed. How about a warning buoy of some kind?? "Hey if you go down to the surface of this planet you will be infected by a deadly virus." would have been one idea.

The only decent part was seeing Trip in command. He's actually grown on me as a character as the series has gone on. He also seems to have scrapped about 80% of his southern accent so that helps.

Didn't need to be this bad. Wasted opportunity.

[wwcanoer-tech · 6/10 · 28 November 2021]

This episode didn't need to be this bad.

Re-using old situations is fine, if you can do something new with it and propel the larger arc of the series but this episode stands alone as useless filler.

Enterprise travels to this planet because it's the last place that the Xindi ship (from the last episode) visited, but they find nothing there but a Xindi shuttle pod, so why did the Xindi visit this planet?! They don't bother to explain. If these were infected Xindi who escaped in a pod and were chased by their main ship, why wasn't everyone on that main ship infected? Ok, let's pretend that only the escaping crew was infected, then the alien exterminators (virus-hunters) would have intercepted the main Xindi ship and have a story to tell Archer. Why don't we see Archer or Trip ask about the Xindi ship?! That's the main plot that we want to see advance!

In the last Episode, Archer risked Enterprise to obtain a Xindi database. Now they have a Xindi shuttle pod and they just leave it there?! Both Enterprise and the alien exterminators are capable of going to and from the planet in EV suits. They should have studied the Xindi ship. It should be flyable. They should have kept it for covert use later. Failing that, use it's trellium-D to protect a shuttle pod.

Enterprise just saved that region from an unstoppable plague... and then just leaves?! This was the perfect opportunity to obtain star charts and otherwise learn about the expanse and it's inhabitants. Why not write this more like a detective novel, with clues being introduced in each episode? Take the viewer on a journey.

Since the virus makes the victims strive to reach their home world, there should be many abandoned ships on the planet, but Enterprise only detects one. Detecting many ships in one location would foreshadow the plot of infected people returning to the planet.

Why do people altered by an alien force always revert to something more primitive? The bulk of the episode follows the changed crew but that's not compelling and doesn't fit with the later image of a thriving metropolitan civilization. Immediately changing the language is key but, after a brief transition period, they could become very sharp and intelligent. However, that would take more clever writing.

Why have an undetectable hidden underground city that's fully lit? There's no need for the contradictions. Enterprise should detect the ruins. It can soon become clear that transformed crew are headed to those ruins. Infected people have been returning to this planet for centuries trying to resurrect it. Far more interesting than finding one dead body at ancient ruins would be to find evidence of people repeatedly trying to restore those ruins. Signs of construction that's been started and stopped, each ruin is different ages. That could be fascinating. Far more fascinating than eating grubs from a seed pod! Could also be fascinating for Archer and Hoshi to tell stories about their culture.

One bright spot is that it's nice to see that an away mission without EV suits finally bites them. :D

With Archer and T'Pol on the surface and Trip focused on the away mission and rescue, this would be a good chance to have Mayweather greet the alien exterminators, but no such luck.

The arriving alien exterminator and his threats is to be expected but the writers rely on a tired cliché response from Trip. There's no need for this. Enterprise needs to make friends in this region, so rather than focus on bravado, go straight to what's effective. What's the best thing that Trip can tell the alien captain? "One of our crew is immune. Our doctor believes that he can use her immune cells to kill the virus in our other crew. Plus, we CAN understand his language! We can beat this virus."

Phlox needs a sample of T'Pol's DNA? Why aren't there samples of everyone's DNA on board? I initially thought that he needed active immune cells from her because some things can't be replicated, but DNA? They have surely the entire DNA profile of every crewmember on file and have physical samples since they're often using DNA to recreate things. Also no need for a peach, her hair brush will do.

Let's conveniently forget that T'Pol has used the Vulcan nerve pinch previously on Enterprise. Why not have her try it and fail rather than ignore it? Instead of relying on tired facial ridges, they could grow some bony scales on their neck or shoulders. Even rip their uniforms like the Hulk. :D

Why are Star Trek episodes so formulaic? Does the audience really want that? Why do we need to end this episode with a chase and firefight with a sudden reveal to end the conflict? It's so repetitive. There's plenty of opportunity for novel conflict without relying on this over and over and over.

Imagine that the final crisis is a new ship of infected people suddenly arriving at the planet, realizing that the exterminators are a threat, and attacking both them and Enterprise. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise? Do they need to annihilate the ship or can they save it?

Belonged in Season 1 or 2

[abbottlabs · 2/10 · 29 June 2020]

Terrible in all areas (acting, script, direction - sorry LeVar). Ridiculous hissing, growling, and other dopey noises spoken by actors obviously not used to having to act in this way. T'Pol's character maintaining her dignity is the only saving grace of this episode. A rare, Season 3 dud.

Clever premise for self-contained episode gives us a break from the Xindi

[mstomaso · 8/10 · 20 July 2007]

Archer, T'pol, Read and Sato are somehow changed into a different species of humanoid while on an away mission and only T'pol retains her memory of Enterprise, etc. The rest are driven by an overwhelming compulsion to go to a particular place on a seemingly dead planet which they believe to be their home.

Now before you dismiss this as unoriginal stuff (similar concepts were explored in episodes of TOS, Voyager and TNG), take my word for it - it's not what you think. The story-line does, however, involve a few late-franchise clichés, such as the handy forehead-prosthetic new alien species (I don't even think they get a name in this one), and the script is pretty standard for the series.

Overall, what makes this a successful and entertaining episode is Levar Burton's directing and some good physical acting from Bakula, Park and Blalock.

Terrible story. Terrible acting. Pointless episode

[imdb-z-dja · 1/10 · 16 July 2021]

I can understand why LeVar Burton and Brannon Braga both expressed shame and embarrassment with this episode, it's terrible. Everyone involved should feel this was a poor effort. The only thing more primitive than the alien characters is the acting. I can imagine the actors channeled one of the old gorilla-gets-loose episodes of The Three Stooges -- only with talking.. This one is a real dud.

Since it's not key to the storyline, do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Phlox is a Genius at Double Time

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 23 March 2017]

I was entertained by this episode, and I'm not going to criticize the special effects or the acting. These are TV actors and they don't have time to hone their parts and do numerous retakes like in movies. Also, would you like them to spend a few hundred thousand dollars to do a series of miniatures that appear on screen for a minute or two. That said, the story did distract us for a time from the principal direction. The entire season seems devoted to the Xindi story line, so there has to be a bit of other exploration along the way. Here, a virus that has nearly obliterated a race is being controlled by extermination of those with the syndrome, including those who are part of the extermination team. The away team gets infected and the powers that be tell the Enterprise that they will take care of things. Phlox steps in and seems to be able to do things beyond those of the scientists that have been dealing with this for a long time. If I have a criticism, it's the speed with which the most trying medical and engineering emergencies can be dealt with. The race to save the crew members is interesting and exciting and pretty original.

Mind numbingly stupid

[zombiemockingbird · 1/10 · 6 June 2023]

How convenient that nothing ever affects T'Pol, unless it's sexual; then she's front and center and usually naked.

This episode was just...sorry to repeat myself...stupid. Bad story, horrible dialog, appalling acting, just ludicrous overall. So far season 3 has really left me cold. I enjoyed the first two seasons; even with the inconsistencies, they were entertaining, and I liked the characters. Things started going downhill when they decided T'Pol had to be naked and sexualized in every episode.

I wasn't as big a fan of the first two episodes of season 3 as everyone else was. Watching Archer turn unto some rogue bad ass doesn't interest me. The Xindi don't interest me either. I'm on the train with the folks that have brought up the fact that they were never mentioned in "future" ST series, but supposedly destroyed a big portion of earth that again, no one ever mentioned. They're just tiresome and boring. Not sure how much longer I'll watch before calling it a day and moving on.

They did this sort of thing on "Star Trek: Voyager"

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 29 March 2015]

On "Star Trek: Voyager" there was an episode in which two of the crew members devolve into amphibian creatures (Janeway and Chakotay, I think). Here in "Extinction", the same idea is recycled--which is a shame as the previous several episodes were marked improvements in the series....and that "Voyager" episode really sucked. Additionally, LeVar Burton, who directed "Extinction", later said he was embarrassed to have done so....as it's truly bad.

T'Pol, Hoshi, Archer and Reed land on some crappy planet. Just about immediately, they start changing into primordial creatures. With T'Pol the changes aren't as obvious. But with the other three they look and act and look a lot like characters from "The Flintstones"--all animal-like and creepy. This calls for the cast to act (or, shall I say over-act) like odd sorts of thingies. As for me, I grew tired of all this nonsense very quickly and I had to fight the urge to just go on to the next episode.

Soon after they are infected, some aliens arrive and announce that the planet is quarantined and Enterprise won't be allowed to take the infected crew members out of orbit. It DOES make sense, as apparently the virus on the planet turns folks into members of a long deceased and goofy species that inhabited the place and built cities.

So is it any good? Well, apart from being a retread of sorts AND featuring some goofy acting, the story idea isn't 100 % terrible. Hardly a glowing endorsement, I know.

By the way, SOME of the graphics for the city (particularly the one the infected folks picture in their mind) are really poor. I know it was filmed a while back when CGI was much less refined, but this was ridiculously bad even for then.

Previously used theme but with several twists

[leadfootjen · 8/10 · 16 September 2020]

I was intrigued by this episode. To me, there's nothing to be embarrassed about: it was recycling an idea done before but with several differences. Humans morph into alien species, the change caused by a man made virus, and others are determined to exterminate those infected bc they can't find a cure. It was well acted and directed, with maintained continuity.

It was impressive to see Archer, Hoshi, and Malcolm take on more primitive aspects and behaviors, something totally out of character for them, and probably a lot of fun for the actors in getting to do something different for a change. Personally, I was very much drawn in to the story, being on the edge of my seat at times: will they or won't they be cured? If so, how long will it take? Will they be their old selves or will changes in their brains have taken place that might cause them to have to be rehabilitated or relearn everything they knew? ( Think Uhura after Nomad scanned her.)

What a shame not to learn more about this lost civilization. If they'd had more time, they could have recorded all the memories held by the three humans of those people. All we got was their species name, how they looked, saw some of what they ate, and the name of their city, as well as finding the ruined city.

It was great entertainment, a break from the obsessive search for the Xindi, in an episode that could stand alone.

Unoriginal, slightly irritating but good to have Trip in command

[snoozejonc · 4/10 · 29 September 2020]

Archer, T'Pol, Reed and Hoshi investigate a planet previously visited by the Xindi and start undergoing genetic changes.

This follows the standard formula of the typical episode where crew members transform into something unpleasant. For me it didn't offer anything substantially more interesting than 'Masks' from TNG or 'Threshold' from Voyager. These episodes never hold my attention because they try to create suspense through the possibility of the characters ending up stuck the way they are or dying, but we all know that's not going to happen.

When they initially transform it's difficult to tell the difference between Reed and Archer which doesn't help. It would have been better if the actors had only their body language as a means to communicate but when the universal translator kicks in we have to watch them behave randomly animalistic whilst still speaking English for the remainder of the episode. Hoshi's weird pose reminded me of the body-language you see on a drunk, angry teenage girl.

On the plus side, Trip Tucker is in command of Enterprise for most of the episode and he does a fine job as always. Also, I am intrigued by the end. It is a pretty poor speech, but does this mean Archer is keeping the virus as a potential weapon to use against the Xindi?

A great episode, despite some flaws...

[alelizio · 8/10 · 12 December 2020]

I don't think there's any need for Levar being ashamed of this episode. The idea is somewhat cliche, but still enjoyable. It's a story being told, and it was well told. The idea the alien species had to avoid extinction gives an excellent plot to be explored further. The prejudice and, why not, laziness of the "villains" to just execute without even trying to find a cure, without trying to understand, is a nice remark of our own prejudice. All in all, this episode was entertaining and valuable, and it may cause us to think what kind of species we want to be: humans like Archer, the species who was destroyed yet didn't care to cause problems to other species, or the one more inclined to kill than to embrace, understand and cure.

Ever wonder why the Enterprise series was canned after 4 seasons?. Watch this 'Filler' episode and wonder no longer.

[davidhiggins-89756 · 2/10 · 9 August 2021]

Brannon Bragga & the other guy MUST have thought they had it in the can all the way to another 7 season series. Ha, how they came a cropper and I can see why.

After 2 GREAT episodes previously, that made me think Wow!, this Enterprise series is good sci-fi, great sci-fi, I'm impressed, it is really going somewhere, THEN abruptly we get this alien planet based 'nothing' of an awkward & embarrassing to watch episode. Dreadful to see.

The difference from great to bad in just one episode, a 'filler' of an episode. Something they sat down to concoct based on PADDING the season out, cause the Star Trek Producers thought they had 7 seasons to play around with, 7 seasons or so in the bag.

No, No, No Brannon Braga & Rick Burman, when you give even die hard Star Trek fans fodder drab material to plod through even they will desert you in large numbers & subsequent 'Important' audience ratings!. AS THEY DID. Hence just 4 seasons.

As for this pile of Garbage episode. You had a VULCAN with as we know more strength than a Human, with Vulcan martial art expertise as strikingly demonstrated in Enterprise season 02 episode 06 entitled "Marauders", (which I have reviewed).

Many times T'Pol had both Hoshi & Capt Archer with their backs to her, eg when they were both scrambling rocks away from a wall to get in to the underground city. All T'pol had to do was shimmy up behind them and give them the old Spock Vulcan neck pinch. EASY AS THAT!.

So the garbage filler plot DOES NOT EVEN STAND UP even as a stand alone episode. Just what were they thinking?, they just could not afford to have episodes like this. Yet mistakenly thought that they could.

All that Excitement, Momentum and recent striking hardness and ruthlessness of character of Capt Archer, and here he is gooning around the place like a chimp at a chimps tea party making silly noises & facial expressions.

All that momentum built up from the great first episode of season 3 and then the almost just as good 2nd episode, just gets THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW.

Daft, totally daft. Keep it all going, building it all up with a momentum and direction with anticipation & twist and turns with an edge. Creating a widespread buzz throughout the entire Sci-fi community at the time, pulling them all in.

Treat every Season almost as if its its last, pack it out with excitement & thrills for the same budget as they had, cause otherwise with filler 'Extinction' episodes like this one you'll give the Enterprise series an 'Extinction' of its own.

Which of cause Brannon Braga & Rick Burman did.

They got it right a lot of the time in so many great ways. I give them a great deal of credit for that. Their input over the years has been a cornerstone of the Sci-fi genre to be sure. Made some real good sci-fi.

The first 2 episodes of season 3 shows me that, a high standard, but BB & RB slipped up with naff Enterprise episodes along the way such as this one & other episodes in other series, that just did not have to be that bad.

Thought they could get away with almost anything with the previous Star Trek success.

As Han Solo said to Luke Skywalker, "Don't get cocky kid!", didn't anyone at Paramount tell them that!. Should have done. At times taking more of a hand in it all when it could be seen to be bad.

Braga & Burman relied upon the actors to deliver the goods, and to a large extent the actors in Enterprise did so, and of cause the all Production/set crew did so as well, who put in great skill & effort but looks to me like you 'Brannon & Rick' let them down with Enterprise.

They could well have had 3 more seasons or so of work. Yea, appreciative that they got 4 seasons in the first place no doubt, but I bet many were disappointed there was not just that bit more.

It may have made a real big difference for some of them. Not wanting to heap GUILT upon your lofty shoulders, well not too much.

This episode barely worth 2 stars. Not even Hoshi's fine complexion to look at with all that Alien Bizzaro World gunk on. Pure garbage that I can see helped get Enterprise canned, that and other poorly thought out scripted episodes added up in a compounding way to a dropping off in numbers audience.

An enjoyable & engaging Star Trek series Enterprise was though, that of cause is worth in its entirety far more than 2 stars. It could have been better and even carried on for a full 7 season series if that was its usual intent. Such a shame it did not.

When Enterprise was on form, it was as good as any other decent episode of any other Star Trek series. I look forward to the very next episode, even after this latest dud.

If folks give Enterprise a chance and they wangle themselves a near HD version of the series to view, I say it is well worth watching.

Enterprise is a series that can grow on you, if you give it a chance.

I gave DS9 a go in its entirety and was not disappointed with that, there being I have found a high standard within the Star Trek franchise that was on the whole kept to. All those involved made it so, well done to them all.

PRIMITIVE

[douglasjordane · 3/10 · 6 June 2019]

A show about the future of space exploration sadly reduced to prehistoric misfits. Very bad writing and concept, but not unexpectedly typical of Star Trek sci-fi writers.

Moreover, prequels don't work, but prehistoric prequels are the best of the worst for science fiction. However, if you can sit through the first 30 minutes of the acclaimed 2001: A SPACE ODDESEY, you'll live through this -but suffer irreparable damage to your psyche for opening your mind to such trashy concepts.

Very unoriginal. 3 out of 10 stars

Mutants in space - without superpowers

[tomsly-40015 · 2/10 · 27 March 2024]

A boring filler episode with bad acting and a stupid plot. The episode is similar to TNG's "Genesis." Just as stupid. And T'Pol is once again unaffected by anything, as Vulcan females only seem to get into trouble when it has to do with Pon Farr or when they can be seen half-naked applying cream on their bodies in the decon chamber. Of course, if the problem is being infected with a virus on a planet, the Vulcan body's defenses are once again excellent.

And it's always amazing how quickly bodies mutate in Star Trek. Not only does the physiology completely change and the crew is transformed into completely different species, but their psyches also change. And then they get a few hyposprays from the doctor and a little medical mumbo-jumbo and the body changes back again. Including the perfectly fitting hairstyle, any birthmarks or scars on the skin. As if nothing had happened.

This episode shows once again that perhaps you shouldn't visit foreign planets without protective equipment. If you consider how many viruses, bacteria and other microbes there are on our planet, then it should be clear that this will also be the case on foreign planets. And the human immune system would be overwhelmed by even the most insignificant cold viruses if they were foreign and no antibodies had been formed.

The actors are definitely not to be envied in this episode. The hopping around of this strange species is pretty ridiculous.