This episode is a follow-up to the earlier one about P'Jem--the Vulcan 'monastery' that turned out to be a spy base! Instead of accepting responsibility for being a bunch of lying jerk-faces, the sanctimonious Vulcans make excuses, blame humans for the destruction of this base by the Andorians and are looking for a scapegoat...which happens to be T'Pol. She is to be recalled back to Vulcan because of her involvement in uncovering this base. But, before this is to occur, the Enterprise goes to visit a planet aligned with the Vulcans. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a bust, as there's a rebel group fighting the Vulcan-backed government and they take Archer and T'Pol prisoner. The Vulcans soon arrive and act like even bigger jerk-faces--demanding they take over any rescue efforts. Unexpectedly, the Andorians also soon arrive--and I got excited because I love these aliens. They were wonderful because although they seemed like warlike idiots, time and again they proved themselves to be far more interesting and multidimensional. Overall, a very worthy follow-up to the earlier show and yet another example for why the Andorians are one of the best things about this series.
7 Reviews
Debt Repaid
claudio_carvalho23 November 2007
The Vulcam ambassador Soval protests with Admiral Forrest, blaming Captain Archer from the destruction of the P'Jem sanctuary by the Andorians after the discovery that the place was a surveillance post. As retaliation, the Vulcan High Command interrupts the joint operation with humans and calls T'Pol back. Archer decides to spend more time alone with T'Pol and assigns her to visit the planet Coridan with him. However, their shuttle pod is attacked by a radical faction of Coridans and they are taken hostage. While Trip and Reed try to rescue their Captain and Sub-Commander, they are surprisingly helped by the Andorian Commander Shran.
"Shadows of P'jem" is another great episode of "Enterprise", with an engaging story full of action and a very satisfactory resolution. Jolene Blalock is excellent in the role of the logical T'Pol that even visibly affect by the human behavior, sustain her roots. I loved the last line when T'Pol says to Captain Archer that she must follow the orders of her physician. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Sombras de P'jem" ("Shadows of P'jem")
"Shadows of P'jem" is another great episode of "Enterprise", with an engaging story full of action and a very satisfactory resolution. Jolene Blalock is excellent in the role of the logical T'Pol that even visibly affect by the human behavior, sustain her roots. I loved the last line when T'Pol says to Captain Archer that she must follow the orders of her physician. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Sombras de P'jem" ("Shadows of P'jem")
Those Andorians Have Great Personalities
Hitchcoc10 March 2017
I liked this episode a lot. When Archer and the crew went to that monastery, there was damage done. The Andorians have since taken it over and expelled the Vulcan monks who were covering up a bunch of technology. T'Pol, being a Vulcan and participating in the events, has become a scapegoat. The Vulcans, for all their emotional mumbo jumbo, are quite satisfied to play politics and seek revenge. As the Captain and T'Pol are going to a planetary city, they are kidnapped by rebels, bound and threatened. The Enterprise wants to launch a rescue mission but there are other beings involved and they must deal with them. This is another episode where the smug, self-righteous Vulcans show what a pain they can be. The Andorians present the high point of this episode. They are wonderful characters.
He Can Finally Sleep
Samuel-Shovel19 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This episode had a lot packed into it, a solid 45 minutes. T'Pol's been ordered to return to Vulcan after the snafu that occurred at P'Jem is blamed on her. Human and Vulcan relations take a bit of a nose dive as the US refuses to take responsibility for the incident and do not reprimand Captain Archer.
There's all kinds of other subplots happening here. Some of them are planting seeds for later. The Andorians accusing the Vulcans of wanting to start a war between the two carries a lot more weight after the Andorians were right on their last claim against their rivals. That throw-away line could be a bit of foreshadowing.
Despite Archer continuing to give T'Pol ways out of the Fleet, it's clear, without her ever admitting it, that she rather enjoys being on the Enterprise and would prefer to stay (see "Breaking the Ice").
Another important bit is the Vulcan's shadow government they control on the planet of Coridan. The mining agreement the planet has with Vulcan seems like it maybe the key as the extracts are most likely very valuable if the Vulcans care enough about this planet. The slums and revolutions just show how uncaring and remorseless their race can be. Far more insidious than meets the eye.
A solid episode and a must watch due to it's continued plot lines with the Vulcans and Andorians.
There's all kinds of other subplots happening here. Some of them are planting seeds for later. The Andorians accusing the Vulcans of wanting to start a war between the two carries a lot more weight after the Andorians were right on their last claim against their rivals. That throw-away line could be a bit of foreshadowing.
Despite Archer continuing to give T'Pol ways out of the Fleet, it's clear, without her ever admitting it, that she rather enjoys being on the Enterprise and would prefer to stay (see "Breaking the Ice").
Another important bit is the Vulcan's shadow government they control on the planet of Coridan. The mining agreement the planet has with Vulcan seems like it maybe the key as the extracts are most likely very valuable if the Vulcans care enough about this planet. The slums and revolutions just show how uncaring and remorseless their race can be. Far more insidious than meets the eye.
A solid episode and a must watch due to it's continued plot lines with the Vulcans and Andorians.
It's Vulcan behaviour Jim, but not as we know it
snoozejonc23 August 2020
Archer and T'Pol are taken hostage on the planet Coridan.
This is another strong episode from the Vulcan/Andorian/Human story arc that began during the 'Andorian Incident'. The Andorians are again good value for their screen time and Archer is great when involved in these politics. As previously this is not the best portrayal of the Vulcans (aside from T'Pol) and is probably not a good one for the Trek purists who like their Vulcans as they were established earlier in the franchise.
It has quite an action packed plot, but also contains good character moments for Archer, T'Pol and Tucker. Archer and T'Pol play off each other well during the intimate moments of captivity and Tucker is excellent facing off against the Vulcans during his time in command.
Things really come to life when the rescue mission gets underway and the fun peaks when Shran arrives. The only bit I struggled with was T'Pol's moment of heroism. I thought to myself, please don't go down that route, but they did. However, that did set things up well for a nice final scene in sickbay.
This is another strong episode from the Vulcan/Andorian/Human story arc that began during the 'Andorian Incident'. The Andorians are again good value for their screen time and Archer is great when involved in these politics. As previously this is not the best portrayal of the Vulcans (aside from T'Pol) and is probably not a good one for the Trek purists who like their Vulcans as they were established earlier in the franchise.
It has quite an action packed plot, but also contains good character moments for Archer, T'Pol and Tucker. Archer and T'Pol play off each other well during the intimate moments of captivity and Tucker is excellent facing off against the Vulcans during his time in command.
Things really come to life when the rescue mission gets underway and the fun peaks when Shran arrives. The only bit I struggled with was T'Pol's moment of heroism. I thought to myself, please don't go down that route, but they did. However, that did set things up well for a nice final scene in sickbay.
Good story, needless scenes
daveozs11 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I know this is an older show and my reviews are later, but I just recently watched Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and now starting Enterprise. I only saw one reviewer comment on the previous episode and mention it in this one, but why the gratuitous scenes? In the last episode we got the three crew members in their underwear while decontaminating. In this one, there is the awkward positions the captain and T'Pol get into while trying to get out of the cuffs. And wouldn't you know it, he happens to fall face first into her chest at one point. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against attractive women rat all, but we get no explanation of why T'Pol is the only Vulcan who wears a skin tight cat suit and strips down to her under garments multiple times this season. I guess they are trying to repeat Seven of Nine.
As for the episode, good story. Goes back to the earlier episode when the Vulcan fake monastery was exposed. These were some of the consequences. As others noted, it's also interesting to see Vulcans not portrayed in benevolent and positive light we have seen in the other series and movies.
As for the episode, good story. Goes back to the earlier episode when the Vulcan fake monastery was exposed. These were some of the consequences. As others noted, it's also interesting to see Vulcans not portrayed in benevolent and positive light we have seen in the other series and movies.
A Senior Trekker writes....................
celineduchain24 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
In this episode we get to see an interesting build up of inter-species political tensions between the Humans, Vulcans and Andorians, complete with a hostage situation and a commando-type rescue. What we don't get to see much of, however, is the promised sight of the heavily populated Coridan system, since Archer and T'Pol spend most of their visit as captives in a basement, tried to one another in embarrassing proximity.
Apart from the disappointment of such an uninspired landfall, not enough opportunity is given to Star Trek alumnae Gary Graham, Vaughn Armstrong and Jeffrey Combs, representing the complex inter-species machinations. All of these actors have proved themselves capable of adding considerable verisimilitude to this type of part and effortlessly suggest a far more intricate back-story than is here given screen time.
If this episode gets some good reviews it is probably because of the way in which these three characters develop upon the intrigue generated in previous episodes, not because of what Archer and T'Pol get up to in captivity. As the two prisoners wrestle with their bonds they end up in various positions of intimate contact to no apparent end other than to add a bit of sexual innuendo. Whatever was intended, it is as uncomfortable to watch as it apparently was to film and ultimately fails to develop any chemistry between the two.
During the rescue T'Pol jumps in front of Archer and is seriously injured thereby preventing her imminent transfer off of the Enterprise in punishment for her perceived involvement in the destruction of the P'Jem monastery. I don't think any of us actually believed she would be leaving the ship although one or two viewers may have inadvertently had their hopes raised.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
Apart from the disappointment of such an uninspired landfall, not enough opportunity is given to Star Trek alumnae Gary Graham, Vaughn Armstrong and Jeffrey Combs, representing the complex inter-species machinations. All of these actors have proved themselves capable of adding considerable verisimilitude to this type of part and effortlessly suggest a far more intricate back-story than is here given screen time.
If this episode gets some good reviews it is probably because of the way in which these three characters develop upon the intrigue generated in previous episodes, not because of what Archer and T'Pol get up to in captivity. As the two prisoners wrestle with their bonds they end up in various positions of intimate contact to no apparent end other than to add a bit of sexual innuendo. Whatever was intended, it is as uncomfortable to watch as it apparently was to film and ultimately fails to develop any chemistry between the two.
During the rescue T'Pol jumps in front of Archer and is seriously injured thereby preventing her imminent transfer off of the Enterprise in punishment for her perceived involvement in the destruction of the P'Jem monastery. I don't think any of us actually believed she would be leaving the ship although one or two viewers may have inadvertently had their hopes raised.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
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