observer effect star trek enterprise observer effect eleventh episode fourth season american science fiction television series star trek enterprise eighty eighth overall aired january upn written directed set 22nd century series follows adventures starfleet starship enterprise registration episode sees alien entities test enterprise crew observing reactions deadly based infection actual contact aliens occur century later events star trek original series episode mercy bottle episode episode use additional sets guest stars intention cutting costs series gave time visual effects team finish earlier work episode received mixed reactions critics praise directed links original series criticism directed characterization characters observer effect watched million viewers broadcast formed overall drop viewers series plot lieutenant reed ensign play chess serving hosts non aliens returning away mission planet commander tucker connor soon exhibit symptoms strange disease examination doctor found highly based virus captain archer explains commander seeking cure pass time isolated try learn aliens keen interest examining human response crisis compare notes previous reactions members advanced species looking contact far based years observations species deemed ready seeking different view crew temporarily shift bodies archer difference opinion aliens starts form determined maintain non interference protocol feels protocol outdated unnecessary time running find way disrupt virus deadly levels radiation archer wearing environmental suits escort tucker treatment soon goes cardiac arrest archer removes gloves helmet assist administer dose radiation tucker ineffective leaves resume work bridge suddenly tucker aliens possessing crewmen explain situation surprised archer makes speech behalf crew aliens decide modify procedures choosing cure infected crew members previously left die aliens encounter crew memory archer orders warning beacon placed planet aliens leave begin planning contact advanced humans later time production observer effect created bottle episode second row episodes intended reduce costs series requiring additional set production unlike observer effect use guest actors second written wrote plot brought star trek original series episode mercy originally created original series intended balance mind replacement mind invasion common science fiction episodes star trek franchise exploring theme include wolf fold original series sub star trek generation star trek voyager runner deliberate moves link enterprise closer original series fourth season second time crew enterprise met non corporal entities following second season episode crossing filming began episode october continued following seven working days makeup department needed present park characters progressed sickness introduced visual effects team freed complete production earlier episodes reception home media release observer effect broadcast united_states january upn watched million viewers decrease million watched million viewers following episode writing included observer effect list best episodes series website reviews described plot observer effect predictable initially crew inability save tucker reliance aliens felt links mercy subtle sublime describing overall bottle slam bang excitement commitment observation plausible procedure adds episode example science fiction adventure disliked episode writing review called predictable boring saying sudden differences characterization episode compared characters acted earlier appearances potentially lead confusion actually controlled aliens criticized plot affected senior crew members ship said ripped prior episodes franchise including scientific method observer effect released home media united_states november season dvd box set enterprise blu ray edition released april
Observer Effect (Star Trek: Enterprise)