Observer Effect (Star Trek: Enterprise, S4 E11) was recommended by Nazzy (she/her), who said: I've recommended some sillier episodes of Enterprise to you boys, now I want to share one that's just genuinely *good*. Season 4 is when ENT finally, truly started playing to its strengths, even if it was ultimately too late to save it from cancellation. The problem with recommending Season 4 episodes for the purposes of the podcast is that much of the season is broken up into mini-arcs of 2 or 3 episodes, and as much as I would love to have you cover the whole "Babel" three parter, I can't ask that of you (yet). So instead I'm going to suggest an episode that's one of the few one offs of the season, and one of my favorites - Observer Effect, in which Trip and Hoshi contract an alien virus on an away mission. The Enterprise crew must scramble to save their lives, not knowing their efforts are being watched by outside observers.

It's a classic Star Trek medical mystery episode, with the added twist of exactly who the observers are and how the observation is being done. It also has some lovely character moments, and since I love these characters, it's like catnip for me.

Observer Effect first aired on January 21, 2005, written by Garfield Reeves-Stevens & Judith Reeves-Stevens, and directed by Mike Vejar

The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

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