Ep 19. Judgment

As the title suggests, "Judgment" is an episode centered on a court-martial taking place on board the Enterprise. Captain Archer is on trial for supposedly interfering with the planet Coridan's political system, which is forbidden under the terms of the Klingon peace treaty. The Klingons allege that Archer's actions destabilized the planet and allowed the corrupt Orion Syndicate to gain more power.

The trial is presided over by a Klingon named Kolos, who makes it clear from the outset that he has already made up his mind about Archer's guilt. The tension ratchets up as we see testimonials from both sides, including some from people we've met in previous episodes. T'Pol and the rest of the crew are understandably worried about the outcome of the trial, as they know that Klingon justice can be harsh and unforgiving.

In the meantime, we also follow a subplot involving T'Pol's struggle with her emotions. She has been prescribed a drug called Trellium-D to help suppress her newfound Vulcan emotions, but it has the unfortunate side effect of damaging her brain. She's been having vivid hallucinations and struggling to maintain control over her telepathic abilities. While this subplot doesn't have a direct impact on the trial, it serves to add some emotional weight to the episode and gives us a glimpse into T'Pol's inner turmoil.

Back on the trial front, Archer and his defense attorney try to argue that he was acting in the best interest of both Earth and Coridan, and that the Orion Syndicate is the real culprit here. However, Kolos is determined to see Archer punished, and it seems like he won't be swayed.

One of the highlights of this episode is the performance by J.G. Hertzler as Kolos. Fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will recognize him as General Martok, another Klingon character with a lot of depth and nuance. Hertzler brings that same level of complexity to Kolos, making him more than just a one-note villain. He's a character with his own set of beliefs and motivations, which makes his interactions with Archer all the more interesting.

Overall, "Judgment" is a solid episode that showcases some of the best aspects of Star Trek: Enterprise. We get to see the crew facing a difficult situation that tests their loyalty and moral compass, while also exploring the Klingon culture in more detail. The trial scenes are tense and engaging, and the resolution is satisfying without feeling too neat. It's another example of how Enterprise was able to take the Star Trek formula and put its own spin on it.