The Long Road

05/19/2003 Archived Entry: "Enterprise 2x22: Cogenitor"

Two good ones in a row? What the hell!?

This episode does something that Enterprise rarely does; it introduces us to aliens that are vastly different from humans. The main focus being on differences in sexuality. The aliens, Vissians, have three sexes; males, females, and cogenitors. Cogenitors, we find out, are treated almost as pets and have very few rights. Commander Tucker, unbeknownst to the Vissians, befriends the ship’s cogenitor and tries to teach it (her?) about all the things its been missing out on, like reading. When the Vissians find out, they’re furious at Tucker for interfering in their people’s business and at the cogenitor’s new found independence who asks for asylum away from her people.

The conundrum for Trip (and the viewer) here is the choice between changing something that he feels is absolutely wrong or not taking action because he doesn’t understand Vissian society and a cogenitor’s place in it. It’s too easy for Star Trek (and especially Enterprise) to show humanity as the moral superiors in any situation so it’s refreshing that this episode shows us some things in a bit of a grayscale. The strength of this episode comes from the fact that it doesn’t take sides in what the best course of action should be.

What blurs the morality a little more is that the Vissian captain is completely understanding, patient and kind towards the humans and what had happened; a lesser episode would have taken the easy way out by showing us that the Cogenitors were, in fact, grossly mistreated by heartless masters and that Trip had every right to do what he did.

What I would like to see in a future episode is more of the Vissians and their society, to learn why the cogenitors have the role they have. I want the writers to come up with a reason for cogenitors being treated as they are that is intellectually, socially, and morally acceptable. I also want Trip to have been absolutely wrong about his choice by learning that the Vissians ARE enlightened to sexual discrimination and that the cogenitors cannot possibly occupy any other role in their society.

I hope that’s not too much to ask.

If I had to give this a rating, it'd be 8/10