Comparing Dawn and Enemy Mine with John Tenuto.
Running Time: 49 minutes 31 seconds
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Throughout the 1980s, the science fiction genre dominated mainstream cinema; as a result, many new types of plots and characters appeared on the silver screen that would influence filmmakers and television creators for years to come. One example of these ground-breaking and hugely influential sci-fi films is Wolfgang Peterson's 1985 classic, Enemy Mine.
In this episode of Warp Five, Brandon-Shea Mutala is joined by sociology professor and Trek expert John Tenuto to compare and contrast the season two episode of Enterprise called "Dawn" with its cinematic counterpart Enemy Mine. We come up with some other surprising ways that this film influenced Star Trek and ways in which the film may have been influenced by Star Trek itself! We also compare these to the 1968 World War II film Hell in the Pacific. Lastly, John gets some surprising new things to think about after we read feedback from two listeners.
Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Welcome, Boomers! (00:01:25)
Welcome, John! (00:02:40)
Summaries of "Dawn" and Enemy Mine (00:10:20)
Initial Impressions (00:12:55)
"Arena" Comparisons (00:15:50)
Racism and Hatred in Enemy Mine (00:17:40)
Dawson: Direction and Influence (00:21:19)
Differences (00:27:13)
Hell in the Pacific (00:27:56)
Justin Oser's Comments (00:34:10)
Final Thoughts (00:41:03)
Host
Brandon-Shea Mutala
Guest
John Tenuto
Production
Floyd Dorsey (Producer) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Floyd Dorsey (Associate Producer) Mike Morrison (Associate Producer) Tim Cooper (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Tony Robinson (Show Art) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)
“North Star” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story's classic roots, its message about prejudice and isolation, and how it works as a breather within the Xindi arc.
“Twilight” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss Mike Sussman‘s clever concept, the story’s Voyager origins, and how it raises the stakes for the rest of the season.
“The Shipment” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the episode quickly pushes the Xindi story forward, its nuanced look at conflict and trust, and a fun science fiction take on alien tech.
“Exile” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss Star Trek's attempt to do Beauty and the Beast in space.
“Impulse” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story flips the Human–Vulcan narrative and accelerates T'Pol's character development.
“Rajiin” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss Xindi motivations, Rajiin's reality, Archer's hard knocks journey, and how this installment advances the overall story.
“Extinction” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the quiet exasperation we feel while watching Archer, Hoshi, and Malcolm crack open a grub-filled coconut.
“Anomaly” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the Expanse changes people, the mystery of the spheres, and more.
“The Xindi” 20th-anniversary reflections. We warp into Season 3 as we discuss how the series takes a dark turn with a new mission, sexy character tension, and an upbeat retooling of everyone's favorite theme song.
“The Expanse” 20th-anniversary reflections. We close out Season 2 by saying bye-bye to Duras and hello to bigger fish as we discuss how the story sets the show on a new course.
“Bounty” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story marks the end of the show’s original concept, sets a course for serialization, adds texture to pon farr, and proves that Tellarites are terrible travel guides.
“First Flight” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story serves as a resounding proof of concept for the original idea for the series, meeting Trip, how Archer’s experiences with AG Robinson prepared him to be a leader, and more.
“Regeneration” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss using the Borg at a time long before they were known to Starfleet, how to do a prequel right, how the story sets up Archer and his crew for the challenges of Season 3, and more.
“Cogenitor” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss first contact, equal rights, cultural relativism, missed opportunities, and why we wish this important story had been expanded and revisited.
“The Breach” 20th-anniversary reflections. We explore caves and discuss lingering animosity, overcoming preconceived notions, Archer as the voice of reason, adding depth to Denobulans, and that very special guest star.
“Horizon” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss family dynamics, what could have been for Travis, Archer’s leadership, T’Pol's book club, and the unxpected connection between the Mayweather and Janeway families.
“Judgment” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story revisits The Undiscovered Country, works to maintain continuity, and challenges the concept of Klingon society..
“The Crossing” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story’s promising start, the Wisps, Archer’s actions, and missed opportunities to really explore the heart of Star Trek.
“Canamar” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the frightening encounters humans have with aliens during these early days of deep space exploration, how the story came to be, and what it has to say about attempts to control people and curb crime in real world societies.
“Future Tense” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story reminds viewers that the Temporal Cold War storyline still exists while saving itself from filler status by delivering important chartacter growth for T’Pol, plus some fun with time along the way.
“Cease Fire” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story brings the Federation’s founding worlds closer together through a growing relationship and trust among unlikely players.
“Stigma” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how this story, which aired during Viacom’s HIV awareness campaign in 2003, advances the development of Vulcan society while deftly balancing serious and comedic stories to make a strong statement about cultural differences and unfounded prejudice.
“Dawn” 20th-anniversary reflections. We ask whether this story is just an attempt to recreate the magic of “Darmok,” a clone of the film Enemy Mine, or something much more.
“The Catwalk” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a bag of Star Trek tropes is reassembled into a story which only this series could tell, and how the situation brings the whole crew together for the better.
“Precious Cargo” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss why the story is perfect for Trip’s character, try to explain away Padma Lakshmi’s cardboard delivery, revel in bad cop T’Pol, and consider why the creators themselves see this as one of the worst episodes they ever produced.
“Vanishing Point” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the mind plays tricks on us, boogeymen in the transport beam, and how the story’s mystery unfolds. We also debate what Mr. Sato’s confusion over physics and family says about how Hoshi views her dad.
“Singularity” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss discuss a story that’s been told many times before and ask how well it works this time around. We also search for the ideal klaxon, the perfect soup, and one kick-ass chair.
“The Communicator” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story takes a throwaway ending to an Original Series episode and addresses the real-world repurcussions of leaving technology behind on a less-advanced planet.
“The Seventh” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss what the episode has to say about Vulcan society, how it connects to the world 20 years after it was written, what is does for the Archer–T’Pol relationship, and more.
“Marauders” 20th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story mirrors its Akira Kurosawa inspiration, Seven Samurai, grows the relationship between Archer and T’Pol, and gets the full crew involved.
