Critics Split Over 'Sleeping Dogs'

See Also: 'Sleeping Dogs' Episode Guide

The latest Enterprise episode 'Sleeping Dogs' managed to divide online critics, with some reviewers praising the character development and others left feeling like they'd seen it all before.

A breakdown of the latest analyses posted online can be found below:

• "'Sleeping Dogs' continues Enterprise's goal of illuminating the beginnings of relationships within the Alpha Quadrant," wrote Matt D at Trek5.com. "Human, Vulcan and Klingon heritages become entangled in a tense sometimes humorous, sometimes tedious mix of learning, trust and growth." In the full review, the episode was awarded a score of 3 out of 5.

• Jacqueline Bundy at the Trekker Newsletter said the episode was aimed at both long-time fans and those new to Star Trek, and succeeded admirably. Here's an extract from her analysis:

  Long time viewers were most likely sitting at home groaning when Archer requests help from Bu'kaH but the background of why she reacted as she did was well laid out for the newer initiates of Trek. 'Sleeping Dogs' aimed to please two different audiences and in my opinion it was a resounding success.

  The complete review, in which the episode was given 8 out of 10, can be found here.

• Reviewer monkee enjoyed 'Sleeping Dogs,' especially the scenes with Hoshi Sato. "Watching a green Ensign find his/her space legs is not exactly new on Trek, but they're exploring it with Sato, better than they ever have before," she wrote. "The character has been given even more dimension, though. Sato seems to have a natural way with people, alien and human alike." In the complete analysis, the episode scored 8.5 out of 10.

• On the other hand, the Starfleet Library's C.A. Voigts was not impressed by the episode. Here's an extract from the analysis:

  The plot felt as if it were patched together. The Klingon woman wasn't as Klingon-like as others have been and I felt the confrontation between she and Archer could have been much more lively. In fact, the whole show felt as if the energy level was very low. I never felt drawn to the plot. Perhaps it was the fact that the previous episode was so good that this episode didn't have a chance.

  To read the full review, in which the episode was given 2 out of 5, head over to the Starfleet Library.

• Although he liked the characterisation, Shadowfyre at Section31 felt the 'Sleeping Dogs' plot was too routine. "This episode is a solid, yet ultimately by-the-book tale," he said. "There is nothing surprising about the turn of events that lead T'Pol, Reed and Sato stranded aboard the Klingon ship, nor are there any major revelations made in the attempts to retrieve them." 'Sleeping Dogs' scored 8 out of 10 in the complete analysis.

• Over at First TV Drama, Richard Whettestone found the portrayal of the Klingons inconsistent. "Why am I getting the feeling that the writers can just take any angle on what's honorable and what's not and just spin it to fit the current Klingon story?" he wrote. "T'Pol says it's honorable to let the Klingons die passed out. Then Archer decides it's not honorable to let the Klingons die passed out, and even convinces the Klingon woman of the same." Go here to read more.

• "What the hell was Fred Dekker thinking when he wrote this episode?" wrote a disappointed Michael Hinman at SyFy Portal. "He creates a crisis for T'Pol, Hoshi and Reed, but then seems to forget that such a crisis exists. It's like watching the movie 'Titanic,' and instead of Leonardo DiCaprio trying to find safety, he relaxes in the ship's spa." The complete review is available to read here.

'Sleeping Dogs' scored an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 in our TrekToday poll. The full results are available here.

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