Introduction

“Horizon” is the twentieth episode of the second season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise.

The episode guest stars included Nicole Forester (who had previously appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Joan Pringle, and Corey Mendell Parker.

When the ship detours to observe volcanic activity on a planet, Ensign Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) takes the opportunity to visit his family on board the E.C.S. Horizon.

Montgomery had previously suggested the appearance of Mayweather’s parents at the end of season one, and was pleased to see them introduced. Several sets to create the Horizon were created on a soundstage, with the related scenes filmed in the second half of the episode’s shoot after the main cast were dismissed, with the exception of Montgomery. Critical response was mixed, and the episode received the lowest ratings for a first-run episode of the series so far, viewed by 3.36 million viewers.

Outline

At the direction of Starfleet, Enterprise makes a detour to a planet passing between two gas giants, in order to observe the gravitational forces and subsequent volcanic activity. Their new course takes the ship close to that of E.C.S. Horizon, the cargo vessel where Ensign Mayweather grew up. He then requests permission for a further detour to re-join his family on Horizon as his father is ill and he has not been able to visit him in four years. Captain Archer readily agrees, but bad news arrives when Mayweather learns that his father died some six weeks earlier.

As planned, Mayweather boards Horizon and receives a warm welcome from most of the crew, including his mother Rianna. He also finds out that his brother, Paul, has been named acting captain, but he does not seem to be coping well with his new responsibilities. Mayweather offers to make a few repairs and upgrades to systems on the ship, but Paul tells him to stop, making him feel uneasy and out of place. Soon afterwards, the ship suddenly comes under attack, and a homing device is placed on the hull. Mayweather then recommends a boost in the ship’s fighting capability, but Paul insists that the safest course is to flee to the nearest port and yield the cargo as needed.

Back on Enterprise, Commander Tucker arranges a movie night for the crew featuring the Frankenstein film trilogy, and invites Sub-Commander T’Pol. She eventually consents, and finally finds in the film an insightful view into historical human-Vulcan relations. Meanwhile, Mayweather makes his intended modifications without permission, resulting in a confrontation when Paul finds out. The ship comes under further attack from an alien vessel, and Paul offers up the cargo as planned. The aliens refuse and demand the vessel as well. Left without any other option, Paul tells Mayweather to re-initiate the modifications, and to detach the command module from the cargo section. They soon disable the alien ship. The brothers reconcile, and Mayweather leaves, promising to visit again soon.

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Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): James A. Contner.
• Writer(s): Andre Bormanis.
• Release Date: 16 April 2003.
• Running Time: 45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.