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Plot: Clarification

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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox television episode
| image =
| caption =
| series = [[Star Trek: Enterprise]]
| season = 1
| episode = 16
| production = 116
| airdate = {{Start date|2002|02|13}}
| writer = [[Rick Berman]] <br />[[Brannon Braga]]
| director = [[David Livingston]]
| music = [[Jay Chattaway]]
| guests = 
| prev = [[Shadows of P'Jem]]
| next = [[Fusion (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Fusion]]
| season_article = Star Trek: Enterprise season 1
| episode_list = List of Star Trek: Enterprise episodes
}}

"'''Shuttlepod One'''" is the sixteenth episode (production #116) of the television series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. It first aired on February 13, 2002 on [[UPN]].<ref name="Franchise6Best"/>
In this science fiction television show, a faster-than-light spacecraft sets out from Earth to Explore the Galaxy. It is set in the 2100s of the ''Star Trek'' franchise science fiction universe, following the events a century after ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]].''

During a [[Shuttlecraft (Star Trek)|shuttlepod]] mission, Commander [[Trip Tucker|Tucker]] and Lieutenant Reed become convinced ''[[Enterprise (NX-01)|Enterprise]]'' has been destroyed and that their prospects of survival are slim. Much of the episode takes place in a ''Star Trek'' shuttlecraft, Shuttlepod One.

==Plot==
On Pod 1, Commander [[Trip Tucker|Tucker]] and [[Malcolm Reed (Star Trek)|Lieutenant Reed]] are attempting to locate ''Enterprise'' in an asteroid field that Captain [[Jonathan Archer|Archer]] had intended to map. Just then, Reed spots an impact crater and debris; with only one piece large enough to be identifiable as part of ''Enterprise'', they conclude that the ship has been destroyed. They are now alone, with only ten days' worth of air. Tucker orders Reed to head to Echo Three, a subspace amplifier, using the stars for reference as navigation is down. He intends to send a message to Starfleet, knowing they will not be alive when it reaches there, so that command will at least know what happened. Reed records messages to his family and friends, but Tucker becomes exasperated by Reed's pessimism.

On ''Enterprise'', it is revealed that the debris that Reed and Tucker saw was from an explosion while a Tesnian ship was trying to dock with ''Enterprise''; it was the Tesnian ship that was destroyed, and only a small part of the debris was from ''Enterprise''. Thirty-four Tesnian survivors are on ''Enterprise''. Ensign [[Travis Mayweather|Mayweather]] reports that their [[Estimated time of arrival|ETA]] at Tesnia is twenty hours, allowing enough time to return to meet the shuttlepod. Archer and Sub-Commander [[T'Pol]] use a mini-shuttle to inspect the damage to the ship. Later, T'Pol presents her analysis to Archer – both ships were hit by a "[[Micro black hole|micro-singularity]]", but he remains skeptical that such things exist.

The shuttlepod's hull is also breached by a micro-singularity. Reed and Tucker quickly seal the holes, but find that one of their oxygen cylinders was damaged, leaving them with less than two days' air. They lower the temperature to conserve power for the air recyclers. Later, the radio picks up a signal – it is Sato transmitting new rendezvous coordinates and gives an ETA of two days. Unfortunately, they only have one day's worth of air left and no way to communicate with the ship. They jettison and detonate its engine, attracting ''Enterprise''{{'}}s attention. Reed wakes up in Sickbay, relieved to see Tucker's sleeping form there as well.

==Production==
[[Dominic Keating]] said this episode was an unexpected opportunity to stretch his acting muscles, and he really enjoyed the rhythm he was able to establish with [[Connor Trinneer]].<ref name="scifitalk" /> The set was surrounded by an [[igloo]] constructed from six air-conditioning units and blocks of dry ice, so when the actors looked like they were freezing they really were, and it was so cold that were only able to film for about thirty seconds at a time. Keating also mentioned they were continually banging their heads on the low ceiling of the pod.<ref name="hollywoodreporter100" /> Despite the physical difficulties, Keating was positive about the experience and he did not want that week to end.<ref name="scifitalk">{{cite web |title=Dominic Keating - Lt Malcom Reed |url=http://www.scifitalk.com:80/enterprise.htm |website=Sci-Fi Talk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003075823/http://www.scifitalk.com:80/enterprise.htm |archive-date=2003-10-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 22, 2002 |author=Steve Krutzler |title=Interview: Dominic Keating Talks Romulan Episode "Minefield" and His Hopes for 'Malcolm Reed' in Season Two! |url=http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/07/22/1027310536.html |publisher=TrekWeb.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207141811/http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/07/22/1027310536.html |archive-date=2005-02-07 |quote=it was a joy and I can't tell you what that week meant to me. I was exhausted, tired, thrilled and cold -- my god we were cold! |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a 2015 interview Keating, said he thought it was one of the "finest hours" of the show.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-13 |last=Granshaw |first=Lisa |title=Scott Bakula and Dominic Keating look back on Star Trek: Enterprise's best episodes 10 years later |website=[[Syfy#Syfy Wire|SYFY WIRE]] |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/scott-bakula-and-dominic-keating-look-back-on-star-trek-enterprises-best-episodes-10-years |access-date=2021-05-04 |archive-date=2015-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514234813/http://www.blastr.com/2015-5-13/scott-bakula-and-dominic-keating-look-back-star-trek-enterprises-best-episodes-10-years |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Trineer said it was as freezing cold as it looked, despite it being hot as hell outside.<ref>{{cite web |title=Connor Trinneer "Commander Charles 'Trip' Tucker, III" |url=http://www.startrek.com/community/transcripts/trinneer_021402.asp |website=StarTrek.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020220030657/http://www.startrek.com/community/transcripts/trinneer_021402.asp |archive-date=2002-02-20 |date=2002-02-14 |url-status=dead |quote=they'd built a structure inside the sound stage where the shuttlepod was and they had five industrial air conditioners going full blast the whole time. We had dry ice packed under the flooring of the shuttlepods and before each take they'd blast the shuttle pod with Nitrogen so it was exactly that cold all week. }}</ref>
Trinneer said director David Livingston was very thorough, and focused on "capturing a moment" even if that means shooting a scene repeatedly to get it.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2002 |title=Starlog Magazine Issue 304 |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-304/page/n33/mode/1up |quote=He'll shoot the hell out of something, but his modus operandi is capturing a moment. }}</ref>
The prop bottle of bourbon that Reed and Tucker drink is labelled "Dorton's Best" after the show's art director Louise Dorton.<ref name="krad" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Star Trek: Enterprise Season One Credits |url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/star-trek-enterprise-season-one-credits |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref>

==Reception==
The episode first aired February 13, 2002 on [[UPN]]. It had [[Nielsen ratings]] of 3.4/5 and was watched by 5.3 million viewers.<ref name="ratings">{{cite web |title=Episode List: Star Trek: Enterprise |publisher=TVTango |url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/star_trek_enterprise/episodes/sort/episodeNumber/type/asc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215235448/http://www.tvtango.com/series/star_trek_enterprise/episodes/sort/episodeNumber/type/asc |archive-date=February 15, 2016 |access-date=April 1, 2021 }}</ref> Low ratings were attributed to NBC's Winter Olympic coverage dominating the evening.<ref name="zap2it">{{cite web |date=Feb 14, 2002 |title=No Contest for Olympics, NBC |url=http://tv.zap2it.com/news/dailynielsenrankings.html?23870 |website=Zap2it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020417072403/http://tv.zap2it.com/news/dailynielsenrankings.html?23870 |archive-date=2002-04-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among science fiction or fantasy genre shows that week ''Enterprise'' was beaten by ''[[Smallville]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 23, 2002 |author=Alexander Chase |title=Final Ratings: "Shuttlepod One" Only a Bronze vs. Olympic Competition |url=http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/02/23/1014515638.html |website=TrekWeb.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020407191243/http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/02/23/1014515638.html |archive-date=2002-04-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Aint It Cool News]] gave the episode 3.5 out of 5, and said this was "one of the good ones" and praised the "attention to texture and detail".<ref>{{cite web |date=February 13, 2002 |author=Hercules Strong |title=HERC's Seen The 16th New ENTERPRISE!! |url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/11503 |website=[[Aint It Cool News]] }}</ref> Robert Bianco of ''[[USA Today]]'' called it "one of the season's worst episodes" and said the actors "performances collapse under an overwrought script, and neither man should be asked to do a drunk scene again."<ref>{{cite web |date=July 31, 2002 |title="One of the worst" USA Today Deems ENT's Shuttlepod One |url=http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/07/31/1028122769.html |website=[[USA Today]] |via=TrekWeb.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021018112306/http://talk.trekweb.com/articles/2002/07/31/1028122769.html |archive-date=2002-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Keith DeCandido of [[Tor.com]] gave it 8 out of 10, in his 2022 rewatch, and called it "a wonderful two-person play."<ref name="krad">{{cite web |date=7 March 2022 |last=DeCandido |first=Keith R. A. |author-link=Keith R. A. DeCandido |title=Star Trek: Enterprise Rewatch: "Shuttlepod One" |url=https://www.tor.com/2022/03/07/star-trek-enterprise-rewatch-shuttlepod-one/ |website=[[Tor.com]] }}</ref>

{{Anchor|Accolades}}

"Shuttlepod One" has been listed among the best episodes of ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' and of all ''Star Trek''.
Britt Ryan of [[Tor.com]] noted "Shuttlepod One" was one of the ''Enterprise'' episodes that held up as a "good ''Star Trek'' episode", despite the overall lukewarm reception of the series during its first run.<ref name="6BestSTEnterprise">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.tor.com/2011/07/06/six-enterprise-episodes-that-are-just-as-good-as-your-favorite-star-trek-episode/ |title=Six Enterprise Episodes That Are Just as Good as Your Favorite Star Trek Episode |last=Britt |first=Ryan |magazine=[[Tor.com]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |location=New York City |date=2011-07-06 |access-date=2020-05-17 }}</ref> They note this episode as one that takes on some of the hard science challenges of surviving in space.<ref name="6BestSTEnterprise"/>
''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave this an honorable mention in their list of recommended ''Enterprise'' television episodes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/enterprise-was-forever-torn-between-our-future-and-star-1798270981 |title=Enterprise was forever torn between our future and Star Trek's past |last=Wilkins |first=Alasdair |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |publisher=[[G/O Media]] |location=Chicago |date=2014-08-06 |access-date=2019-07-20}}</ref>
<br />
''[[The Guardian]]'' recommended this episode as one of six ''Star Trek'' episodes out of the entire [[Star Trek|''Star Trek'' franchise]] up to that point. They noted how the episode uses the threat of air running out in a spacecraft to create a backdrop of tension as the characters try to find a solution and discuss the danger.<ref name="Franchise6Best">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/may/09/six-star-trek-episodes |title=Six to watch: Star Trek episodes |last=O'Neill |first=Phelim |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=2013-05-09 |access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref>
''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' interviewed various cast and production crew of the ''Star Trek'' franchise to determine the "100 Greatest Episodes" from across the six series, ranking "Shuttlepod One" as the 98th best episode of all time.<ref name="hollywoodreporter100">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/star-trek-episodes-best-100-924455/item/e2-star-trek-100-926162 |title='Star Trek': 100 Greatest Episodes |first1=Aaron |last1=Couch |first2=Graeme |last2=McMillan |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Eldridge Industries#Media holdings|Valence Media]] |location=Los Angeles |date=2016-09-08 |access-date=2021-04-20 }}</ref>

Fans have noted this episode’s similarity to the [[“Star Trek: The Original Series”]] episode [[‘Galileo Seven’]].

== Home media ==
This episode was released as part of ''Enterprise'' season one, which was released in high definition on [[Blu-ray]] disc on March 26, 2013;<ref name="ignremembering2">{{cite web |date=March 26, 2013 |author= Scott Collura |title=Remembering Star Trek: Enterprise with Scott Bakula |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/26/remembering-star-trek-enterprise-with-scott-bakula |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728171045/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/26/remembering-star-trek-enterprise-with-scott-bakula |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=2021-06-20 }}</ref> the release has 1080p video and a [[DTS-HD Master Audio]] sound track.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Star Trek: Enterprise - Season One Blu-ray Release Date March 26, 2013 |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Star-Trek-Enterprise-Season-One-Blu-ray/57323/ |access-date=2021-06-11 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[The Galileo Seven]] (First ''Star Trek'' episode with a shuttlecraft, broadcast January 5, 1967)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb episode}}
* {{Memory Alpha}}
* {{StarTrek.com|shuttlepod-one}}

{{Star Trek: Enterprise episodes|1}}

[[Category:Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 episodes]]
[[Category:2002 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Rick Berman]]
[[Category:Television episodes written by Brannon Braga]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by David Livingston]]

Shuttlepod One - Revision history

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