Sfdebris.net

I was thinking about this one recently. The worst part about the episode, even beyond the genocide thing, is that it's so simple to come up with a better plot about the same premise. Here's one I came up with. Archer goes to a planet, and there's a big problem there. He gets involved, but he gets in deeper and deeper, and he ends up having to make a horrible choice. Then he thinks about whether he should have gotten involved to begin with. Same prime directive story, doesn't result in stupid plot that ends in genocide. Also, it justifies the prime directive instead of just pretending it exists already, even though it doesn't.

"The Communicator" shoots in that general direction. At least that time Archer didn't abet genocide... no, he only caused a world war to break out.

The only way that those two episodes could make sense is if the "prime directive" doesn't turn out to be simply a Federation law, but one of the galaxy's many ominipotent super-beings that manipulates the universe so that things only ever turn out for the best if you don't interfere in pre-warp alien cultures.

The Prime directive moves in mysterious ways, and Archer is his prophet.

I am always surprised how many people say "Finally a real Star Trek episode!" without a hint of irony.