No Mention Ever Again of Sim on Enterprise

Real World article
(written from a Production bespeak of view)

During an engine performance test, Trip Tucker is critically injured and left comatose in sickbay. Phlox suggests that Tucker'due south but hope for survival is the cosmos of a "mimetic simbiot" – in other words, a clone. The crew and Trip's clone accept to face the unforeseen emotional ramifications of his creation.

Daftar Isi

Summary

Teaser

At a funeral anniversary, the entire crew gathers as Captain Jonathan Archer is eulogizing a dead crewman – Commander Charles Tucker Three.

Human activity I

Two weeks before, the Enterprise NX-01 is continuing to explore the Delphic Surface area, and testing upgrades to their warp drive in club to do it more than quickly. T'Pol and Tucker have another Vulcan neuro-force per unit area session and hash out it. This time, Tucker tries information technology out on T'Political leader's foot, mostly successfully. The adjacent day, they start the exam. Showtime, they get to warp four.9 like normal, then Tucker starts to compress the antimatter stream in the warp core. Information technology appears to piece of work initially, but, unfortunately, simply seconds after, a primary injector flare forces Tucker to do a transmission shutdown. While on the pinnacle of the warp core, he is injured by a nearby explosion and falls. Helm control is lost and the Enterprise is thrown out of warp into a polaric field of some type. Emergency teams are dispatched to tend to multiple injuries, including Tucker'southward.

Archer learns later that nucleonic particles flooded the plasma manifolds, causing the injector flare. Tucker's action saved the send from a breach. It volition be weeks before they tin get the ship back to normal. T'Pol is in charge of repairs, and afterward has EV teams retrieve a sample of the particles from the field. The highly magnetic properties of the particles don't appear to exist a problem at present, but are building on the ship'south hull and could become a problem if they are non able to articulate the field in time. Archer tells T'Politico to practise whatever information technology takes.

Unfortunately, Doctor Phlox must inform Captain Archer that Tucker has slipped into a blackout due to extensive neural damage. He has an anarchistic proposal to use a Lyssarian Desert Larvae he happens to have to make a clone of Commander Tucker (which will grow to maturity very chop-chop, and have a lifespan of simply almost fifteen days) and harvest neural tissues from information technology. Considering of highly sensitive ethical implications, Archer does non make a decision right abroad. Presently, however, Archer agrees to allow the cloning procedure, sacrificing the ethical implications for the sake of the mission's objective, and perhaps the life of his friend.

Phlox informs Archer the procedure was a success, and Archer sees the new babe.

Deed Ii

Phlox, pleased at property a newborn subsequently a long fourth dimension, informs Archer and T'Politician the infant is healthy, though needs a proper name. He calls him Sim. The clone apace grows from an infant to a kid. Sim can read before long, though interestingly, the boy demonstrates that he has the memories of Tucker at the same age, including his family, by saying he already knows what the book is about. Sim is equally curious nigh the world as Tucker is, both about technology and most his existence. Archer decides to be the one to tell him the truth, and takes him to his quarters and they have small talk, with Sim pointing out Zefram Cochrane on the wall. They then get to the launch bay to fly a remote-controlled model, and the real questions kickoff. Archer takes Sim to sickbay, where Tucker'south body is. Sim recognizes Tucker and gets information technology all on his own. Archer does say Sim's more than than just a copy, since he'due south making his own memories. He also says Tucker needs something from him, and that the operation is painless. Sim believes them and wants to go set up the model, seemingly taking information technology all very well.

As Sim ages, he starts to help with the repairs. He's happy to do it, though disappointed when he thinks T'Political leader doesn't want to hang out with him because he's different. T'Politician insists they need to be focused on the repairs. She'southward called away past Archer to detect that the particles building on the hull have a dampening field issue, and that at the charge per unit the crew has been proceeding, every system on the ship will fail before the repairs are complete.

Act Three

Sim shortly comes up with a solution to the ship's problem, and, while trying some fundamental lime pie, he runs it by Malcolm Reed in the mess hall. Reed confirms they could re-direct the stage cannons to fire at the launch bay then they can launch the shuttlepods. Sim as well runs the idea by T'Political leader afterwards that night and, although risky, she agrees it appears to be the simply viable pick. It involves a fusion overburn, which has never been attempted by a shuttlepod. Sim turns the conversation to her and Tucker's relationship, confesses his feelings for her, and wondering if they're his or Tucker's.

Afterwards, Sim goes to Archer and insists he pilot ane of the pods since it is his plan, but the Captain assigns Reed and Travis Mayweather instead. Sim challenges his decision on the basis that he's only concerned about Tucker, just Archer points out (again) that they need Tucker to survive.

The plan begins. Sim and T'Politician set the targeting scanners of the cannons and fire, successfully freeing the launch bay. Reed and Mayweather fly out and fire their respective grappling arms. Sim orders their thrust power and they try to pull the Enterprise, merely it's non moving. They push their engines a trivial harder and, just as Archer decides to arrest, the ship starts moving. The program is a success, as their inertia will proceed them going, and they'll exist out of the field in six hours.

Later, Phlox informs the helm of a startling discovery. According to his new predictions, and contrary to his earlier decision, Sim won't survive the transplant because Man Dna is non equally resilient. Archer's conclusion simply got a lot more difficult.

Deed Four

Sim is devastated to hear this news, though he does say he only has a few days left, anyhow. Archer doesn't see it that mode, but then Sim states another complication: experiments by the Velandran Circle which attempted to prolong the lifespan of mimetic simbiots. Phlox didn't mention it because the evidence was very little. Despite that, Sim declares that there's a gamble he can live a normal life.

The adjacent 24-hour interval, Archer finds Sim in Tucker'due south quarters, plain dwelling on Tucker'due south life. He begins to question why his life is not seen to be as valuable every bit Trip's. He confronts Archer well-nigh the state of affairs, saying he didn't control what happened to Trip, and he, in a way, could be saving him by taking on his life. Archer is insistent that Sim is not Trip, and that he will stop at nothing to consummate the mission, which requires Trip. He appeals to the fact that Sim has Tucker's memories, and then he knows Archer'due south resolve. Sim doesn't think Archer will murder, but Archer tells him not to brand him a murderer.

Sim afterwards has agreed to the procedure, and goes to engineering to help out T'Pol beforehand. She wonders why he wants to spend his last hours of life like that, but gives him something to do. Subsequently, Reed finds out on the span that launch bay controls have been tampered with. Archer goes down there to find Sim having planned but so aborted an escape attempt. Sim says that what stopped him was the thought of his sister, insisting on the fact that she was his sister too as Trip's, and that he doesn't want what happened to her to happen to anyone else. He leaves to go dorsum to his quarters to look. Just before the surgery, T'Pol comes to Sim's quarters to say her goodbyes, giving him a kiss, something she had never done with Tucker. Sim returned the gesture, showing that he meant something to her, more just being a clone to save Trip's life.

Sim goes to Ill Bay, where Phlox and Archer are waiting. Sim tells Phlox he doesn't just recall Trip'due south childhood, he remembers his own, and Phlox was a "damn skillful male parent." Phlox says Sim was a damn good son. Sim then tells Archer that just as Archer was meant to be a starship captain, he realizes saving Trip's life is what he was meant to practise. In his last preparations, he stands near the comatose Trip and says, "You owe me ane."

Dorsum in the present, at the funeral ceremony, the crew, including a recovered Trip, pay their final respects to Sim equally he is placed in a torpedo tube and fired out into space.

Memorable quotes

"The nigh difficult examination facing any captain, any coiffure, is the loss of a shipmate. We've come hither to honor i of our own. In the time we knew him, he showed us but how much one life tin truly affair. We volition never forget what he did for us, and for the ship he loved so much. We volition go forward with renewed decision to complete this mission, and so that his sacrifice won't merely accept been for the people on this ship, only for all the citizens of Earth."

- Captain Archer's eulogy for a lost crewman, apparently Trip Tucker

"Regarding the Lyssarian procedure Physician Phlox proposed, may I ask if y'all've reached a decision?"
"I approved information technology."
"Are you enlightened that the Lyssarian Prime Caucus has banned the creation of simbiots?"
"We don't reply to the Lyssarian Prime Conclave."
"Simbiots are living, witting entities. We'll be growing a sentient being for the sole purpose of harvesting tissue."
"I'm aware of the upstanding implications. If nosotros weren't in the Surface area, perhaps my determination would be unlike. But… nosotros've got to consummate this mission. Earth needs Enterprise. Enterprise needs Trip. It's as simple as that."

- T'Politico and Captain Archer, discussing the controversial process Phlox has proposed in gild to revive Tucker

"Tin can he do any tricks?"
"I haven't taught him whatever. More often than not what he does is eat, sleep, and, uh, not fetch."

- Young Sim and Archer, discussing Porthos

"I'thousand not talking nearly an adolescent beat. That was… well, that was two days ago."

- Sim, to T'Political leader

"I have his memories. I accept his feelings. I take his trunk. How am I not Trip?"

- Sim, to Archer

"I must consummate this mission! And to do that I demand Trip! Trip! I'll take whatever steps necessary to save him."
"Even if it means killing me?"
"Fifty-fifty if it means killing you."

- Archer and Sim, arguing over his right to survive

"I was all ready to practise it."
"What stopped y'all?"
"Where the hell was I going to get? We're nowhere near whatever habitable planet. Didn't really want to spend the residuum of my life floating around in a shuttlepod, which doesn't even have any toilet facilities. Tin can you imagine a lousier style to spend your old historic period – cooped up in that thing, peeing in a bottle? Actually, I can imagine a worse fate."
"What would that exist?"
"Being stuck in there with Malcolm!"

- Sim and Archer, with an obvious reference to Tucker's experience every bit documented in the season one episode, "Shuttlepod One"

"It'southward non that I'one thousand scared of dying. It'southward only that… I can't imagine not being here tomorrow."

- Sim, to Archer

"Do me a favor when this is over. If Commander Tucker decides to do any more modifications to the engines… tell him to watch his ass!"

- Sim, to Archer

"I'm sorry I doubted you, Doc."
"No need to apologize."
"Yes, there is. You see, I don't just call back Trip'due south childhood. I remember mine. You made a damned good father."
"You lot were a damned expert son."

- Sim and Phlox

"You said to me in one case that commanding a starship was what yous were meant to do. I guess this is what I was meant to do. Proficient luck, Captain."

- Sim'due south terminal words to Archer

"Y'all owe me one!"

- Sim's terminal words, to the even so asleep Tucker

Background data

LeVar Burton and Connor Trinneer contemplate this episode

• This episode marks the get-go written contribution of then-new Co-Executive Producer Manny Coto.
• The final typhoon script of this episode was archived on 12 November 2003.
• In the final draft script of this installment, Archer replied to Sim hoping that his sister'south fate doesn't happen to anyone else past commenting, "That's why nosotros're out hither." In the final version of the episode, though, Archer instead says, "That's why I gave the order to create you."
• Adam Taylor Gordon, who played a younger version of Tucker in "The Xindi", played the version of Sim at age 8 in this episode.
• John Billingsley named "Similitude" as one of the strongest episodes of the third flavor. [1]
• The model Archer played with as a male child in "Broken Bow" reappears in this episode.
• This is the commencement occurrence in the Star Trek universe, chronologically, of a funeral on board a starship.
• This is also the offset chronological mention of a tricorder (in reference to Phlox' medical tricorder) and the merely occurrence of that word in the series.
• Pondering his final moments in a shuttlepod, Sim mentions sharing his agonies with Malcolm Reed which is a reference to Trip'south memories from ENT: "Shuttlepod One", where he was trapped with Reed in a pod.
• This episode establishes that NX blazon shuttlepods do not have any bathroom facilities.
• Chronologically, this is the kickoff time we witness a photonic torpedo casing being used equally a bury for the deceased in Starfleet funeral proceedings. The practice is essentially repeated, though with a photon torpedo instead, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .
• In a rare break with continuity, when the shuttlepods are attempting to tow Enterprise out of the particle field, Lieutenant Reed uses kilodynes to measure the amount of force that is being applied. Dynes are office of the legacy centimetre-gram-2d system of units (CGS). Except for Star Trek: The Original Series, where erstwhile regal units such every bit miles are sometimes used, Star Trek episodes and motion pictures normally apply the International System of Units where force is measured in newtons. It is worth noting that dynes were named by Joseph David Everett, an Englishman, as is Reed.
• Brannon Braga was delighted with this episode. "Manny only knocked it out of the park," Braga remarked. "He wrote a great script. Connor Trinneer gave a terrific operation. And you know the arc is working because 'Similitude' just wouldn't have worked last twelvemonth. You lot needed the context of the Xindi arc to give it its power, to give Archer those tough decisions. Additionally, T'Pol learns that Trip's in love with her, but the real Trip doesn't know that she knows! That set up upwardly keen dynamics for upcoming episodes." (Star Expedition: Communicator issue 151, p. 30)
• This episode won an Emmy Award for Velton Ray Bunch's music composition.
• This outing was popular with fans due to its moral complexity. (Star Expedition: Communicator issue 151, p. 30) The episode was chosen as the #3 fan favorite in an online poll conducted past UPN. It was re-broadcast on 25 March 2005 in that context. Notation: The poll was conducted earlier the concluding 6 episodes of the series had aired.
• The volume Star Trek 101 (p. 260), by Terry J. Erdmann and Paula Grand. Block, lists this episode as one of the "10 Essential Episodes" from Star Trek: Enterprise.
• Interestingly, the shuttlepods would have had no difficulty pulling or pushing Enterprise out of the nebula, as at that place is no gravity in infinite when the send is far enough from any stellar bodies, every bit seems to exist the case hither. Inertia would cause Enterprise to retain any momentum imparted by the pods, even incrementally.

Links and references

Starring

• Scott Bakula every bit Jonathan Archer
• John Billingsley every bit Phlox
• Jolene Blalock as T'Pol
• Dominic Keating every bit Malcolm Reed
• Anthony Montgomery as Travis Mayweather
• Linda Park equally Hoshi Sato
• Connor Trinneer as Charles "Trip" Tucker III

Co-Stars

• Adam Taylor Gordon equally Sim-Trip at eight
• Shane Sweet every bit Sim-Trip at 17
• Maximillian Orion Kesmodel as Sim-Trip at iv

Uncredited Co-Stars

• Adam Taylor Gordon equally Young Trip (photograph)
• Breezy or Windy as Porthos
• Connor Trineer as Sim-Trip (developed)
• Unknown performers
  • Sim-Trip'due south funeral attendees
  • Baby Sim-Trip
  • Elizabeth Tucker (young; photo)

References

A Night at the Opera; dispatch; antimatter injector; aptitude; Archer, Henry; compages; armadillo; Bedford; birthmark; bruise; cannula; cerebrum; Cochrane, Zefram; coma; clone; cut; Delphic Expanse; Dennis; Denobulan; diagnostic; diamagnetic field; diaper; Dna; dollhouse; Earth; empirical evidence; engineer; Enriquez; epidermal layer; upstanding implications; EV team; feces; ferric ion; fertilizer; field coil; funeral; fusion overburn; garden ophidian; genetic memory; genetic sequencing; glue; growth wheel; high warp; horse; injector flare; injector port; key lime pie; kilodyne; kilometer per hour; launch bay doors; life cycle; Lyssarian; Lyssarian Desert Larvae; Lyssarian Prime Conclave; magnetism; Martian; Marx Brothers; Massaro; medical tricorder; mimetic simbiot; name; neural nodes; neural tissue; nucleonic particle; Orsic fern; phase cannon; physical historic period; plasma assembly; plasma rifle; playing cards; REM bike; roommate; salvage; Shuttlepod one; Shuttlepod ii; species; Steven; organization tap; targeting scanners; temperature; toilet facility; teething phase; Tucker II, Charles; Tucker, Elizabeth; urination; Velandran Circle; viral suppressant; Vulcan; Vulcan neuro-pressure level; War of the Worlds, The; warp bulldoze; Xindi weapon; Zefram Cochrane'southward statue

Deleted references

sea skimmer; statistics; suspensor coil

External links

• "Similitude" at StarTrek.com, the official Star Trek website
• "Similitude" at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• "Similitude" at Wikipedia

brownunth1972.blogspot.com

Source: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Similitude_%28episode%29