The Most Underrated Episodes Of Star Trek: Enterprise

In some ways, “Dead Stop” can be viewed as the second part of the “Minefield” story, but it’s a strong entry in its own right and perhaps an even more underrated one. Here there are no Romulan starships or foreboding hints at a coming war. Instead, the episode sees the Enterprise still reeling from its encounter with an enemy mine and in dire need of repairs. But in an era when there are no starbases or sister ships to render assistance, Archer and his crew are in the unlikely position of asking for help.

With their warp drive damaged, they can’t make it back to Earth, but fate lends them a hand when a passing Tellarite ship informs them of an alien repair station not far from their location. Upon arrival, they discover an unmanned, automated station that can complete the needed repairs using technology far more advanced than they’ve ever seen. But when Reed and Tucker get curious about the station’s inner workings, they learn that it may be more than meets the eye. And when Mayweather turns up dead, it seems that it just might be deadly, too.

A compelling look at what the early days of Starfleet were like when ships were on their own in deep space, “Dead Stop” is a creepy and intense thriller that might deserve to be in the show’s top 10.