3x16 Doctor's Orders

[Dimitris]

Episode No: 068
Air Date: 02.18.2004

The fate of Enterprise is in Dr. Phlox's hands as the rest of the crew must be induced into a coma in order to survive a trans-dimensional disturbance.


Synopsis

While Enterprise travels through a section of the Expanse lethal to human neurology, Dr. Phlox must put the entire crew to sleep and handle all aspects of a working starship, but even with T'Pol's help, the doctor's skills might not be enough to keep the crew safe when complications arise. With the ship not moving out of the area fast enough, Dr. Phlox must figure out how to start the warp engines without blowing up the ship, while realizing he may not be entirely immune to the region's radiation himself.

[Dimitris]

12.12.2003
Production Report: Billingsley, Blalock, Breezy Follow "Doctor's Orders"

John Billingsley was the star of the latest episode directed by Roxann Dawson, with strong support from Jolene Blalock and the show-biz beagle named "Breezy."
In "Doctor's Orders," the NX-01 is on course to a red giant star based on information gained in a prior episode, when it comes up against a massive trans-dimensional disturbance — more hazardous than the Expanse's other anomalies as it is fatal to human neurology. Phlox can protect the humans from exposure by inducing a comatose state, so to avoid a lengthy detour around the phenomenon, Archer lets him put the crew to sleep for four days after the doctor is trained to monitor ship's functions. Phlox then has full run of the ship, left only in the company of Porthos and T'Pol — but the Vulcan is unable to help out much because her resistance to the deleterious space is in question.

In a relatively easy shoot which concluded Wednesday, Billingsley got to spend a lot of quality time with the canine star of the show. "Breezy" and animal trainers Scott Rowe and Greg Pittman were on the set for five of the seven shooting days, which may be a record. The dog got to roam more than his usual range of the ship, joining Billingsley on sets including the Launch Bay, Mess Hall, Galley, and several Corridors and Crew Quarters. A second beagle named "Windy" occasionally doubled for Breezy, mainly for long shots.

But other than that, it was basically the Billingsley-Blalock show, as they were the only two actors reporting for all seven days. The rest had it light — Scott Bakula, in fact, only worked one day on this episode, and no one else was scheduled for more than three. Makeup made sure the men were showing a few days' growth of beard for the later scenes in the script, but Linda Park actually had some extensive makeup done to take on a disturbing look in one scene.

Other sets used included the Armory, Cargo Hold, Turbolift, the Bridge and Situation Room, and quite a few scenes in Engineering. Director Dawson blocked out a particularly challenging Steadicam shot that followed Billingsley from Sickbay through the Corridor and into Archer's Quarters in one continuous take.

There were no guest stars in the episode (except for a pesky Xindi-Insectoid that will be rendered in post), but "Star Trek Row" was not devoid of visitors this week. Jeffrey Combs and Molly Brink returned to the lot a month after originally shooting "Proving Ground" and got in their Andorian get-up again for two days of additional photography on that show. David Livingston came back to direct this second-unit shoot, having just finished "Harbinger." The Andorian Bridge and Shran's Ready Room were brought out of storage, and other scenes were shot on standing ship sets utilizing some of the principal cast members not occupied by "Doctor's Orders." The original actor playing the "Andorian General," Ted Sutton, was not available for the reshoot, so that part was re-cast with Granville Van Dusen. Van Dusen previously played the Klingon "Magistrate" in "Judgment."

More photography was also done for "Chosen Realm" to complete post-production needs — it was originally directed by Dawson, but visual effects producer Dan Curry was in charge for this.

"Doctor's Orders" was written by co-executive producer Chris Black, his fourth script of the season. He previously wrote "Proving Ground" and co-wrote "The Shipment" and "Rajiin" (airing this Wednesday). This was Dawson's third Enterprise gig of the season, having recently directed "Chosen Realm" and "Exile."

This episode is tentatively scheduled to air February 18. More information can be found at its Episode Detail page.

The overall production schedule for Season 3 has been abbreviated somewhat, as the original episode order of 26 has been reduced to 24, which is more the norm for one-hour dramas today. "Doctor's Orders" is the 16th show of the season, leaving eight to go.


www.startrek.com

[Dimitris]

John Billingsly headlines the sixteenth Enterprise episode of the season when a spacial disturbance forces him to induce comas in the human crew.

StarTrek.com revealed that the Enterprise will be en route to a red star when it encounters a transdimensional phenomena that is deadly to humans. Rather than waste precious time going around it, Archer allows Phlox to put every human into a coma for the four days that the ship will be passing through the anomaly.

T'Pol and Porthos are the only other two that do not have to be put into a coma to survive the disturbance. However, T'Pol is not wholly unaffected by the anomaly, and therefore the care of the ship and crew rests almost entirely on Phlox's shoulders.

"Doctor's Orders" was written by co-executive producer Chris Black, who also penned "Proving Ground", and co-wrote "The Shipment" and "Rajiin". Roxann Dawson (B'Elanna Torres) directed the episode, her third of the season, after "Exile" and "Chosen Realm".

The lone guest star is a Xindi Insectoid that will not be added to the episode until post production.

The shoot lasted seven days, with Billingsly and Jolene Blalock (T'Pol) being the only actors to work all seven days. Scott Bakula (Archer) had an unusually light shoot, only had one day of shooting.

Breezy, known to fans as Porthos, was on set for five days, accompanied by trainers Scott Rowe and Greg Pittman. Breezy even had a double for longer shoots, named Windy.

"Doctor's Orders" is scheduled to air February 18th, 2004. The original report can be found here at StarTrek.com.


www.trektoday.com

[Dimitris]

Rumors from www.treknation.com

When the ship encounters a trans-dimensional disturbance, Phlox is forced to put the crew members into comas to keep them alive. (December 12, 2003 - TrekToday)