Borderland

This Story: Season 4 Episode 4 (production code 180)
ENT Overall: Episode 80
Trek Overall: Story 669, Episode 708
Airdate: 29 Oct 2004
Written by Ken LaZebnik
Directed by David Livingston

Notes

• The first of the three part Arik Soong arc.  They’re technically not a three part story, but are fairly strongly tied together.
• There are several changes to the standing sets, which are part of the “upgrades and repair” we saw the ship undergoing in the last episode.  This includes a new transporter pad, some color changes to set dressings, and a new captain’s chair.  This includes the external damage we saw to the ship since “Azati Prime“.
• The first time we’d seen the Orions in the franchise since the TAS episode “The Pirates of Orion“, and the first time in live action since TOS’ “Whom Gods Destroy“.
• T’Pol’s first episode as a fully commissioned Starfleet officer – now called “Commander” vs “Subcommander”.
• The first of three appearances by Brent Spiner as Arik Soong.  Arik is meant to be an ancestor of Noonien Soong, Data’s creator.  Spiner would crop up again in the Enterprise finale doing a (new) voice over cameo for Data.
• The unnamed Klingon captain was played by JG Hertzler.  Hertzler has had many roles in this era of Trek, but he’s most well known for being Martok on Deep Space Nine.  It is his final appearance in live action Star Trek, although he would have a couple of voice over roles on Lower Decks (one of which being Martok).
• The outfit Hertzler wore in this episode was the same one worn by Michael Ansara’s Kang in the DS9 episode “Blood Oath” – at Hertzler’s own request.
• A complete list of Hertzler’s Trek appearances: An unnamed Vulcan Captain in DS9’s “Emissary“, 22 episodes as Martok in Deep Space Nine, Roy Rittenhouse in DS9’s “Far Beyond the Stars“, Laas in DS9’s “Chimera“, a Hirogen Fighter in Voyager’s “Tsunkatse“, Kolos in Enterprise’s “Judgment“, an unnamed Klingon Captain in Enterprise’s “Borderland“, an unnamed Drookmani Captain in Lower Decks’ “Terminal Provocations” & “A Mathematically Perfect Redemption“, and finally as Martok in the Lower Decks episode “The Least Dangerous Game“.  He also appeared in the DS9 finale “What You Leave Behind” as one of the lounge guests, but then so did an enormous amount of production people and actors.

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