Oh yes. I love the first half of this episode!  Malcolm sits at his station with his arms crossed, bemused at Trip's photography.  T'Pol says that 'Vulcans are reverred for their accomplishments, not for the way they look.' Sure thing, Pol. ;0)  Reed's sensors go off, and T'Pol instantly turns to her work as well. They work so great as a team.  Trip snaps a picture of  'Cap'n Archer in Command!' and Malcolm chuckles behind him.  Reed is again relaxed on the shuttle down to the planet.   He calls out Archer's landing skills, 'The proof's in the pudding!'  80) Instead of Dirty Look at the Captain since he won't let me pilot, he gives it to him mano y mano!  I think he just wants to impress T'Pol, and I really had no intention of eating pudding while I watched this episode. Honest!

    I love away jackets.  Maybe that is why Reed feels comfortable while sitting in between his two COs. He knows he looks like Mr. Kick Ass Tactical Boy!  What is it with this show and darkness? I can almost not see who is who. Almost.  Malcolm is really close behind T'Pol, then cuts infront. 'Follow Me!' Reed orders, but Archer thinks he should play Captain for awhile.   He wants to get him back for the rib in the pod, so Archer starts blabbing about his Scouting. Mal says he was a boy scout, but Archer corrects him by saying Eagle scout.  Reed counters with 'So was I' but he says it like So was I!

    T'Pol, of course, is now following very closely behind Malcolm and surely hears that Reed has more merit badges than Archer. 80) Archer meagerly states he has 26 to Malcolm's 28.  Reed beams with his 'That's not bad, sir!'  With that, Reed cuts in front of Archer again, and the Captain doesn't contest it.  He blabbers about earning an exobiology badge, but Reed wins again with 'Actually, I already have that one, sir.' And just how did he get his exobiology badge one wonders?! >80)

    Archer sends Polly and The Reedygoodness to search for the aliens.  Reed leads the way, then he and T'Pol switch.  Those eye things they wear are so cool. They looks so stealthy or something.  Mal thinks he hears something, and T'Pol agrees. She says something was on her scanner for a moment, but now its gone.  Reed hears another noise and boldy proclaims 'It's not gone!' He turns but gets leveled by the alien hunters.  All that impressing Malcolm did just went out the window!

    They return to the alien camp that Archer has just taken over ;0). Malcolm instantly asks Archer if  he is alright. Reed is Worf in Wesley's body!  'You're friends nearly shot me back there!'  Malcolm tells the lead hunter.  Defend your honor, boy! The gang joins the aliens in the eats, but Reed sits next to Hoshi.  He tends to hide behind other people everytime he gets scared of  T'Pol.  I would be scared of her too, if the only thing to eat was wild boar.
    Malcolm is embarrassed by the hunters outwitting him, but is curious how they did it. T'Pol speaks up about disliking hunting, and Malcolm calms down his talk.  He can't contain himself though and asks if he can join the hunt, but 'I promise I won't kill anything, sir.'  He knows how to impress his woman, doesn't he?
    I always liked Reed, but he was not shown a lot in the first half of season one, so I kept asking myself where the bombs guy was.  Here I think we really get a good look at who Malcolm is. He's not about killing or blowing things up. He's about information and tactics, which is what his job really is. He looks smart, and cool, despite his sort of uncoventional bodyguard look.  Don't underestimate this guy!

    Hoshi returns to the ship, happy to sleep in her own bunk, but Trip wants to join the away team.  Hoshi teases him about bugs crawling in his ears, and Malcolm happily goes along with it and laughs. Back on the planet, Mal sits with Trip, but the way the logs are angled, he is actually closer to T'Pol, who's on the opposite log with Archer.  Everyone wants to turn in, and Malcolm slaps Trip on the back as he retires. Trip promptly gets up and follows him. Okay.  First time I saw this I thought this was so homoerotic.  Now I think on it with my R/TP cap, and I think that Reed was hitting Trip like 'Come quick so I can tell you how I stood really close to T'Pol today!'  80)
    From here on the episode starts to suck.  Trip talks to Archer about poetry and dirty lymmricks, and I wonder if he's shared that erotica with Reed.  Archer wakes the camp with news of his mystery chick, and we see T'Pol and Reed returning from a search together.  Archer describes the girl as wearing a nightgown.  'A nightgown, sir?' Malcolm quickly takes of his eyewear and smooths his hair.

    Malcolm gets to play with the baddies hunting toys and vows he'll be able to keep up with them.  He needs to have his away jacket unzipped all the time.  The hunters tease Archer about the mystery chick, saying they'll looks for his 'beautiful females' Malcolm is in the frame, and he snaps his head up so fast I'm sure he got whiplash! Now, was he preparing to defend his Captain or looking for chicks? Hmm....

    Malcolm looks like a dork with his little green eye piece and hand pistol when compared with the real hunting stuff the alien dudes have.  The Eska is their real name, btw.   They fight over hunting what they aren't supposed to and send Malcolm away. Idiots.   One of the hunters is wounded, and Malcolm is the one who patches him up back at the camp. Does Malcolm have medical training?  He patched up Archer in Broken Bow, too.  Everytime the head Eska contests Archer, they show a pissy Malcolm in the frame. Go bad Boy! >80)

    T'Pol thinks Archer is nuts and suggest he wouldn't care about this chick if it were a scantilly clad male. So true! They sit around the campfire with the hunters again, and hey! Malcolm is drinking on duty! What alien alcohol doesn't count to him?! T'Pol isn't drinking with them, but she is sitting next to but slightly behind Malcolm.
    T'Pol says these wraiths seem intelligent, and Reed turns to her, but doesn't look directly at her.  He realizes what the aliens are doing and crosses his arms!  Back on board Enterprise, T'Pol and Malcolm both agree that there is little they can do to help the wraiths.  T'Pol says more of the Eska will come back, and Malcolm says they are well armed and no the terrain. They are like twins that can finish each other's sentences!
    Malcolm nods his head while Archer blabs.  The Captain vows that even though its a girl he only imagined he'll be damned if he's going to let anyone shoot her.  Reed would be proud, and T'Pol would find it admirable.