Warp Five 38: A Silver Linings Playbook

Phlox.

Star Trek wouldn't quite be Star Trek without an alien on the crew. That outside voice to comment on humanity is key to examining ourselves through science fiction. With the Vulcans being portrayed differently from what we were accustomed to during Spock's time, Enterprise had to turn elsewhere for someone who could comment on events that were new to human explorers. Enter a new race, the Denobulans, and a new character, Doctor Phlox.

In this episode of Warp Five we're joined by Matthew Rushing for a close look at Phlox, the challenges in creating such a character in a prequel, his place amongst Chief Medical Officers, his role as defacto counselor aboard the NX-01, and the brilliance of John Billingsly.