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Context Recap / StarTrekEnterpriseS02E05ANightInSickbay

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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ent_nightinsickbay_185.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:If you think Phlox cleaning his tongue is gross, wait'll you see what Archer does in this episode.]]
3Porthos gets sick while visiting the Kreetassans, causing Archer to stay up all night. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin In Sick Bay.]]
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5----
6
7!! Tropes in this episode include:
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9* AbsurdlyYouthfulMother: Touched on when Dr. Phlox mentions that all five of his children are adults to which Archer replies that Phlox doesn't look that old. Alien biology is at play here.
10* AssInAmbassador: Archer brings his dog down to a planet known to be populated by a species that's very hung up on tradition and ritual, and the dog proceeds to pee on a sacred tree, greatly offending the aliens. He then spends the rest of the episode sulking over both the fact that the aliens got pissed off and the fact that his dog contracted a disease on the surface of the planet -- and only gets worse when the aliens demand an elaborate ritual of apology.
11* AsYouKnow: The dialogue in the teaser involves Hoshi, T'Pol, and Archer talking about how negotiations with the Kreetassans aren't going very well while they're in the decontamination chamber.
12* {{Backstory}}: We learn how Archer came to own Porthos in the first place, as well as where the dog got his name. Archer's ex-girlfriend, who he remained friends with, had a female beagle he was very fond of, and when she had a litter of puppies he was given one. There were four male puppies in the litter, whom Archer calls "[[Literature/TheThreeMusketeers the Four Musketeers]]" (presumably indicating that Porthos' brothers were named Athos, Aramis and D'Artagnan).
13* BizarreAlienBiology: Phlox mentions that the Denobulan lemur can have more than one head.
14* ADayInTheLimelight: Of a sort; it's the most focus that Porthos gets in the series, anyway.
15* EroticDream: Archer dreams of himself in the decontamination chamber with T'Pol, Hoshi...and [[Rule34 Porthos?]]
16* ExcrementStatement: Archer threatens to be the next one to "water" the Kreetassans' sacred trees.
17* FreudianSlipperySlope: As Archer tries to apologize to T'Pol, e.g. "Send me your lips... lisp... list!"
18** He's just doing the breast he...the ''best'' he can.
19* FriendToAllLivingThings: Hoshi effortlessly (and gently) catches the Pyrithian bat after Archer and Phlox have both tried and failed.
20* ImStandingRightHere: Hoshi contacts T'Pol in the gym to tell her about the Kreetassans' reconciliation demands, not knowing that Archer is there as well.
21--> '''Hoshi:''' ''(chuckling)'' The captain's not gonna believe this--\
22'''Archer:''' You'd be surprised, Hoshi!\
23'''Hoshi:''' ''(OhCrap face)'' Captain, I--\
24'''Archer:''' It's all right, Ensign. I'm on my way.
25* InformedAbility: Despite his claims that he's a trained diplomat, Archer refuses to accept the blame for offending the Kreetassans.
26* ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals: It does when Archers dreams about attending Porthos' funeral. Leads to him and T'Pol sharing an UmbrellaOfTogetherness.
27* ItsAllAboutMe[=/=]NeverMyFault: Archer goes out of his way to blame the Kreetassans, even though ''he'' was the one who brought Porthos to their homeworld (which resulted in Porthos urinating on their ''sacred trees''). He is also willing to jeopardize the safety of the ship by focusing his attention on Porthos, rather than apologizing and ensuring they get the vital piece of equipment that they need.
28* JerkassBall: The typically easy-going Archer becomes insufferable once he learns that Porthos is ill.
29* NeverTrustATrailer: Much like "[[{{Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS02E022Cogenitor}} Cogenitor]]" and "[[{{Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS02E025Bounty}} Bounty]]" later this season, the [[http://youtu.be/A2y8gF57NqY trailer]] focuses entirely on the brief sexual tension sub-plot.
30* PardonMyKlingon: Phlox curses in Denobulan while trying to catch his escaped Pyrithian bat.
31* ShoutOut: Porthos receives a [[Franchise/StarWars Calrissian]] chameleon's pituitary gland in a transplant.
32* SkewedPriorities: While one can sympathize with Archer being worried over his sick dog (even if, despite [[NeverMyFault his protests]], he was basically responsible for getting Porthos sick in the first place), as captain he has a responsibility to his ship and his crew, which he is severely neglecting. T'Pol actually calls him out on this, but he angrily brushes it aside. Worse, he also allows his own ego to interfere with the diplomatic side of the mission, complaining about being required to give a formal apology on the grounds that it will make him look a fool.
33* SniffSniffNom: Phlox checking whether whatever glop Archer accidentally spilled on him was poisonous or not.
34* StrawVulcan: In yet another example of the show doing this to ''actual'' Vulcans, T'Pol speaks disparagingly about the concept of pet ownership, even thought we'd seen all the way back in ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' that Vulcans ''do'' keep pets. One could perhaps chalk this down to T'Pol just not being much of an animal lover, but the dialogue clearly tries to imply that her attitude is standard among her people.
35* TriviallyObvious: When Archer asks if there are dogs on Denobula, Phlox replies that there is a type of lemur which could be considered "dog-like" -- it has a tail and fur, and ''most'' have only one head...
36* UrineTrouble: Archer brought Porthos along to the negotiations, but Porthos ended up urinating on the Kreetassan's sacred trees.
37** Archer himself threatens to urinate on the Kreetassans' sacred trees himself if Porthos doesn't get better and fast. Not his most dignified moment to be sure.
38* {{UST}}: Between Archer and T'Pol. Clearly one of the many things affecting Archer's judgement today. Interestingly, it was never brought up until to this point and it wouldn't be referenced again afterwards.
39* YouNeedToGetLaid: Archer, as Phlox points out.

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