Travis is chilling in the "sweet spot", when he gets called to the bridge. Admiral Forrest explains that a planet is shifting orbit between two gas giants, whose gravity will cause volcanoes on the surface, so the Enterprise crew has time to study it. Trip organises movie nights and talks a very reluctant (to the point where she even seeks a medical excuse) T'Pol into attending.
Travis plans to visit his family on the Horizon, the ship on which he grew up, only to get a message from his mother revealing that his father died. He and Archer go over the bad news, with Travis not only sad about Mr. Mayweather's death, but disappointed since the last time they saw each other was when Travis left, and his dad disapproved, wanting Travis to grow up to captain the Horizon instead. Archer, however, points out that despite Mr. Mayweather's disapproval, he was still proud of his son, as he wrote his job application and it described him in a very complimentary way.
Travis goes to the Horizon and talks with his mother and his old friend Juan. He then goes into his old quarters, which have been redecorated the same way they were when he was a kid, and then visits with his brother Paul, who is now captain, in the cargo bay. However, Paul is too busy to talk, and seems to be in a bad mood, coldly telling Travis to change out of his uniform.
Travis tries to update some devices on the bridge, but Paul enters and chides him for doing updates without his say-so. Later, Travis is visited in his old quarters by his childhood friend Nora, who's afraid that Paul isn't cut out to be captain, but Travis is still confident in Paul.
The Horizon is then attacked by aliens who don't answer hails. They try to retreat, but the aliens catch up, then Travis finds a beacon attached to the hull. The Mayweathers and Charlie Nichols discuss the situation and conclude that soon, they will either be intercepted by another ship who will demand cargo, or be attacked. Paul wants to hurry to Deneva ahead of schedule, but Travis wants to attack, leading to an argument between the brothers.
Meanwhile, on Enterprise, Trip, T'Pol, and Hoshi are preparing for the astronomical event, while Archer persuades T'Pol to go to movie night. On the Horizon, Nichols notices someone tampering with the impulse relays. Paul goes down to find that it's Travis, causing Paul to chew Travis out for leaving despite their father having the disease that ultimately killed him. Travis points out that when you're in Starfleet you must put your personal feelings aside, provoking Paul to claim Starfleet is at fault for taking away potential freight captains. He demands Travis undo his alterations, but Travis leaves instead. He talks to his mother in the mess hall, who assures him that Paul is simply under pressure and needs time to acclimate.
Archer, T'Pol, and Trip talk about the movie in the captain's dining room, where she reveals that she sees Frankenstein as a story about a persecuted victim. The three are soon interrupted by the volcanic activity on the planet. Meanwhile, the aliens return and want the Horizon crew to evacuate. Paul offers the cargo, but the aliens don't accept, so they fight them off with the enhanced plasma weapons (though allowing them to leave). When Travis leaves, Paul becomes more affable towards him and realises that Travis was not trying to undermine his authority.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Alternative Character Interpretation: In-Universe; T'Pol sees Frankenstein's monster as a sympathetic protagonist rather than the villain, and she sees the villagers as prejudiced instead of reasonably afraid.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Malcolm claims that if his parents lived on the Enterprise, he'd need to see a psychologist.
- Animate Dead: According to Phlox, there's a species with a method of reanimating the recently deceased that's not too dissimilar to what Dr. Frankenstein does in the movie.
- Call-Forward: On Travis' bookshelf on the Horizon, there's a book called "Chicago Gangs."
- Continuity Nod:
- The "sweet spot" is back.
- Trip mentions that western that T'Pol seemed to like.
- Travis and his mother discuss some of his adventures since Enterprise launched.
- A Day in the Limelight: A much-needed one for Travis (hell, the only one for Travis) in that the episode is focused on him and his family.
- Disappeared Dad: Travis's father dies in this episode.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: In-universe. The Horizon has a warning alarm when they prepare to jump to warp, along with the crew holding onto something.
- Hidden Depths: T'Pol ends up enjoying Frankenstein, saying it is a fascinating study of humanity. She says she's even going to recommend it for Ambassador Soval.
- Humans Are Bastards: T'Pol gets this interpretation from Frankenstein, and Trip and Archer are not at all comfortable with this.T'Pol: In many ways, the film seemed quite prophetic. The reaction of the villagers, for example. It was similar to the reception Vulcans received after landing on Earth.Archer: I don't recall anyone greeting a Vulcan ambassador with torches and pitchforks.T'Pol: Nevertheless, many humans reacted with fear and anger.Archer: They didn't know what to expect.T'Pol: I'm going to recommend that Ambassador Soval watch the film.Trip: ...you're kidding.T'Pol: I believe it would help Vulcans who've recently arrived on Earth. [Trip gives Archer a "You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!" face]Archer: Maybe inviting her to movie night wasn't such a great idea.T'Pol: On the contrary. I'm looking forward to Bride of Frankenstein.
- I Don't Think That's Such a Good Idea: Paul doesn't like Travis's plan of fighting back when the aliens attack the Horizon as he thinks it's too dangerous.
- Inter-Service Rivalry: The riff between the Earth Cargo Service and Starfleet is brought up again, with Travis' brother noting how not many people are signing on for the ECS.
- It Will Never Catch On: Travis says that Starfleet should put families on ships. Malcolm quips that if they did that, you'll need a psychologist on board.
- Noodle Incident:
- Archer says that he considered joining the cargo service in the years before Starfleet was chartered, but it's a "long story" as to why he didn't.
- Travis once locked himself in a cargo container. He doesn't like being reminded of this.
- Protagonist-Centred Morality: Arguably. Back in "Fortunate Son" in the first season, Mayweather was opposed to a freighter attacking enemy ships, but here he berates his brother for being unwilling to fight. It's not quite the same situation, though, as the "Fortunate Son" was trying to hunt down pirates for revenge, while here Travis is arguing that they should defend themselves from an attack.
- Shout-Out: Trip's three favourite horror movies are Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein, all of which actually exist.
- Sibling Rivalry: The Mayweather brothers conflict in this episode because they have different ideas about what should be done, and Paul is a bit scornful of Travis for leaving the Horizon for the Enterprise.
- So Proud of You: Archer assures Travis that his father was proud of him, but a devastated Travis can't help but point out that his father never got the chance to say it to Travis himself.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Travis is despondent that he never mended things with his father, who was disappointed when he joined Starfleet. Archer helps comfort him by saying that when he was looking through candidates for helmsman, the recommendation by Travis' father said "he had never met a more natural stick-and-rudder man, and [Archer] would be a fool to not pick him."
