If you think Phlox cleaning his tongue is gross, wait'll you see what Archer does in this episode.
Porthos gets sick while visiting the Kreetassans, causing Archer to stay up all night. In Sick Bay.Tropes in this episode include:
- Absurdly Youthful Mother: 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.
- "Ass" in Ambassador: 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.
- As You Know: 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.
- 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 "the Four Musketeers" (presumably indicating that Porthos' brothers were named Athos, Aramis and D'Artagnan).
- Bizarre Alien Biology: Phlox mentions that the Denobulan lemur can have more than one head.
- A Day in the Limelight: Of a sort; it's the most focus that Porthos gets in the series, anyway.
- Erotic Dream: Archer dreams of himself in the decontamination chamber with T'Pol, Hoshi...and Porthos?
- Excrement Statement: Archer threatens to be the next one to "water" the Kreetassans' sacred trees.
- Freudian Slippery Slope: As Archer tries to apologize to T'Pol, e.g. "Send me your lips... lisp... list!"
- He's just doing the breast he...the best he can.
- Friend to All Living Things: Hoshi effortlessly (and gently) catches the Pyrithian bat after Archer and Phlox have both tried and failed.
- I'm Standing Right Here: Hoshi contacts T'Pol in the gym to tell her about the Kreetassans' reconciliation demands, not knowing that Archer is there as well.Hoshi: (chuckling) The captain's not gonna believe this—
Archer: You'd be surprised, Hoshi!
Hoshi: (Oh, Crap! face) Captain, I—
Archer: It's all right, Ensign. I'm on my way. - Informed Ability: Despite his claims that he's a trained diplomat, Archer refuses to accept the blame for offending the Kreetassans.
- It Always Rains at Funerals: It does when Archers dreams about attending Porthos' funeral. Leads to him and T'Pol sharing an Umbrella of Togetherness.
- It's All About Me/Never My Fault: 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.
- Jerkass Ball: The typically easy-going Archer becomes insufferable once he learns that Porthos is ill.
- Never Trust a Trailer: Much like "Cogenitor" and "Bounty" later this season, the trailer
focuses entirely on the brief sexual tension sub-plot. - Pardon My Klingon: Phlox curses in Denobulan while trying to catch his escaped Pyrithian bat.
- Shout-Out: Porthos receives a Calrissian chameleon's pituitary gland in a transplant.
- Skewed Priorities: While one can sympathize with Archer being worried over his sick dog (even if, despite 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.
- Sniff Sniff Nom: Phlox checking whether whatever glop Archer accidentally spilled on him was poisonous or not.
- Straw Vulcan: 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 Star Trek: The Animated Series 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.
- Trivially Obvious: 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...
- Urine Trouble: Archer brought Porthos along to the negotiations, but Porthos ended up urinating on the Kreetassan's sacred trees.
- 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.
- 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.
- You Need to Get Laid: Archer, as Phlox points out.
