"Audiences may find themselves caught up in a genuine sense of dread and alarm," he writes. "The 24th century cybernetic organisms begin to assimilate elements of the comparatively backward 22nd century so quickly and brutally and efficiently, it begins to look as if they’re going to be running the entire Alpha Quadrant within days. Performances are strong all around, but John Billingsley and Linda Park turn in some especially sharp work."

Herc says the teaser and first act of tonight's landmark episode take place entirely on Earth and there is some interesting continuity involving Zephram Cochran in the episode. While the resolution involving Phlox may stretch credulity, he says, the episode is awarded 3.5/5 stars.

Over at IGN Filmforce, KJB is more cautiously optimistic about the episode, muting his praise behind worries that it will only be a brief respite from the usual fare.

"The episode works for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) doesn't mention the sport of water polo, Trip (Connor Trinneer) doesn't crash land on any planets with an alien female or try to change an entire society and the Chief of Security, Lt. Reed (Dominick Keating) gets to blow something up without having to get into an argument about it. Even T'Pol is markedly less irritating in this episode although [Jolene] Blalock still plays her character with all the gusto of a live mannequin at a department store."

The rest of the review is decidedly anti-Rick Berman, describing a photo of Borg from the episode as "the ENT writing staff after a meeting with Berman."

Reach the full AICN review here. You can reach the full IGN review here.