Azati Prime

Written by: Manny Coto

Directed by: Alan Kroeker

As Enterprise closes in on Azati Prime, Archer orders Trip and Mayweather to familiarize themselves with the confiscated Xindi pod so that they can use it to penetrate the planet's atmosphere without alerting the Xindi to their presence. As Mayweather attempts to decipher the different controls, he discovers reverse. I loved Trip's response to Mayweather: "Great, but unless we plan on flying in ass first, we'd better figure out how we can fly forward!" Typical Trip zingers!

I got a chuckle out of Scott's expression when Trip and Mayweather "bumped" into Enterprise with the Xindi pod. Archer's eyebrows raised and his face showed apprehension as if he were a father watching his son attempt to parallel park for the first time. Archer takes the incident in stride and in fact makes a joke out of it in an effort to relieve some of the stress. I loved the line as well as the expression on Scott's face when he uttered, "No problem... I'll send you the bill!"

The look on Trip's face when Mayweather announced that, "I think I'm getting the feel for her," (referring to piloting the Xindi vessel) was funny as well. Trip never utters a complaint; he just closes his eyes and shakes his head slightly before resuming his duties.

Normally I don't really "hear" the music that is playing in the background unless I specifically make a point to listen for it, but in the scene where Archer has given the order to fire on the Xindi post which had just scanned them, the music, for me was a real attention-getter. It definitely added to the gravity of the tough decision Archer made to destroy the facility along with killing the occupants inside.

Just as Archer is preparing to "march into hell," Daniels shows up. It only takes seconds to determine that Archer is not pleased with his interference. I believe that Scott demonstrates the best portrayal of anger that I have ever seen him do! It wasn't overkill, but he certainly got the emotion of his anger across, which was clearly validated in his eyes and facial features. In an effort to convince Archer that he must change his present course of action, Daniels whisks him 400 years into the future to show him the Battle of Procyon Five, where the Federation was at war with the Sphere Builders. I was a bit confused about this section of the show. I had to wonder why, when Daniels informed Archer that the Xindi had joined in alliance with Humanity and in fact were serving onboard Enterprise J, he didn't take that valuable information into account. Archer was even given proof when Daniels presented him with a coin-shaped Xindi medallion. Archer always gets frustrated with others when he himself tries to present proof of time travel and is viewed with skepticism. The quantum dating of pieces of the Xindi spaceship from the wreckage on Earth and trying to convince T'Pol that time travel was possible in the episode Carpenter Street are just a couple of examples of this. So why did Archer's character change course in midstream? It reminded me of Trip when T'Pol and Phlox were trying to explain about the surgery that Archer needed in the Twilight episode -- Trip wouldn't listen either. All he could see was what was directly in front of him. Same with Archer -- and that's not really following Archer's character. Throughout his career as Captain, Archer has looked at the bigger picture. But, that said, Archer was probably concerned that if he did take Daniels advice and try to make contact with the Xindi, there was no guarantee that they would believe him, thus jeopardizing the whole mission. Archer's fear that the Xindi would more than likely attack, and possibly destroy, Enterprise seemed to be what convinced him in his own mind that it was necessary for him to take out the weapon first.

Now we see the roles of T'Pol and Archer being reversed. T'Pol is willing to accept Daniels version of the future, but Archer is not. T'Pol informs Archer that she does not wish him to die. This display of emotion from T'Pol stopped Archer in his tracks. His eyes turned from surprise to sympathy. She tells him that his death is not necessary. He responds by telling her that he wished that were true. The expression on his face shows recognition that there is more going on with T'Pol than just her standard "logical" objections -- but he does not have the time to sort it all out. Archer refuses to waver from his decision to go. He flashes her an acknowledging nod -- maybe of appreciation -- then he turns and walks away.

I liked it when you see Phlox and Archer saying their goodbyes -- you see that they are both struggling to not break down. Facial expressions from both men were good.

I liked T'Pol's emotional "breakdown" after the Captain left the ship. You see her will to carry on with the mission in jeopardy. She excuses herself from the bridge to be alone. You see her wringing her hands, and her eyes are tearing up. I liked the fact that when she brushed the tear from her eyes she looks at it as if it were a foreign substance. It was as if she had never shed a tear for anyone before. This leaves us with another "mystery" of sorts. You have to wonder what T'Pol's actual feelings for Archer are. Are they simply based on respect and admiration for the Captain that she has served with the past 3 years, or is it more intimate than that? Certainly, the emotions we saw demonstrated by T'Pol could go either way. You can love and care about someone without being in love with them. It is my hope that her display of emotional regret over the Captain's suicide mission is based on respect and admiration rather than her falling in love with the Captain... to me that would just be too "uncomfortable." I think the relationship should remain as good friends.

I liked seeing Degra's personal struggle with the decision to launch the weapon, and I liked the line when he wonders how their children will remember them.

I got a little choked up when Archer gave his farewell address to his officers. He reminds them that they were explorers first, and as soon as Earth was safe, he wanted them to go back to their first calling. Scott handled this scene very well. It was about what I would expect from Archer. He didn't want it to be bogged down by a lot of emotion; instead he wanted to give his crew hope for their future and the future of Earth.

I liked that even though we are finally given a piece of the puzzle as to who is really responsible for pitting Humanity and the Xindi against each other, we are also presented with yet another mystery. We are left to speculate as to the identity of the "she" that Degra mentioned. As Degra and a couple of the other Xindi council members begin putting two and two together they come to the conclusion that it was "she" who had probably helped the Reptilians to travel back in time against the direction of the council

I loved the dialogue between Archer and the Xindi guard. My favorite lines in this scene were, "They had brains the size of a walnut. That's very small. Apparently it's a constant in the universe!" I enjoyed the other witty jabs that took place when Archer was being beaten. The witty insults directed at the Xindi guard were the only way the Captain had to "defend" himself. I liked the line where Archer invites the Xindi Reptilian to try some turtle soup if he ever finds himself in the San Francisco area. What a hoot! Archer was strong and defiant and deliberately saying things to anger his abuser. After each blow delivered by the Xindi Reptilian, Archer still pulls himself back to his feet to stand before him -- another defiant act. Archer is tough as nails. He refused to give any information to the Xindi until he found out that they were going to attack his ship. Then, and only then, did he agree to talk -- not to save his own life, but the lives of his crew? I thought Scott's delivery and timing were great and well-executed.

When Archer asked to talk to Degra I had to wonder where he got the name of his third child. In the episode of Stratagem, Archer didn't know any of the kids' names, nor did he know which one was older (Hoshi gave him the names of Degra's kids). So where did he come up with the name Trenia, and how did he know that Degra's wife had contracted Anaprolean fever when she was three months pregnant, consequently losing the baby?

Now that plan "A" has failed, Archer initiates plan "B." He shows Degra the medallion from the future in an effort to convince him of the same thing that only a few hours ago he himself had not been convinced of. Again, Scott's facial expressions do a wonderful job portraying the intensity and desperation of the situation. I also liked that, once again, Archer demonstrates that one man can make a difference. In just a few hours after being captured he has managed to plant the seed of doubt in key members of the council. Go, Archer!

I think Degra gets further proof that what Archer has told him is correct because of the way the Xindi reptilians treat him and his colleague. Apparently, Degra has had some misgivings about his Reptilian brothers from past experiences with them. As one of Degra's colleagues quotes the saying, "Dealing with the reptilians is like bargaining with the sun. You make no progress and you come away burned." Degra recognizes that they are quick-tempered and impatient and they don't want to be "bothered" with trying to find the truth -- it would slow them down too much. They seem to have the mindset of "shoot first and don't ask any questions."

In the epilogue, as the ship suffers from the Xindi attack and you see all the destruction going on, one question pops into my head... do they not know how to "drop and roll" in the future? I guess that knowledge was lost at the same time they lost the "smarts" to backup their computers so some alien couldn't come along and delete their files!

The ending certainly was a cliffhanger just as Scott promised it would be -- but what I want to know is who ordered this six-week break between episodes? I have my suspicions that it is the Xindi Reptilians who are actually in control of UPN! This would explain a lot!

I believe that the special effects guys and gals had their hands full with this episode. The hard work that went into all the visual eye candy certainly added to the suspense of this show. Everyone did a great job!

Sarah's Two Cents

Turtle soup -- umm -- good! Tastes like chicken!