[OT] Enterprise's "The Xindi" - Review - SPOILERS
Gisele
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"The Xindi"
Story by: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Teleplay by: Rick Berman & Brannon Braga
Directed by: Allan Kroeker
Synopsis followed by review:
The season three premiere opens with a scene depicting the Xindi Council.
There we see representatives of the five species of Xindi discussing the
weapon they plan to use to destroy Earth and the fact that an Earth ship
has entered the Delphic Expanse. The insectoid-Xindi, who seems to be the
most paranoid, suspects that more ships will come as it thinks it is an
invasion. What appears to be the Xindi leader requests one of the species
attending that he find out more about this Earth ship.
Having entered the Delphic Expanse, Archer and crew proceed to search for
the Xindi homeworld. Archer receives information from a freighter captain
that a Xindi can be found on a mining colony. Upon arriving, Archer and
Reed take a shuttlepod to the planet and speak to the foreman who requests
half a litre of liquid platinum as payment for letting Archer meet with
the Xindi.
Archer returns to the planet but with Tucker this time. He meets with the
Xindi and requests the coordinates to the Xindi homeworld. The alien
demands to be freed as he tells Archer the miners are forced to work in
the mines. T'Pol contacts Archer to tell him that three heavily armed
warships are approaching Enterprise. Archer decides to leave but finds
that he and Tucker are now prisoners. It seems the foreman is in the
business of entrapping ships and their crews to replace the workers in the
mines. The foreman contacts Enterprise and tells T'Pol that Archer will
be a while returning to the ship. T'Pol suspects that something is wrong
and tells Reed to prepare a plan to rescue Archer and Tucker. Major Hayes
of the MACOs suggests to Reed that it would be better to leave Reed's men
on the ship in case they are boarded and that Reed take Hayes' men instead
to rescue Archer and Tucker.
The Xindi tells Archer that he knows a way out of the mines. They have to
go through the sewers to get to an abandoned plasma duct. The foreman is
told that the three have escaped and orders that plasma be re-routed
through the conduit where the escapees are located. In the nick of time,
Archer, Tucker and the Xindi enter a maintenance hatch before being killed
by the plasma. Waiting for them there however are the foreman's henchmen.
The foreman orders them to take Archer and the others to the surface and
shoot them. Just then, Reed and the rescue team arrives to save them. A
firefight takes place but Archer and the team escape. The Xindi dies from
wounds he received in the firefight but manages to give Phlox the
coordinates to the Xindi homeworld before dying.
Enterprise arrives at the location given by the Xindi only to find debris
spread across 80 million kilometres. T'Pol suggests that it was
originally a planet. Archer is furious but decides to venture further
into the Expanse.
Trip who has been having trouble sleeping and having nightmares about his
sister for some time goes to see the doctor for help once again. Phlox
tricks him into visiting T'Pol as he thinks Vulcan neuro-pressure
techniques would be better for Trip than another hypospray.
Meanwhile, the Xindi Council is aware of what has happened. They know
that Enterprise is headed for the Orassin Distortion Field. They decide
to wait and see if Enterprise makes it through this part of the Expanse.
The insectoid-Xindi warns that he will have the ship destroyed with or
without the Council's approval if the weapon to destroy Earth isn't
deployed soon.
Review:
The first thing I noticed was the change in the theme song for the show.
It sounds nicer somehow but I wish they had changed it to an instrumental
instead and perhaps made it more sci-fi-ish. I can see how this tune is
going to get tiresome very quickly although I do like it at this point.
We get presented from the get-go in the teaser to the Xindi species. I
have to say the CGI work is impressive no less as the insectoid-Xindi
looked quite real along with the aquatic species. It's also refreshing
to see non-humanoid aliens added to the mix.
This intro-scene was quite efficient in showing the differences between
the species. The aquatic-Xindi and the humanoids seem to be more
intellectual while the insectoids are downright paranoid and extreme. The
reptilians have a decidedly evil persona while the furry ones seem to be
more laid-back. But we do sense the urgency in their deliberations and
how perplexed they are to have discovered an Earth ship being in their
neck of the woods. The Insectoids see it as a prelude to an invasion
while others see it as a coincidence. Having been told that humans are
responsible for the destruction of the Xindi homeworld in the future, it's
understandable that they would be alarmed by the humans' presence in the
Expanse.
We also get to meet some of the MACO (Military Assault Command Operations)
soldiers early on in the episode. Later we see a female soldier which we
weren't introduced to and I hope we get to meet her too as she's quite the
fighter. In this scene we see how Major Hayes (Steven Culp) is a
no-nonsense type. He's itching to get on with things. One thing however,
their uniforms look a bit odd what with the white splotches on them
although the overall color is appropriate I guess.
We get a glimpse of the weird effects of the Expanse in a quick but
effective short scene taking place in the cargo bay. It is mentioned that
there have been other anomalies happening on the ship. It would have been
nice to have a bit of humor here with perhaps a mention of what those
previous anomalies were but humor was not to be found in this serious
episode save for the T'Pol and Trip scenes.
Speaking of T'Pol, she looks so much better in her new outfits and softer
hairdo and unless I'm imagining things, she looked more Vulcan somehow.
Nonetheless, it looks like Ms. Blalock will continue to be used as a sex
object. Not that I mind much since Mr. Trinneer is also used in this
manner here. They are both attractive and sexy so I'll admit I enjoy the
odd sexy scenes with these two as they do have chemistry together. It's
also fun to watch a somewhat innocent and reserved Mr. Tucker get put in
highly sexual situations like this one. There's just something about the
guy that just makes you want to, well, enough about that. Nonetheless, as
much as I like sexiness in the show, too much of a good thing can become
somewhat tawdry sooner than later if overdone. I still have yet to see
more subtle and more mature approaches to sexuality although we did see
some glimpses in the second season episode "Stigma" in the scenes with Dr.
Phlox' wife and Trip. Double-entendres and suggestion are quite effective
especially with actors like Trinneer and Blalock without such overt
demonstrations of just how sexy they are. And I can't help but wonder how
Vulcan neuro-pressure treatments will stop Trip from having nightmares.
Stephen McHattie did a great job as the sleazy, corrupt foreman. When he
says to Archer with that smile: "I imagine you must have a very large
crew.", let's just say you can't get creepier than this. Richard Lineback
is also noteworthy as the hapless Kessick.
The action scenes were well done and this episode overall was well-paced
and well-directed. I like that the fight scenes were a bit more realistic
what with bones breaking and all. Unfortunately, this episode is nothing
more than a standard, action-oriented sci-fi show however as nothing
really original happens here. Still, it does set-up some interesting
future storylines. The new alien threat is intriguing, the MACOs are a
good addition, the main characters are changing and growing for the most
part, the new command-center is interesting and all in all the show is
looking good. But they'll have to come up with fresher ideas if the show
is to survive. Caves sets HAVE TO GO. Archer being captured has to stop.
Nonetheless, I like the new, edgier Archer. He can fight for a change.
Trip is as charming as ever although we are seeing the effects of his
sister's death which is great. T'Pol is much improved in appearance and
Phlox is as weird as ever. Reed is put-off by the MACOs but does come to
appreciate them. I hope we see some ensemble shows as I'd like to see
more Mayweather and Sato although not necessarily episodes devoted to them
exclusively.
I give this one a B-.
Gisele La Roche
ilov...@lycos.com
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