Azati Prime

Just when you thought that the worst captain in the history of Star Trek couldn't sink any lower, Archer proves you wrong again and even tops himself. Because he no longer wants to be responsible for the deaths of crew members under his command, he simply carries out the suicide mission himself - and thus accepts that his ship and his crew will be leaderless and thus possibly exposed to even greater danger (incidentally, exactly what happens a short time later). Somehow Archer doesn't seem to have understood what the job of a spaceship captain is and what responsibility he has for the ship, the crew and the missions.

He is also stubborn as ever. Even agent Daniels' facts don't dissuade him from his stupid plan. And then he carries out this plan poorly: either the mission is to destroy the weapon or it is to start diplomatic talks with the enemy. Even the Xindi point out to Archer that it is strange that he initially wants to destroy and kill the weapon and the Xindi there, but then suddenly wants to talk after he is captured.

Archer lacks strategic vision. He actually only acts out of anger and instinct and not based on a well-thought-out plan. It's downright painful to watch - especially as he becomes increasingly emotional, loud and selfish in his speeches to his officers. I had a brief hope that he might somehow blow himself up and then T'Pol would take over as captain for the rest of the series. But that would have been too good to be true.

It has become a one-way mission, a kind of kamikaze attack on the Xindi weapon. Archer decides to fly it himself because he feels he can't be responsible for any more killing. Unfortunately, he is captured before he can deliver the payload. Prior to his departure he receives a visit from Andrews who tells him that he must not die on this mission. The future would be changed with horrible results. He must survive and he must negotiate. Archer won't buy this and goes off. He has been given artifact from the future to negotiate with. The warm blooded Xindi are somewhat receptive because they are analytical, but the reptilian seem to control things. As the episode ends, the Enterprise comes under deadly attack with great loss of life and damage. Certainly, one of the most exciting episodes in Star Trek history.

This episode is nothing more than nearly an exact copy of Star Wars. The "weapon" looks almost exactly like a Death Star and the idea of a catastrophic train reaction explosion from torpedoes is also almost the same - so is the idea of a suicide mission.

I would not be surprised if Disney or Lucas Films files a lawsuit for copyright infringement.

I'm trying so hard to give this series another chance, but it's just sooooo boring. When there is more action / violence than actual story, I just start nodding off.

As an Original Series fan, I feel quite offended that the franchise has been degraded in this way.

I find myself asking the question WWJKD (what would Jim Kirk do)? The answer would take one episode and leave some humour time at the end for Jim, Spock and Bones. In 'Enterprise' it takes a whole *&^k$%g series.....🤦‍♀️ Scott Bakula was so miscast in this. I love him in NCIS New Orleans.

One of the best star trek episodes ever produced. The pathos the episode is capable to transmit is at very high level, making it very close to episodes like "the best of both worlds" in TNG or "Angels' Sacrifice" in DS9. The episode is a turning point of the whole season, things will happen differently and faster after it. Emotions, honor and battle are the main topics of the episode, and some stress-driven decisions will hit the spectators for the lack of humanity, a concept often shown during season three of Enterprise. 40 minutes of pure star trek style that are likely to be the most remembered of the series. One certain thing is that you won't be able to wait for the following episodes after seeing at this one.