Enterprise 1.25 FAQ

What’s it called?

“Shockwave.”

Who’s responsible?

Teleplay is credited to Rick Berman & Brannon Braga (“Broken Bow,” “Unexpected,” “Shuttlepod One”).

What does TV Guide say?

“Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew are implicated in the deaths of alien colonists in a well-crafted cliffhanger that concludes the series' maiden season. While en route to a Paraagan colony, a shuttle carrying Archer, T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) and Trip (Connor Trinneer) is knocked out of the atmosphere by a sudden explosion that kills the 3600 settlers below. Convinced that the Enterprise was somehow to blame, Archer is consumed with guilt, and his feelings intensify when Starfleet recalls the ship to Earth. As the crew prepares for the worst, a surprise visitor offers Archer startling new evidence about the colony's demise. Dr. Phlox: John Billingsley.”

Is it really well-crafted?

This is almost certainly the best installment of the series since the Suliban saved the Enterprise in “Cold Front.”

What’s TV Guide not telling us?

The episode is paced like lightning. All 3,600 settlers die in the teaser.

What else isn’t TV Guide telling us?

By the time the titles finish rolling, Archer finds himself in a personal hell. Not only does he believe himself responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocents, he believes he’ll be an old man before humans are allowed to pursue deep space exploration again – and that this too is his fault. “The mission’s been cancelled,” explains a sorrowful Archer to his senior staff. “From what the admiral tells me, Ambassador Soval will use this to convince Starfleet that we need another 10 or 20 years before we try this again.”

But the captain of the Enterprise can’t really be responsible for deaths of 3,600 sentients! Can he?

No. Turns out someone “violated the temporal accord.”

Ah! Then the “surprise visitor” is … ?

“Crewman Daniels,” the 31st century time traveler we saw vaporized in “Cold Front.”

So “Enterprise” has returned to the temporal cold war?

It has.

Is FutureGuy back?

He is. And his Suliban henchman too.

Last time FutureGuy and Silik turned up they prevented Enterprise from blowing up. Are they good guys now?

There don’t seem to be a lot of good guys fighting the temporal cold war. This week FutureGuy’s minions are behind framing the Enterprise crew for the 3,600 deaths.

Do we get a better look at FutureGuy?

Not too much better. While he could easily be Romulan or an unusually emotional Vulcan, his shadowy form almost seems this week to betray a Starfleet uniform. Or does it?

Is that big lock - the one slapped on the door of Daniels’ old quarters at the end of “Cold Front” - finally pried off?

It is!

Are there Andorians?

Not this week.

What’s great?

The show’s single biggest asset remains Jolene Blalock, who week in and week out almost beats Leonard Nimoy at his own deadpan Vulcan game. Check out that faintest glimmer of impatience as T’Pol reminds that the Vulcan Science Directorate concluded that time travel is impossible.

Also great? A philosophical chat between Phlox and Trip. T’Pol’s willingness to stand against the Vulcans. The extraordinary circumtances surrounding Archer’s first meeting with Daniels. Trip’s reaction to Archer‘s sudden leaps of engineering genius. The enduring creepiness of the enhanced Suliban. The improbable faculty with which the crew engages its murderous foes. And the mystery of FutureGuy’s renewed interest in Archer.

What’s not so great?

The final scene is so intriguing it almost hurts when that miserable “To Be Continued” title pops up.

How does it end, spoiler-boy?

Archer finds himself trapped with Daniels in an apocalyptic 31st century of their own creation.

Herc’s rating for “Enterprise” 1.25?

****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:

• ***** better than we deserve
• **** better than most motion pictures
• *** actually worth your valuable time
• ** as horrible as most stuff on TV
• * makes you quietly pray for bulletins

I am – Hercules!!

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