T'Pol is recalled to Vulcan to answer for her role in the Andorians' discovery of the P'Jem listening post. However, before she goes, Archer decides to take her on a mission that leaves both of them captive.

This is really quite odd. It all begins quickly with Archer and T'Pol's shuttle being fired upon. Next thing you know, they're prisoners, held captive in someone's damp basement. Now, okay, things happening, but it's as it someone's skipped over a bit of action somewhere. They can't just be attacked in the sky and be captured that easily, surely? However, this isn't the last bit that seems to be missing.

To retrieve T'Pol, a Vulcan ship arrives, wanting to attempt a rescue of their officer as well. Then we have some Andorians on the planet who've been monitoring Vulcan communications on the planet, the leader wanting to repay a debt and rescue Archer. This is where it all starts to get confusing. We never really know why Archer is visiting this planet except to make nice with the locals. We don't ever find out why there's a rebel faction trying to overthrow the government, except being told the government is corrupt. We don't know what use they think Archer and T'Pol will be, how the Vulcans factor in, or what any Andorians are doing on the planet. Presumably they weren't waiting for Archer to pop by.

And then it finishes. The writers introduce a load of plots and sub-plots, then there's a rescue attempt, T'Pol gets shot, and it's all over. Why are we told nothing? Why is so long spent on Archer and T'Pol trying to escape when in the end they need assistance to manage it? What do the Vulcans really want? What's their problem with the Andorians? Why do they fall for Archer and Phlox's 'Oh, she's going to die" routine when clearly she only got one little gunshot wound? And anyway, this solves nothing as they'll be back in a couple of months to take her back. While I didn't really want this to be a two-parter, it's the way it just comes to a dead stop that bugs me without resolving anything much. Or did I blink and miss it?

***

Would you like to go to the Enterprise Season One guide, head back to the main TV reviews page, read older reviews in the Reviews Archive or return to the front page?