monkee reviews 'Stratagem'
First Impression: Excellent!
Together Again, For the Very First Time: In one of the series most intriguing teasers, Degra awakens to find himself on an alien shuttle with a scruffy, pony-tailed Archer, and no recent memories. The shuttle is under attack by Xindi Insectoid ships. While fending off the attack, Archer tells him that the two of them have just escaped from an Insectoid prison, where they have been cellmates for the last three years. Degra, Archer says, has no memory because he's been infested by bloodworms, which the Insectoids were using as a truth serum, to extract information about the weapon from him.
Degra doesn't want to believe it, but he can't deny the facts around him: the shuttle, the stars outside the viewport, the prison tattoo, the bloodworm slithering just beneath his skin, and the inherent plausibility of Archer's story, which he continues once they've disabled the Insectoid ships. He tells Degra that the weapon was successfully completed and deployed, and Earth and Enterprise were both destroyed. The Insectoids, however, were using Earth and the weapon as a diversion while they built up their own fleet once the Earth-destroying mission was complete, they turned on the other Xindi species.
The Face in the Viewport: The story contains just enough of a grain of truth to shake Degra. He keeps looking at his reflection in the viewport, as if he's trying to confirm even his own identity in the bizarre situation he's found himself in. Don't know where you are? Check the window. Don't know who you are? Check the mirror. It's exactly what Archer does when he wakes up on Ceti Alpha V in 'Twilight.' It's what anyone would do, and Degra does it throughout the episode. I thought it was cool.
Eventually, though, he can't help but begin to trust Archer, who removes the bloodworm from Degra's arm, and offers him the only breathing mask when there's a coolant leak because 'you're the one with a family.' Now that they've escaped, Archer says, they can try to locate Degra's family. Degra says they were at a colony near a red giant.
As Archer and Degra begin to bond a bit on the shuttle, however, the discerning viewer sees that Archer's responses are subtly off, and begins to suspect that all is not as it appears. This is confirmed when Archer hypos a sleeping Degra, and exits the shuttle. It's all an elaborate ruse. The shuttle is a simulator set up in one of Enterprise's cargo bays. Archer is trying to get information from Degra, and has apparently decided that this might be a better way to go about it than the old decompress-the-airlock trick.
Three Days Earlier...Enterprise was re-evaluating debris from the weapon test ('Proving Ground') when they detected a Xindi scout ship. Because of the radiation, the scout ship couldn't detect them. They took the scout ship by surprise, and then boarded it. Degra and two others were on board, and they were thrown in Enterprise's brig.
This part of the episode was a bit of a stretch for me. I can't understand why that debris field isn't swarming with Xindi, who ought to be closely evaluating the debris themselves. And if the Earth-destroying mission is of so much importance to the Xindi, why would Degra allow himself to be captured? It's too risky, even if he has erased all of the scout ship's files. He should have ordered a self-destruct it would have been the responsible course of action. But then I guess we wouldn't have had an episode, would we?
The Set-Up: Archer questioned and threatened Degra for information, but wasn't having any luck. Degra and the others were hostile, and, of course, convinced that Earth was such a threat that their mission was entirely justified. Archer sensed, perhaps, that torture wasn't going to be effective, and Phlox said that truth serum would take weeks to develop and synthesize. He had, however, discovered a way to erase recent Xindi humanoid memory engrams. Time was of the essence, so Archer decided to go for the ruse. Trip and Reed started working on the simulator, Hoshi studied fragments of personal letters found in the scout ship's decimated files, Archer and T'Pol concocted the back-story, and Phlox provided the tattoo and the bloodworm. (He seemed a bit reluctant to part with the bloodworm, actually. He didn't want it harmed!)
This was a lot of fun to watch. They can be such an effective crew when given the opportunity. And, for once, everyone had something to do!
Back to the Grand Illusion: Archer's been given an anti-intoxicant, so he and Degra continue their bonding over a bottle of Andorian Ale. This was my favorite scene, because even though Archer's sole focus is to get information from Degra, he can't help but discover some things about him along the way. Degra expresses a fierce protectiveness for his children, and regret because he knows innocents were killed on Earth, too, because of the weapon he designed. Although Archer still doesn't know exactly what the Xindi were told about the human 'threat,' he can see that threat is very real to Degra. The more he learns about Degra and the Xindi on a personal level, the more likely he'll be to make good decisions about them down the road.
Archer's Expressions: When Degra speaks of the weapon and the initial attack on Earth, Archer can't seem to control his facial expressions. You can see the sadness and anger clearly. This isn't a problem for the scenario, because Degra would surely have to expect that. For the viewer-in-the-know, it's working on two levels, because it gives us a look at Archer's real emotions, too. Bakula did a wonderful job with this scene.
Reluctant Trust and Residual Suspicions: Degra, too, is beginning to see Archer as a person instead of a generic villain. Yet the situation is still strange, and residual suspicions linger. When they receive a garbled transmission from Degra's colleague, Thalen, on the red giant colony, Azati Prime, they're informed that Degra's family is all right. Archer wants to set a course, but Degra is reluctant to give him the coordinates. He even apologizes for his lack of trust. "You must forgive me," he says, "To me, it's been only a day since we were enemies. Giving you the coordinates to a classified installation...it's difficult."
As well it ought to be, too, since 'Thalen' is really Hoshi's voice electronically disguised. Archer let's Degra input the coordinates himself no problem, obviously, since he's inputting them into the simulator. Any trust that might have been regained is moot, though. The radiation in the debris field (where Enterprise is hiding because other Xindi ships are approaching) is interfering with Enterprise's systems, including the systems being used to create the simulation. As Trip and Mayweather frantically try to compensate, there's an electronic flash in the viewport, and Degra sees it. When Archer can't correctly answer a question about his children, Degra attacks him. The MACO's have to bust into the simulator, and the game is over!
Only it's not over, because now Degra wants to play, too. He claims that he suspected all along, and the information he 'revealed' about Azati Prime was false. Archer's been assuming that Degra's family would be located near where the weapon is being constructed, but now Degra claims that Azati Prime is an Insectoid colony, and the last place his own people would go.
This was a welcome complication in the episode (as well as a necessary one, since there were still fifteen minutes left to go!). Archer can't simply go check it out, because Azati Prime is a three-week diversion, and Archer knows they're running out of time. He needs to know for sure, but Degra has cast a shadow of doubt over the hypothesis.
Check and Mate: Violent turbulence awakens the three prisoners in the brig, and Reed takes Degra and the Xindi engineer to engineering. Enterprise is trying to duplicate one of the Xindi subspace vortices, and Archer demands that the Xindi help to stabilize it if the ship explodes, they'll all die. The Xindi refuse, even though the situation is dire the reports coming in from the bridge are grim, and consoles are exploding all around. Suddenly, the turbulence stops. Trip reports that Mayweather created an inverse warp field, and they've returned to normal space.
Archer has Degra brought to the bridge, where Azati Prime's red giant looms on the viewscreen, and Reed reports that they're detecting Xindi ships and kemocite. "You'll never get close to the weapon," Degra shouts. "Our defense perimeter will destroy you!" Archer smiles, and has the REAL view from the viewscreen re-established. They're still in the debris field. They never even attempted to create one of the vortices, but now, thanks to Degra, they know that the weapon IS being built at Azati Prime. Poor Degra it was one of those 'fool me once, shame on you fool me twice, shame on me' things, and he turned out to be the fool.
Stratagem: The episode's title is perfect. The cat and mouse game that Archer and Degra play throughout the entire episode is quite effective. We THINK we know that Archer's winning the battle of strategies, but we can never be one hundred percent certain. Archer and Degra (as well as Bakula and Randy Oglesby) play the balance between trust and suspicion wonderfully. And what's especially nice is that despite the ongoing game, they really are learning things about each other. Real things that may well come into play later. Well, at least for Archer, anyway...
A Mystery: Degra, unfortunately, won't remember anything at all about it. Enterprise leaves the three Xindi unconscious in their shuttle, with their memories erased. It will appear as though they had a plasma accident. The only lingering mystery will be the wiped files.
While this is absolutely necessary, it's a shame. A big reset button is pushed on Degra's character development, and the Xindi will continue to have no real knowledge of what humans are like. They'll still be working only with what they've been told. For now, anyway. But at least Archer knows his 'enemy' a little better.
Continuity: What a great arc they've built up this year! The writing has been tighter than usual, and quite creative. This episode ties in especially well with 'The Shipment,' and last week's 'Proving Ground.' There are also some nice details from the series as a whole, like the bloodworms (I wonder if one is still lost somewhere inside Reed's leg), and the Andorian ale (Shran would surely approve of its use, here).
Character Interactions: Archer and Degra stole the show this week, and I've already discusses how impressed I was with them. But the whole crew was involved in the story, and it was fun to see Reed in the big chair, and T'Pol and Sato working together so well in the command center. Even Mayweather got a piece of the action! Sure, I missed Porthos, but that's okay. This once.
Archer Watch: Archer rocked this week, and you know how much I hate to admit when that happens! He refrained from space-thuggery, and came up with a creative solution. And he kept his cool in the simulation, and maybe even learned a thing or two about his enemy, although he didn't let that get in the way of his primary goal of gathering information. And can you believe it? He won a battle of wits with a worthy opponent. Dare I say it? He was almost like...Captain Kirk!
And on an utterly shallow note his scruffy self looked darned good in that ponytail. <g>
Mayweather Watch: He was an active part of the team, which is about the most the character can expect these days. But BONUS! He actually got a funny line, too!
'shipper Watch: Mercifully, there was no 'shipper fodder this week. And I say 'mercifully' because it looks like there might be a little TOO much of it next week. But I'll try to reserve judgement...(monkee mutters darkly about illogical, jealous Vulcans)
Best Lines:
"The conflict between our people is over. We both lost." (Archer, to Degra)
"It's been a while since you referred to those overgrown grasshoppers as 'your own people'." (Archer, to Degra, regarding the Insectoid Xindi)
"The Insectoids were always an aggressive species, but I never thought them capable of this. They destroyed everything the council worked for!" (Degra, to Archer)
"Your people killed everyone I ever cared about. I was going to make sure you NEVER walked out of that cell." (Archer, to Degra)
"I've learned that our work, in the end, means very little. Our real legacy is our children. I would do anything to protect mine." (Degra, to Archer)
"Seven million lives were extinguished before my eyes. I asked myself, 'How many of them were children?'" (Degra, to Archer)
"We were told you were ruthless, but I didn't know you were also skilled at deception." (Degra, to Archer)
"Thanks for your help." (Archer, to defeated Degra, once the game is played out)
"I think you overdid the turbulence just a little, Ensign." "I'll try to do better next time, Sir." (Archer and Mayweather)
Rating: 9/10. Very good addition to the arc.
Next Week: While the rest of the country feigns outrage about Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's Superbowl 'costume malfunction,' Trek geeks everywhere are talking instead about T'Pol's backside. It's gotta be a sweeps month! This monkee is muttering darkly about illogical, jealous Vulcans, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens, right? Right.
One Last Thing: Rumors are flying fast and furious some confirmed, others just speculation. Enterprise IS going to be temporarily switching times. But is the show in real danger of cancellation? Are Rick Berman and Brannon Braga's jobs in jeopardy? I really don't know, and I'm just not going to let myself get too worked up about it until I do. I will say, though, that I've always liked Enterprise. I liked its original 'explorers' theme in the first two seasons, and I've been enjoying the darker Xindi arc this season even more. I think the show has truly hit its stride, and I'd hate to see it come to a premature end. As for B & B...well, I've bitched about them off and on for years, and I will NEVER forgive them for dropping the ball on Voyager when it had so much potential. But gosh to fire them? Just when they're FINALLY starting to get a clue about balancing arcs with stand-alone stories? Just when they've realized that they can't fill up a third of a season with mediocre episodes and focus on a few huge two-parters? I think it would be a shame. I'd give their replacement(s) a shot, but I can't help but think about the old expression, 'Better the devil you know..." I'd encourage all of you to support the show in any way you can, lest we be left with nothing but trashy reality television in the future. Support it by watching it. Support it by debating with those who are unfairly criticizing it. Support it by writing a letter or two to your local station, to Paramount, to UPN. If you're able, head over to the Enterprise Project, and make a small donation (this site also provides addresses for those letters of support.) Every little bit of good karma helps! Personally, I can't imagine a world without Star Trek!
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