You Lost Me At Goodbye
2 May 2005
The rest of the world seems to be going ape-shit over the conclusion to the “In A Mirror, Darkly” storyline… so, I've watched the episode four times now trying to figure out whether I might have missed something... because, while it was good, it left me, in the end, unsatisfied.
Part of it, I think, is that (as with most of Enterprise's two-part storylines this season) , this one probably should have been allowed to run three episodes. The story, which began last week with a beautifully epic feel, seemed this week to have been a little bit cramped and rushed. Yes, I know that we are rapidly running out of time, and the foundation for the Federation needs must be laid before the final credits roll, but I, for one, would have gladly given up “Bound” altogether for a third installment of this storyline.
The story resumes just where last weeks episode ended. In the wake of the destruction of the Mirror Enterprise , Archer and crew manage to bring the Defiant's weapons and propulsion systems on line. The Tholians , desperate to hold onto their prize, begin to spin a web around the Defiant as she breaks loose of her moorings and prepares to exit drydock. The Tholian ships, however, prove to be no match for the Defiant's 23 rd Century weapons array , nor does the station the Defiant leaves behind withstand the onslaught of photon torpedoes. When all is said and done, all that's left is the Defiant and the doomed Enterprise's escape pods , which Archer orders brought on board.
In the briefing room, Tucker protests that he doesn't understand the Defiant's systems, explaining it could take two or three days to bring warp drive online. Archer retorts that he'll find a new Chief Engineer if warp drive isn't available in twelve hours. T'Pol suggests making use of the alien slaves who were still onboard the Defiant . Archer clears the room (with the exception of Mayweather) and makes it clear to T'Pol that she is only alive because he needs her, but that even a rumor of her plotting behind his back would be enough to introduce her to one of the Defiant's airlocks.
With no uniform options once they've shed their environmental suits, the original boarding party ( Archer, T'Pol, Tucker, Mayweather, and Reed ) is forced to don 23 rd century Starfleet uniforms. Oddly enough, they get the color scheme right, resurrecting the question: “Why did both Engineering and Security wear red in the original series?”
Hoshi , now aboard the Defiant , is admitted to the Captain's quarters , where she finds Archer wearing one of those green “swingers” tunics Kirk would sport from time to time in the original series. It seems Archer has been reviewing the Defiant's databanks, and has discerned that there was no Terran Empire in the Defiant's universe of origin, but rather a United Federation of Planets … or, as Archer describes it, a “Federation of Fools.”
Down in Engineering, Kelby reports to Tucker that someone has stolen the plasma regulators necessary to engage warp drive. A most irritated Tucker orders him to find the regulators, or face Archer's wrath.
Kelby's search lasts all of six seconds as something with rather grainy vision pulls the ill-fated engineer into its clutches. After a report from Phlox and a little good old-fashioned brutal torturing of the prisoners, Archer learns there's a renegade Gorn loose on the ship.
As Reed and Archer try to use the Defiant's internal sensors to track down the Gorn , the Gorn contacts the bridge… offering Archer the stolen plasma regulators in exchange for a shuttlecraft and safe passage off the ship. Archer demands the regulators first, but the Gorn notes that humans cannot be trusted. Enraged (and taunted by an invisible image of himself, which I didn't fully understand) , Archer personally leads an assault team against the Gorn . Archer wins, but not until after a few of his men have been violently dispatched, and not without the help of T'Pol and the Defiant's gravity plating (and not until after we see just how kick-ass a Gorn can look unencumbered by 1960's special effects and budget restraints).
Later, it turns out that it's not only Archer and Hoshi who have been reviewing the historical databases… so have T'Pol and Phlox , who gather in the Officer's Mess to nonchalantly discuss the fate of Major Reed , who was badly injured in the battle with the Gorn . Phlox claims he was merely comparing literary works between the two universes (offering that the plays of Shakespeare were equally grim in both) , while T'Pol points out that in the Defiant's universe, Vulcans and Denobulans are considered equals with humans. Phlox notes that such information is dangerous and muses that the Captain should restrict access to the database. The discussion is stopped short by the familiar sound of a Red Alert as Archer calls the crew to battlestations.
It seems the Defiant has met up with the Imperial assault force , only to find that only the I.S.S. Avenger , under the Command Admiral Black , remains, though on the brink of destruction at the hands of rebel forces. Archer quickly dispatches the rebel ships, including a fleeing Vulcan vessel (much to T'Pol's chagrin), allowing only an Andorian fighter to escape to tell the tale.
Archer brings Admiral Black and his First Officer, Soval (sporting a goatee) , on board the Defiant , and asks that Black give him a battlefield promotion to Captain of the Defiant. Black notes that the Fleet Admiral has other plans for the Defiant , after which Archer (again taunted by an invisible image of himself) produces a 23 rd century phaser and vaporizes the Admiral.
Aboard the Avenger, Archer informs what's left of the crew that it's Starfleet Command that is responsible for the Empires battlefield losses, and informs them that he's going to use the Defiant to stage a coup.
Behind closed doors, T'Pol and a reluctant Soval plan a little coup of their own, after T'Pol convinces Soval that Archer , who blames the Vulcans for inciting the rebellion, will lay waste to their homeworld should he succeed in taking the Emperor's throne. By promising him unlimited concubines, the plotting Vulcans enlist the aid of Phlox , who pledges to disable main power on the Defiant long enough for Soval to destroy it. And Soval does manage to fire off a few good shots before Tucker is able to take Phlox down and restore power. The Defiant's shields and weapons are once again active… and the Avenger is destroyed with a screaming Soval sitting in the Captain's Chair.
Archer is gloating in bed with Hoshi as he muses aloud on his plans for expanding the Empire. Hoshi hands Archer a beverage, which he promptly downs, and which promptly kills him… but not before he sees Hoshi plant a big wet one on Mayweather , who's been standing outside.
Backed up by Mayweather and an armed Maco, Hoshi strides onto the bridge of the Defiant, and informs Starfleet Command that unless they immediately surrender, she will begin opening fire on 'Earth's Cities' . When Starfleet Command demands to know who she is, Hoshi responds “Empress Hoshi Sato.” End of episode.
The promise of last week's episode would have been tough for almost anyone to make good on, but screenwriter Michael Sussman and Director Marvin Rush make an admirable attempt. Overall Rush's direction seems less nuanced than that of James Conway (who directed Part I)… Conway seemed to be able to elicit more considered performances, while the characters seem to get away from the actors from time to time in Part II… most notably (and disappointingly), the Vulcans . T'Pol and Soval are both a mass of emotions… as T'Pol tries to convince Soval to join her in destroying Archer and the Defiant , and Soval as he and the Avenger are about to be atomized. A primal scream on the brink of death? Spock would have hung his head in shame.
Rush does have a penchant for action and suspense, however, as evidenced by the battle with the Gorn … which seemed to be “tacked on” to the episode as a present for fans more than it seemed to be an integral part of the story. Again, I understand that time is running out, and after three years of having Berman and Braga thumb their noses at me, I guess I should be grateful for every honest-to-God Trek reference Executive Producer Manny Coto is trying to throw my way. As for the Gorn … bravo. A well-done creation that pays just enough homage to the dime-store costume used in the original series, while giving us the deadly, menacing Gorn we should expect today. Hell, this thing looked better than the Tholian , and I thought the Tholian looked pretty good. This thing was mean, and menacing, and I thought there the makin's of a “Die Hard” type story… but, it was only a two-part story.
The device of having an invisible Archer talk to himself seemed silly and out of place… and further undercut the strength of the confident, ambitious Archer we saw in Part 1. As Phlox said, Archer is only delusional if he lacks the power to carry out his threats. Near as I can tell, he didn't lack the power to carry out his threats. I'm looking forward to listening to the Podcast to find out why that device was added, because right now it strikes me as a colossal blunder that weakened the episode without really offering anything in terms of plot or story.
But the biggest disappointment was the ending. Not that Hoshi betrayed Archer and grabbed for the power herself… in fact, that was pretty damn cool. I most certainly did NOT see that coming! But the fact that the Defiant was not destroyed sets up a major continuity problem. If the Archer -era Terran Empire had access to 23 rd century technology, then Mirror Universe technology should have been at or near Next Generation levels by the time Kirk and Co. stumble aboard the I.S.S. Enterprise.
I am all for tackling original series lore, and I'm incredibly impressed by how elements of “Mirror, Mirror” and “The Tholian Web” were skillfully woven to create this tale, but, dammit… if you're doing this as a “Valentine to the fans,” you have got to dot your “I's” and cross your “T's” when it comes to continuity and I think the ball was dropped. Perhaps my mind will be set at ease when this episode is revisited 40 years from now? I'll wait, because until that little matter is resolved, this “In A Mirror, Darkly” will never be as satisfying an experience for me as it should be.
Okay. That being said, cigars all around for the folks who did their homework. Every sound heard on the Defiant was right out of the original series. When Reed displays the Gorn's location on the main viewer, even the sound of the image being magnified was faithfully reproduced. The level of detail on the bridge, in the Captain's quarters, in the briefing room, even in the background in the commissary was extraordinary, touching, and appreciated. I don't know how they did it. I mean, I remember so much ado about recreating the set for the “Scotty” episode of Next Generation … I know the fourth season of Enterprise didn't have the proportional budget of Next Generation , so… I'm even more in awe of what they were able to accomplish. At the same time I am blown away by (and deeply grateful) for what they did choose to update, namely the weapons fire and the flying shots. It just goes to show how timeless the design of the original series “Constitution class starship” really is. To the production team I offer a heartfelt “thank you.”
Had the second episode been less rushed and more epic, and the acting as crisp as that seen in part one, I would continue my all for “In A Mirror, Darkly” to be released as a standalone DVD. Unfortunately, Part II's weaknesses are too glaring, and robs the story of it's epic feel. It's still a damn fine story, though, and told pretty well. If it weren't for the survival of the Defiant at the end, I'd call the two-parter pretty damn close to perfect. But, as Renee Zellweger said in the Mirror Universe version of Jerry Maguire , “You lost me at goodbye.”
Bill Gordon is co – owner of the Sci Fi related Message Board Cylon Alliance and co founder and president of the Colonial Fan Force campaign . Bill kindly volunteers his times and energy as a regular contributor to Sci Fi Pulse and can be reached via the Cylon Alliance forums.
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