3.11: Carpenter Street

[Dave]

T'Pol and Archer have to go undercover in 21st Century Detroit to hunt down two Xindii Reptilians who have travelled back in time to perform some dastardly deed.

This has given the art department an opportunity to do what they enjoy best. The set called for a realistic rather than futuristic design, so they have had to make set details with back-lit 'burgerland' menus, graffiti and urban posters. As usual these have been filled with in-jokes, using the names and visages of the crew to depict rap artists and boxers.

edit: Crewman Daniels returns

 

[ray gower]

Update

From Radio Times
When this episode, Carpenter Street, aired in the USA, it was set in the future, but now it's here in the UK, it's a present-day drama.

Set in 2004, it has Captain Archer and T'Pol on Earth trying to track down a Xindi splinter group.

If truth be told, the reasons for them going back in time to 2004 are extremely flimsy and the show knows it, but get past that and it's an entertainingly unusual twist on the contemporary mystery format.

 

[Dave]

I thought the video had recorded the wrong programme until the Xindii appeared. BTW there were three reptilians not two.

They obviously have Universal Translators :rolly2: otherwise how would they have such a good grasp of colloquial 21st century English?

It was okay, better than last week, provided they don't do this much more. We've already had too much Time Travelling in 'Enterprise'. Interestingly, Daniels said that he had no knowledge of the Xindii-Earth conflict, so we are definitely in an alternative Timeline in Enterprise from the rest of Star Trek.

I think this kind of story is what Manny Coto does best, but after last weeks debacle, I hope he can write the usual stories too.

I could see no real reason for the Xindii to travel back in time to test their weapon, and no explanation was given of how they achieved the time travel. Archer's question -- why do they need a second weapon -- wasn't answered either. Nor was there an explanation of why it was vital to test the virus on eight different blood groups.

The ending was quite cute with the police thinking the man was 'on something' -- Lizard men with ray guns. And him calling T'Pol a 'Veggie'.

 

[ray gower]

No idea what they gained by setting the thing in present day USA as opposed to the US in fifty years time either, but Hey-Ho.

I am desperately trying to forget the Xindi each and everytime I watch Enterprise, their reappearance was not welcome. Trying to forget there is supposed to be a story arc too, because so far it doesn't make any sense and hate time hopping with some passion. But at least they have admitted they have mucked things about.

Nor did Daniels appearance, as usual. Why couldn't he go back and sort things out, he is the time spy after all and surely he should be trained for that sort of thing? Why not pick on some mug from the US in 2004 (or whenever)? Why strand the Enterprise heroes?

But if we ignore the imponderables and stupidity- Not a bad episode. Even with the toothache from grinding teeth for the first 15 minutes.