3.22: The Council

[Dave]

Archer confronts the Xindi Council. This will be the episode in which Ray Gower predicted that Archer will give them a stiff talking too.

from StarTrek.com

Following the archetypal pattern of the mythic "hero's journey," Captain Archer enters the inmost cave of the enemy in the very intense and ambitious third-to-last episode of the season, "The Council."

Spoiler

The script, written by Manny Coto, has Archer approaching the Xindi Council on their home turf to argue why the two peoples should make peace and the planet-destroying weapon should not be deployed. Meanwhile, T'Pol, Reed, Mayweather and a MACO infiltrate a Sphere in order to gain information about the so-called "Sphere-Builders," a mission which proves to be far more perilous than expected. The story is rife with shocking twists and turns, and at the risk of sounding like a UPN commercial, the ending will have you on the edge of your seat.

David Livingston helmed this installment, his fourth of the season - tying Roxann Dawson for most directorial outings this year.

As mentioned, this is a highly ambitious episode with a larger than usual guest cast and a wide array of swing sets, and more than the usual amount of visual effects to be integrated with those sets. As the title implies, a good chunk of this segment is spent in the Xindi Council Chamber, which we've seen several times before, but now we'll get more of a geographical context for this setting. We learn the chamber is located in an "Avian Stronghold," an ancient artifact of the extinct Xindi-Avian race. Swing sets such as an Avian Corridor and Residence will combine with post-production effects to create this environment. Sets representing the interior of a Sphere also made extensive use of "greenscreens" behind the actors where the cavernous nature of the structure and other digital effects will later be inserted.

Degra's Ship continues to play a part, and new sets representing various sections of a Reptilian Ship were built. A lot of time was spent inside a standard Shuttlepod, along with standing ship sets including the Bridge, the Command Center, the Ready Room, Engineering, Sickbay and Corridors. Most of the NX-01 sets are still pretty trashed, reflecting the damage suffered in "Azati Prime" (airing next week) and "Damage" (airing seven weeks later).

 

[Dave]

Since most of the NX-01 is trashed, Archer and Degra are forced to endlessly walk up and down the same piece of corridor with the same repairs taking place.

It was good to see more of the other Xindii species and to flesh out more of the characters within the Xindii council.

Hoshi Sato also had her biggest role this Season, I expect that to continue next week since she has now been kidnapped by the Reptiles. In fact, it did use everyone of the main cast for once.

It was good that Trip forgave Degra, but a little convenient that it occurred shortly before Degra got killed.

I also liked the introduction of the first ‘Redshirt’ in history – Corporal Hawkins.

It left me wanting more, which must be good because that hasn't happened very many times since I've been watching 'Enterprise'.

One thing, if anyone has this taped can they check what kind of Tapeworm Dr Phlox uses to keep his weight down. I'm fairly sure that he said it was a Talaxian Tapeworm. I just wondered how he visited the Delta Quadrant. If he did, we should watch him more carefully as he could be a sphere-builder spy!

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

Originally posted by Dave
Since most of the NX-01 is trashed, Archer and Degra are forced to endlessly walk up and down the same piece of corridor with the same repairs taking place.

It was good to see more of the other Xindii species and to flesh out more of the characters within the Xindii council.

Hoshi Sato also had her biggest role this Season, I expect that to continue next week since she has now been kidnapped by the Reptiles. In fact, it did use everyone of the main cast for once.

It was good that Trip forgave Degra, but a little convenient that it occurred shortly before Degra got killed.

I also liked the introduction of the first ‘Redshirt’ in history – Corporal Hawkins.

It left me wanting more, which must be good because that hasn't happened very many times since I've been watching 'Enterprise'.

One thing, if anyone has this taped can they check what kind of Tapeworm Dr Phlox uses to keep his weight down. I'm fairly sure that he said it was a Talaxian Tapeworm. I just wondered how he visited the Delta Quadrant. If he did, we should watch him more carefully as he could be a sphere-builder spy!

Well i'll start with the most important thing first. I did tape the ep today and just went back and listened to the scene where Phlox tells us what tape worm makes the atkins look a waste. of time.

I think it sounds more like "Danaxian" Tape Worm, subtle difference but an important one; meaning he didn't meet Neelix's great great great great great grandfather and ask for a Talaxian Tape Worm.

I thought this was a very good episode, it advanced the season, had a good plot and we learned more about the xindi.

Hopefully in the next ep we'll also find out what info the away team gathered from the spheres.

So there is a sixth Xindi race and they built the structures where the Council sits, didn't Degra say that they were more than 4000 years old...hmm. I wouldn't have killed off Degra necessarily but if i did i might've waited another episode or two and made it a bit more honourable if that is the right word.

Archer's going to take the whole kidnapping of Hoshi more than a bit personally i think [we'll see that develop next week], Commander thingiebob [can't remember his name, the Rreptilian Xindi Leader is gonna get it, can they kill a Guardian? that woman is dserving as well.

As per usual, i'm looking forward to next week..

Nick,

 

[Mariel]

Originally posted by Dave
.One thing, if anyone has this taped can they check what kind of Tapeworm Dr Phlox uses to keep his weight down. I'm fairly sure that he said it was a Talaxian Tapeworm. I just wondered how he visited the Delta Quadrant. If he did, we should watch him more carefully as he could be a sphere-builder spy!

Ok so I tape it every Sunday night and I was able to go back and check for you. I put on my closed captioning and it was spelled Nexian on the captioning. But that doesn't mean he's not a sphere-builder spy
:blpaw:

 

[ray gower]

Originally posted by Dave
Archer confronts the Xindi Council. This will be the episode in which Ray Gower predicted that Archer will give them a stiff talking too.

And I was about right!
Next week mass suicides?

 

[Dave]

Thanks for all the re-winding. I still don't trust Dr Phlox! It's those feet!

 

[Annette]

LOL you are coming out with some classics today Dave.

Can someone tell me who plays the now 'new' captain of Degras ship? Its been bugging me for the past few weeks. Anyone know?

The episodes are as you say becoming more 'interesting'. I do feel sorry for Trip - with losing his sister - but I'm sure he wasn't the only one of the crew to lose someone. It seems as tho they are concentrating on this and he was forever taking a pop at Degra. It wasn't all his fault. At least he did eventually 'apologise' to Degra.

Good eppy overall. Made me cringe about the tapeworm inside Phlox. Ewwwwwwwww!!!!!!

annette

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Annette
Can someone tell me who plays the now 'new' captain of Degras ship? Its been bugging me for the past few weeks. Anyone know?

Guest Cast:
Randy Oglesby as Degra
Tucker Smallwood as Xindi-Humanoid
Rick Worthy as Xindi-Arboreal
Scott MacDonald as Reptilian Commander
Josette DiCarlo as Sphere-Builder Woman
Sean McGowan as Hawkins
Bruce Thomas as Reptilian Soldier
Andrew Borba as Reptilian Lieutenant
Mary Mara as Sphere-Builder Presage
Ruth Williamson as Sphere-Builder Primary
Eric Lemler as Helm Crewman

I've read speculation that the Xindi Council might be the basic concept that leads to the formation of the United Federation of Planets. What do you think?

 

[Annette]

Thanks Dave for that. I thought I recognised him, he was a sheriff in the x-files in the episode Home.

"I've read speculation that the Xindi Council might be the basic concept that leads to the formation of the United Federation of Planets. What do you think?"

Who knows eh? It had to start somewhere, where better than in Archers time.

annette