Plot – ‘Only a Vulcan could call a hundred years of oppression a compromise…’ There is definitely something worth tapping into when it comes to Archer and his crew involving themselves in the political affairs of other species. Freshly gracing the stars with their presence, humanity is making quite a name for itself amongst other races to a point where their fairness and expert handling of politics is being promoted. It’s a great angle for the show to take long term, and some of this shows best episodes sees the crew involving themselves in the affairs of races that we know very well. The suspense isn’t what will happen now, but what will happen in the future. The fate of the shape of the Quadrant that we know and love.
Character – ‘The Vulcan High Command doesn’t like me very much…and frankly the feeling is mutual…’ I can remember when I decided to stop watching Enterprise and save my television viewing time for a show that angered me less. It was quite early in season one when Archer’s distaste for Vulcans and Klingons simply did not marry up with how I felt a Starfleet Captain should behave. Frankly I felt that it spilled over into outright racism and it was something that he was not being pulled back on. I remember when Sisko was posted to DS9 and had figure out how to live with fiery Bajorans, cheating Ferengis and grumpy shapeshifters, a job he managed to do whilst respecting them and treating them all by their own codes of conduct. He never had that look of utter disdain and that sour tone to his voice that Archer has when dealing with races he doesn’t care for. It really bothered me and it’s here in spades in this episode, especially in the scene where he first meets Soval again. I don’t want to not like my Captain in any Star Trek show. I don’t mind not liking actions that they take (that happens all the time with Picard and Janeway) but I want to intrinsically like who they are. With Archer and his barely disguised xenophobia, I find that very difficult. It’s clear that there is some way to go before creating the United Federation of Planets.
Performance – Jeffrey Combs. What is there to say? He’s committed to every role he plays and actively manages to lift the reputation of one Trek show (Enterprise) and add a great deal of colour and charm to another (DS9) by his mere presence. He’s crucial on this show; providing a character who is great fun to watch and yet one you can take very seriously (doubly impressive given his absurd appearance) and whose appearances means that certain episodes are automatically worth a watch. Indispensable.
Production – I find it desperately sweet that the creators of Enterprise have remained loyal to the Andorian design despite the fact that it is miles away from the sophistication that we would come to expect from a show that is being made in the early 2000s. The only concession that they make to latter day animatronics is the twitching antennae on top of their heads which, if I’m honest, makes them look even more amusing. Not to mention a little rude. Bravo for nostalgia.
The whole production is extremely capable and on any level of television critique looks a million dollars. There are detailed sets, a realistic shuttle crash, firefights. However, no matter how much money you throw at a piece it is nothing if the director isn’t adding that extra spark to make the whole thing ignite. It’s competently done but never dynamic or exciting or any other word you might think of to describe the audience on the edge of their seats desperate to see what happens next. It’s more standard Trek firefight number 245. Remember The Siege of AR-558? Now that was a firefight that got the pulse racing.
Best moment – Archer being beaten up by a female Andorian. It’s the most fun you can have with this piece.
Worst moment – Enterprise has four seasons of varying quality (mixed is probably the kindest word I could find) but did it ever really recover from the choice of that song as the theme tune? It’s like stuffing Colin Baker (who played the sixth Doctor Who) into that coat. The show never quite leapt over that hurdle nor escaped the embarrassment of it for the entirety of his tenure. This show will always have that song as its theme song, and it is probably the moment that Berman era Trek jumped the shark.
The biggest surprise this episode could have delivered was that Shran was responsible for bringing down the shuttle and igniting the political situation. The least surprising thing they could have done was to make it his female aide who is questioning his decisions throughout. I’ll let you guess which route they went down.
I wish they hadn’t done that – I’ve watched six episodes of Enterprise now in this marathon watch and I have yet to see Hoshi (whose name I remember but that’s all I remember) and the pilot dude (whose name completely alludes me and he’s supposed to be a regular cast member) do anything significant. What is the point of these people? Trip wanders around the Bridge at one point and talks to both them and they both look extremely bored as if they recognise just how little they are getting to do too.
A reason to watch this episode again – Well it has Shran and some pleasing sentiments towards the end but Cease Fire has too much to it that really dislike about early Enterprise; dreary talk, flat action and a lack of atmosphere and suspense. I enjoy the idea of Archer involving himself in the affairs of other races but he comes with so much prejudice that any goodwill I might have built up for him is dispelled immediately. I actively disliked him throughout this story and how they managed to make Scott Bakula this disagreeable baffles me. This is a pretty dull episode in a pretty dull period of Trek (remember Enterprise comes in the wake of seasons six and seven of Voyager) and it is clear that a shakeup is urgently required.
** out of *****
Clue for tomorrow's episode:
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