Mainly I liked "Shipment" as a part of the on-going arc, moving the plot forward interestingly and giving some intriguing back story. But I think it suffered from too much talking and not enough showing. The episode pretty much boiled down to Archer and Gralik talking, the latter pretty easily coming to believe Archer's story and betray his own people. It seems they injected the "seeker" episode as a way to break up the otherwise long talking sequences. They needed to do something more visual to convey the story.
For instance, let's say the MACO (not the major) argued over whether to destroy the facility or not. Reed agrees with him but Archer says they won't destroy it because Gralik is helping them. Then have Gralik betray Archer to Degra and Archer and Reed pick up Xindi weapons to try and escape. The MACO decides he's going to set off the blast and destroy the entire colony for vengeance. Archer has to go back to stop him because despite Gralik's betrayal, Archer cannot allow the MACO to kill innocents. In a show down with the MACO, Archer shoots him rather than let him blow up the colony. The Xindi weapon has no stun, so the MACO is vaporized. Gralik witnesses this act, proof of Archer's convictions, and he then helps Archer and Reed escape AND poison the shipment.
Of course this would've alerted the Council to the Enterprise's visit to the planet, which for whatever reason the staff doesn't want to do yet. But I think the episode sorely needed something more than just Archer and Gralik talking, especially since it wasn't very credible that Gralik would so easily side with Archer.
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"I spot an Eagle, up in the trees / I for-get myself, into, what-I-see...
Caught a glimpse of another dream / I turned, and looked / I turned-and-looked-again / I see no trace!"
Hagar. "Eagle's Fly"
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 11:48:14 on Nov 04
RE: Ok, but...
by Hbasm @ 06:10:07 on Nov 04
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 12:10:25 on Nov 04
RE: Ok, but...
by Hbasm @ 18:29:37 on Nov 04
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 21:13:31 on Nov 04
RE: Ok, but...
by Hbasm @ 05:18:20 on Nov 05
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 18:09:46 on Nov 05
RE: Ok, but...
by Steve Krutzler @ 18:22:57 on Nov 05
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 22:54:39 on Nov 05
RE: Ok, but...
by Steve Krutzler @ 07:04:08 on Nov 06
RE: Ok, but...
by Reklaw @ 12:52:46 on Nov 06
RE: Ok, but...
by Steve Krutzler @ 12:56:38 on Nov 06
Deus really liked Shipment, while I found it one of the weaker of the year 3 episodes. This is not the first time we differ in opinion: Deus rated Rajin only above Extinction, while I consider it only second to Anomaly .
Some of the issues I have with The Shipment
Houston we have a problem... Just what is Enterprise's mission? I had thought that the single most important reason for Enterprise entering the Expanse was to destroy the Xindi planet buster. Now it's to avert a war? When and why did the mission change so quickly? Is this Star Fleet/Earth's government true objective for the mission; and if so, why are has there been no attempt at a diplomatic solution?
Can't we all be friends?...Having successfully penetrated the Xindi facility, Archer decides to capture the head Xindi and get information out of him. And, just how was Archer prepared to make the Xindi talk? Truth drugs, mind-melds, physical torture? Nope, the "plan" seemed to be just yelling at him at gun-pointand to prove that humans are "good" aliens that have been targeted unjustly by "bad" Xindi for destruction. Huh? Just what was Archer planning to do if Gralik refused to divulge any information, considered them to be criminals or worse , and do everything possible to escape (a much more reasonable outcome). Was Archer prepared to dispatch Gralik if he didn't cooperate?
It takes two to play good cop/bad cop.... Seems like Archer has lost his Captain Ahab persona after just a few weeks within the Expanse and is back to his old indecisive self. Archer couldn't even maintain his righteous anger when confronting Gralik. No wonder Gralik wasn't intimidated.
Gralik, the Xindi Patty Hurst.... When first confronted by armed and belligerent aliens, Gralik may have been doing everything in his power to stay alive in a captive situation - playing for time and hoping to find some way to save the sloth-Xindi facility from destruction. But why did he so quickly come to embrace the human cause that he not only offers no resistance, but actively helps first in their escape and then in sabotaging the Xindi weapon program? He may have seen it as a way of getting even with the reptilian Xindi for past wrongs (like blowing up the home world), but, Gralik must know that what ever the project is, it is being sponsored by the entire Xindi Council. Even if Gralik has some unexplained telepathic/empathic ability that allowed him to determine that Archer was telling the truth, what could possibly convince him that an active act of treason against his species is the moral high-ground. Isn't it just as likely that the Xindi Council has good reason to exterminate the humans? The only answer I come up with is that Gralik suffered a massive and total Stockholm syndrome. Did he only realized in the end that he may have messed up by selling out his entire species and hopes for the best?
Oophs, we blew up the planet...The story that Gralik gives Archer makes no sense. It totally fails to explain how six different Xindi species evolved to high intelligence on the same home world with DNA that differs only slightly but is manifested in widely divergent morphologies. Instead, we get a story how the six species were at each others throats until the insectoid and reptilian Xindi blew up their home world. Any physical force that is powerful enough to blow apart a planet is orders of magnitude more energy than would be needed to obliterate all life on Xindi (that a planet is tectonically unstable has no bearing on the amount of energy needed to tear it apart). Essentially, the insectoid and reptilian Xindi intentionally set off a doomsday weapon from which no Xindi could have hoped to survive. Could the insectoid and reptilian Xindi really have been that stupid?
Time for Trip to blow something up... I actually like the realism that accidents happen when confronting and reverse-engineering alien technology of unknown design. However, while everyone seemed to be aware that something could go wrong, but took minimal precautions. First, Trip and Phlox dismantle the rifle without any shielding or safety precautions. Phlox not knowing if the wormy things inside the rifle carry any pathogens, excrete poisonous ooze, or conduct a lethal energy charge simply picks it up and comments on its pet potential. I'm surpised he didn't taste it. Later when they decide to test fire the weapon, they set up shields around the target, but take no precautions themselves. Wouldn't it seem reasonable that an energy weapon of unknown technology may blow up after being dismantled, picked over, and reassembled? Why didn't they place both the weapon and target behind shields and trigger the weapon remotely? Good thing it was equipped with an overload timer (shades of Predator?)
I did not like this episode at all.
Having read the postive buzz and not being able to see the show Wednesday because of local sports coverage, I was expecting something really special.
It was not special at all.
It was Malcolm jumping on a rock for no particular reason and comically failing to shoot down the Seeker that summed-up the show for me.
And Archer's exit from the Xindi ship while the Xindi's backs were turned was right out of Scooby-Freakin-Doo!
Hell, even my VW beeps when the door is left open.
Mr Deus, you seem to be extremely kind to this episode and for the life of me, I cannot see why.
This was a fairly intelligent story which I much prefer over episodes like "Impulse". I rate it 9/10. I actually don't see how it could improve, considering the type of story. It was perfectly executed.
The review by O. Deus says "production values are somewhat lacking" but what are you comparing it to?? This episode has great looking effects, compared to all previous Star Trek and I'm very impressed by it. But I also have to say, ENTERPRISE do not need to push the envelope further, when it comes to effects. This is enough! The stories are more important.
All things considered, I found The Shipment to be a good, solid episode though not particularly suspenseful. The episode seemed to have trouble building any dramtic momentum after the house arrest of the Zindi. The worst of it had to be when all of them were wandering around in the woods for some unknown purpose.
The episode transitioned from activism to cogitation. Perhaps that was the point of it all. The understanding and trust that was developed Archer and the Zindi underscored Archer's emerging suspicion about the impending Zindi-Terran conflict. The suspicion being whether there is a third party acting as the puppeteer who is manipulating both races.
(nt)
Sure, you can have characters react to something in any manner the writer wishes for the character. They can react in a way that is dramatic or boring. Unfortunately, the writers in this story chose 'boring'. Plot comes from conflict between characters. Good fiction does not result from characters in harmonious settings. It derives from conflict. That was what was missing, a conflict derived from a very real situation where an invader has come into a character's life and home, threatening his security and way of life. Now I'm sure that in some situations when this occurs, the victim is compliant. That may be a valid choice for a person or character, but it makes boring storytelling.
Like so many other Enterprise segments, this one had me going for a moment (you'd think I'd learn). Just what would it do to our perception of these characters if, in order to keep their vitally important mission a secret, they were forced to "silence" a sympathetic alien whose involvement in the Xindi attack on Earth may have been inadvertent? Unfortunately, the show once again takes the easy way out, with Archer and Co. not having to confront any real questions of morality or make difficult choices. I'll give the ep a few points for another fine guest star turn and the as-always exceptional production values, but otherwise "The Shipment" was completely unmemorable. Note to Paramount: "unmemorable" is not how you promote interest in a failing franchise.
I really enjoyed "The Shipment." I recognized John Cothran, Jr., by his voice, but who knew he'd be so convincing as any alien other than a Klingon?
The only thing I didn't buy about the story was the Xindi sloth's willingness to betray the Xindi Council and sabotage his own work — especially after he kept reiterating how proud he was of that work.
OK, so the Xindi Council is up to no good with your product. So what? This is your *livelihood* we're talking about! You *depend* on getting work so you can maintain your business and your colony! It's not like there are any other jobs you can do on that planet.
If I'm a writer (and I am) and I hand in my manuscript to the publisher, and he or she rips it to shreds and publishes it in a different form, but with *my name* still on it, what can I do? I can't take it back. I'm a poor writer and I need the money so I can afford to sit at home and write another book.
Nope, just didn't buy the Xindi sloth's motivation.
But, again, I liked the show a lot. Berman and Braga continue to surprise me this season … possibly because they're letting other people do the writing!
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Lord Edzo, Dahar Master of the Klingons
"They're dead. You're dead. Cardassia is dead."
--Female Changeling to Garak, "Broken Link"
While I agree that it may have been more interesting to have made the alien scientists of the insectoid species, I can certainly understand why they choose to feature the sloth, primates, and reptiles. The insectoids are simply too expensive to put onscreen every week, and to show a refinery filled with them would have been far too much to expect out of a television budget. I thought it reasonable that they would select the sloth as our allies. They aren't the most human, yet their makeup is simple enough to put on screen in a cost-effective manner. B&B will clearly have to weigh special effects costs this season in order to keep Enterprise alive. Close-quarter interactions between humans and CGI insectoids would have been far too expensive to create, or I imagine they would be showing much more of that.
The primates seem almost as evil as the insectoids and reptilians. I'd say the hierarchy of evil goes [from most evil to least evil] Insectoid, Reptilians, Primates, Aquatics, and now the Sloth. This would seem to conflict with your theory of "the most alien" being "the most evil". If that were indeed the case, then the most natural ally for Archer and company would be the primates, right?
No I believe that B&Bs decisions concerning the villainization of the insectoids is more due to budget constraints than anthropocentrism. I do not believe Enterprise can afford the screen time necessary to make the insectoids into a believable Ally; therefore, the insectoids will have to endure the two-dimensional characterization of Villain.
... but the part on the "stay at home" commander was brilliant. Enterprise is horribly sexist these days and features far too many gender stereotypes. yuck!
I found 'Shipment' to be adequate but somewhat disappointing. Although Deus raves about the guest star's performance, I found it to be sadly lacking in reality. Here is a scientist who is apparently very busy and lives in a harmonious environment. Suddenly some unknown aliens invade his home, hold weapons on him, and threaten his life. Does he, a) try to resist at all, b) clearly show he's terrified, c) clearly show his defiance or anger, or d) none of the above? Incredibly, it's d. He basically rattles off information about his work and the Xindi and decides to trust these invaders. That simply makes no sense if the circumstances were to be real.
There were other little things that didn't ring true, either. Why have a fence around your compound if you weren't interested in some security? Yet the Enterprise crew can blast fences with phase pistols and traipse around in plain view without being detected at all? That was simply ludicrous. Also, in military terms, the major should outrank Reed and be subordinate only to Archer, T'pol, and Tucker. Yet Archer treats the major like a red shirt throughout the episode. Wasting Mr. Culp like that in the script was a writing no-no.
Although these items were problematic, the most troubling, by far, was the lack of understandable fear or anger from the Xindi scientist who rightfully should have felt violated by the landing party. Those reactions should have been there to create a barrier to the understanding that was reached between Archer and the alien, just as in Darmok, the language barrier created a formidible obstacle between Picard and the alien captain. Without the formidible obstacle the obtainment of the goal seemed unsatisfying and that's why 'Shipment' left me so cold.
jolly good episode. having watched enterprise from the very beginning, this one really tops it all. somehow this episode connected with me in terms of emotional availability and balanced pace of action. i thought the Xindi scientist was gonna get killed at the end by the insect. heheheh that'd be kinda funny. it's like, "ight cya" then blam, evaporate that sucker.
i really think this is truly one of the best episodes of all 3 seasons. next week looks interesting too, it may top even this week's. it's 2bad matrix revolutions comes out next week =^). everyone'll be at the movies and not home watching.
the thing about character development is you're gonna need time for that. b&b seemed to have forgotten that during the 1st 2 seasons and follow the screenwriting software's a/b storyline suggestions. in this one they seemed to have READ OUR MESSAGE BOARD!!! heheheh. hi2u! there's really 1 storyline with all the members working towards one common goal. the extra cool thing is they actually allow time for developing character now.
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"LET THEM DIE!!!"
(1)
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