Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3212

The Council
By Manny Coto

Archer tries diplomacy.


· Previously on
· Did they essentially say that Archer and company were succeeding? Well that takes some of the suspense out of it.
· A sphere expedition. The MACO is dead meat.
· So the sphere builders already know. Doesn’t that cause a problem for Degra?
· The Sphere Builders are like gods.
· Reptilian sun lamps.
· Hey, it’s Mayweather!
· The chamber.
· Oh, God. We’re depending on Archer’s speaking skills. Earth is doomed.
· The exhaust port? Rather convenient.
· So what needs to be vented?
· At least Trip’s still pissed.
· Oooohh, Archer’s a bad boy.
· Yep, knew Degra was going to buy the farm the moment Trip apologized.
· A worm? Shades of Dax.
· “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
· The weapon’s on the Council planet?
· The Xindi have transporters?
· Why Hoshi?

On a pure “Setting up the action episode” this one worked but I still found it rather paint by numbers (who didn’t know that Degra was going to get killed and the Reptilians would launch the weapon anyways). The pacing has almost always seemed off on this arc. But then I've never felt any urgency in this arc to begin with
I also felt that Trip gave up his anger to easily considering everything but all the other hand, considering the hap hazard writing of this element, I suppose that it shouldn’t be a total surprise.
And I’m assuming that the sphere expedition will yield something.

I’m feeling generous though and I’ll give this a B- although this may be subject to revision.

(My review next week will be delayed as I will be out of the country).

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Registered: Jun 2002
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I thought this ep was on par with some of the best Star Treks from any of the series. Also surely one of the best eps from this series. You've got some major issues if this only yields a B-. I doubt anyone on this planet would be able to live up to your expectations. My vote is for A to A+, but it's only a vote, as yours was. BTW, great line re: Archer's public speaking voice; definitely had me ROTFLMAO! Also, did anyone notice that everyone is now hurtling toward Earth? I'm also wondering what the heck they wanted with Hoshi. It might be that the reptilians want to make it difficult for Archer to communicate, but most of it looked automated by now, except for some of those insectoid dialects. The ending left more suspense that any other Enterprise eps, that's for sure!

Don't feel the urgency? Are you nuts?

Sam

Last edited by sjm3rd on 05-13-2004 at 12:37 PM

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What does MACO stand for? Marine.. ???
Nice that nothing was being expelled out of the exhaust port. Plus if anything was, wouldn't it be noticable... hence the cloak shield would be useless.
Killing Degra suprised me, I figured he would only be seriously injured with the Doc healing him up.
They probably picked Hoshi because they probably scanned her at the counsel meeting. I guess you have to have a scan of someone to differenciate between different humans.
How was the weapon launched with just 2 codes? even though the reptilian says "we are aware we only have 2 codes"

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Registered: Sep 2001
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quote:

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Originally posted by jeepair
They probably picked Hoshi because they probably scanned her at the counsel meeting. I guess you have to have a scan of someone to differenciate between different humans.
How was the weapon launched with just 2 codes? even though the reptilian says "we are aware we only have 2 codes"

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quote:

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Originally posted by jeepair

They probably picked Hoshi because they probably scanned her at the counsel meeting. I guess you have to have a scan of someone to differenciate between different humans.

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Registered: May 2002
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I really enjoyed this episode. Granted, it may have had a little too much cliche as far as Trek writing goes, but it still had a lot of good action, and I felt the urgency.

I think Enterprise might actually be staging a comeback. Since it returned from its 5 week break in April, it's really had some great moments.

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This was one of my favorite episodes so far. Not perfect, not groundbreaking, but the acting and writing and pace were all clicking this week. We're actually getting some payoff for this long storyline.

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I would have to go back and check but did anyone catch who directed this ep?

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IIRC, David Livingston was the director last night.

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Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:

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Originally posted by sjm3rd
I thought this ep was on par with some of the best Star Treks from any of the series. Also surely one of the best eps from this series. You've got some major issues if this only yields a B-. I doubt anyone on this planet would be able to live up to your expectations. My vote is for A to A+, but it's only a vote, as yours was. BTW, great line re: Archer's public speaking voice; definitely had me ROTFLMAO! Also, did anyone notice that everyone is now hurtling toward Earth? I'm also wondering what the heck they wanted with Hoshi. It might be that the reptilians want to make it difficult for Archer to communicate, but most of it looked automated by now, except for some of those insectoid dialects. The ending left more suspense that any other Enterprise eps, that's for sure!

Don't feel the urgency? Are you nuts?

Sam

---

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Dallas, Nation of Texas
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I agree with the previous poster's spoiler/prediction.

It wasn't a bad episode. I like the aquatics. I've always (even before TOS) had a problem with there being so many verbal language using bipeds in the world. It just doesn't seem like evolution should be QUITE so predictable on so many different planets in so many different situations. It's like saying "we may not all come from monkeys, but the end goal is that we all have four limbs, walks around on the hind two and make noises with our eating holes."

I liked T'Pol being all serious and in charge for a change. I liked that the security folks finally stopped squabbling. I liked that they had the guts to kill someone. I liked seeing sci-fi action (people in space suits and laser weapons firing). I could've done without the Insectoids altogether. Maybe they could have had Pandoids or Lionoids instead.

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Registered: Jun 2001
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I'd also agree with the spoiler/prediction, but don't think it's necessarily the end of the world that it's predictable. It's a rare show that isn't predictable. I'm pretty sure we all knew from the outset that Archer et al. would stop the Xindi weapon from reaching Earth, one way or another, and most likely not through killing all of them. So as the episodes progress and more information is provided, the predictions become more focused.

I guess my expectations for Enterprise aren't as high as other shows I watch, so I'm generally satisfied with what I get from it, and thought this episode was good. After all, if you never expect a grade higher than a "B" for a show, a B- isn't bad!

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Registered: Oct 2002
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If they're hinting that they're going to be killing off a regular actor on Enterprise, I'm disappointed, because I'd like to see all of them stay. But if one has to go, I vote for...... either T'pol or Hoshi. (Not a prediction - simply a statement about which actors/actresses I least like. Sorry, I do like Mayweather.)

I'm assuming that none of the MACO are regular actors in my above statement. Otherwise, yes... let one of them die instead.

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quote:

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Originally posted by timckelley
If they're hinting that they're going to be killing off a regular actor on Enterprise, I'm disappointed, because I'd like to see all of them stay. But if one has to go, I vote for...... either T'pol or Hoshi. (Not a prediction - simply a statement about which actors/actresses I least like. Sorry, I do like Mayweather.)

I'm assuming that none of the MACO are regular actors in my above statement. Otherwise, yes... let one of them die instead.

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quote:

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Originally posted by jhausmann
Mayweather has to go. "Driving Miss T'pol" just doesn't work like "Driving Miss Daisy"....

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LOL--"I'm tryin' to drive you to the star!"

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And is it just me or does the captain look like he could use a change of clothes and a shower? Only one uniform, Archer? Does making him look dirty make him look more determined?<snicker>

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One of the better ones. As far as Enterprise goes, I'd give it an A-, but compared to TNG or DS9, or even Voyager, I'd say B to B- is appropriate.

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quote:

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Originally posted by sjm3rd
I thought this ep was on par with some of the best Star Treks from any of the series. Also surely one of the best eps from this series. You've got some major issues if this only yields a B-.

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I guess I've got those same "major issues"

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quote:

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Originally posted by jhausmann
And is it just me or does the captain look like he could use a change of clothes and a shower? Only one uniform, Archer? Does making him look dirty make him look more determined?<snicker>

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You know, I try really hard not to respond to Jhausmann and Jyoung's posts too much because I don't want to end up in a fight about what level of suckage is appropriate to assign this show.
I like the show much more than you guys, but if you think it's cool to sound like the Comic Book Guy from the Simpson's, well, it's easier for all of us if I just gloss over your nitpicking and enjoy the show for what it is.

THIS POST HAS GONE TOO FAR, HOWEVER!

Come on, dude, if the Cap's uniform was neat and presed, YOU KNOW you'd be saying something like, "OMG so the ship is held together with chewing gum and bailing wire, but I guess the laundry service is still in top shape! Worst. Episode. Ever!"
Besides, both he and his uniform were much much cleaner when he went into the council to present his case - so he did clean up for the big day.
If this were Babylon 5 instead of Enterprise you guys would be citing this as just the sort of attention to detail that provides such gripping realism to this futuristic space opera. Instead you use it, just like everything else, as a reason to nitpick the show.
Pal, he was captured by the bad guys, interrogated, got stuffed in a pod and sent back to his broke-arse ship, and no, he probably hasn't had time for a shower and a new uniform, what with having to spend time with his distant relations last week and all.

Even someone as passionately unhappy with this show as you are ought to be able to see that you've gone overboard with this one.

(sigh) bash away.....

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Registered: Aug 2002
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quote:

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Originally posted by Crrink
You know, I try really hard not to respond to Jhausmann and Jyoung's posts too much because I don't want to end up in a fight about what level of suckage is appropriate to assign this show.
I like the show much more than you guys, but if you think it's cool to sound like the Comic Book Guy from the Simpson's, well, it's easier for all of us if I just gloss over your nitpicking and enjoy the show for what it is.

THIS POST HAS GONE TOO FAR, HOWEVER!

Come on, dude, if the Cap's uniform was neat and presed, YOU KNOW you'd be saying something like, "OMG so the ship is held together with chewing gum and bailing wire, but I guess the laundry service is still in top shape! Worst. Episode. Ever!"
Besides, both he and his uniform were much much cleaner when he went into the council to present his case - so he did clean up for the big day.
If this were Babylon 5 instead of Enterprise you guys would be citing this as just the sort of attention to detail that provides such gripping realism to this futuristic space opera. Instead you use it, just like everything else, as a reason to nitpick the show.
Pal, he was captured by the bad guys, interrogated, got stuffed in a pod and sent back to his broke-arse ship, and no, he probably hasn't had time for a shower and a new uniform, what with having to spend time with his distant relations last week and all.

Even someone as passionately unhappy with this show as you are ought to be able to see that you've gone overboard with this one.

(sigh) bash away.....

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Last edited by jhausmann on 05-14-2004 at 01:16 AM

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