Stratagem

Archer is on board a shuttle with Xindi suffering from memory loss.

This is pretty strong episode with a plot that works well for developing the overarching narrative of Series 3.

As other reviewers have pointed out this type of thing has been done many times in other films and TV shows, but the way things unfold here is pretty entertaining. This mainly due to an excellent performance by Randy Oglesby as Degra, and the solid suspense created towards the episode's conclusion.

Some may question some of the psychologically, torturous methods on display in this episode and point to other options available to Archer that did not involve this type of action, but I guess the show's writers thought this would be far more cinematic and likely to generate ethical discussions.

All performances were good, particularly from its guest star. From a technical perspective the effects, visuals and everything else were pretty solid.

This is a great episode. Not only does it employ deception and creativity, it sets up the next step in destroying the Xindi weapon. One of the chief Xindi engineers is on board a strange shuttle with Archer. Archer tells him that they have been on a prison planet for three years. They form a bond. As it turns out, the entire thing has been orchestrated by the Enterprise crew to get information form the guy. This would be one thing, but the story gets a series of other twists which I won't reveal here. Archer and the gang do some real countermoves. Excellent.

This story is retelling of a story that played out as a world war ll film from 1965 staring James Garner. That film involved James Garners character waking up in a hospital and being told the war was over and the allies had won. In reality Garner's character had been captured and was the center of a plot to convince him that the war was over so he would talk about the details of the yet to have happened D-Day invasion (June 4, 1944). The Germans spent a little time letting him get comfortable with the idea that it was OK to talk about the invasion since the war was over. He dodges this still uncomfortable talking about that which was so secret so recently. As time goes by he starts to notice subtle flaws in the charade the German's are attempting. Like that film in this episode a prisoner is being fooled into believing a war is over and he needs to help Archer get him back to where he belongs. While they do a very convincing job with the time constraints they were working under their prisoner caught on, but like the original that is not the end of the story. It was fun to see this done in a futuristic setting. It's still a good story. Do yourself a favor and see both versions they are both well done.

Another reviewer is right--this episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" is very similar to the James Garner film "36 Hours". In "36 Hours" an Allied officer has been captured by the Nazis and they try to convince him that the war has been over for some time and that he's not a prisoner but living in an Allied camp. But he IS a prisoner and the plan is to get him to relax his guard and betray what he knows about the pending invasion of the continent. Well, this is pretty much the set-up for this Trek show--as the crew of Enterprise is trying to convince someone that reality ISN'T what they think.

When the show begins, Archer and Degra (the guy who created the Xindi super-weapon) are on a shuttle. Degra has no idea who Archer is nor how they got there. So, Archer gives him a fake back story about how they both were prisoners in a Xindi Insectoid prison and that they both just escaped and Degra's amnesia will soon pass. So why are they doing all this? Because they want to know where the place is where they're constructing the super-weapons so they can destroy them.

Despite this being a recycled idea, it was very well made and exciting throughout--and is well worth seeing. Very detail-oriented and well thought out and one of the better episodes of the series.

Season 3 was a lot better than I remember it being, and this episode was one of the best of the series.

Randy Oglesby returns as "Degra" (The creator of the Xindi weapon) and he is with Archer in what appears to be some beat-up Malosian shuttle, being chased by other Xindi. The appearance is that some years had gone by, and they had escaped from a Xindi prison-cesspit and were cellmates at such a place - and, had even becomes friends. Degra seems to have memory loss but Archer mentions the after effects of (Regulan) Bloodworms, which we get to see.

Is this an another alternate future episode? Where's Daniels? But he's not there, so something else must be going on.

It's "The Sting" if course, and you have to feel sorry for Degra as he falls prey to Archer's tricks. But this scam was masterfully executed, it fools us during the teaser even. But when Degra reveals he had a hard time making a weapon that killed 7 Million people, it hands Archer an in for future (real future this time) encounters with Degra and other members of the Xindi Council.

Season 3's episodes all string together to create one huge 26-hour tale, and this episode marks the point at which things start going a bit better for Enterprise.