The Expanse

"The Expanse" assembles a mystery and a cliffhanger to predictably end the second season of Enterprise. An automated weapon which Archer believes to be a Xindi probe enters Earth-space and cuts a swath from Florida to Venezuela,killing millions. Archer is contacted by an emissary from the future and told that an invasion is being prepared in the Delphic Expanse - a region of space which the Vulcans, and seemingly everybody else, are terrified of. Meanwhile, the Klingon fugitive subplot is kept alive as Enterprise is pursued by Klingon Birds of Prey (this is really just added to provide some additional action in an otherwise sedate episode, since it has no bearing on the central plot), and Enterprise is refitted with better hull plating and antimatter torpedoes (completely scientifically absurd, but the franchise hasn't really been very concerned with science since DS9 so who cares).

The acting is a touch above the average for this series. The script allows Conner Trinnear to capitalize on American emotions surrounding the 9/11 attack on the U.S.A., as he turns in one of his finest performances during this series. Jolene Blalock also does a very nice job with one of T'Pol's more complicated early interpretations (this character has one of the best arcs in the series, and becomes much more interesting in the 3rd and 4th seasons). However, the script does not just follow franchise formulae, but almost plagiarizes the film Event Horizon in its exposition on the Delphic Expanse.

Entirely predictable, but worth watching because it sets up a good Season 3 opener "The Xindi", and an excellent story arc within the expanse itself.

Earth is attacked and Enterprise returns home at the request of Starfleet.

This episode feels like a prologue to a lot of television time dedicated to a big conflict between Enterprise and a new enemy. It introduces some concepts that do not really fit in to what has been established or referenced already within the Star Trek universe. That being said, it is pretty strong episode containing themes that seem relevant to the series which was written in the immediate post 9-11 years.

What it does well is generate intrigue into what will happen in the next. We see the Enterprise starting out on a seemingly dangerous journey and I for one want to see where they go and what obstacles they must overcome on the way. The sub-plot involving the Klingon Duras creates plenty of excitement before the Enterprise even enters the expanse.

Where it fell down a bit for me was the characters. There is a very big deal made about T'Pol either staying with Enterprise or returning to Vulcan. Let's be honest, she is one of the main characters on the show, so there's obviously only one way that's going. Trip Tucker, bereaved and angry following the death of his sister shows signs of how annoying he may possibly become in future episodes. Hoshi is virtually ignored considering she was only brought on as a Klingon translator.

I guess this is where the writers decided to go full hog and depart with both the continuity and formula of the past franchise. I understand from all the negative reviews of the next seasons that die-hard Trekkies hated it, but I'm happy to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

There is nothing quite like the laying down of a gauntlet. A race called the Xindi have as part of their mythology, a prediction that in 400 years, the Earth will launch an attack and destroy them. So to prevent this, they lay waste to a huge part of Earth and threaten to destroy the planet. Archer and the crew are called back to retrofit Enterprise and to confront the threat. It takes a lot of convincing to get off the mark. But off they go. Of course, Archer's constant pain in the butt, Duras, the Klingon commander, complicates things by continuing to attack Enterprise. This is a really loaded episode with great possibilities. Once again there are complainers about how this is contrived to raise ratings. What a horrible thing for the producers to do!

An unknown alien probe cuts a slice of 4,000 km length from Florida to Venezuela, killing seven million people. The Enterprise is ordered by Admiral Forrest to return to Earth, but Captain Archer is abducted by Silik with the intention to give a message of an emissary from the future. He tells Archer that the Xindi , from the mysterious and dangerous Delphic Expanse, are preparing to attack Earth. Archer succeeds to convince the Starfleet to enhance the Enterprise and let him travel to the Delphic Expanse, under the protest of the Vulcans. Meanwhile Trip grieves the death of his sister Elizabeth, while The Klingon Captain Duras pursues the Enterprise with the intention of capturing Archer.

"The Expanse" is a full of action episode, but not totally original. I am curious about how the physics laws work in the spot based on the advice of Sival. T'Pol quits her commission with the Vulcan High Command to follow with the Enterprise, showing a great loyalty to Captain Archer. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Expansão" ("The Expansion")