"Proving Ground"

Written by Chris Black
Directed by David Livingston


In which the Andorians arrive as unexpected allies in Archer’s quest to find and eliminate the threat of the Xindi super-weapon...

Captain's Log - 60 Minute Drill - Final Analysis







Captain's Log

After a couple of disappointing episodes bracketing the long winter break, the series returns to strong form by bringing the Andorians into the Expanse. This decision, largely made to capitalize on the relative popularity of Shran and the established Andorian/Vulcan antipathy, manages to tie into the larger Xindi arc in a meaningful and consistent fashion. More to the point, future exploration of the Andorian question is hinted, which can only be a positive development.

Several plot threads pull together in this episode, not the least of which is the ongoing search for the Xindi super-weapon. The relationship built in “The Shipment” comes to full fruition as Enterprise manages to track down the super-weapon prototype and take satisfaction with its sabotage. Using that plot thread as a framework for some Andorian intrigue is inspired, because it gives the struggle to stop the Xindi full exposure.

Once Shran arrives on the scene to save Enterprise from the effects of the anomalies, it’s fairly clear that there’s a hidden agenda behind his actions. The fun part is watching him dance between his respect for Archer and the goals of the Imperial Guard. It makes total sense for the Andorians to see the “failed” prototype as a possible weapon against the Vulcans, especially after the tense situation described in “Cease Fire”.

As usual, Jeffrey Combs perfectly portrays Shran in all of his alien glory. As Molly Brink demonstrates in her inconsistent portrayal of Talas, playing an Andorian is a tough sell. Suzie Plakson managed to pull it off in “Cease Fire”. But Brink gives Talas a softer tone, especially in her line delivery, that doesn’t quite match the defensive body language of the Andorians. Perhaps her voice was just a little too soft, lacking the deep tones that Combs and Plakson give their Andorian characters.

This could be intentional, however. After all, the suggestion of the episode is that Talas is trying to seduce Reed into lowering his guard. Her softer voice, seemingly out of character, might have been part of that attempt. If so, perhaps it’s a little too subtle, especially since her body language doesn’t quite change enough to fully suggest seduction.

Under most circumstances this season, the same material might have been played as nothing more than an attempt by Enterprise to steal the Xindi weapon. As critical to the plot arc as that might be, the addition of the Andorians to the mix adds a necessary layer of intrigue and complication. There’s the instant rapport between Archer and Shran, and the instant animosity and competition for Archer’s ear between T’Pol and Shran.

Granted, it leaves Archer looking like a fool. There were too many signs that Shran had his own agenda. This episode could have been written a little more smoothly, if only to give Archer a more balanced portrayal. Archer could have recognized that Shran was potentially planning to betray him, under orders or otherwise, rather than simply going along with everything Shran said.

That said, the final sequence was a great example of how the Xindi mission has given Archer some serious resolve, once the chips are down and his mission is clear. One can’t help but wonder if his response to betrayal was exactly what the Andorians would respect from a possible ally. They seem to respect strength and courage, though not in the manner of Klingons, and it’s possible that Shran and Talas were honest in their admiration for the crew of Enterprise and their willingness to reach beyond their means.

Somewhat disappointing, in contrast, was the portrayal of the Xindi Council. Instead of adding intrigue and further detail to the rationale behind the Xindi, those scenes simply reinforced what was already known about their endgame. The only question was how patient they were willing to be before destroying Earth. Conrtrast this with “Babylon 5” and its treatment of the shadows; barely seen, and yet their activities were slowly but surely revealed. The writers need to provide better answers for the reasons for the Xindi attacks soon, or this aspect of the arc will continue to be a weakness.

There is one aspect of the episode that’s puzzling. In previous episodes of the arc, it was established that ships entering the Expanse were unable to leave or establish reliable communications. The Vulcans never quite figured out how to solve this problem, and it seemed as though the Xindi alone knew a way around that problem. In this episode, however, the Andorians don’t seem worried about coming and going through the Expanse, and both ships easily communicate with their respective command. Perhaps certain plot advancements are beginning to slip out of memory, but that seems wrong.

This episode stands as a strong match to the stronger character pieces, which is ultimately the trick that the Trek franchise has struggled with since “Deep Space Nine”. “Voyager” failed to generate long-term plots, and struggled with consistent character development for the length of its run. “Enterprise” has struggled in both aspects, with a marked improvement this season. While the episodes themselves are still hit or miss, and the character development isn’t as consistent or well-rendered as it could have been, the effort shows.


60 Minute Drill

01:33 – Lots of recap in the teaser for once…nice summary, even if it leaves out background on Archer’s interaction with the Andorians…

02:00 – I love the set of the Andorian bridge! Very distinctive, which adds to the scope of the episode…

02:50 – The absence of Andorian background in the recap sequence is deftly covered here by Shran’s dialogue. The past episodes are not addressed directly, but he manages to convey the overall status quo in a matter of seconds…

06:56 – Degra still sounds like Barclay from “TNG” to me…

08:14 – So why would my Microsoft back-up data system work better than the Enterprise back-up data system?

11:03 – That shot of the viewscreen, with Shran’s antennae rising over Archer’s head, is simply priceless!

12:00 – Why doesn’t Archer or anyone else ask the obvious question: why, if Andoria wanted to be a good ally, did they wait so long to send aid into the Expanse? It should have been the first hint of deception, but it’s never addressed…

12:12 – About time that little matter of T’Pol’s commission came up again…

12:53 – “A remarkably selfless act…for a Vulcan…” (Perfect line delivery!)

15:46 – I might find Talas’ portrayal to be inconsistent, but I can’t complain about her wardrobe!

18:42 – Remarkable how much Andorian ale resembles Romulan ale. Maybe it’s the same thing, just with different labels…

18:51 – The instrument that Reed uses at the beginning of this scene is a digital IR thermometer. We use those all the time at work!

20:17 - The date given for this episode is 06 Dec 2153, which is generally in agreement with the previous continuity…

26:11 – About time Trip’s sister came up again…

28:44 – I must admit, this scene between Shran and the Xindi is worthy of the original series!

30:00 – “The Andorian Mining Consortium runs from no one!”

32:10 – Perhaps this Xindi arc explains the inclusion of so many military elements into the later incarnations of Starfleet…

33:17 – Awesome effects for that super-weapon test “failure”!

41:00 – Nothing like trying to steal your ally’s best people for your own personal gain…as if Talas or the Andorians would ever condescend to accepting such “nostalgic” equipment or personnel…

41:18 – Shran is acting a little too suspiciously here…and Archer should have recognized that!

42:14 – Love how the transmissions from Andoria look like something out of the original series…

43:30 – “It’s not the weapon; it’s the soldier who wields it…” (Should this have been delivered with a bit more flirtation?)

44:45 – Nice battle scenes here, as well as the effects when the Andorians grab the Xindi prototype…

45:59 – Gee, Archer, the entire audience figured out that Shran was deceiving you about three acts ago!

54:13 – Why would the cargo hold personnel wait until Shran asks about the status to mention that the prototype is active?

54:58 – Nice explosion effects!

56:10 – So which Andorian decided to send the information on the Xindi super-weapon…Shran or Talas?


Final Analysis

Overall, this episode was a near-perfect blend of character and arc elements. Weaving the Andorian/Vulcan tensions of the first two seasons into the Xindi arc was an inspired choice, and should the series survive into future seasons, this episode paves the way for more Andorian fun. Archer was a little naïve at times, but by the end, he made up for it.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4

Final Rating: 9/10




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