"Twilight"

Written by Michael Sussman
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill


In which Archer awakens twelve years in the future, unable to remember what has happened in the interim, and discovers that the cure to his affliction could save humanity from extinction...

Analysis - Memorable Quotes - Observations


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Analysis

Alternate timelines have been a popular staple of the Trek franchise, and as such, that plot device has been used (and perhaps overused) frequently since the original series. While the Temporal Cold War addresses the concept in the usual manner, incorporating time travel in an active fashion, this episode breaks the mold by developing a clever twist.

Perhaps the most satisfying element of the concept is how well it ties into the lore of the original series. The temporal parasites that infect Archer’s brain are said to come out of “interspace”, which is also mentioned in the original series episode “The Tholian Web”. In that case, exposure to interspace caused mental instability. The parallels to the effects of the anomalies in the Expanse are definitely in place, so the connection is a nice bit of continuity.

The story is told through Archer’s point of view, so that the audience gets to understand what has happened over the past 12 years at the same time that Archer hears the story. The result is a long and well-considered look at the end of humanity, and how the struggles with the Xindi have changed the surviving crew. One gets the feeling that the writers had the Earth-Minbari War of “Babylon 5” in mind, wanting to explore what might have happened had the Minbari not surrendered in the final battle.

Of course, the episode centers on the relationship that has grown between Archer and T’Pol. T’Pol is given her best material, and Blalock plays the part with real emotion. In this case, it fits the mood and the circumstances perfectly. T’Pol is a woman who has devoted herself, without the benefit of being able to express her own emotions, to a man in a way that many humans would never consider. It’s clear that T’Pol loves Archer, and the subtle way that is expressed to the audience is a far cry from the obvious sexual overtones of the season premiere.

The underlying power of the episode doesn’t end with that brilliant portrayal. Instead, it is simply the most obvious example of something far more important to the core concept of the series itself. The devotion shown by T’Pol and Phlox, in terms of Archer’s care and cure, speaks to Archer’s ability to bring together diverse peoples towards a common goal.

This fact is not nullified by the fact that the episode “resets” back to its own beginning. After all, that devotion had to already exist, since Archer is unable to act in an meaningful way after the exposure to the parasites. What this episode says, beyond a doubt, is that Archer has the potential to be the key figure in bringing about Federation.

There is a drawback to this demonstration, because it only speaks to Archer’s potential. Once Archer is struck down, from that moment forward, any action taken by the surviving crew is undertaken with an idealized version of Archer’s past in mind. That doesn’t mean that Archer will automatically make the right decisions in the future. Archer could validate the devotion of his crew, or just as easily lose their respect.

Not unlike the “Year of Hell” episode of “Voyager”, the plot device of the episode gives the writers the chance to really change things and show things that normally would never happen. The results are so refreshing that one wishes that the same degree of flexibility would be given to the entire series. There is no reason why even the stronger arc-related episodes of this season should be tied down to tired and uninspired episodic plots.

Of all the episodes this season, this is the first to honestly take some chances, even knowing that everything would be returned to the starting conditions by the end of the hour. There is no reason why this kind of direction couldn’t have been taken for the season as a whole. In many ways, the cast and directors are more than ready for it, as this episode aptly demonstrates. Given the chance, everyone comes together to sell the story, and it shows in the final product.

The problem, as always for this franchise, has been the writing staff. It’s clear that Berman and Braga continue to have a strong hand in keeping things on a tight leash. The result is a strong concept without full commitment, or so it seems from the point of view of the audience. No doubt, the producers would argue that this is the result of the demand by the fans that the series adhere to the overwhelming continuity.

However, there is no reason for the continuity to be a burden. Continuity only makes it clear what cannot be done; it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of new or unseen forces. The Xindi are already worthy of being fleshed out as a truly complex enemy, and it seems that this is the direction that has been chosen. Why, then, continue to explore the usual stomping grounds, only with new faces?

This episode rises above so many of those considerations, largely because it breaks the constraints by presenting a consistent future timeline that doesn’t have to come about. It’s the consistency with what has been established that’s the key to the success of the story. By presenting what is possible, it forces the audience to consider what other possibilities exist.

The final result is an episode that speaks so strongly about the characters and their circumstances, as well as the stakes of the adventure, that it highlights what has been done right and what has been done wrong throughout the season.


Memorable Quotes

Even with an episode like this, the dialogue is mostly in service to the plot. Considering that this is the third episode in a row without memorable dialogue, this is the perfect excuse to convert to the format used for “Alias” and “24” reviews. From this episode on, any memorable dialogue will be listed with the rest of the running commentary.


Observations

- Am I the only one who thinks T’Pol looks better in the uniform than in her catsuits?

- The destruction of Earth is easily the best teaser for a Trek episode since the days of “Deep Space Nine”!

- And of course, it makes the tone of the theme music completely ludicrous...

- Even the music in this episode is perfectly crafted...

- T’Pol in uniform is soundly beaten by Casual!T’Pol with long hair!

- Based on the position T’Pol was in when the beam fell on her, she shouldn’t have been able to turn around like she was...

- As someone with a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s, it’s clear that Sussman had that condition in mind. It’s extremely well done, especially in terms of how it gives scope to T’Pol’s patience and charity.

- One thing that isn’t explained very well: why was T’Pol made captain of the Enterprise by Starfleet, instead of Trip, for example? The growing mistrust between Earth and Vulcan would seem to dispute such a possibility...

- Gotta love that shot that sends one of the Xindi flying into the wall!

- One wonders why the Xindi would go directly to Archer’s quarters...

- The ramming scene, complete with damage to the Enterprise, is an absolutely awesome move, especially since one would never expect that from this series!

- Archer’s anguish at the end of the human race is palpable...Bakula really gives everything to the role in this episode...

- Ceti Alpha V is, of course, the planet that Kirk eventually deposits Khan in “Space Seed”. Considering what happened to the planet, it wouldn’t have been a very good refuge for long!

- Apparently the demise of an ally species gives Vulcan an attitude...

- Just as T’Pol is an example of what humanity brings to the Vulcans as a people, Soval demonstrates what the Vulcans would become in the absence of Federation...and thus validates why the series has depicted the Vulcans as a people at a crossroads!

- Nice continuity point: as Kirk says in “Space Seed”, Ceti Alpha V is a challenging planet, barely able to sustain human life...

- In some ways, Trip makes a more convincing captain than Archer has over the past two seasons!

- Some of those Xindi vessels look a bit like Drakh vessels from “Babylon 5”...

- So...Shran’s a general in this timeline...nice continuity reference!

- I swear, one of the Xindi vessels looks very similar to a Romulan ship...

- It’s about time that the prominent bridge on Starfleet vessels is exposed for the bad design that it is!

- The final battle in the engineering section is an amazing bit of work...the tension is maintained throughout...

- The destruction of the Enterprise was an awesome effect as well!

Overall, this is easily the best episode of the series to date. The plot devices might be familiar, and the dreaded “reset button” is in play. But even taking that into account, Sussman knew exactly how to make this episode work, taking the relationships and conflicts to their inevitable conclusions. In the process, the possibilities within the normal timeline are exposed. The real trick will be finding this level of creativity again.

I give it a 10/10.


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