After two seasons effectively wandering in the wilderness, the third season of the Star Trek prequel series Enterprise finally saw the show starting to find its feet. Centered around the threat of a Xindi super weapon that could destroy the Earth and the hunt for it in uncharted space, the third season was a different beast from what had come before. Perhaps as an example of that, the season's eighth episode Twilight presented an intriguing tale of a possible future that not only raised the stakes of the crew's hunt but also explored two of the show's characters as well.
Mike Sussman's script for Twilight is an intriguing piece of work, following in the tradition of a number of alternate time-line episodes across the various Star Trek series. In forty-three minutes it does a lot from jumping through time to showing the potential fate of Earth if Enterprise fails on its mission. Indeed the episode does more than episode before it to establish the threat of the Xindi which, even though we saw their attack in the second season finale along with its aftermath, had always seemed vague up until now. From its teaser sequence to the climax, Twilight keenly proves that the Xindi are a threat to humanity which adds to the proverbial clock of doom hanging over the crew in episodes after this. Add in references to the Original Series in the form of Ceti Alpha V and what Trek fans will likely remember of that planet's fate and the result isn't pretty for humanity one way or the other. While the episode does employ something of a reset button, the episode's pluses overcome it thanks to solid writing on the part of Sussman.
The episode also does some interesting explorations of the Archer and T'Pol characters as well. Sussman's script deftly takes us on a journey through the characters time between the events of the present day and this possible future and it allows for some fine performances as well. Scott Bakula, who described this episode at the time as "potentially the best script we've had and the best show to date" is particularly notable for being Archer as a time always out of time who at times struggles to comprehend the enormity of the events he's missed. Jolene Blalock's T'Pol is just as well served by Sussman's script which explores the relationship between the two and T'Pol's struggle as Enterprise's captain in his absence before becoming his caretaker hinting at the bond between them. The episode's framing device is essentially a two-hander between the two which does not do it a disservice as it offers both Bakula and Blalock a chance to shine.
As a production, the episode also ranks as one of Enterprise's best efforts. Robert Duncan McNeill (who play Tom Paris on Voyager) does a strong job as director with a script that could have been difficult given the amount of time it covers as well as action sequences and more dramatic scenes. The production design of the episode also does a fine job on conveying the passage of time with wear and tear to the ship as well as Archer's dwelling on Ceti Alpha V. The episode is also one of the series special effects triumphs taking in the destruction of Earth, battle sequences and even the destruction of the Enterprise herself. The icing on the cake may well be Dennis McCarthy's score which gives the episode a music score worthy of one of Trek's big screen adventures.
Twilight then, despite its ending, stands as one of the best episodes to come out of Enterprise. From Mike Sussman's script that finally establishes a firm threat from the Xindi while exploring the characters of Archer and T'Pol to its production values, it stands out from the pack of Enterprise's first couple of years. It's also a turning point for Enterprise as a whole and was the first sign of what the series might be capable of. On its own it stands out as one of Star Trek best alternate time-line episodes and rightfully so.
Mike Sussman's script for Twilight is an intriguing piece of work, following in the tradition of a number of alternate time-line episodes across the various Star Trek series. In forty-three minutes it does a lot from jumping through time to showing the potential fate of Earth if Enterprise fails on its mission. Indeed the episode does more than episode before it to establish the threat of the Xindi which, even though we saw their attack in the second season finale along with its aftermath, had always seemed vague up until now. From its teaser sequence to the climax, Twilight keenly proves that the Xindi are a threat to humanity which adds to the proverbial clock of doom hanging over the crew in episodes after this. Add in references to the Original Series in the form of Ceti Alpha V and what Trek fans will likely remember of that planet's fate and the result isn't pretty for humanity one way or the other. While the episode does employ something of a reset button, the episode's pluses overcome it thanks to solid writing on the part of Sussman.
The episode also does some interesting explorations of the Archer and T'Pol characters as well. Sussman's script deftly takes us on a journey through the characters time between the events of the present day and this possible future and it allows for some fine performances as well. Scott Bakula, who described this episode at the time as "potentially the best script we've had and the best show to date" is particularly notable for being Archer as a time always out of time who at times struggles to comprehend the enormity of the events he's missed. Jolene Blalock's T'Pol is just as well served by Sussman's script which explores the relationship between the two and T'Pol's struggle as Enterprise's captain in his absence before becoming his caretaker hinting at the bond between them. The episode's framing device is essentially a two-hander between the two which does not do it a disservice as it offers both Bakula and Blalock a chance to shine.
As a production, the episode also ranks as one of Enterprise's best efforts. Robert Duncan McNeill (who play Tom Paris on Voyager) does a strong job as director with a script that could have been difficult given the amount of time it covers as well as action sequences and more dramatic scenes. The production design of the episode also does a fine job on conveying the passage of time with wear and tear to the ship as well as Archer's dwelling on Ceti Alpha V. The episode is also one of the series special effects triumphs taking in the destruction of Earth, battle sequences and even the destruction of the Enterprise herself. The icing on the cake may well be Dennis McCarthy's score which gives the episode a music score worthy of one of Trek's big screen adventures.
Twilight then, despite its ending, stands as one of the best episodes to come out of Enterprise. From Mike Sussman's script that finally establishes a firm threat from the Xindi while exploring the characters of Archer and T'Pol to its production values, it stands out from the pack of Enterprise's first couple of years. It's also a turning point for Enterprise as a whole and was the first sign of what the series might be capable of. On its own it stands out as one of Star Trek best alternate time-line episodes and rightfully so.