Another freakin’ awesome episode. (Spoiler ahead.)

I’ve complained all season about the lack of Hoshi in episodes and here they have her killing Archer, taking over the Defiant and declaring herself Empress of the Terran Empire! This episode was heavy with plot. Non-Terrans were plotting to overthrow Archer while Archer was planning to overthrow the Terran Emperor.

The only thing that I don’t like about these episodes is that it’s not explained why we are seeing it (unless I missed something). Why was the good Archer taunting the evil Archer? Does any of this effect the regular Star Trek Enterprise universe? I have a feeling my questions may be addressed in this week’s episode.

Demons synopsis:
A xenophobic faction of humanity threatens to undermine talks to form a new coalition of planets.

On Earth for a historic Starfleet conference to ratify the coalition of planets, Archer and the crew uncover a plot by a radical xenophobic group of humans called Terra Prime, led by Paxton, who want to put an end to the increasing number and influence of aliens on Earth. Meanwhile, although T’Pol contends she has never been pregnant, she and Trip learn that Terra Prime has information about their child. Later, a female reporter from Travis' past pursues him for a story.

The conclusion of In A Mirror, Darkly is this weekend. It will be interesting to see how they get the show back to the correct universe. And the fight between Hoshi and T’Pol looks like fun. They’re so cute with their bare mid-drifts showing. Are the Gorn after the Defiant also? Does the Enterprise blowing up in the Tholian web affect things in the normal universe? And just what does the evil Archer and his crew intend to do with the Federation starship from the future?

Whatever happens I just hope the alternative universe-thing isn’t explained away by Silik. You may remember him from the end of the first season. He was the one giving Archer all of the time travel missions. I never cared for those stories. Time travel happens so often in Star Trek it’s a wonder that they’re always surprised by it.

In A Mirror, Darkly, Part 2 synopsis:
In the mirror universe, Archer commandeers the 23rd-century Defiant from the Tholians and uses it in a nefarious power grab.

After using the Defiant to repel a Tholian attack, the power-hungry Archer and Enterprise crew set about using this advanced ship to seize control of all of Earth's Terran Empire. As Archer takes full command of the Defiant and reviews the alternate history of Starfleet, his duplicitous lover Hoshi, a traitorous T'Pol and a reptilian Gorn stowaway hatch schemes of their own.

This is the second part of a two part story.

A freakin’ awesome episode. I cannot wait for the conclusion of the story.

Everything about this episode was in the evil parallel universe of the Terran Empire including the opening credits. It also had lots of intrigue as Archer overthrew the captain of the Enterprise in order to go on a secret mission for the Empire. His mission involves the Tholians, a cloaking device, a worm hole to the future, and the Defiant. The Defiant is a starship from the same time period as Kirk and Spock.

How can it get any better? This week the Gorn get thrown into the mix!

There are just five episodes of Enterprise left and some interesting stories are just around the corner, but first I must vent a little. Before last week’s new episode, Enterprise went well over a month without airing a single new episode. Is it any wonder that ratings are down? I like the show and I almost missed last week's show (I caught it on a Sunday night repeat). Friday night is a tough enough night for scifi because of the strong offerings on the SciFi Channel and to go six weeks (or whatever) without a new show makes it even worse. Why couldn’t last week’s episode have aired a month ago before the three “viewers choice” stories were aired?

That’s another thing, the “viewers choice” thing was lame. The stories chosen were good, but the fan voting thing is something that should be done in the summer between seasons to keep viewers interested during a long break in new episodes.

Anyway, back to the remaining Enterprise episodes. The first two take Archer and crew to a parallel universe. The same universe as in an episode of the original Star Trek series (Mirror, Mirror). It is one of my favorite episodes. In the parallel universe an evil Earth empire ruled (I think it’s called the Terran Empire). Spock had a goatee and the crew was split into factions that plotted the assassination of Capt. Kirk. What Archer will find there should be interesting. The Defiant plays a role too. The Gorn appear before the series finale also.

In A Mirror, Darkly synopsis:
In an alternate universe, an amoral, imperialistic version of the Enterprise crew, led by Captain Forrest with Archer as his treacherous first officer, makes an astonishing discovery during a mission into enemy alien territory.

While a power-hungry Archer schemes against Captain Forrest, his lover Hoshi, and loyal slave T'Pol, so he can lay full claim to the discovery. Later, Phlox happily tortures a captured Tholian for information requested by Archer.

This is the first part of a two part story.

What’s better than a sexy green Orion slave woman? Three sexy green Orion slave women! They are given to Archer as a gift and they slowly take over the crew of the Enterprise. The men fall for their feminine ways and the women rendered helpless by Orion pheromones as well.

This was an OK episode. The Orion women were beautiful but the story line was so-so and the twist ending wasn’t exactly novel (hasn’t Star Trek itself used this before?).

Soap opera sub-story-wise, T’Pol kissed Trip in an effort to get him to change his mind and return to Enterprise. This wasn’t a dream or any other such thing. I wonder if he’ll return? (Of course he will!)

There’s not much to report. Last week’s story continues. In the pre-views and ads it looks like Archer is infected with the virus that’s been affecting the Klingons. Dr. Phlox had better find a cure! Also according to the synopsis posted on StarTek.com (and below) our lovers Trip and T’Pol have a meeting. And finally we’ll find out why Malcolm has been spying and for whom.

Divergence synopsis:
With Columbia's help, the Enterprise crew grapples with sabotage to their ship as they pursue the truth behind the kidnapping of Phlox.

With the help of Captain Hernandez, Trip and the newly-launched starship Columbia, Archer pursues the kidnapped Phlox deep into Klingon territory, as Phlox decides to cooperate with finding a cure to a virus ravaging a Klingon outpost.

Meanwhile, Archer demands that Reed disclose his secret orders when his ties to a mysterious intelligence organization are revealed. Later, when Trip temporarily returns to Enterprise, T'Pol tries to broach an uncomfortable subject with him.

This was a fun and interesting episode. I look forward to the next few episodes.

Dr. Phlox is kidnapped coming out of Madame Chang’s (his favorite Chinese restaurant in San Francisco) after having dinner with Hoshi (they’re just friends, really). It seems the Klingons are having a little virus problem; for them to ask for help would be a sign of weakness and a blow to their honor (what isn’t?).

To complicate things, Malcolm is spying for someone. Archer thinks it’s the Klingons so he’s arrested. Malcolm, of course, is not spying for the Klingons. He seems to be working for Star Fleet in some way. Could this be related to the founding of the Federation of Planets?

Trip starts work on the Columbia and seems to make friends with Erika Hernandez, the captain (and Archer’s old friend). Maybe a fling with her will help him forget T’Pol? Trip works the crew of the Columbia too hard and some of them request transfers (the wusses). He won’t be on the Columbia long, probably just long enough to save the Enterprise from some mortal danger. Then he’ll be back on the Enterprise. But will he be back in the loving Vulcan arms of T’Pol? Tune in next week sci-fi soap fans.

This week's show sounds interesting. It has spies (on the Enterprise?), a genetically engineered virus and the Columbia, another star ship.

This week’s episode also starts a little story arc that reveals why some Klingons have misshapen foreheads. It seems a virus is afflicting some Klingons so they kidnap Dr. Phlox. John Schuck appears as a Klingon. He’s played a Klingon before. John Schuck at IMDB. If you would like to learn the Klingon language visit the Klingon Language Institute.

Affliction synopsis:
While Enterprise visits Earth for the launch of Columbia, Phlox is kidnapped and forced to help the Klingons deal with a grave threat toward their species. (scheduled to air Friday, February 18)

On Earth, Dr. Phlox is kidnapped by a band of Klingons who are desperate to find a cure for a genetically-engineered virus that threatens their entire race. Meanwhile, Trip begins his new assignment aboard the Starship Columbia as it prepares to embark on its maiden voyage.

But Reed's ties to a mysterious intelligence organization compromises his allegiance to Archer and Enterprise. Later, T'Pol attempts her first mind-meld in the search for clues to Phlox's whereabouts.

The first season of Enterprise will be released on DVD May 3.