The third season was one of changes. Though Star Trek: Enterprise was UPN’s most watched series, ratings were in continual decline. Given the go ahead to do whatever they felt needed to be done for a ratings boost, Executive Producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga abandon the self contained episodes that made up the first two seasons in favor of an arc called the “Xindi mission.” It all began with the second season finale. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and crew went into The Delphic Expanse, a huge area of uncharted space referred to as “The Expanse,” in pursuit of alien terrorists who killed 7,000,000 citizens of Earth. With parallels to 9/11 that can’t be ignored, the third season begins as a search for justice, evolves into an effort to prevent further destruction, and eventually an attempt at diplomacy.
The third season was regarded by many as Enterprise’s best. It was the first time writers and producers used the series to serve up some social commentary mixed with action, just as the original series had done back in the sixties. Boundaries are crossed and the stakes are raised, as the crew’s mission becomes undeniably personal. The season is darker in tone, and Captain Archer is a noticeably angrier man. In the season opener, he tortures an alien by depriving him of air in an airlock. By mid-season, Archer has learned more about the enemy they’re facing, and goes back to workmanlike, methodical Captain we had known.
While the “Xindi mission” was an excellent move, one change I hated was the ‘sexing up” of T’Pol (Jolene Blalock). Using sex to attract viewers is nothing new in the Star Trek universe—Jeri Ryan, anyone?—but it would have been nice to see the writers avoid this cheap attempt. T’Pol deserves better than tight outfits; she’s actually adds some interest to this season, given her relationship with Trip (Connor Trinneer) and her sporadic objection to the way Archer is running things. She shows interesting flashes as a character, but the desire to use her as ‘eye candy’ means she doesn’t get to develop as much as she might have otherwise.
While season three of Star Trek: Enterprise represents a series in transition, it should definitely be of interesting to fans of the Trek universe. I give Rick Berman and Brannon Braga credit for abandoning the model of the first two seasons in favor of the Xindi arc, it’s the series best contribution to Star Trek lore.
The 24 episodes, spread across six discs, are all presented in their original 1.78:1 broadcast aspect ratio in full 1080p HD, which once again show a good amount of detail and are faithful to the original intent. The special effects look a little wonky on occasion, perhaps that’s because 1080p can be so unforgiving. In no way do they look terrible, though.
The 5.1 DTS-HD surround track is an improvement over past seasons. It seems as though the action scenes and space battles have been given a little bit more heft. In general though, both in terms of picture and sound quality, Enterprise doesn’t quite measure up to the previous Star Trek: The Next Generation releases.
English, French, Japanese, German and Dutch subtitles are included.
Star Trek: Enterprise – Season Three contains extras across the entire set, save for disc four.
Disc One:
- Text Commentary: Mike & Denise Okuda for “The Xindi.”
- Archival Mission Logs: The Xindi Saga Begins (SD, 13:12): A nice look at the season’s new direction, influences, themes and specific examples of the season’s darker edge, character arcs, and more.
- Archival Mission Logs: Enterprise Moments: Season Three (SD, 12:58): A look at “Twilight,” “Chosen Realm,” “Similitude,” “Harbinger,” “Azati Prime,” and “Zero Hour.”
Disc Two:
- Audio Commentary: Director David Livingston and Consulting Producer David A. Goodman for “Impulse” and Writer/Producer Mike Sussman and Startrek.com’s Editorial Director Tim Gaskill for “Twilight.”
- Text Commentary: Mike & Denise Okuda for “Impulse.”
Disc Three:
- Audio Commentary: Writer David A. Goodman and Uncredited Writer Chris Black for “North Star,” Assistant Director Michael Demeritt also for “North Star,” Writer Manny Coto and Actor Connor Trinneer for “Similitude,” and Writer Manny Coto also for “Similitude.”
- Deleted Scenes (HD) Several scenes from “Similitude” (2:30) and one scene from “Chosen Realm” (1:08).
Disc Five:
- Audio Commentary: Co-Writer David A. Goodman, Co-Executive Producer and Co-Writer Chris Black, and Actor Connor Trinneer for “The Forgotten.”
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 4:42) Scenes from “E2.”
Disc Six:
- Audio Commentary: Co-Excutive Producer and Co-Writer Chris Black and Co-Prducer and Co-Writer André Bormanis for “Countdown.”
- Text Commentary: Mike & Denise Okuda for “Countdown.”
- In a Time of War: Part One: Call to Arms (HD, 28:07) A new retrospective on the Xindi arc, its relevancy to the modern world and the series’ analogous with the years following 9/11, Manny Coto’s arrival and contributions, the season’s finale, and more.
- In a Time of War: Part Two: Front Lines (HD, 29:51) Another new retrospective, this one featuring the cast covering the Xindi storyline, Jolene Blalock’s disappointment with her character’s arc, ratings trouble, questions about morals depicted in the show, and more. The extra also features additional writer commentary.
- In a Time of War: Part Three: Final Conflict (HD, 28:36) More examination of the season, including the Xindi character design, budget limitations, and special effects, and more.
- In a Time of War: Temporal Cold War: Declassified (HD, 20:17) A look at the Temporal Cold War arc, including plot points and minor characters integral to the story line.
- Enterprise Profile: Connor Trinneer (SD, 17:15) A piece in praise of the actor.
- A Day in the Life of a Director: Roxann Dawson (SD, 17:27) This piece follows the Voyager actress on the set as she directs an episode.
- Behind the Camera: Marvin Rush (SD, 15:44) This piece follows the veteran Star Trek cinematographer as he works on the show.
- Enterprise Secrets (SD, 4:12) 2nd Assistant Director David Trotti guides viewers through a few of the locations around the Paramount lot and shares how they’ve been employed throughout Star Trek history.
- Outtakes (SD, 6:14).
- Photo Gallery (SD).
- NX-01 File 07 (SD, 1:37): Recollections of a nude Phlox scene.
- NX-01 File 08 (SD, 5:46): Costumer Designer Robert Blackman shares the history of the Enterprise crew uniforms.
- NX-01 File 09 (SD, 3:09): Producer/Writer Mike Sussman discusses the episode “E2.”
