3x18 Azati Prime

[Dimitris]

Episode No: 070
Air Date: 03.03.2004

Archer sets out on a suicide mission to destroy the Xindi superweapon as Enterprise faces attacking enemy ships.


Synopsis

Enterprise finally arrives at the Xindi superweapon construction site, and despite a troubling glimpse into the future by time-traveling operative Daniels, a determined Archer leaves the ship in T'Pol's hands as he alone pilots a suicide mission to destroy the huge Earth-bound planet-killer. With Archer gone, T'Pol and the crew attempt to escape enemy territory undetected, but once discovered are forced to make a last stand against multiple Xindi attackers.


www.startrek.com

[Dimitris]

01.15.2004
Production Report: Kroeker Directs Pivotal "Azati Prime"

When Allan Kroeker steps in to direct, you know it's probably an important episode. Kroeker — who usually comes around for season premieres and finales and epic two-parters — took the helm of "Azati Prime," an episode which begins the culmination of the Xindi throughline which has defined the entire season.
In the story, scripted by Manny Coto, the NX-01 finally reaches the red giant star Azati Prime, where — it was learned in a prior episode — the Xindi superweapon designed to annihilate Earth is undergoing its final phases of construction. After the crew locates the massive object underwater on an ocean planet, they realize its destruction will require a suicide mission. Archer insists on doing it himself. But then Daniels shows up and throws a new wrinkle into the plans. The episode will answer substantial lingering questions about the Xindi story arc, while raising even new mysteries.

Matt Winston, of course, returns for the second time this season as temporal agent Daniels. The rest of the guest cast includes the usual Xindi suspects, namely Randy Oglesby as weapon designer Degra; Tucker Smallwood as the Xindi-Primate council member; Rick Worthy as a Xindi-Sloth or "Arboreal"; and Scott MacDonald, who this time is identified as a "Reptilian Commander" rather than just "Xindi-Reptilian."

The cast and crew returned from a two-week holiday break on Jan. 5 ready to embark upon one of the most pivotal episodes of the season. They got back into the swing of things by doing only Bridge scenes the first day with just the principal cast, then spread out into the Ready Room, Command Center and Corridors the second day. Starting the third day and extending throughout the schedule, quite a few scenes were shot inside the Insectoid Shuttle which was originally constructed for "Hatchery." When the Xindi guest cast came in, they performed on sets representing Degra's ship and a Reptilian prison cell. A new set representing a ship in the future was constructed for the Daniels scenes, consisting largely of a "greenscreen" where some astonishing visual effects will be inserted in post-production.

Most of the intense action was saved for the latter part of the schedule, when the Bridge and Engineering take the worst beating they've ever seen. Smoke, fire and sparks filled the sets, as well as stunt players taking falls right and left. Some scenes were even shot in slow-motion. When the script called for a crewman to be engulfed in flames, stunt coordinator Vince Deadrick Jr. took on that role himself. It was an exciting, adrenaline-charged moment on the Engineering set, but everything went smoothly.

Though the production schedule called for seven days, there was actually an overlap Tuesday and Wednesday with the next show, " Damage," directed by James L. Conway, as the action is continuous from one to the next. So Kroeker and Conway were both on set those two days, with "Azati Prime" actually wrapping on Wednesday.

As mentioned, the teleplay was crafted by Coto, but the story concept was developed jointly by him and Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. Coto previously wrote "Similitude" and this week's "Chosen Realm." Kroeker was last on set for the Season 3 premiere "The Xindi," and also directed the Season 2 cliffhanger "The Expanse." He's also done "Shockwave, Part I" and "Part II" among other Enterprise episodes, on top of an impressive resume from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager which includes the series finales of each.

"Azati Prime" — the 18th episode of the season (with six left to go) and number 70 overall — is scheduled to air on March 3. Check its Episode Detail page for further information.


www.startrek.com

[Dimitris]

Enterprise-J dialog/review :

Archer steps off the Bridge onto something weird. He turns back from the turbolift to see a strange corridor. A huge bay window looks out into a pinky-orange space, and a red strip of carpet in the middle of grey industrial carpet winds its way along a curvature in the strange corridor. Daniels in all his rubberized Michelin Man glory strides up and says, "Welcome aboard, Captain." Archer's annoyed as he says, "Daniels!" in an "I should have figgered on you" tone, and demands to know where he is. "You're on Enterprise. Enterprise J to be exact -- a distant relative of your ship." Oooh, I wonder if it has Enterprise NX-01's dimples! Daniels tells Archer he is four hundred years in the future. Not bothered by the leap, Archer dashes to the window as he sees weapons fire. A small ship explodes. The window makes it look as if the saucer section of Enterprise-J is hanging over this portion. Archer stares. And furrows.
After commercials, Archer demands to know why Daniels won't stop stalking him. Daniels points out the pink and orange light and says it's growing. Archer tosses his chin and says he's seen it before. And, like all good things, it's bigger in the past! "I know, the Expanse," Daniels expositions. As Archer examines an Enterprise-J schematic on the wall, Daniels says he knows all about the tranny alien they visited with a few weeks ago, and confirms that he's the same race as the Sphere Builders. Do they have a real name, or are they going to just be the Builders and have their own society in the UK? Daniels tells Archer more stuff he already knows, like the fact that the Builders are trying to make the Expanse habitable for their kind before they invade. Archer "duhs" this and Daniels says, "It's getting harder and harder to surprise you, Captain." Shut up, Daniels; it's getting harder and harder to stomach you when you only show up to yank Archer's chain. He's like Q, but without the funny lines. Enterprise-J shakes, and Daniels brags that he brought Archer to a momentous occasion, the battle of Procyon V. A battle over erectile dysfunction medication? What is our world coming to? This is the battle in which the Federation takes on the Builders. "The Federation," Archer says, hiding the anvil in his furrows. "You've mentioned them before." "Vulcans, Andorians, Ithanites, Klingons, dozens of species, including humans -- all unified in a powerful alliance," Daniels explains. He points out a Builders' ship that subsequently explodes, and says that the Federation wins this battle and drives the Builders back to their trans-dimensional hole. The Builders ship looks exactly like Moya. So at first, I was all, "Cool!" but then I was like, "Aw, Moya just got blown up! Bastards."

Daniels adds that if the Builders hadn't been beaten, they would have taken over the entire galaxy and wiped everyone out. The Builders also have the technology to see into the future, so they looked at this particular future, didn't like the fact that they lost, and decided to change the outcome. So, the Builders are Shower Guy? What the hell happened to the Suliban? What's going on with the Temporal Cold War? I just...need another drink, clearly. According to Daniels, who just really, REALLY bugs me, the Builders lied to the Xindi so the Xindi would destroy all humanity, because without humanity, the Federation would never exist. Well, natch, they wouldn't get those cool digs in San Francisco for their HQ. Rumor has it, though, that Lucasfilms is moving up to the Presidio, which means that the Federation might have a tough time securing that particular real estate. Daniels preaches that the Xindi have to realize that humanity is good and will be the ones to protect them when this Battle of thingyes is over. Daniels tells Archer to make peace with the Xindi, but Archer spits that they are about to deploy the weapon and he has to destroy it. Daniels reasons that they will just build another Mega Maid. Yeah, but that will take, like, a really long time so I don't see why it's such a bad idea. Daniels tells Archer, "It is crucial to history that you do not sacrifice yourself." Yes, because Archer is the champion of humanity. Just like Angel. Bleh. Archer isn't convinced, since he's focused on the ten billion people on Earth dying bit. Not that I blame him, because Daniels is just being that typically obnoxious future guy.

They argue some more. "Captain, you are making a catastrophic mistake," Daniels gasps. "You've made your share of mistakes," Archer bellows. "This isn't one of them," Daniels admits. Heh. Archer orders him to send him back, NOW! Archer releases his grip on Daniels after Daniels distracts him with a shiny object. Well, it's not so much with the shiny. It's supposed to be an important Xindi medal that belongs to one of the Xindi crewmen aboard Enterprise-J, but it really looks more like those extra buttons you get in a ridiculously small envelope when you buy a new coat or pair of pants. Daniels says he's giving it to him in case he changes his mind. "I won't," Archer says, shaking his furrows.


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