Star Trek Ent - Season 3 - Episode 13
Star Trek Ent - 3x13 - Proving Ground
Originally Aired: 2004-1-21
Synopsis:
An Andorian ship led by Commander Shran arrives in the Delphic Expanse to help Enterprise hone in on the Xindi superweapon. [DVD]
Problems
- So it seems the Andorians are capable of leaving the expanse. And it also seems Enterprise is able to get messages back to Starfleet. Maybe the Osaarians just didn't know how to get past the barrier while Starfleet and Andoria does?
Factoids
None
Remarkable Scenes
- The teaser, showing us Shran and the inside of his ship!
- Shran's antennae appearing over Archer's head... hah!
- The Xindi testing their weapon.
- Shran: "We are looking for a rare element... Archerite!"
- Shran: "Take us out of the system. But not too quickly. The Andorian mining consortium runs from no one!"
- Talas and Reed starting to get along.
- Archer crediting Gralik (Ent: The Shipment) for the Xindi prototype weapon's spectacular failure.
- The Kumari stealing the weapon.
- Shran betraying Archer.
- Archer threatening to use the Xindi activation codes to blow up the Xindi prototype while it's still aboard Shran's ship.
My Review
Well, my complaint about wasting time that could be used on the Xindi arc with filler has finally been put to rest here. We get to see a new prototype for the planet killer weapon in action, we get to see an Andorian ship strut its stuff, and we get to see humans and Andorians working together, even if there is an ulterior motive for the Andorians. The ulterior motive was actually quite cool. The Andorians were totally in character the whole time and the cameo was more than welcome; this episode was just as good as the last Andorian showing, Ent: Cease Fire. My only complaint was that Shran was too loyal to the corrupt Imperial Guard. I would have liked to have seen a permanent human-Andorian alliance after this episode. Oh well. Hopefully they'll play a role again. I want to see more of Shran! What an awesome character.
The following are comments submitted by my readers.
Another good episode. Enterprise sure goes up and down a lot. I quite like the Andorians.
One thing I have to disagree with is your complaint about Shran's loyalty and the assertion that the Imperial Guard is corrupt, as well as the hope for a permanent alliance. I feel they handled it quite well. Shran is a patriot (almost Cardassian like) and does what he does for his people as a proud member of the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard is not corrupt. They are just an organization trying to serve the best interests of their government. A people and a government with deep seeded fear of the Vulcans. It's no surprise to me that Shran would not let his personal feelings toward Archer interfere with his duties even if he questions them. This makes him a far more realistic character in my eyes. I actually really appreciate Enterprises approach here of a "two steps forward one step back" relationship between the Andorians and Humans.