The following review contains MAJOR spoilers of the "Star Trek: Enterprise" episode "Azati Prime."

After almost an entire season where it seemed that the Xindi arc was dragging on, the crew of the NX-01 was finally able to piece things together as we enter the beginning of the end of this portion of "Star Trek: Enterprise's" history.

The series has suffered considerably in the ratings over the last two years, with the chief complaint being the writing on the series. However, with a new mission and jobs on the line, "Star Trek: Enterprise" has vastly improved through its third season ... and those who aren't choosing to tune in don't know what they're missing.

After Degra (Randy Oglesby) unknowingly shares details about the Xindi weapon that will destroy Earth, Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) and crew head to Azati Prime in an effort to destroy the weapon.

Of course, this whole idea initially created a pretty big plothole. Sure, you can destroy this weapon, but what would stop the Xindi from just building a new one? Obviously, once the flaws of the design are worked out, replicating the process couldn't be that difficult.

But, believe it or not, those issues are address ... by none other than our favorite time traveler Daniels (Matt Winston).

When Archer decides that he's going to fly a Xindi insectoid shuttle into the water planet where the weapon is being completed, and use two photon torpedoes to destroy it in a suicide mission, Archer suddenly finds himself on the Enterprise-J 400 years in the future. Daniels brought him to the ship and to a battle where the Federation is finishing a war with the Sphere Builders -- the species responsible for creating the Delphic Expanse and all of its quirks.

Apparently, it was the Sphere Builders -- who have the ability to look into the future, and see alternate timelines -- who saw their defeat at the hands of the Enterprise-J and the Sphere Builders and decided to tell the Xindi that the Federation was going to destroy their homeworld, and that they should take care of them now.

Daniels implores Archer to not go through with the suicide mission, to open up a diplomatic dialogue with the Xindi and explain the situation. Furthermore, Archer is key to the future, and if he sacrifices his life now, a lot will be lost in the timeline.

Archer refuses, but Daniels gives the captain an artifact from one of the Enterprise-J's Xindi officers, in case he changes his mind.

Archer doesn't, and leaves Enterprise, prompting a tear from T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) as she seems to lose emotional control.

But when Archer arrives at the weapon, it's gone. When Archer had destroyed a lunar outpost earlier, it had alerted the Xindi to their presence, and they were able to move the weapon. Archer is captured and interrogated.

Archer, using his knowledge of Degra, is able to get a meeting with the weapon designer, and has convinced him and a humanoid councilmember to at least consider that they both might be fighting the wrong enemy.

The reptiles, however, have other ideas, and decide to end the meeting and schedule a rendezvous with Enterprise.

The Enterprise crew is wondering what's going on, and Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer) is wondering what's happening to T'Pol, who suddenly decides to shuttle to the Xindi to establish diplomatic relations.

Before she can go, however, the Enterprise comes under attack, and in a firey, powerful scene, the Enterprise is nearly destroyed.

This has to be one of the most powerful episodes I've seen of "Enterprise" in a very long time. While I think that bringing the ship to the brink of destruction is a gimmick that's been used by Star Trek too many times in the past, Alan Kroeker presented it in a way that was more feature film-like than anything else.

I'm not a fan of slow-motion to set mood, unless it's used effectively. Kroeker used it effectively in the final scene, combined with the moving background music, to set the tone of what we'll see after six weeks of reruns that are coming up beginning next week.

I've had mixed feelings about the Xindi arc since it started. We all know that the Xindi element was added as a desperate ploy to keep the series on the air. But after learning much about how resistant Rick Berman has been about taking major chances -- like with the Dominion War in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" -- he has apparently decided that it was time to change his mind and take some necessary risks.

While the war arc here hasn't been as consistently moving and compelling as the Dominion War arc was several years ago on one of "Enterprise's" predecessors, I'm starting to feel that Star Trek is starting to finally explore its roots again, to tell compelling stories and create moral dilemmas that make us think.

Did Archer have to destroy the Xindi lunar outbase that was about to transmit Enterprise's location? Does peace deserve a chance, even at the brink of annihilation? Is the here and now more important, or is the future even more important?

It's unclear if the Xindi ever had a run-in with Capt. Kirk, but it does make one wonder how he would've handled the situation.

I did feel that some of Manny Coto's dialogue was uninteresting, especially the whole "negotiating with the sun" colloquialism in regards to the Xindi reptiles. But overall, the story stayed intact. The plotholes were filled (Daniels tells Archer that if they destroy this weapon, the Xindi will simply build another), and now I feel it's going to be a long six weeks until we get to conclude this arc once and for all.

I know I can't wait to meet the female FutureGuy.

Azati Prime
Star Trek: Enterprise

Writing: B-
Story: A
Acting: B
Directing: A

Overall: B+

Michael Hinman is the founder and news editor of Airlock Alpha. He is based in Tampa, Fla., and can be reached at michael@airlockalpha.com.

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