Star Trek Enterprise: Season 4 (www.the-usher.com)

"Space, the final frontier..."

The Xindi threat might be over but Captain Jonathan Archer and the crew of the starship Enterprise have new enemies to face…

Storm Front (Part 1)
The Temporal Cold War takes a new twist as Archer and the Enterprise are thrown back in time to 1944, where they find a new temporal faction has changed the course of WWII in an attempt to change Earth's future.

Storm Front (Part 2)
Archer races again time to stop the temporal aliens from completing their plans to destroy all of time. Silik, who had snuck aboard the Enterprise before its trip back to the past, becomes Archer's ally to stop the aliens.

Home
With both the Xindi and the Temporal Cold War behind them, the crew of Enterprise finally return to Earth. The crew receives a heroic welcome complete with parades, news broadcasts, and schools renamed in their honour. But the troubled captain is having trouble putting the experiences of the past year behind him.

Borderland (Part 1)
Criminal Arik Soong is brought aboard the Enterprise to assist in finding some genetically enhanced humans he created after stealing some altered DNA left over from the Eugenics Wars.

Cold Station 12 (Part 2)
Soong, who has been freed by his Augment children, intends to reclaim the remaining Augment embryos being stored at Cold Station 12. He plans to incubate the embryos, and start an Augment army to take over the known worlds.

The Augments (Part 3)
After turning on their creator the Augments try to start a war between Humans and Klingons.

The Forge (Part 1)
When Earth's embassy on Vulcan is bombed evidence points to a religious faction known as "Syrrannites," a group following a revolutionary interpretation of the teachings of Surak, the father of Vulcan logic. After T'Pol receives a clandestine lead, she and Archer embark upon a treacherous journey through the Vulcan desert looking for them.

Awakening (Part 2)
The Vulcans blame Syrrannite terrorists. Archer and T'Pol must get to the bottom of the bombing and bring those responsible to justice. However, unbeknownst to Archer and T'Pol, more is going on than just a simple act of terrorism.

Kir'Shara (Part 3)
After finding the Syrrannites were not the ones who bombed the Earth embassy on Vulcan, Archer and T'Pol attempt to take a sacred, but controversial artefact back to the Vulcan High Council. The artefact holds the key to an internal religious struggle going on between the Vulcan people, which had provoked the bombing of the Earth embassy. However, powerful forces are out to prevent Archer, T'Pol, and T'Pau from reaching the High Council with the artefact alive.

Daedalus
The inventor of the current transporter system claims he has found a way to transport people over great distances, possibly even making star ships obsolete. The Dr. and the Enterprise set out to verify the claim in a remote part of the star system but the Dr. has other plans for Enterprise's transporter system.

Observer Effect
Non-corporeal aliens, who study other species by occupying their bodies, study the Enterprise crew and their human reactions to different stimuli. Their best results come from putting the other species in life or death situations, but mostly death situations. Can the Enterprise crew survive the alien's study?

Babel One (Part 1)
Someone is out to start a war between the Andorians and the Tellarites, and Archer lands in the middle of the pending conflict, as he takes a Tellarite Ambassador to the Andorian home world. Archer must find out who would benefit from such a war, and why.

United (Part 2)
Archer is able to work a fragile alliance between the Andorians, Tellarites, and Vulcans to try and capture the marauding ship that is attacking each of the group's ships. The task is made more difficult due to the marauders ability to mask its appearance as several other types of ships. Their chance comes after the marauder is temporarily knocked out of action, but then things go horribly wrong.

The Aenar (Part 3)
Archer and Shran attempt to enlist the help of a secretive xenophobic people on Andoria, who have telepathic powers, known as the Aenar. Having captured a marauding space ship that had been wrecking havoc in the quadrant, the alliance realizes the ships are piloted by telepaths. The problem is, the telepathic Andorians are pacifist who won't even fight to defend their own planet.

Affliction (Part 1)
The Enterprise returns to Earth to take part in the maiden launch of the newest NX class ship, the Columbia. Shortly after taking shore leave with the others, Phlox is kidnapped and taken to a secret Klingon research facility. They need Phlox' help to stop a disease that is the greatest threat the Klingon race has ever faced.

Divergence (Part 2)
As the Enterprise and Columbia get closer to finding Phlox' location, Klingon Augments board and sabotage the Archer's ship. As the crew race to prevent the impending destruction of the Enterprise, Phlox fights a losing battle against time to come up with a cure for the Klingon Augment virus.

Bound
As a gift for negotiating with the Orion Syndicate, Captain Archer receives three Orion Slave Girls.

In a Mirror, Darkly (Part 1)
In the mirror universe, Commander Archer mutinies against Captain Forrest in order to capture a future Earth ship found in Tholian space.

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

Demons (Part 1)
A xenophobic faction of humanity threatens to undermine talks to form a new coalition of planets.

Terra Prime (Part 2)
A human isolationist leader threatens to destroy Starfleet Command unless all aliens leave Earth immediately.

These Are The Voyages...
Six years in the future, an emotional Captain Archer and the crew return to Earth to face the decommission of Enterprise and signing of the Federation charter.

For the second time in Star Trek history, a series has been cancelled and it was just when 'Enterprise' is getting good.

After the one season plotline of the third year of the show, 'Enterprise' doesn't quite follow the same format again but it still ups the momentum. The fourth season runs with a collection of two and three part stories that adds to and explains some of the questions Star Trek fans have been asking for years. The season explains how the Mirror Universe War started, more about the Eugenics War, Vulcan politics and dealings with Humans are explained, the Temporal War comes to a head and we finally find out why the Klingons looked different during Captain Kirk's time.

This is Enterprise's strongest season yet with not only questions on the Star Trek universe been answers but the characters also advance. Chief amongst these is the relationship between T'Pol and Trip. This season sees their relationship come to a head as T'Pol's Vulcan heritage and obligations threatens to end any chance of them being together. Captain Jonathan Archer has trouble moving on from the pressures of the Xindi mission and get back comfortable in the captain's chair. Phlox has many an ethical dilemma to deal with. Malcolm Reed reveals a secret that could end his career on Enterprise. Hoshi actually becomes a very interesting character, but only in the Mirror Universe but Travis Mayweather only gets one real story and continues to be the most undeveloped of the main crew.

The multi-episode storylines really make this season standout from the rest. 'Enterprise' had suffered from a lack of direction until the third season but after that continuous storyline, a first in Star Trek history, Rick Berman and show-runner Manny Coto made decision to fill the fourth year with two or three episode plotlines. There are still the odd single, standalone episode but it is the multi-arc storylines that drive the season. Each of these really advance the Star Trek Universe and instil some much needed adventure and storytelling back into the franchise. The major standout is the exceptionally good 'In a Mirror, Darkly' two-parter. Set in the Mirror Universe that started in the 'Original Series' and continued in 'Deep Space Nine' and is just as much fun. This is a complete Mirror Universe episode only, with no characters from our universe visiting or been dragged into the action, so it is all the Evil Earth characters. This makes for fascinating viewing for fans as we see how the backstabbing, greed and power mongering push the quadrant into war.

Been cancelled just when the series was finding its way, 'Enterprise' was forced to rush in a final episode to complete the series that, while answering many questions and ending some plotlines, didn't quite do Jonathan Archer and his crew justice. 'These are the Voyages…' sees the return of two familiar faces, 'Next Generation' crewmembers Deanna Troi and Will Riker, as Riker uses a Holodeck recreation of the original Enterprise's last voyage to help him work through a personal problem. This would have been a good standalone episode for the season but as a series finale is comes as a disappointment and makes you feel that the writers struggle to conclude 'Enterprise' after its cancellation.

The four season of 'Star Trek Enterprise' is the best of the series four year run and it is a real shame that it was cancelled just as it found its way in the Star Trek Universe. While it still isn't in the same league as classic 'Next Generation' or 'Deep Space Nine', there is still a place for this in Trekkers' hearts and it is still excellent science fiction television.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in 16x9 Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, 'Star Trek' has never looked so good. The transfer is superb with the picture quality first rate throughout, really showcasing the exception special effects. The sound quality is also fantastic, especially during the fight sequences.

BONUS FEATURES

Audio Commentary
Writer Mike Sussman and Star Trek.com editorial director Tim Gaskill provide commentary for 'In a Mirror, Darkly Parts I & II' and writers Judith and Garfield Reese-Stevens are joined by Tim Gaskill again for a track for 'Terra Prime'. These commentaries are very chatty and informative, making them a good listen for Star Trek fans.

Text Commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda
While watching the episodes 'The Forge', 'In a Mirror, Darkly Pt. 2' and 'All the Voyages…' you can switch on the text commentary feature which flashes up interesting facts and trivia about the episode and the series. Deleted Scenes View deleted scenes from the episodes 'Storm Front', 'The Aenar' and 'In a Mirror, Darkly Pt. 2'

Enterprise Moments: Season 4 (16.24 mins)
Executive producer and writer Manny Coto, writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens and stars Scott Bakula, Conner Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes talk about the final series of 'Star Trek Enterprise'. The group talk about completing the season three cliffhanger in 'Storm Front', the Vulcan arc, Brent Spiner returning in the Augments storyline and the two finales of the show, the Terra Prime arc and 'All the Voyages…'

Inside the Mirror Episodes (15.42 mins)
Executive producer and writer Manny Coto, writer Mike Sussman, visual effects supervisor Dan Curry, makeup designer Michael Westmore, illustrator Doug Drexler and digital effects supervisor John Teska talk about returning to the Mirror Universe. The group talk about taking the Enterprise crew into the mirror universe and with no cross over characters. Sussman reveals how the it was originally a story for the return of William Shatner to the Star Trek universe and how he wanted to follow up on 'The Tholian Web' Original Series episode. The featurette looks at the reconstruction of the classic bridge, the uniform and the Gorn.

Enterprise Secrets (5.51 mins)
Second Assistant Director David Trotti takes you behind the scenes of the last day of shooting on 'All the Voyages…' as crewmembers from the show enjoy a chance to have one last cameo on the series.

Visual Effects Magic (13.25 mins)
Visual effects supervisor Dan Curry, 3D artist Fred Piekos, digital effects supervisor John Teska, visual effects supervisor Ronald B. Moore, digital effects supervisor Robert Bonchune and lead 3D modeller Pierre Drolet talk about creating the digital effects for Star Trek Enterprise. The FX team talk about creating the CG effects for the episodes 'Storm Front', 'The Xindi', 'In a Mirror, Darkly' and 'The Expanse'.

That's a Wrap (9.00 mins)
Executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, scenic artists Mike and Denise Okuda and stars Scott Bakula, Conner Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Peter Weller, Jeffrey Combs and LeVar Burton take you behind the scenes of the final wrap party for 'Star Trek Enterprise'.

Links to the Legacy (4.25 mins)
Co-producers and writers Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens talk about linking 'Enterprise' to the original series and the rest of the Star Trek legacy. They talk about the Vulcan history, Andorian, the Klingons and Section 31. Enterprise Outtakes (2.16 mins) View the cast making mistakes and mucking up their lines Photo Gallery View behind the scenes and publicity photographs from the fourth season.

Enterprise goes to the Dogs (12.42 mins)
Executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, scenic artists Mike and Denise Okuda, visual effects supervisor Dan Curry, illustrator John Eaves, writer Andre Bormanis, animal trainer Scott Rowe, writer Mike Sussman and stars Scott Bakula, Dominic Keating, John Billingsley and Conner Trinneer talk about the influence that Porthos had on the show.

Westmore's Aliens: Creating Dr Phlox and beyond (5.16 mins)
Star Trek's makeup designer Michael Westmore talks about creating Dr Phlox and T'Pol's looks for 'Enterprise'.

Easter Egg - NX-01 File 10 (4.41 mins)
Watch a short featurette about the protest mounted by fans over the cancellation of the show.

OVERALL

Paramount has done another excellent job with season four of 'Star Trek Enterprise'. Fans will be pleased with the informative featurettes, the funny outtakes and the quality of the audio commentaries making this a must by for fans. While a few more commentary tracks on episodes wouldn't have gone a miss and the sets are a little expensive (Shop around), this is still a great package.

DVD

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