t the end of the second season, the Enterprise set off to face a new enemy called the Xindi after a devastating attack was launched on the Earth. Knowing only that the Xindi's home world is located in a Bermuda Triangle-type area known as the Delphic Expanse, the crew of the Enterprise head off to find these aliens and stop them from attacking Earth again.
As season three opens, the five species of Xindi argue during a council meeting about the approaching Earth ship. Some of the council members feel the ship is only the beginning of an invasion that will wipe out their race. Others believe they should wait, because the new weapon is nearly ready.
Elsewhere in the Delphic Expanse, the Enterprise has been trying to find the Xindi for six weeks, and Capt. Archer (Bakula) is unhappy they've made so little progress. Strange anomalies are causing problems for them, and everyone's on edge, especially Trip (Trinneer), who lost his sister in the Xindi attack.
On a tip from a disreputable source, they head toward a mining planet where a Xindi might have been working years before. Believing they don't have the luxury of being "safe or cautious," the captain determines to do whatever it takes to find the location of the Xindi. As part of that determination, a military assault team has joined the crew to help deal with the Xindi once they are located.
Once the Enterprise reaches the mining planet, the captain finds the foreman even more disreputable than the source that sent him to the planet in the first place. However, the foreman admits he does have a Xindi working for him and offers to arrange a meeting, for a price. With little choice, the captain agrees, but he quickly discovers that their dangerous journey to find the Xindi may well have a higher cost than he ever could have imagined.
New bad guys broaden their agenda
The best thing about the third season premiere, "Xindi," is that we do get to meet the Xindi up close and personal right in the very beginning. Having five species who all believe they are the dominant species is a cool idea, and having the Insect Xindi argue with the Sea Creature Xindi and the other species of Xindi offers more than a little insight into what the Enterprise is up against. It's an interesting backdrop, but the main action happens with the crew of the Enterprise.
It's a curious thing when T'Pol turns out to be the relaxed member of the crew. T'Pol, who left the Vulcan High Command last year to stay with the Enterprise, has let her hair grow a bit, and she's is wearing attractive colorful outfits. It's a welcome change for her character. However, the rest of the crew are on edge, with the captain appearing to have little regard for the danger in which he's putting his crew. When Lt. Reed asks about safety issues, the captain dresses him down soundly. Yes, the Earth is in danger and they need to find the location of the Xindi. However, why risk the ship and the lives of crew unnecessarily? A good captain would know that the key to leadership during a dangerous mission is knowing when to and when not to take risks with his people's lives.
Beyond the captain's speech about not having the luxury to be safe or cautious, "Xindi" is a pretty good episode, with plenty of action and an interesting resolution. The addition of the assault team is a nice touch, and realistic given the situation. T'Pol and Trip even take their shirts off, and some fans may find that alone enough to tune in for.
While the new direction for the series does look promising, the series still hasn't quite found its rhythm. The Xindi do look like good new bad guys. However, what's the real mystery here? The Xindi attacked Earth because they believe Earth forces will destroy their people 400 years in the future. The Enterprise is searching for the Xindi because of the attack on Earth. There are no real bad guys here actually, except the nasty future people who started all the troubles in the first place. Certainly there's more going on than we know by the end of "Xindi." And that's a good thing.
