First off: yes, there was a "reset button" ending. That's okay, though, because it was well done, and it's the first one the show's employed. The memory-loss inducing anomaly mentioned in the episode's synopsis left behind extra-dimensional parasites in Archer's brain. Someone else may disagree with me, but I thought that having parasites be the actual cause of the memory loss was rather clever and not at all what I was expecting. The reset comes about because of their extra-dimensional nature; they are non-corporial and by destroying them in the "present" (you know, the 12 years in the future time in which the episode takes place) they are destroyed in the past as well. Of course, they don't all get cleared out of Archer's brain case until the very last moment, after the entire crew has been slaughtered and Jon himself is dying, but that just adds to the drama. I was actually squirming in my seat, inching closer and closer to the edge of my chair. Reminded me of the good old days, watching DS9.

On the Tucker/Reed front, our boys managed to stay together right up until the end. Until death do they part, literally. Now, Malcolm had just been promoted to captain, but he hadn't even got his fourth pip yet, and then the ship he was supposed to be commanding was blown to bits by the Xindi -- moments before they carved the bridge out of Enterprise.

Trip looked good with his gold hair gone silver. Malcolm's fu-manchu on the other hand... That was just wrong. I realise they wanted to make him look different, but I really think that a streak of white in his hair and a few wrinkles on his face (maybe a scar too) would have been a lot more attractive than the fake-looking beard & moustache.

I don't have time to write it myself at this point, but I'm really hoping that some of the other lovely T/R writers out there will pen a fic or two set in the alternate timeline this episode set forth. I'd love to hear all about how Trip and Malcolm coped with the failure of the mission to save Earth, and them commanding Enterprise together for nine years.

~RB

11/11/03 -- Okay, I have a confession to make. Malcolm's beard is growing on me (no pun intended). After watching the episode two more times, I really don't think it looks so bad. Kinda strengthens his chin a bit. Basically, he's just a damn fine looking man, bearded or otherwise.