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*The various modifications to the the "future" ''Enterprise'' [[bridge]] would later be seen aboard the ''[[Columbia (NX-02)|Columbia]]'', NX-02.
 
*The various modifications to the the "future" ''Enterprise'' [[bridge]] would later be seen aboard the ''[[Columbia (NX-02)|Columbia]]'', NX-02.
   
*This episode was sharply criticized by some [[trekkies|fans]] for using a similar plot as "{{e|Children of Time}}, an episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.
+
*This episode was sharply criticized by some [[trekkies|fans]] for using a similar plot as {{e|Children of Time}}, an episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.
   
 
*The original story pitched by writer/producer [[Mike Sussman]] was somewhat different from the aired episode. In Sussman's pitch, the starship [[Columbia (NX-02)|''Columbia'' NX-02]] would have used [[Xindi]] [[subspace vortex]] technology to travel from [[Earth]] to the [[Delphic Expanse]] in order to aid ''Enterprise'' in its mission. But because of an incompatibility in respective technologies, ''Columbia'' would have arrived in the Expanse more than a [[century]] in the past and been marooned there. Archer and his crew would've thus encountered a one-hundred year old ''Columbia'', operated by the descendants of its original crew. Sussman was asked to revise the story, making ''Enterprise'' travel into the past and thus having the crew meet themselves and their own descendants, much as the ''Defiant'' crew had done in "Children of Time". Sussman, a long-time Trekkie himself, pointed out the similarity in the stories to the show's executive producers but was overruled. Those in charge felt that the story for "E²" was sufficiently different, and that enough years had passed between the airing of the two shows to explore this theme again. Several online TV critics also noticed a similarity between the two episodes.
 
*The original story pitched by writer/producer [[Mike Sussman]] was somewhat different from the aired episode. In Sussman's pitch, the starship [[Columbia (NX-02)|''Columbia'' NX-02]] would have used [[Xindi]] [[subspace vortex]] technology to travel from [[Earth]] to the [[Delphic Expanse]] in order to aid ''Enterprise'' in its mission. But because of an incompatibility in respective technologies, ''Columbia'' would have arrived in the Expanse more than a [[century]] in the past and been marooned there. Archer and his crew would've thus encountered a one-hundred year old ''Columbia'', operated by the descendants of its original crew. Sussman was asked to revise the story, making ''Enterprise'' travel into the past and thus having the crew meet themselves and their own descendants, much as the ''Defiant'' crew had done in "Children of Time". Sussman, a long-time Trekkie himself, pointed out the similarity in the stories to the show's executive producers but was overruled. Those in charge felt that the story for "E²" was sufficiently different, and that enough years had passed between the airing of the two shows to explore this theme again. Several online TV critics also noticed a similarity between the two episodes.

Revision as of 18:07, 1 July 2007

An accident during an attempt to use a Xindi subspace corridor places the Enterprise in a bizarre confrontation... with itself.

Summary

While approaching the nebula containing the subspace corridor that will take Enterprise to its rendezvous with Degra near the Xindi Council planet, Enterprise is suddenly approached by a second version of itself, which demands that they not enter the corridor.

Captain Jonathan Archer talks to the commander of the future-Enterprise, a man named Lorian. He reveals that if it enters the corridor, the ship's damaged impulse manifold will create a particle wake that destabilizes the corridor, causing the ship to emerge in 2037. Archer demands to know how he can make the rendezvous with Degra in time if he cannot use the corridor; Lorian provides him with the specifications to upgrade the plasma injectors and reach warp 6.9.

File:TPol, E².jpg

T'Pol in 2154, after being thrown back in time 117 years

Archer visits the future-Enterprise with his great-granddaughter Karyn Archer, and he talks to an aged T'Pol, who tells him that if Enterprise follows Lorian's plan, the ship will be destroyed if it exceeds warp 5.6. She suggests reconfiguring the impulse manifold so Enterprise can still use the corridor.

Lorian believes Archer is taking a foolish risk in following T'Pol's plan and comes up with his own: his crew will steal the present-Enterprise's plasma injectors so they can travel at warp 6.9 and make the rendezvous themselves. A pitched battle ensues that ends in a draw, and Lorian is finally convinced to go along with Archer's plan.

The two ships enter the nebula, fighting off the Kovaalan forces present there. Present-Enterprise loses its impulse power, so future-Enterprise tows it to the corridor, then turns back to fight off the Kovaalans. On the other side of the corridor, Enterprise waits five hours for Lorian's ship to follow them through, but it never does. Archer suggests Lorian and his crew may have been erased from time, but T'Pol points out the flaws in that theory.

Degra's ship arrives for the rendezvous, preparing to escort Enterprise to meet with the Xindi Council.

Background Information

  • "E²" is tied with "Q2" as the shortest episode title in Star Trek.
  • The various modifications to the the "future" Enterprise bridge would later be seen aboard the Columbia, NX-02.
  • The original story pitched by writer/producer Mike Sussman was somewhat different from the aired episode. In Sussman's pitch, the starship Columbia NX-02 would have used Xindi subspace vortex technology to travel from Earth to the Delphic Expanse in order to aid Enterprise in its mission. But because of an incompatibility in respective technologies, Columbia would have arrived in the Expanse more than a century in the past and been marooned there. Archer and his crew would've thus encountered a one-hundred year old Columbia, operated by the descendants of its original crew. Sussman was asked to revise the story, making Enterprise travel into the past and thus having the crew meet themselves and their own descendants, much as the Defiant crew had done in "Children of Time". Sussman, a long-time Trekkie himself, pointed out the similarity in the stories to the show's executive producers but was overruled. Those in charge felt that the story for "E²" was sufficiently different, and that enough years had passed between the airing of the two shows to explore this theme again. Several online TV critics also noticed a similarity between the two episodes.
  • The vest worn by Lorian in this episode is a reuse of the same vest often worn by Jake Sisko in the final seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Links and References

Guest Stars

And

Co-Stars

Uncredited

References

Amanda Cole, Charles Tucker III, Columbia (NX-02), Esilia, Haradin, Hoshi Sato, Ikaaran, Malcolm Reed, McKenzie, Michael Rostov, neuropressure, Phlox, Travis Mayweather, Rigellian parrot; Xindi superweapon; chamomile tea; isomagnetic collector; plasma injector; Kovaalan; Degra; impulse manifold; Xindi Council

Previous episode:
"The Forgotten"
Star Trek: Enterprise
Season 3
Next episode:
"The Council"