Described by series cocreator Brannon Braga as "a single episode that lasts 24 hours," the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise is arguably the best in the show's four-season run. With the epic "Xindi saga" as the season's primary story arc, the series found its tonal focus in the unpredictable space of the Delphic Expanse, where alien encounters and matter-warping spatial anomalies forced Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) to make extreme decisions that tested his ethical boundaries. Realizing the need for a fresh viewpoint, Braga and cocreator Rick Berman hired Manny Coto, a TV veteran who conceived or wrote several of the season's finest episodes (not forgetting Mike Sussman and other members of the series' first-rate writing staff). Coto's involvement was instrumental in shaping the Xindi saga, which began (with season 2's cliffhanger) when Earth was attacked by a Xindi probe--a massive weapon which Archer must now destroy. This vital mission dominates season 3, deriving its potent drama from an impressive variety of characters and subplots focused on the five-species Xindi council, which finds its voice of reason in Primate member Degra (season regular Randy Oglesby) and rancor in the Reptilian Commander (Scott MacDonald), pivotal characters whose fates will be tragically intertwined.

Despite lower ratings and budgetary cutbacks (as evident in several ship-bound episodes with minimal casting), season 3 was equally strong as a showcase for the Enterprise regulars, with plenty of fan speculation rising from the sexy and soothing Vulcan "neuro-pressure" sessions between the insomniac Tucker (Connor Trinneer, better than ever) and T'Pol, whose hidden addiction to a toxic compound allows Jolene Blalock to mine the volatile depths of her character (who now sports a more appealing hairstyle and wardrobe). Meanwhile, security chief Reed (Dominick Keating) engages in heated competition with Major Hayes (reliable guest Steven Culp, from the first season of Desperate Housewives), the leader of NX-01's Military Assault Command Operation (or MACO), which Reed views with territorial suspicion. And while Enterprise still fumbled to develop the characters of Hoshi (Linda Park) and Travis (Anthony Montgomery), John Billingsley continued to bring clutch-player excellence to his role as Dr. Phlox in several highlight episodes including "Doctor's Orders" and "Similitude," the latter featuring equally strong work by Trinneer in an ethically complex (and fan-favorite) examination of the cloning--a typical example of Star Trek at its best.

The alternate timeline of "Twilight" also honors the classic Trek tradition, while "Harbinger" reveals the existence of the trans-dimensional Sphere Builders, whose moon-sized creations affect Enterprise throughout its season-long mission. Finally, the crucial appearances of blue-skinned Andorian Shran (Jeffrey Combs) bring both suspense and comic relief to the season's grim proceedings, adding depth and tentative alliance to Enterprise's pre-Federation politics--a crucial element that assumes greater importance with the jaw-dropping cliffhanger of "Zero Hour" and the surprises in store for season 4, which will bring Enterprise ever closer to the original Star Trek timeline.

One of the most enjoyable Trek seasons ever.

Whatever reservations I may have had about this show were quickly dissipated with season 3, which gave us one of the best long-running sci-fi story arcs I've seen and almost easily the best in Star Trek history (edging out DS9's Final Chapter). Probably season 3's greatest attribute is its relative consistency. Sure, not every episode was great, but each had something to add to the lengthy plot, and it usually entertained in the process. The end result was an ambitious season highlighted by enjoyable storytelling, excellent f/x, and plenty of tension and intrigue.

The Xindi- B. A good start to the Xindi arc, with interesting conflicts aboard the ship and a damn good action sequence at the end of the episode.

Anomaly- B. This episode further highlights the dangers of the Delphic Expanse in a convincing and entertaining fashion.

Extinction- B-. Okay, I know this one's universally despised, but I was pretty amused by it through and through.

Rajiin- B-. I was hoping to see more between the ultra-hot Hoshii and Rajiin, but the scene just cut away! Otherwise, it's a enjoyable enough episode.

Impulse- A-. Zombie Vulcans! Though it doesn't particularly further the Xindi arc, this is still an exciting, action-packed episode.

Exile- B-.

The Shipment- B. Adds an extra dimension to the already intriguing Xindi race.

Twilight- A. Possibly the season's best episode, even if it does seem a bit inspired by TNG's Yesterday's Enterprise and 50 First Dates. Still, it represents everything I love about Star Trek.

North Star- B. Another unpopular episode, this time saved by a really cool shootout/fight scene at the end.

Similitude- C-. Despite the moral complications, I found this a pretty dull Tucker episode.

Carpenter Street- C+. Watchable, but it doesn't really succeed as a time travel piece or as an action episode either.

Chosen Realm- C+. Pretty much a filler episode, though I did like the final scene.

Proving Ground- B. Nice to see Shran again, especially in an episode that delivers its share of thrills and intriguing plot turns.

Stratagem- B+. It's a lot of fun watching Archer and the crew try to manipulate Degra.

Harbinger- B. A solid episode that furthers the story arc while also giving us an enjoyable fight scene between Reed and Major Hayes.

Doctor's Orders- B-. The season's Dr. Phlox episode, and while I think it could have been even creepier, it still does a nice job building a sense of isolation.

Hatchery- B-.

Azati Prime- B. Another good episode, though I would have liked a bit more expansion on that future Daniels was showing to Archer.

The Damange- B+. Archer goes to some extreme lengths to continue his mission. It's breaking these ehtical boundaries that make this a very compelling episode.

The Forgotten- B. A decent episode as Archer tries to convince the Xindi they're being manipulated.

E squared- B-. The premise is intriguing and most of the episode does entertain, but it doesn't end on the most satisfying note.

The Council- B+. The pace reaches a feverish height as we approach the end of the arc. There's plenty of dramatic conflict and a cool space battle towards the end.

Countdown- A. Wow. As a pure thrill ride, Countdown is one of the best Star Trek episodes ever, highlighted particularly by an awesome space battle worthy of the big screen. Toss in some exciting phaser fights and the death of a major character and we've got one of my favorite Trek episodes, period.

Zero Hour- B. After the frantic thrills of Countdown, things actually slow down a bit for the first half of Zero Hour, hurting the momentum somewhat. Thankfully, the second half of the episode packs some exciting action and ends the Xindi arc on a strong note (rather reminiscent of Star Trek: Nemesis now that I think about it). The plot twist at the end does seem pretty gratuitous, though.

YAWWWWN!!!

Season 3 explemlifies the worst problems with this series.Enterprise's best attributes are:
1)The production
2)The acting
3)The dialog
4)The special effects

But this series lacks in the three most important areas Star Trek is famous for-writing,pace and classic characters.A one hour episode of this series tends to pass at a snail's pace and the characters never really develope beyond a non dimentional cartoon setting.And this season was really the end-a lame plot that was extended over a whole season because the writers had no new ideas.And people complained about ST-TNG being PC?THIS IS PC!!!'Enterprise' premiered after 9/11 and took no political or socially relevant risks.Token black,asian and Vulcan's-Star Trek with all the relevence taken out.In fact elements of this season seem to express that all out war is okay even if no other options have been explored.'Enterprise',at best is a below average sci-fi/adventure series and does not have the same spark and humanity that made even the best of DS9 so enjoyable.If one wants to see good Star Trek shows go watch the classic series,the brilliant Next Generation or Voyager.Don't suck on this melon.

The best season of Enterprise, but the best episodes weren't Xindi!

Most fans consider this year of "Enterprise" to be the best, and I agree. However, most of them feel that way because of the "Xindi Saga", a on-and-off storyline that ran for the whole season and involved a good two-thirds of all the episodes this third year. I say that, yes, the Xini episodes were very good, but the very best episodes this year-and the ones that made year three the best of the series-were not about the Xindi.

To begin with, there's my favorite episode of the series "North Star", which involves a colony of humans abducted as slave labor from the old West. Their descendants now live in the 2150's in a "sci-fi western" world that is very cool. Heck, I'd like to see as series based on this one episode!

Another great episode is "Similitude". Trip is injured in an accident, and Phlox clones him using one of his many creatures. The clone "becomes" Trip, and doesn't want to give up his newfound, albiet shortened life. It's one of the neater moral dilemma episodes that Star Trek has done.

Finally, I greatly enjoyed "Twilight". Where an extradimensional parasite infects Captain Archer, preventing him from making new permanent memories. He becomes an invalid of sorts, and T'Pol cares for him over twelve long years that see Earth destroyed and humanity hunted to the brink of extinction by the Xindi (okay, technically this is a Xindi Saga episode, but they're a tangential part of the real story).

Of course, the actual Xindi episodes are very good as well. The show gets great mileage out of Trips's struggles to deal with losing his sister. And much to our suprise, we learn the Xindi are as much victims as humanity!

The Andorians (and the blue Clint Eastwood with antannae, Shran) return for a few episodes. In one of these episodes, "Proving Ground" the Andorian role was a bit forced, but those guys are cool enough that a lot of plot shortcuts can be forgiven just to work them in.

This Enterprise crew is pushed farther than any previous crew has been pushed (at least on TV). Casualites are high at an unprecedented level for any Star Trek show. The Enterprise is barely in one piece for the whole last third of the season. And Archer faces (and makes) questionable moral decisions that other Star Trek captains have never been forced to make. It all adds up to a season that is very good, the best of Enterprise. This was probably the single most unconventional season of any Star Trek show, and therein lies its greatest value.

For my money, I prefer the original version of the theme song to the one that debuted in season three, btw.