Shows me what I get for so eagerly anticipating this hour, as the coiled energy of "The Forge" slowly grows cold. Captured by the Syrrannites, Archer and T'Pol meet their leader T'Pau and accuse her of bombing Earth's embassy. T'Pau attempts and fails to extract the katra of Surak from Archer's noggin; he katrallucinates Surak in visions of Vulcan's self-directed annihilation yet also its redemption and leads the natives to a secret mcguffin cave. NX-01 is threatened and fired upon by the Vulcan High Command in their attempt to provoke an interstellar attack against the Andorians. Overpowered, and with Soval on board, they flee to Andoria to warn of the attack.

This aimless "caves within caves" segment reintroduces two major "canonical" characters astonishingly without signature accent or mannerisms, and barely the calm, silent dignity cast so deeply by their originators. Where's any logical (or even reasonable) Vulcans found anywhere in this episode? The Bat-usi pull the katra from the head was silly. T'Pol cries as T'Zhora dies without even a nod to a katra transfer from mother to daughter; maybe that remains to be worked in. OK there was contrast as Soval begins to stand out as the highlight of the arc.

Too bad the human representative was little better. Just like with the Xindi, Archer's assitude misfires as he falsely accuses the first unfamiliar face tickling his xenophobia. (That T'Pol shared this distasteful demeanor is, I suppose, blamed on the crack problem.) Yet there's no katra-whiplash as he simply starts finding secret doors and magic triangles for this ancient culture, gobbling screen time better used elsewhere. The rest of the crew continues to be neglected, though Trip and Soval do make a cute couple on the bridge and off. (If they kill him off in the third act I swear I'll do a special on them.)

Am I the only one surprised that the Vulcan underlings so quickly agreed to use "photonic weapons" against their own people and soil? I used to giggle at the "Vulcans are really Romulans" idea but these events resurrect the theory with tremendous potency. Vulcan cruisers attack a human ship? Like McCoy never would have mentioned that! (Though the attack was pretty in an episode largely devoid of effects.) Though they made the best of a weak script, somewhat interesting in its own way if not a more expected one, it's clear the best part of this lifeless effort was the jaunt to Andoria to invigorate the arc. The Andorian Mining Consortium never disappoints!