Enterprise 3x6 "Exile"

rating: **

the story: An alien with information about the Xindi attempts to use Hoshi as a bargaining chip.

what it's all about: "Exile" is the first Hoshi spotlight that doesn't cast her in a vulnerable position because of neuroses but rather because of the situation itself.  In a way, its most significant aspect is foreshadowing later in the season when she's once again become a hostage, this time to the Xindi themselves.  Otherwise it's most useful as connecting tissue for the spheres mystery and getting closer to the Xindi.

A lot of observers seem to have fixated, upon original broadcast, the Beauty and the Beast nature of the plot, which is a fairly superficial understanding of the plot, insofar as the alien who tries to trick Hoshi into becoming his companion (an old Star Trek trope) turns out to be ugly, or maybe because of the arrangement he proposes.  Either way, Hoshi is never coerced; it's always her decision, even when he's trying to manipulate her.  She shows great strength of character throughout the episode.  It's really a remarkable turnaround for the character, a sign of the added experience she and the rest of the crew has at this point. 

It was probably bewildering, in these early episodes, all the emphasis on the spheres, not having any idea how they connected to the Xindi or the arc itself.  In hindsight they're a hugely significant element, and therefore any and all material concerning them, especially in these episodes, must be considered accordingly, especially the clever way in which the producers plotted this particular course.  If the crew was slow to come across the Xindi themselves, it was intriguing, learning about the spheres.  After all, they were directly responsible for the Expanse itself.  And, ah...never mind.  If you don't know yet, I won't spoil it for you.  In this review, anyway...

criteria analysis:

• franchise - A familiar story trope that again might seem mystifying to casual viewers trying to understand the relevance to the season arc.
• series - But to dedicated fans, it makes a ton of sense, especially the spheres material.
• character - This is the most assured Hoshi we've seen to date.
• essential - It foreshadows later Hoshi material, but in hindsight maybe if the alien had been an agent of the Xindi the relevance would've been more obvious.