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In a Mirror, Darkly (Enterprise episode)
Encyclopedia
"In a Mirror, Darkly" is a two-part episode of Star Trek: Enterprise
. "In a Mirror, Darkly (Part I)" was the 700th live-action Star Trek episode broadcast. With this episode, actress Majel Barrett
, widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry
, became the only actor to participate in every Star Trek series, including the Animated Series, as well as both the Original Series-based and Next Generation-based film series. In this episode, she provided the voice of the Defiant computer.
The episode's title is derived from 1 Corinthians
13:12 (American Standard Version
). The same verse (from the King James Bible, which reads, "For now we see through a glass, darkly") is quoted by Captain Picard
in Star Trek Nemesis. The episode is the only episode in the entire Star Trek
franchise which takes place entirely within the mirror universe
.
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, and features footage originally used in that feature film. Most of the footage of the Vulcans landing on Earth is directly lifted from the film, up until the point where Zefram Cochrane
greets a Vulcan
, who has arrived on earth to make First Contact with the young human species, and attempts to perform a Vulcan salute
. But the scene does not play out as viewers remember: Cochrane opens up his coat, takes out a shotgun, and shoots the Vulcan. He orders the ship to be raided and its technology assimilated and the assembled humans raid the ship. For this episode, footage of Cochrane and the assembled humans executing the Vulcan crew and stealing the T'plana-hath with cries of conquest was newly created with stunt actors dressed identically to James Cromwell
(Cochrane) and Cully Fredericksen (Vulcan Captain).
The theme song then played, but this was a darker version without words. Instead of the music that described hope and perseverance to achieve purely scientific and exploratory goals, this one showed battle music and images of warfare and mass destruction. In order: we see ancient sailing ships firing cannons, WWI planes being shot down, WWII infantry and tanks advancing, then with large amounts of armed soldiers marching in line and above them was a symbol of the Earth which was stabbed from the top with a blade (this was a symbol of evil Earth). Displayed also were scenes of artillery firing; a burst from a flame thrower; war planes engaging their enemy; a nuclear explosion; a fighter bomber plane rising from a track; two submarines fighting and the second one being destroyed; a flaming city with a tank passing through it; long range missiles; an anti-aircraft weapon locking on to a plane; a carpet bombing run; and a giant bomb being dropped. We then see the Apollo 11 launch as with the usual title sequence, but cut to a scene on the surface of the moon where the flag is that of the Earth bisected with the blade. Following this are scenes in space, of Cochrane's first warp ship followed by an NX-series craft attacking alien cities and a lunar colony.
We then see the Enterprise shooting down a Klingon Bird of Prey, marines dropping down from ropes and shooting other species (that was the same footage that was used in the Xindi story arc from the previous season), a giant starship battle, and finally the evil Earth symbol once more.
The show's starring cast are crew members on the ISS Enterprise of the Mirror Universe
, under command of Captain Forrest. The Terran Empire
is on rocky ground; their hegemony over the alien races of the universe is being threatened by constant insurgency. Deep inside Tholian
space, the Enterprise encounters the USS Defiant, NCC-1764 fresh from its last appearance in the Original Series
episode "The Tholian Web". It appears that, after disappearing into interphase, the Defiant was carried not only into the mirror universe, but also a century back in time, where the Tholians of 2155 are intent on using it to break away from the oppressive and anthropocentric
Terran Empire. Commander Jonathan Archer
(the ISS Enterprise's first officer) takes an away team to the Defiant to capture it for the humans. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is caught and destroyed by the Tholians, with Forrest lost and many of the crew dying in escape pods hitting energized walls of a Tholian energy space trap (or "Web") set around the Enterprise. Archer declares himself captain of the Defiant and orders his crew to take the fight to the enemy.
, Phlox
and Soval, fails to stop him. However, he is incapacitated by his lover Hoshi Sato
, and she declares herself Empress upon arriving at Earth. The episode closes on that note, with the final fate of all main characters unknown (many have been threatened with death), and Archer poisoned via champagne.
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These episodes foreshadow the future of the Mirror Universe (the Terran Empire as seen in Star Trek: The Original Series
and its downfall and conquest by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance as seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
) in its dialogue. They also include numerous references to the other parts of the original series; besides the Defiant, they depict the Gorn
on screen for the first time since the 1960s. They also contain many TOS-era sets, props, costumes and other paraphernalia, which were re-created solely for these episodes. Interestingly, the Mirror Universe version of Starfleet is shown to be considerably more diverse than in the mainstream universe, with Vulcans
, Andorian
s and even an Orion seen serving in various capacities, although it is implied that these are conquered races.
troops on the march, a squadron of Stuka dive-bombers
, a Saturn V
launch, an atomic bomb exploding, aerial carpet bombings, a T-90
tank, an F-15 Eagle
, and a B-1B Lancer
.
Other scenes used in the opening credits come from earlier Star Trek productions, including the launch of the Phoenix (from Star Trek: First Contact
), a shot of several torpedoes striking a building (from the Star Trek: Voyager
episode "Dragon's Teeth"), the destruction of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey (from the Star Trek: Enterprise
episode "The Expanse"), an assault by a team of MACO troops (from the Star Trek: Enterprise
episode "The Xindi"), and a battle between Enterprise and the Xindi, as well as the destruction of the Rigellian Scout Ship by the Romulan Drone (disguised as Enterprise).
These credits also show scenes from different properties belonging to Paramount Pictures
, including The Hunt for Red October
(of the Konovalov firing a torpedo
), The Sum of All Fears
(of the three missiles against a sunlit background), Call to Glory
, and The Jacket
. The animated logo of the Terran Empire includes an Earth rotating the opposite way.
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
. "In a Mirror, Darkly (Part I)" was the 700th live-action Star Trek episode broadcast. With this episode, actress Majel Barrett
Majel Barrett
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was an American actress and producer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek series, Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and for being the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series...
, widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
, became the only actor to participate in every Star Trek series, including the Animated Series, as well as both the Original Series-based and Next Generation-based film series. In this episode, she provided the voice of the Defiant computer.
The episode's title is derived from 1 Corinthians
First Epistle to the Corinthians
The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, often referred to as First Corinthians , is the seventh book of the New Testament of the Bible...
13:12 (American Standard Version
American Standard Version
The Revised Version, Standard American Edition of the Bible, more commonly known as the American Standard Version , is a version of the Bible that was released in 1901...
). The same verse (from the King James Bible, which reads, "For now we see through a glass, darkly") is quoted by Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
in Star Trek Nemesis. The episode is the only episode in the entire Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
franchise which takes place entirely within the mirror universe
Mirror Universe (Star Trek)
The Mirror Universe is a fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place...
.
Synopsis
Part I
The episode's teaser opens with the closing scene from the feature movie Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
, and features footage originally used in that feature film. Most of the footage of the Vulcans landing on Earth is directly lifted from the film, up until the point where Zefram Cochrane
Zefram Cochrane
Zefram Cochrane is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. Created by writer Gene L. Coon, the character first appeared in the 1967 Star Trek episode "Metamorphosis", in which he was played by Glenn Corbett. James Cromwell later played Cochrane in the 1996 feature film Star Trek: First...
greets a Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
, who has arrived on earth to make First Contact with the young human species, and attempts to perform a Vulcan salute
Vulcan salute
The Vulcan salute is a hand gesture consisting of a raised hand, palm forward with the fingers parted between the middle and ring finger, and the thumb extended. Often, the famous line, "Live long and prosper", is said after it. The salute was devised and popularised by Leonard Nimoy, who...
. But the scene does not play out as viewers remember: Cochrane opens up his coat, takes out a shotgun, and shoots the Vulcan. He orders the ship to be raided and its technology assimilated and the assembled humans raid the ship. For this episode, footage of Cochrane and the assembled humans executing the Vulcan crew and stealing the T'plana-hath with cries of conquest was newly created with stunt actors dressed identically to James Cromwell
James Cromwell
James Oliver Cromwell is an American film and television actor. Some of his more notable roles are in Babe , for which he earned Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Star Trek: First Contact , L.A...
(Cochrane) and Cully Fredericksen (Vulcan Captain).
The theme song then played, but this was a darker version without words. Instead of the music that described hope and perseverance to achieve purely scientific and exploratory goals, this one showed battle music and images of warfare and mass destruction. In order: we see ancient sailing ships firing cannons, WWI planes being shot down, WWII infantry and tanks advancing, then with large amounts of armed soldiers marching in line and above them was a symbol of the Earth which was stabbed from the top with a blade (this was a symbol of evil Earth). Displayed also were scenes of artillery firing; a burst from a flame thrower; war planes engaging their enemy; a nuclear explosion; a fighter bomber plane rising from a track; two submarines fighting and the second one being destroyed; a flaming city with a tank passing through it; long range missiles; an anti-aircraft weapon locking on to a plane; a carpet bombing run; and a giant bomb being dropped. We then see the Apollo 11 launch as with the usual title sequence, but cut to a scene on the surface of the moon where the flag is that of the Earth bisected with the blade. Following this are scenes in space, of Cochrane's first warp ship followed by an NX-series craft attacking alien cities and a lunar colony.
We then see the Enterprise shooting down a Klingon Bird of Prey, marines dropping down from ropes and shooting other species (that was the same footage that was used in the Xindi story arc from the previous season), a giant starship battle, and finally the evil Earth symbol once more.
The show's starring cast are crew members on the ISS Enterprise of the Mirror Universe
Mirror Universe (Star Trek)
The Mirror Universe is a fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place...
, under command of Captain Forrest. The Terran Empire
Mirror Universe (Star Trek)
The Mirror Universe is a fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place...
is on rocky ground; their hegemony over the alien races of the universe is being threatened by constant insurgency. Deep inside Tholian
Tholian
Tholians are a fictional starfaring and extremely territorial race in the Star Trek fictional universe. The Tholian home nation is the Tholian Assembly, which inhabits an area of space in the Alpha Quadrant, near the Cardassian Union and the Badlands....
space, the Enterprise encounters the USS Defiant, NCC-1764 fresh from its last appearance in the Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
episode "The Tholian Web". It appears that, after disappearing into interphase, the Defiant was carried not only into the mirror universe, but also a century back in time, where the Tholians of 2155 are intent on using it to break away from the oppressive and anthropocentric
Anthropocentrism
Anthropocentrism describes the tendency for human beings to regard themselves as the central and most significant entities in the universe, or the assessment of reality through an exclusively human perspective....
Terran Empire. Commander Jonathan Archer
Jonathan Archer
Jonathan Archer is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. He is the protagonist of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, where he is played by Scott Bakula...
(the ISS Enterprise's first officer) takes an away team to the Defiant to capture it for the humans. Meanwhile, the Enterprise is caught and destroyed by the Tholians, with Forrest lost and many of the crew dying in escape pods hitting energized walls of a Tholian energy space trap (or "Web") set around the Enterprise. Archer declares himself captain of the Defiant and orders his crew to take the fight to the enemy.
Part II
Archer repopulates his ship with the surviving crew of the Enterprise, defeats an insurgent alien fleet, and decides to declare himself Emperor, using the Defiant and its advanced technology as his trump card. Several crewmembers, including Archer, don 23rd Century Starfleet uniforms in lieu of wearing their environmental suits from Enterprise. A conspiracy led by various alien members of his crew, including T'PolT'Pol
Commander T'Pol is a fictional character played by Jolene Blalock in Star Trek: Enterprise. She is a Vulcan who serves as the science officer aboard the starship Enterprise.-Concept and creation:...
, Phlox
Phlox (Star Trek)
Phlox is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, played by John Billingsley.Dr. Phlox is the chief medical officer aboard the starship Enterprise.-Overview:...
and Soval, fails to stop him. However, he is incapacitated by his lover Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato
Hoshi Sato , played by Korean American actress Linda Park, is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Enterprise....
, and she declares herself Empress upon arriving at Earth. The episode closes on that note, with the final fate of all main characters unknown (many have been threatened with death), and Archer poisoned via champagne.
Background information
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
and its downfall and conquest by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance as seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
) in its dialogue. They also include numerous references to the other parts of the original series; besides the Defiant, they depict the Gorn
Gorn
In Star Trek, the Gorn are humanoid reptiles from the Gorn Hegemony.-Fictional history:The Gorn had contact with the Orion Syndicate as early as 2154...
on screen for the first time since the 1960s. They also contain many TOS-era sets, props, costumes and other paraphernalia, which were re-created solely for these episodes. Interestingly, the Mirror Universe version of Starfleet is shown to be considerably more diverse than in the mainstream universe, with Vulcans
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
, Andorian
Andorian
Andorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials created by D. C. Fontana for the Star Trek universe. They are native to the icy M-class moon Andoria , which orbits a blue, ringed gas giant. Definitive traits include their blue skin, a pair of cranial antennae, and white hair...
s and even an Orion seen serving in various capacities, although it is implied that these are conquered races.
Altered credits
The altered opening credits sequence for this episode depicts historical archive footage of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
troops on the march, a squadron of Stuka dive-bombers
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
, a Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
launch, an atomic bomb exploding, aerial carpet bombings, a T-90
T-90
The T-90 is a Russian third-generation main battle tank that is a modernisation of the T-72 . It is currently the most modern tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry...
tank, an F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, and a B-1B Lancer
B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...
.
Other scenes used in the opening credits come from earlier Star Trek productions, including the launch of the Phoenix (from Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
), a shot of several torpedoes striking a building (from the Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
episode "Dragon's Teeth"), the destruction of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey (from the Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
episode "The Expanse"), an assault by a team of MACO troops (from the Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
episode "The Xindi"), and a battle between Enterprise and the Xindi, as well as the destruction of the Rigellian Scout Ship by the Romulan Drone (disguised as Enterprise).
These credits also show scenes from different properties belonging to Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, including The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October (film)
The Hunt for Red October is a 1990 thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Tom Clancy. It was directed by John McTiernan and stars Sean Connery as Captain Marko Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan...
(of the Konovalov firing a torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
), The Sum of All Fears
The Sum of All Fears (film)
The Sum of All Fears is a 2002 American action film/political thriller directed by Phil Alden Robinson and based on the novel The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy...
(of the three missiles against a sunlit background), Call to Glory
Call to Glory
Call to Glory was an American television series that aired 23 episodes during the 1984-1985 TV season on the ABC-TV network. Starring Craig T. Nelson as a USAF pilot, Colonel Raynor Sarnac. In the course of its production run, it drifted away from its original reasonably authentic setting and...
, and The Jacket
The Jacket
The Jacket is a 2005 psychological thriller film directed by John Maybury that is partly based on the Jack London novel of the same name, released in the US as The Star Rover. Massy Tadjedin wrote the screenplay based on a story by Tom Bleecker and Marc Rocco...
. The animated logo of the Terran Empire includes an Earth rotating the opposite way.
Production
- These two episodes mark the first time since the Original Series that the entire Constitution-class bridge was rebuilt for a Star Trek episode. The appearance of the Defiant bridge was made to look identical to how it was shown in 1968’s "The Tholian Web", right down to the positions of the dead crewmen.
- In previous episodes where a Constitution-class bridge was depicted, for example the Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "Relics" and the Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode "Trials and Tribble-ations", only small sections of the bridge were rebuilt, with visual effectsVisual effectsVisual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
used to provide the appearance of completion. - In keeping with the Original Series' depiction of every Starfleet vessel's crew having unique uniform insignia, one was made for the Defiant crew uniforms seen in this episode. (In "The Tholian Web", stock uniforms were used, however their insignia was never shown onscreen.)
- For the Part I teaser new shots were filmed and inserted into footage from the film Star Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First ContactStar Trek: First Contact is the eighth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise, released in November 1996, by Paramount Pictures. First Contact is the first film in the franchise to feature no cast members from the original Star Trek television series of the 1960s...
. While EnterpriseStar Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
was normally shot in digital, the Mirror First Contact scenes were shot on film so that they would match the appearance of the original footage. - Unlike TOS and DS9 stories where regular characters "crossed over" into the Mirror Universe, this episode took place entirely in that realm - a decision which, in a DVD bonus feature, Executive Producer Manny CotoManny CotoManny Coto is an American writer, director and producer of films and television programs.Coto was the executive producer and showrunner of Star Trek: Enterprise in its final season, and executive producer of four seasons of 24...
stated was made primarily in the belief that the TOS episode where it first appeared was "obviously" first contact between the two universes. - According to interviews with the episode's writer Mike SussmanMike Sussman (TV series writer/producer)Mike Sussman is an American television writer and producer best known for his work on Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and Threshold. He is currently a writer and Co-Executive Producer on Sam Raimi's syndicated adventure series, Legend of the Seeker.- External links :*...
, the Defiant was originally going to be used in his Season 2 episode "Future Tense". The idea was abandoned based on the premise that it was too difficult to include the Defiant in the episode without allowing the original Enterprise crew to either see the ship or find out any information about it, as this would conflict with established canon, and pollute the timeline, which is of no concern to the mirror universe crew. - This episode is the most recent appearance of longtime Trek actor Vaughn ArmstrongVaughn ArmstrongVaughn Dale Armstrong is an American actor.-Prior to acting:Armstrong served in the United States military and saw action in the Vietnam War.-Star Trek:...
, who plays Captain Maximilian Forrest - the counterpart of his regular Enterprise character, Admiral Maxwell Forrest, who had been killed in "The Forge" earlier in the season.