This story is retelling of a story that played out as a world war ll film from 1965 staring James Garner. That film involved James Garners character waking up in a hospital and being told the war was over and the allies had won. In reality Garner's character had been captured and was the center of a plot to convince him that the war was over so he would talk about the details of the yet to have happened D-Day invasion (June 4, 1944). The Germans spent a little time letting him get comfortable with the idea that it was OK to talk about the invasion since the war was over. He dodges this still uncomfortable talking about that which was so secret so recently. As time goes by he starts to notice subtle flaws in the charade the German's are attempting. Like that film in this episode a prisoner is being fooled into believing a war is over and he needs to help Archer get him back to where he belongs. While they do a very convincing job with the time constraints they were working under their prisoner caught on, but like the original that is not the end of the story. It was fun to see this done in a futuristic setting. It's still a good story. Do yourself a favor and see both versions they are both well done.
14 Reviews
Captain Archer Pulls a Nice Con
Samuel-Shovel2 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After capturing a high-ranking Xindi official, Archer devises a complex scheme to trick the Xindi primate into revealing damaging information regarding the location of the weapon. Using a memory wipe and a fake shuttlepod, Archer pretends to be escaping prison with the Xindi officer. But getting Degra to reveal compromising information is harder than it first appears.
A nice twist on an old con, ST:E delivers another solid episode this season. Randy Oglesby does a fine job in his role, proving the Xindi to be both threatening but also relatable. While the episode's ploy might be a bit overly complex (especially at the end) it delivers for some great interactions between the two characters of Degra and Archer.
Maybe I missed something but do we know where the Xindis got their information that soon the humans would destroy the Xindis? Everyone just appears to be taking this at face value. Shouldn't we ask them why they think we're out to destroy them? Whose behind this intel? We could clear this entire thing up if the two sides just communicated a little bit. I guess that after 7 million earthlings died in the first attack, Star Fleet is no longer interested in any type of negotiation.
A nice twist on an old con, ST:E delivers another solid episode this season. Randy Oglesby does a fine job in his role, proving the Xindi to be both threatening but also relatable. While the episode's ploy might be a bit overly complex (especially at the end) it delivers for some great interactions between the two characters of Degra and Archer.
Maybe I missed something but do we know where the Xindis got their information that soon the humans would destroy the Xindis? Everyone just appears to be taking this at face value. Shouldn't we ask them why they think we're out to destroy them? Whose behind this intel? We could clear this entire thing up if the two sides just communicated a little bit. I guess that after 7 million earthlings died in the first attack, Star Fleet is no longer interested in any type of negotiation.
An interesting variation on "36 Hours".
planktonrules5 April 2015
Another reviewer is right--this episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" is very similar to the James Garner film "36 Hours". In "36 Hours" an Allied officer has been captured by the Nazis and they try to convince him that the war has been over for some time and that he's not a prisoner but living in an Allied camp. But he IS a prisoner and the plan is to get him to relax his guard and betray what he knows about the pending invasion of the continent. Well, this is pretty much the set-up for this Trek show--as the crew of Enterprise is trying to convince someone that reality ISN'T what they think.
When the show begins, Archer and Degra (the guy who created the Xindi super-weapon) are on a shuttle. Degra has no idea who Archer is nor how they got there. So, Archer gives him a fake back story about how they both were prisoners in a Xindi Insectoid prison and that they both just escaped and Degra's amnesia will soon pass. So why are they doing all this? Because they want to know where the place is where they're constructing the super-weapons so they can destroy them.
Despite this being a recycled idea, it was very well made and exciting throughout--and is well worth seeing. Very detail-oriented and well thought out and one of the better episodes of the series.
When the show begins, Archer and Degra (the guy who created the Xindi super-weapon) are on a shuttle. Degra has no idea who Archer is nor how they got there. So, Archer gives him a fake back story about how they both were prisoners in a Xindi Insectoid prison and that they both just escaped and Degra's amnesia will soon pass. So why are they doing all this? Because they want to know where the place is where they're constructing the super-weapons so they can destroy them.
Despite this being a recycled idea, it was very well made and exciting throughout--and is well worth seeing. Very detail-oriented and well thought out and one of the better episodes of the series.
Where is the Ragtime piano music?
XweAponX19 February 2017
Season 3 was a lot better than I remember it being, and this episode was one of the best of the series.
Randy Oglesby returns as "Degra" (The creator of the Xindi weapon) and he is with Archer in what appears to be some beat-up Malosian shuttle, being chased by other Xindi. The appearance is that some years had gone by, and they had escaped from a Xindi prison-cesspit and were cellmates at such a place - and, had even becomes friends. Degra seems to have memory loss but Archer mentions the after effects of (Regulan) Bloodworms, which we get to see.
Is this an another alternate future episode? Where's Daniels? But he's not there, so something else must be going on.
It's "The Sting" if course, and you have to feel sorry for Degra as he falls prey to Archer's tricks. But this scam was masterfully executed, it fools us during the teaser even. But when Degra reveals he had a hard time making a weapon that killed 7 Million people, it hands Archer an in for future (real future this time) encounters with Degra and other members of the Xindi Council.
Season 3's episodes all string together to create one huge 26-hour tale, and this episode marks the point at which things start going a bit better for Enterprise.
Randy Oglesby returns as "Degra" (The creator of the Xindi weapon) and he is with Archer in what appears to be some beat-up Malosian shuttle, being chased by other Xindi. The appearance is that some years had gone by, and they had escaped from a Xindi prison-cesspit and were cellmates at such a place - and, had even becomes friends. Degra seems to have memory loss but Archer mentions the after effects of (Regulan) Bloodworms, which we get to see.
Is this an another alternate future episode? Where's Daniels? But he's not there, so something else must be going on.
It's "The Sting" if course, and you have to feel sorry for Degra as he falls prey to Archer's tricks. But this scam was masterfully executed, it fools us during the teaser even. But when Degra reveals he had a hard time making a weapon that killed 7 Million people, it hands Archer an in for future (real future this time) encounters with Degra and other members of the Xindi Council.
Season 3's episodes all string together to create one huge 26-hour tale, and this episode marks the point at which things start going a bit better for Enterprise.
Frequently Done on the Old Mission Impossible
Hitchcoc25 March 2017
This is a great episode. Not only does it employ deception and creativity, it sets up the next step in destroying the Xindi weapon. One of the chief Xindi engineers is on board a strange shuttle with Archer. Archer tells him that they have been on a prison planet for three years. They form a bond. As it turns out, the entire thing has been orchestrated by the Enterprise crew to get information form the guy. This would be one thing, but the story gets a series of other twists which I won't reveal here. Archer and the gang do some real countermoves. Excellent.
you can really lose yourself
lisafenix13 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
If Twilight hadn't aired a few episodes earlier I would have absolutely believed that this was really in the future. archer's performance was certainly convincing enough(for the most part). As it was I just couldn't see them making another episode that was actually set in the future so soon after the last. be that as it may there were points where I could suspend that dis-belief, where I could doubt that conviction. archer shows enough emotion talking about what happened to his crew for it to be real I can tell you that much.
it's actually comparatively boring when the episode goes back and shows you how it all came about but it was a good way to set-up the episode and give everyone a time on camera
Randy Oglesby and Scott Bakula obviously get top billing but even those who are barely shown are rather at the height of performance. it's dis-quieting to think that their friendship was formed on a lie (this is mentioned later in 3x20) but it is nice watching this episode, watching trust develop and friendship evolve. we know what he learns both seen and unseen helps him later, but heck with that for now. my only Question is how can Archer be so smart in the simulation itself and not know how to handle Degra later? 9 out of 10 points
it's actually comparatively boring when the episode goes back and shows you how it all came about but it was a good way to set-up the episode and give everyone a time on camera
Randy Oglesby and Scott Bakula obviously get top billing but even those who are barely shown are rather at the height of performance. it's dis-quieting to think that their friendship was formed on a lie (this is mentioned later in 3x20) but it is nice watching this episode, watching trust develop and friendship evolve. we know what he learns both seen and unseen helps him later, but heck with that for now. my only Question is how can Archer be so smart in the simulation itself and not know how to handle Degra later? 9 out of 10 points
Three Years Out of the Spot
claudio_carvalho17 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Archer is piloting a shuttle together with an unconscious Degra, the Xindi in charge of design, build and test the Xindi weapon When Degra awakes, Archer tells him that Earth has been destroyed, he has been betrayed by the Insectoids and they had spent three years together in a prison. Now they are allied and escaping from their common enemy, and Degra's amnesia was caused by the interrogation process. The reluctant Degra does not trust on Archer while their ship is attacked. However, when they receive a transmission with interference from Thalen, Degra cryptographs the coordinates of the location of the weapon.
"Stratagem" is an intriguing episode due to an ellipsis that is resolved later. The procedure Archer uses to lure Degra is original in spite of the flaws. Unfortunately I can not write further to avoid spoilers. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Estratagema" ("Stratagem")
"Stratagem" is an intriguing episode due to an ellipsis that is resolved later. The procedure Archer uses to lure Degra is original in spite of the flaws. Unfortunately I can not write further to avoid spoilers. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Estratagema" ("Stratagem")
One of Enterprise's Best
mstomaso27 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Mike Vejar, one of Enterprise's best directors, gave us this excellently put together presentation of a Terry Matalas story. Mike Sussman's screenplay also does the story justice, and Scott Bakula and Randy Oglesby are great as Archer and his newfound friend/arch-enemy - Degra.
Stratagem advances the Xindi / Expanse arc tremendously. Describing the plot any further would require a spoiler of epic proportions so I won't. Leave your preconceptions about the series and the franchise behind - in fact, leave your preconceptions about the entire Federation behind - and just see this episode.
Stratagem advances the Xindi / Expanse arc tremendously. Describing the plot any further would require a spoiler of epic proportions so I won't. Leave your preconceptions about the series and the franchise behind - in fact, leave your preconceptions about the entire Federation behind - and just see this episode.
Marvelously focused, detailed episode.
sogoodlooking23 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'm always surprised when Enterprise is treated as the stepchild of Star Trek series. The writing is as good as any since TOS, as is the cast. I've also thought Jolene Blalock (advised by the showrunners, no doubt) erred badly in playing her Vulcan 1st Officer as stone-faced and cold. That was never Spock, though almost every actor since Nimoy has misplayed that species. But by the third season her growing closeness to the crew, especially Archer and Trip, has remedied much of that. (Never mind the disastrous, upcoming decision to make her sexually... familiar with Trip.)
As for "Strategem, " it's another of the third season's several superb episodes. As with a number of other Enterprise episodes the writers are in no hurry to get where they're going, so even though we can take a good guess at what's going on, we're left at least somewhat in the dark for the first 14 minutes.
The performances are good throughout. The staging of an escaping ship is largely believable. The crew's recovery after the first ruse fails, whereafter they fool Degra with a hastily improvised second fake that he falls for, is impressive, a credit to a ship's complement that has gotten this far on its impossible mission, and to the episode's writers, Michael Sussman and Terry Matalas, for devising an impressive script.
Once again, though, the stakes of Season 3 make morality irrelevant. Here, it's the drugging and abusing prisoners that ceases to become a question--after all, since all life on Earth is at stake, no measure is too vile. As we saw in the episode where Archer without any remorse tortured an alien almost to death, by ginning up the stakes to where they can't but help get our attention, the series also loses a good deal of moral complexity.
As one consequence, it no long has to ask essential questions such as "when is torture immoral?" and "even though they're not signatories, are humans obliged to treat aliens in accordance with the Geneva Conventions?"
As for "Strategem, " it's another of the third season's several superb episodes. As with a number of other Enterprise episodes the writers are in no hurry to get where they're going, so even though we can take a good guess at what's going on, we're left at least somewhat in the dark for the first 14 minutes.
The performances are good throughout. The staging of an escaping ship is largely believable. The crew's recovery after the first ruse fails, whereafter they fool Degra with a hastily improvised second fake that he falls for, is impressive, a credit to a ship's complement that has gotten this far on its impossible mission, and to the episode's writers, Michael Sussman and Terry Matalas, for devising an impressive script.
Once again, though, the stakes of Season 3 make morality irrelevant. Here, it's the drugging and abusing prisoners that ceases to become a question--after all, since all life on Earth is at stake, no measure is too vile. As we saw in the episode where Archer without any remorse tortured an alien almost to death, by ginning up the stakes to where they can't but help get our attention, the series also loses a good deal of moral complexity.
As one consequence, it no long has to ask essential questions such as "when is torture immoral?" and "even though they're not signatories, are humans obliged to treat aliens in accordance with the Geneva Conventions?"
Unoriginal but works well
snoozejonc10 November 2020
Archer is on board a shuttle with Xindi suffering from memory loss.
This is pretty strong episode with a plot that works well for developing the overarching narrative of Series 3.
As other reviewers have pointed out this type of thing has been done many times in other films and TV shows, but the way things unfold here is pretty entertaining. This mainly due to an excellent performance by Randy Oglesby as Degra, and the solid suspense created towards the episode's conclusion.
Some may question some of the psychologically, torturous methods on display in this episode and point to other options available to Archer that did not involve this type of action, but I guess the show's writers thought this would be far more cinematic and likely to generate ethical discussions.
All performances were good, particularly from its guest star. From a technical perspective the effects, visuals and everything else were pretty solid.
This is pretty strong episode with a plot that works well for developing the overarching narrative of Series 3.
As other reviewers have pointed out this type of thing has been done many times in other films and TV shows, but the way things unfold here is pretty entertaining. This mainly due to an excellent performance by Randy Oglesby as Degra, and the solid suspense created towards the episode's conclusion.
Some may question some of the psychologically, torturous methods on display in this episode and point to other options available to Archer that did not involve this type of action, but I guess the show's writers thought this would be far more cinematic and likely to generate ethical discussions.
All performances were good, particularly from its guest star. From a technical perspective the effects, visuals and everything else were pretty solid.
Unanswered question!!!!
angeladevillier20 March 2019
Ok I am not understanding why hasn't anyone from earth or even enterprise asked who told the xindi, earth was going to destroy them? No one ever ask that question and it is upsetting me!!!!!! That would be on the top of my list of questions. I believe that could have helped earth understand their actions. Then earth can reassure the xindi they would not attack them. Something along those lines. It just doesn't seem believable whom ever wrote this story line for season 3. It's just very frustrating, every episode I wait to see if they ask that question, but no one ever does!!!!!
A Remake of 36 hours with Solid Effects and a one-to-one Role Play in a Star Trek / Xindi Universe
habat4Ever26 December 2020
The episode start is a bit confusing but few explanations come later. Some pretty good artefacts are inserted from time to time (bloodworms, Xindi insectoids ships,
Archer plays a good role but there are details which are a bit odd and I can give an example: why after losing the Enterprise and all the crew (as told in the story), Archer is keeping safe the bloodworm after removing it from the Xindy's enemy arm.
Another example: why going back to the debris field, knowing that an overload can occur with the simulator
Finally, why trying to verify that the destination is the correct one when the Xindi has encrypted the coordinates and also when there is no other course of action for the Enterprise. They frequently say we may lose three weeks but do they have any other alternative, any other direction to go so that to find the Xindi weapon?
Outside of those scenario glitches, the playtime is quite pleasant to look at but I have the feeling that the scenes filmed inside the simulator are a bit too lengthy and that some other characters shall have been more developed with a collateral story, i.e. how they have built the simulator and what did they do with the space shuttle...?
For all the above reasons, I will give a mitigated 7/10 as I was expecting more suspense, more thrilling moments and a stronger consistency for the whole episode. I was also expecting more anger, for instance coming from Trip when detaining the creator of the mass-destruction weapon in their custody, or at least an explanation from the Xindi for why exactly he agreed to create a weapon to kill humans, including children...
Archer plays a good role but there are details which are a bit odd and I can give an example: why after losing the Enterprise and all the crew (as told in the story), Archer is keeping safe the bloodworm after removing it from the Xindy's enemy arm.
Another example: why going back to the debris field, knowing that an overload can occur with the simulator
Finally, why trying to verify that the destination is the correct one when the Xindi has encrypted the coordinates and also when there is no other course of action for the Enterprise. They frequently say we may lose three weeks but do they have any other alternative, any other direction to go so that to find the Xindi weapon?
Outside of those scenario glitches, the playtime is quite pleasant to look at but I have the feeling that the scenes filmed inside the simulator are a bit too lengthy and that some other characters shall have been more developed with a collateral story, i.e. how they have built the simulator and what did they do with the space shuttle...?
For all the above reasons, I will give a mitigated 7/10 as I was expecting more suspense, more thrilling moments and a stronger consistency for the whole episode. I was also expecting more anger, for instance coming from Trip when detaining the creator of the mass-destruction weapon in their custody, or at least an explanation from the Xindi for why exactly he agreed to create a weapon to kill humans, including children...
When Archer plays Archer, he seems more authentic than when Archer is Archer
tomsly-400155 April 2024
Even though this episode certainly wouldn't win any creativity awards, it is still one of the ENT episodes that is certainly entertaining and exciting. As other commentators have already noted, the basic cinematic pattern has been seen several times in other films in this or similar ways. Among other things, Mission Impossible used a similar trick - creating a fake reality in order to ultimately trick the unwitting victim into revealing secrets.
The chamber play with Archer and Degra in the cramped stage of a shuttle and the underlying choreography of the events on board the Enterprise form an exciting arc of suspense that constantly oscillates between mistrust and trust in which you never know exactly whether Degra has completely taken the bait or not.
But of course everything that can go wrong goes wrong. Although the crew flies through the vastness of space at warp speed in a marvel of technology and has so far escaped any space anomaly or attacks from nasty aliens, the technology fails in such a simple construction as a shuttle simulator with hydraulic movement. But somehow the turning point in the story arc has to occur in the climax phase in order for the story to then resolve the cinematic conflicts and tie up the loose ends.
Both Scott Bakula and Randy Oglesby deliver good acting performances in this episode. The interaction in the small space appears thoroughly authentic. In complete contrast to the episode "Shuttlepod One", in which Reed and Tucker delivered a similarly cramped chamber drama, with the tension between the two constantly jumping from one high to the next low and back again. The slow build up to the climax was missing there.
The chamber play with Archer and Degra in the cramped stage of a shuttle and the underlying choreography of the events on board the Enterprise form an exciting arc of suspense that constantly oscillates between mistrust and trust in which you never know exactly whether Degra has completely taken the bait or not.
But of course everything that can go wrong goes wrong. Although the crew flies through the vastness of space at warp speed in a marvel of technology and has so far escaped any space anomaly or attacks from nasty aliens, the technology fails in such a simple construction as a shuttle simulator with hydraulic movement. But somehow the turning point in the story arc has to occur in the climax phase in order for the story to then resolve the cinematic conflicts and tie up the loose ends.
Both Scott Bakula and Randy Oglesby deliver good acting performances in this episode. The interaction in the small space appears thoroughly authentic. In complete contrast to the episode "Shuttlepod One", in which Reed and Tucker delivered a similarly cramped chamber drama, with the tension between the two constantly jumping from one high to the next low and back again. The slow build up to the climax was missing there.
Unoriginal To A Fault
Vvardenfell_Man21 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This premise has been done before, and not only on Trek. Other reviewers have noted the similarity of this episode's plot to a film called 36 hours, which I haven't seen. More interesting is the similarity to the TNG episode where Romulans capture Riker and trick him into thinking it's the future. I can't remember the title and don't feel like looking it up. Anyway, this episode dares to ask the bold question: what if our protagonists, after willfully creating a Tuvix situation several episodes earlier, now decided to do what the Tal Shiar and Nazi intelligence did in previous iterations of this premise?
With no decent foil here--only poor Degra, who is a victim in all of this--Archer and his crew come off as people who believe that any given end can justify any given means. Immanuel Kant is spinning in his grave.
With no decent foil here--only poor Degra, who is a victim in all of this--Archer and his crew come off as people who believe that any given end can justify any given means. Immanuel Kant is spinning in his grave.
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