I'm re-watching season 3 of Enterprise with more intent this time around, and what I have found has been staggering, specifically the change in Archer's character. The first time I watched it, I was careless, I glossed over a lot, I did not notice the subtleties, but when I did, they were like bugs on a windshield -- hard to miss. The line of moral ambiguity that Archer flirts with time and time is richly mesmerizing. Sisko is the only other captain, in my opinion, whose character went through a hellish crucible. The gauntlet that Archer and his crew must go through for the sake of Earth is daunting, to say the least. Watching Archer go through each episode and not necessarily make the correct decision, or even the moral decision is invigorating -- it makes him human.
Yeah, I'm still going through "Anomaly" and am overdue in writing up a review of it. Archer's transformation really starts here I think, when he shoves that guy into an airlock to force information out of him. Good natured Archer of seasons 1 & 2 would have never considered that.
I absolutely LOVE this Archer development. Last thing we need to hear is speechifying about losing our humanity when the entire earth was going to be destroyed. Great stuff.
Yes; this is the turning point. Other things are done later (e. g. a theft), but this is the moment when innocence is first truly lost.
I agree that it is a great change in his character and very interesting to watch. It makes season 3 my favorite of the "Enterprise" show.
I would say yes, but not with the sam ferocity that was directed at the Xindi. Archer, to me, appeared more sure of himself, as well as unwavering in his approach with the Augments and subsequent later events with the capture of Phlox and the cloaked Romulan probe. If the show continued on, I can only imagine how his charecter would change, especially with the Romulan war on the horizon.
I always did think the scene of the damaged Enterprise sweeping in on the Damar clone's ship in Damage was chilling. Just knowing they had become the "bad guy" in every measurable sense there.