Agent Daniels appears to Archer with grim news: a group of Xindi have traveled back to Earth in 2004. There, they're conducting research on a biological weapon that will wipe out humanity just as surely as the superweapon weapon Enterprise came to the Expanse to stop. Daniels is going to send Archer and T'Pol back in time to prevent this new threat.
This episode very quickly reminded me of the reasons I'd grown tired of Enterprise's Temporal Cold War episodes: they don't make a lick of sense. Daniels is aware of this 2004 threat. He looks human. He's traveled to the past before on a mission of infiltration -- that's how he met Archer in the first place. So... why isn't he the one traveling to 2004 Detroit to do something about it? Why does he need Archer and T'Pol? (Aside from the extratextual answer: because then there wouldn't be an episode.)
When Archer was snatched forward to the future previously, the timeline changed to an apocalyptic hellscape, changes permeating instantly through time. Here, Daniels tells Archer that the changes of 2004 haven't yet rippled through to the future, in a direct contradiction. Why aren't there one or two consistent rules about all this stuff? (Again, aside from the extratextual answer: because then there wouldn't be an episode.)
Daniels isn't the only one with an overly complicated plan. In the past, its true that these reptilian Xindi can't exactly blend in. But still, is the easiest way to collect one sample of every human blood type to get some junkie blood bank worker to gather them? How did they meet him? Where are they getting these briefcases of money to pay him? (Blah blah, wouldn't have have an episode.)
Once Archer and T'Pol travel to the past (side note: where did they get the costumes when they don't have replicators?) T'Pol holds on to her "I don't believe in time travel" shtick for far longer than seems logical. Archer impulsively puts himself in harm's way, apparently unable to think of any other way to deal with the situation. T'Pol speaks with weird certainty about how to block time travel. (Acceptance comes with complete scientific knowledge?)
In short, there's a mountain of nonsense you have to try to overlook here -- including the fact that we kinda-sorta just had a "time travel" episode when Enterprise found an Old West planet. But assuming you can get on board, there is some fun to be had too. A lot of it is the sort of humor that made Star Trek IV so entertaining: the comedy of seeing our future characters interacting in the present day. If they steal a car, can they operate it? What will they make of a fast food drive-thru lane? There's good action too. An early chase ends with a satisfying Vulcan neck pinch. A climactic rooftop shootout features stunt performers jumping between buildings. The camera work dares to go over the top, with fast zooms and melodramatic slow motion.
The caliber of the central guest star helps a lot. Leland Orser may be best known for his brief but intense performance in Seven, but he's a face familiar to Star Trek fans, having appeared a few times before. He has to carry the early part of this episode -- which luxuriates in mystery for a long time before showing Our Heroes -- and is more than up to the challenge. (Though I ultimately don't care enough about his character to want the episode's final scene, showing his arrest in 2004.)
Also, the lead Xindi is played by a very young Jeffrey Dean Morgan, completely covered in makeup. Years later, he gave an interview in which he revealed this experience was so unpleasant that he almost quit acting. Fortunately, he'd soon land roles without the extreme makeup, becoming the charismatic badass he'd play in many shows and movies.
Other observations:
- Who keeps day-old pizza in their bathroom? Leland Orser's character Loomis, that's who.
- When T'Pol refuses to try fast food, Loomis gets in a sly joke by invoking Burger King's long-running slogan: "have it your way."
- Most of the main cast gets the week off. Trip is shown only briefly, and we just get Reed's voice. No Phlox, Hoshi, or Travis at all.
"Carpenter Street" is mostly fun once it gets going. But it also feels a bit aimless, and I felt keenly aware of the storytelling mechanics. I give it a B-.
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