Synopsis: Captain Archer and Sub-Commander T’Pol find the Syrrannites, and Ambassador Soval becomes a new ally to the Enterprise crew.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of projection, in this case when an individual’s Logos-driven rational conscious ego projects one’s Eros-driven irrational unconscious shadow onto another.
In “Kir’Shaka” Administer V’Las, the Head of the Vulcan High Command, tells the Vulcan High Command that they need to go to war with the Andorians because of his belief that they have the prototype of the Xindi weapon and will use it against them. V’Las is also told that Archer has the Kir’Shaka, and he orders the eradication or Archer and the Syrrannites. Meanwhile, on Enterprise Commander Charles (Trip) Tucker III wants to warn the Andorians of the Vulcan strike. Ambassador Soval of Vulcan tells him that he may be able to help him find Commander Shran’s vessel. When Enterprise locates Shran’s ship, Tucker and Soval tell Shran of the Vulcan fleet’s mission to attach Andoria. Initially Shran does not believe them, abducts Soval from Enterprise, and tortures him to try to find out the Vulcans’ true plan. Soval is returned and Enterprise and Shran’s ships are confronted by the Vulcan fleet. Meanwhile Captain Jonathan Archer brings the Kir’Shaka to the Vulcan High Command and accuses V’Las of bombing the Earth embassy. V’Las is removed from his post and the attack of the Vulcan fleet is called off.
In this episode, V’Las can be seen as projecting his own shadow onto the Andorians, the Syrrannites, and Archer. He tells the Vulcan High Command that the Andorians have the Xindi prototype weapon and have the ability to use it on them, so they must attack them first. He sees the Syrrannites as being a threat to the Vulcan way of life, and wants to eradicate them. He sees Archer for being a threat not only because he is an outsider, but he has joined with the Syrrannites. To the outside world, it looks as if V’Las is trying to instill xenophobia, the fear of outsiders, into the Vulcan High Command as a way to keep his power. Which is true. But inside his psyche, what is happening is that V’Las’ conscious ego does not acknowledge the aggressive traits that are in his psyche, which logical Vulcans would deem a shadow, onto others. When this happens, there is a possibility for acknowledging and accepting the shadow into ourselves to make the ego stronger and the psyche more whole. But sadly, as is the case here, that opportunity is not always fulfilled.
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