As we come down to the final few episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise I think it's appropriate to rant on the mishandling of this show. For Trek fans it's been an emotional ride ranging from excitement and joy at the prospect of a pre-Kirk era series that would give us a look at the foundation of Starfleet and the Federation... to resignation and disgust at how the show failed to deliver on that promise and went off on a Voyager-like quest, in the opposite direction of what the fans had been hoping for.
I suppose that in retrospect, we should have seen it coming when we were first given a glimpse of Captain Archer's ship and it looked completely wrong. Too "swoopy" and disturbingly similar in design to the USS Reliant from Star Trek: Wrath of Khan.
I don't really want to go off on a Rick Berman and Brannon Braga bash-fest here, but they seem to suffer from hubris: The desire to remake Star Trek into their personal version of what they think it should be. They ignored the fans consistently, treating us like little children who didn't recognize quality Trek when we saw it. And when the ratings started sliding, and kept on dropping as the fans left the show B&B blamed who for it? Yup, the fans. They never once (at least publicly) took a hard look at the situation and said "Ya know what? Just maybe, we screwed up."
Look at their reaction to the abysmal performance of Star Trek: Nemesis... Again, they blamed it on the audience instead of admitting they made a crappy film. It was a sad and pathetic way for the Next Generation crew to go out. Almost as sad as the empty way in which Captain Kirk was killed off in "Generations" (something that long-time fans, including this author, will never forgive).
If you make a great movie, the audience will show up in droves, guys. You can't create schlock and then get mad at your audience for not showing up.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - mike hollihan
Great post, Screen Rant. Overall, I think Manny was the best thing to happen to Enterprise and it's a shame he gets a single season. I'm still torn, though, over his decision to explore and tie in all sorts of TOS loose ends. It's to be expected, given that Enterprise is operating inside the sphere of exploration that TOS established, but it also feels somewhat unoriginal. Still, he did "fix" the emotional Vulcan problem, so that's another credit.
How did you feel about "In a Mirror, Darkly?" I enjoyed it the first time, but watching the weekend repeat, I kept finding moments where it felt like they were wimping out or backing off from the edge. The TOS mirror universe was a savage place, but these Enterprise characters just come off as mean. It could have been much more pointed, I thought, than it was. Partly it was the writing, partly the direction and mostly the actors. Except Hoshi (Wow!) and Trip, who really seemed to get it.
2 - Screen Rant
Yeah, it wouldn't get 5 out of 5 from me. I just don't know what it is that's missing from Scott Bakula's performances. It's almost like I imagine that in real life he's such a nice guy that he just doesn't know how to pull off "angry" or "mean".
As to referencing things that happened in TOS, to my mind that should be the whole POINT of the show. :-) I love what they've done with the Andorians and the introduction of the pig-face guys (whose name escapes me).
I'll tell you what, seeing the CGI version of the Kirk-era starship in the preview for next week gave me goosebumps. If I thought they could do it right (which I doubt) I think I'd love to see another TOS-era show. Maybe make it all CGI?
Vic
3 - Eric Olsen
very nice Vic, thanks and happy to see you back!
4 - Chris Beaumont
Nice post. I believe that this season has been, hands down the best they've had. It is a shame to climb so high creatively to see it met with bad ratings. But what are you going to do following a couple of terribly weak seasons.
What do you think of Riker set to appear in the finale? RUMOR: I have heard that it is possible that the whole thing has been on the holodeck, a novel that Riker has been viewing.... Not sure I like that idea.
5 - mike hollihan
Chris, I won't post actual spoilers here, so as not to angrily surprise anyone, but what you worry about isn't what happens. Enterprise is "real." If you want serious spoilers, try TrekWeb or TrekNation.
Vic's comments on Bakula as Archer are spot on, BTW.
6 - Chris Beaumont
Cool. I'll avoid the sites, I don't mind rumor discussion, but I try to avoid actual spoilers. I am glad that's not what happens. ANyway, I am sad that it is going away, especially at it's creative high point, but I am nowhere near as upset as I was when Farscape got canned.
As for A Mirror Darkly, with regards to Hoshi, WOW! more please.
7 - Screen Rant
Thanks guys. I don't know what the finale holds in store either, but B & B were behind the story, so don't expect to be wonderfully pleased. :-
Vic
8 - Fred
It shouldn't really come as any surprise to us who've been around since the days of the orig series to recognize that those who control the purse-strings almost always are the ones most directly responsible for the premature-death of great science-fiction.
I was absolutely stunned to learn that Rick Berman didn't have any (NOT ONE) piece of startrek memorabilia displayed anywhere in his home. Talk about not walking the walk. That would be like the Pope not having a crucifix in his Papal quarters!
For me it's finally time to turn our noses up at these bean-counters once & for all! Until someone who really loves & passionately believes in the magic of Star Trek comes to Paramount, then and only then maybe the fans will truly be represented!
Til then it's re-runs & homogenized "Reimagined" stuff we're forced to consume! UGH...Better than nothing I suppose?
9 - Screen Rant
Fred, you're kidding? No Trek stuff in his house.
Man, is that telling, or what? Too bad professional fan Richard Arnold wasn't blessed with control of the series while Roddenberry was still alive...
Vic
10 - CessnaDriver
A good summary of many of the problems. But many of the other incarnations of Star Trek had growing pains. Perhaps not as serious but they did exist. I would also add that UPN was not exactly marketing the show properly and it does not fit in with its current programming at all, they seemed to mishandle the franchise. I am convinced if DS9 were on there now instead of Enterprise it would be suffering too. There will be little reason to watch anything on UPN now. Also Nielsens are not keeping up with new methods of viewing. Yes many download the episodes, and see no commercials I know. But they are blowing it on not keeping up with the new methods avialable to distribute the show. Imagine suscribing to download the show and episode commentary? Imagine getting to view the episodes days before broadcast because you suscribe?
This season has been GREAT! Many critics of the show are now impressed.
There is still a chance to change things. The powers that be at Paramount can and do change. There are shakeups, there is an impending Viacom split, new fresh minds are coming in.
The Canadian producer Al Vinci is still working pitches to Paramount.
Many shows have come back. Family Guy, Farscape, Firefly. It happens.
Are the odds good? perhaps not. But I think it is still worth trying to save. Trek is more then a show. It is an optimistic vision of the future that is still sorely needed. Yes even more then watching people eat worms for $50k.
Not giving up yet...
www.trekunited.com
11 - Screen Rant
This *has* been the best season of Enterprise, if not consistently so. I said so in a previous article here.
BTW, I can't understand how the powers that be say that the show would be too expensive to produce on a cable network. Battlestar Galactica and Stargate SG-1 seem to be doing just find and they certainly don't look like low-budget endeavors.
And you're right, E was the only show I watched on UPN. Absolutely no reason for me to go there now.
Oh well, at least they still have *cough* wrestling.
Vic
12 - mike hollihan
It's conventional wisdom that post-TOS Star Trek shows take about three seasons to ripen and find their "voice." It was true with TNG. DS9 came together in its fourth season, but it took until the fifth, when Avery Brooks finally unclenched and started to act humanistically, to really take off. Voyager didn't fall together until the addition of Seven of Nine, even if that ended up rebalancing the cast. (And don't get me start on Janeway the Iron Nun! What a terrible legacy Jeri Taylor inflicted on her.)
Manny was Enterprise's pivot. He gave the show a "voice." It'll be interesting to put a Berman/Braga ep right up alongside the last of Manny's contributions to see hwo they compare.
I think the next Trek shouldn't be a series, but an open-ended string of monthly or quarterly televsion movies or mini-series. Science fiction writers especially, but others as well, should be invited to offer script and story ideas for anywhere in the whole of the Trek universe. Keep the production offices -- costumes, makeup, set design and construction, etc. -- and have a group of teams that oversee production of each movie.
Script quality and inventiveness immediately goes up. The *science* quotient can go up in some, the "people" quotient in others. You can have war stories, love stories, historical dramas, comedies, etc. You can finally make an Excelsior / Sulu movie for the fans, or an all Klingon (subtitled!) episode. Everything is on the table!
And no Berman or Braga. Revoke their parking passes and bar the gates.
13 - Chris Beaumont
Did anyone else hear about Shatner going behind Brannon and Braga to pitch another series to Paramount? SOmething about Starfleet Academy....
14 - Screen Rant
That was a couple of years ago. I think you're referring to this.
Vic
15 - Chris Beaumont
Thanks, that looks like it, But I could have sworn that it had been brought recently, like in the past few months.
16 - Screen Rant
Could have just been that story resurfacing. As far as I know Shatner isn't *that* interested in the franchise. :-
Vic
17 - Thama Logan
Hello, I'm really sorry that Enterprise is not returning for a fifth season; it was really starting to get interesting!! I would like to see Star Trek moved to the SciFi channel where it belongs and where there is obviously more acceptance of this genre. Please make it so! Thanks!!
18 - Screen Rant
Thama, it's been tried (by the folks at Trek United, I believe), but SciFi wasn't interested.
Bummer.
Vic
19 - Darrell Estabrook
Yes! Yes! Yes! Very complete summation of all the emotions I've felt regarding Enterprise. Thanks!
I had hoped by season three that the series up until that point would have all been a time travel mistake, and the crew would find themselves right after episode 1 (BTW, wasn't time travel first "discovered" in TOS "Naked Time", 100 years in the future?). Lately, I've found myself watching entire episodes in fast forward on TiVo, where the highlight was to see the next week's trailer.
The most recent episode, "In a Mirror, Darkly," was EX-CELL-ENT! Opening with a scene from ST:First Contact was a great twist that was in classic "Trek" form. And, like a breath of fresh air, the opening credits ran without that ridiculous song (did I mention it's normally ridiculous?). Oh, too little too late!
Well, no doubt somewhere, sometime, a new series, new movie, new [future type of media format here] will be made and Star Trek will live again.
20 - Andrew Green
We have a saying here in Australia that sums up eveybody feeling towards Enterprises Demise...BUGGER...
We are about 3 light years behind here season 2 is 1/2 way through ...I thought it was geting a bit to into the dark side...
Thank heavens it will lighten up the shift into Voyager type situations was a concern as well as the inumerable New Species?????
A least T,Pol wasnt that bad not 7 of 9 but a cutey as well.
7 of 9 could read the phone book and the ratings would go through the roof.
May be in hindsight we all should have known Enterprise was the only Star trek series with a theme song?
Ah well we have the DVDs to watch.
As for B & B in charge two words sum up what happens when you have total control and no limits.....Star Wars????
Thanks Guys
Andrew
21 - geekgirl2
Screen Rant you are so right on this issue. Enterprise was a sad effort given the great heritage. Hopefully this is not the end for Star Trek tho'
22 - Screen Rant
I have no doubt it will rise from the ashes at some point despite Berman's idea that it's suffering from "Franchise Fatigue".
If that's the case, why is he working on a Star Trek movie?
Yeesh.
Vic
23 - Amy Williams
I agree who heartedly with your comments Vic. From an Australian fan, who only started watching DS9 and VOY a few years ago, I was excited about this series, since I couldn't really "get into" TOS.
I was looking forward to seeing a bit of lightheartedness to the technology which would have been awe inspiring and foreign to the crew back then. I was picturing clunky tricorders the size of a book, and people watching amazed as people were transported (albeit extremely slowly). I saw mishaps with the engines, accidently offending new races, fighting with some, making friends with others.
See life on Earth, bring a more 'human' side of the crew to the show, and actually SHOW more then just archer, trip, t'pol and phlox.
I mean what kind of charactor was malcolm reed? A snobby english man who always thinks he's right? Haven't we already seen that in Bashir? (who actually grew in the show and became nicer and more understanding while reed seemed to get more anal and self obsessed as the series went on)
Basically i suffered through the first two seasons, stifling yawns and trying not to be disappointed as I was told 'it takes a while for a series to warm u'
And then season 3 came along, and I just couldn't handle it. It was the most boring, stupid, ill-concieved bad bad bad writing and charactor direction i've ever seen. I can't believe the actors and other producers just stood aside and did it.
B&B ran it into the ground, and they should realise this rather then walking away dusting there hands and say 'i guess the fans couldn't handle it, maybe we were to advanced for them?'
I haven't even watched season 4 because now, whats the point. I am so sad, because the had such a great premise with this show and they stuffed it up.
*sigh*
24 - CessnaDriver
Currently this rather expensive DVD set is now #2 in sci-fi and #12 in total DVD sales at Amazon.
Impressive for a $90 set isnt it?
I think this proves that most Star Trek fans enjoy Enteprise as much as any of the others and its gotten a bum rap by the Nielsens and UPN.
25 - Dave
Hmph.
Star Trek Enterprise had a bit of a rough start, but season by season it was better and better. I couldn't wait to watch the "next episode". When I heard it was being ended I was shocked, and offended.
In true Trek-style, they killed Trip for no reason. Then they shunted the storyline with a silly ending. That's enough to bring me to tears. When I read a blog like this, where a Trek "fan" complains that the story didn't deliver on what was expected, well, I believe Star Trek took another step in the right direction, and "fans" like that are partly to blame for its demise. Still, UPN is mostly to blame, and it can go to Hell.
I do agree with the writer on some things, i.e.: Star Trek Nemesis was terrible. Its ending was an insult to its fans, and I feel especially bad for actors who had to play that nonsense out.