02/08/2005 Archived Entry: "Gonerz"

Enterprise is cancelled! This was most definitely a weak show and yet I kept watching it like the masochist I am. The first three seasons were as un-trek as you could get and that’s a pretty dangerous situation to be in for a show that has to rely on its core audience. Captain Archer, like Janeway, went around the galaxy being antagonistic and chiding everyone he could find while never questioning the errors of some of his own choices. I most certainly didn’t enjoy watching him yelling and talking down to everyone he met from crew members to total aliens. Then there’s the fact that less than a handful of episodes were dedicated to the non-big-three cast members, the blatant disregard for established continuity, hugely convoluted temporal-cold war, and gratuitous T&A; the show was truly ill-conceived in the first place. There was some good to the show, including the BEST effects on TV and a well developped romance between Trip and T'Pol.

But that was only the first 3 seasons. Season Four without Braga and Berman was definitely a step in the right direction. The time-war mess was swept under the rug after a First Contact-rip off ending and 4x03 was pretty much a new beginning, it’s what 1x01 should have been. The changes added a lot of texture to the universe and depth to the characters and the show FINALLY made use of the fact that it was a prequel to tell stories that would help build the Trek universe but then quickly seemed to fall into gimmicks of guest stars and wink-nudge aliens. The changes were definitely too little too late. I certainly won’t miss this show, but its ridiculous the amount of incompetence that was shown in killing both this show and the movie franchise.

Replies: 7 comments

There was a time when I was really into Star Trek. I enjoyed The Original Series (what?...I was only 7), The Next Generation (after Tasha Yar's death), and Deep Space Nine. Each episode seemed to bear meaning...a purpose. Except for TOS, all the characters had an ample amount of focus on screen.

Trek's downfall began with Voyager. The series baffled me with how the characters were so one-dimensional and the episodes so "cookie cutter". Every episode had a miracle solution that saved the day within the final five minutes. An attempt to "rescue" the show involved the addition of actress Jeri Ryan to the cast, but, as with Baywatch, hot chicks cannot sustain ratings on their own.

Voyager's arrival home in the series finale was thought to have put an end to our misery. How wrong we were! Sadly, Enterprise did not deliver us from evil. From Captain Archer's phony obsession with waterpolo, to the selection of a Rod Stewart intro theme...it was soon clear that this show was going nowhere. Where the hell did they find Malcolm!?! He has to be the crappiest acting and wimpiest security chief I have ever laid eyes upon. Does he know what a phaser is, or is he too busy preparing tea and crumpets? Hopefully chief engineer Tucker, who played his part superbly, will avoid a type cast and be able to display his talents elsewhere.

Posted by dAN @ 02/08/2005 11:03 PM EST

I've only watched 2 episodes of the original series..oddly enough they were the two Pike ones.

I agree that Trek began dying with Voyager, the series had some really great sci-fi ideas but it often failed in the execution. Plus all the characters were really forgetable, I don't miss any of those guys.

Enterprise is a lot better this season though...you should watch it. Forget the first three, they never existed.

Posted by Rayne @ 02/12/2005 04:09 PM EST

rayne is gay

Posted by Roberto Ibale Import Flavour @ 02/19/2005 12:28 AM EST

Trekkers are apparently collecting money to save Enterprise...FOOOOOOLS!!!!!

That money could go to much better uses, like my pocket.

Posted by dAN @ 02/27/2005 10:57 PM EST

oh those trekkers. such loyalty! but really, little common sense.

Posted by melpie @ 02/28/2005 10:25 AM EST

according to this link they've just collected a few million.

Posted by Rayne @ 03/02/2005 03:21 AM EST

Enterprise finale rumours. Berman calls it a "valentine to the fans", Blaylock calls it "appalling". Should be fun.

Posted by Rayne @ 03/09/2005 01:36 PM EST