Hi all.
Netflix recently made most of the ST series available for streaming. Why not DS9 I don't know. I have been skipping around and watching some episodes of Enterprise and I simply don't understand why this great show did not make it's full seven year run.
I would like to hear your opinions of this series. Good, bad and the ugly. It's been said many time that the modern trek series needed a couple of years to find their footing and I agree. The fourth season of Enterprise showed so much potential and I think we were robbed of some great stories.
By the way I hate "These are the Voyages" worst show finale in my opinion.
I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.
Love the podcast!
I love the show.
been going through some recordings i took of a recent marathon. i like it. though in some episodes (in my opinion) there is too much war, not enough discovery.
these are the voyages is the only trek finale (or any finale) that i have ever seen. i did only see half of the episode itself so my knowledge is limited.
[spoiler]when i walked into the room and saw riker standing there i screamed. :laugh:[/spoiler]
all things considered i liked the show, it had a good plot with maybe too much war themes now and then, but overall a nice series.
I agree. The Third season was a little too much 911. It had some good episodes here and there, but I think season four was so much better. Love Similitude, Twilight, and E2 though. Azaiti Prime was pretty cool too. All things considered, this show went before it's time.
I liked the apprehension of the crew in the first season, like when no one wanted to use the transporter.
Enterprise had it's share of klunkers but mostly had really good episodes. A few of my favorites -
Season One:
The Andorian Incident
Fortunate Son
Silent Enemy
Sleeping Dogs
Fallen Hero
Season Two:
Horizon
Cogenitor
First Flight
Season Three:
Anomaly
Twilight
Carpenter Street
Season Four:
Bound
In A Mirror, Darkly, Part 1 and 2
Sorry to see it end before it's 7 seasons were done.
I hope Netflix decides to expand across the pond and soon!.
Thought it was great and deserved several more seasons.
I loved Enterprise.
I think part of the problem was they could decide what the show was going to be. At first it was even missing the "Star Trek" prefix. They concentrated a lot on new elements not seen on previous series to try and distinguish it (and probably so they wouldn't trample on continuity) where I think a lot of people wanted to see it tied into the trek universe more.
The Time War story arc was great but I wished they had bitten the bullet and made this an alternate timeline then they could have done great stories without worrying about how it related to the future.
Eventually they tried to marry it all back into Trek continuity, even trying to explain things like the changes in the Klingons etc but by then the execs had already made up their minds...
If it had kept going we could have seen great things like the Romulan War and the birth of the Federation on screen.... :(
I enjoyed Enterprise a lot.
Quote from: Dangelus on July 02, 2011, 08:08:23 AM
I think part of the problem was they could decide what the show was going to be. At first it was even missing the "Star Trek" prefix. They concentrated a lot on new elements not seen on previous series to try and distinguish it (and probably so they wouldn't trample on continuity) where I think a lot of people wanted to see it tied into the trek universe more.
The Time War story arc was great but I wished they had bitten the bullet and made this an alternate timeline then they could have done great stories without worrying about how it related to the future.
Eventually they tried to marry it all back into Trek continuity, even trying to explain things like the changes in the Klingons etc but by then the execs had already made up their minds...
If it had kept going we could have seen great things like the Romulan War and the birth of the Federation on screen.... :(
Aye, there's the rub. They didn't know what to do with the show. I think they made the mistake of relying on time travel or temporal tampering as a foundation of the show. The temporal cold war, the sphere builders. Admittedly, it was difficult to do a Trek series that preceded TOS era. in my opinion, they avoided the challenge and took the easy way out. Don't get me wrong, there were some nice episodes. However, I got the impression that Scott Bakula wasn't quite sure of where to go with the Archer character. It was weird seeing him angry in season 3 and I agree, that whole Xindi thing left me high and dry.
Despite its initial avoidance to use the Star Trek name and set itself apart, what redeemed "Enterprise" was season 4, which Manny Coto crafted. It ended up telling so many TOS-related stories, which the fans loved. It felt a little bit like a tribute band, but made for interesting television sometimes.
Yes, it would have been nice to have seen a Romulan war as well as development of the relationship between Shran and Archer. It would have also been nice to see this crew be challenged by the dangers of deep space with their limited technology and overcome overwhelming odds — without influence from the future.
It's funny, I go on about all this time travel stuff, then find myself watching "Storm Front" again and again. I did enjoy "Unexpected", which presaged Federation holodeck technology (the Klingons laughing at Trip was priceless). Also enjoyed "The Communicator", "Fallen Hero" and "First Flight".
I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but "These Are The Voyages..." just plain sucked. They cheated the cast of some really nice closure. The last episode could have taken us through the years following the formation of the Federation as told by older versions of the crew. They could have given highlights of key events throughout history, ending up with T'Pol telling the last of it and attending the christening of Enterprise NCC-1701 in her wheelchair. How cool would it have been to see Ambassador T'Pol counseling a young half vulcan/half human who is considering a career in Starfleet but his father disapproves?
This series could have been so much more. I wish it had been handled better.
Quote from: Darmok on July 02, 2011, 01:20:33 PM
Don't get me wrong, there were some nice episodes. However, I got the impression that Scott Bakula wasn't quite sure of where to go with the Archer character. It was weird seeing him angry in season 3 and I agree, that whole Xindi thing left me high and dry.
I wouldn't be too hard on the cast. Seems that the same kind of executive decisions that kill good sci fi on Fox should be given the credit at UPN as well.
I recall an interview I heard with Scott Bakula regarding his role as Capt. Archer. When asked if he could make suggestions or ad-lib any scenes, I was surprised at how carefully he responded to the question. Saying the actors were not allowed any latitude, the studio made certain all cast stay with the script.
I couldn't find the transcripts online but did come across a similar story for what it's worth.
http://videosift.com/video/The-ABOSOLUTE-WORST-Star-Trek-Episode-A-Night-In-Sickbay (http://videosift.com/video/The-ABOSOLUTE-WORST-Star-Trek-Episode-A-Night-In-Sickbay)
"I should just point out not to blame the actors in this. Scott Bakula had stated in an interview all the actors of this series could never ad-lib or make any changes/suggestions. they were basically used as puppets for the writer's horrible stories."
Firstly I'll admit that I've not yet seen all of Enterprise, partly to the way it got shifted around the schedule in the UK and partially due to the fact that I was burgled a while back and haven't gotten around to replacing this series. From the bits I've seen, Phlox, Trip & Archer were all enjoyable characters. Hoshi, Malcolm and T'Pol are, for what I've seen, a bit bland and Mayweather, for me, is like Geordi Laforge, criminally under and/or mis-used. I am looking forward to watching the whole shebang, but it will be after I replace TNG, DS9 and Voyager, as the robbery has given me an excuse to re-watch them all again, as I replace them.
I liked Enterprise but did not LOVE it. It was just an average show. It had some great moments and when it did shine the most was when Berman and Braga were not writing the episodes. I think the first two seasons especially are a real mixed bag but the third season got better and the fourth was the best, in my opinion. Sadly the show was canceled just when they were finding their legs but by then they had lost well over half their audience. They were very lucky to have even had a four season run because today they never would have gotten a second season.
Kevin
Quote from: Ktrek on July 02, 2011, 08:20:30 PM
I liked Enterprise but did not LOVE it. It was just an average show. It had some great moments and when it did shine the most was when Berman and Braga were not writing the episodes. I think the first two seasons especially are a real mixed bag but the third season got better and the fourth was the best, in my opinion. Sadly the show was canceled just when they were finding their legs but by then they had lost well over half their audience. They were very lucky to have even had a four season run because today they never would have gotten a second season.
Kevin
Actually with the number they had then they would get 10 seasons if it was on the air today with the same.
Quote from: X on July 02, 2011, 08:32:05 PM
Actually with the number they had then they would get 10 seasons if it was on the air today with the same.
So you believe that a series at mid-season below a 4 would survive ten seasons? And Enterprise was at a 2.5 by mid season two. You really believe those kind of ratings even today would keep a show on ten years on a major network?
Kevin
Quote from: davekill on July 02, 2011, 03:58:31 PM
I wouldn't be too hard on the cast. Seems that the same kind of executive decisions that kill good sci fi on Fox should be given the credit at UPN as well.
I recall an interview I heard with Scott Bakula regarding his role as Capt. Archer. When asked if he could make suggestions or ad-lib any scenes, I was surprised at how carefully he responded to the question. Saying the actors were not allowed any latitude, the studio made certain all cast stay with the script.
Fair enough. I certainly believe that could have happened, given the fact that Berman and Braga seemed to think they could write and produce the show. I was going to avoid bringing up B&B because so much bashing has been done in the past. That said, I definitely believe that the producers thought they really knew what Star Trek needed and missed the mark. What's goofy about the lack of input allowed by the cast is that if B&B had produced the original series, we probably would not have gotten the vulcan hand sign. To deny actors input is kind of like putting a good chef on a burger flipping assembly line. I'm sure the network probably tried to tinker with the show, but it always smelled to me like the producers were trying to re-create Trek in their own image. Perhaps I'm wrong, but that's what my gut tells me. I can see how for Bakula and the cast how uncomfortable it must have been to do interviews on the subject of being creative and being stifled.
Braga might have apologized for the final episode of the series:
http://io9.com/5151942/sorry-about-that-whole-enterprise-ending-thing (http://io9.com/5151942/sorry-about-that-whole-enterprise-ending-thing)
http://www.mediapundit.net/2007/08/brannon-braga-apologizes-for-enterprise-finale.html (http://www.mediapundit.net/2007/08/brannon-braga-apologizes-for-enterprise-finale.html)
In my opinion, he has so much more to apologize for (even that wasn't really much of an apology). Hopefully, we'll get one after he's gotten a little more distance from the experience.
Even though Enterprise didn't quite hold together as a series, it's nice to watch sometimes and dream about what could have been. I really believe that if it had been handled properly, Enterprise could have surpassed DS9 and Voyager.
But that's just me.
Here's an interesting sound bite of Harve Bennet on being a producer:
http://youtu.be/0YedhOOT5OU (http://youtu.be/0YedhOOT5OU)
Quote from: Ktrek on July 02, 2011, 08:56:12 PM
Quote from: X on July 02, 2011, 08:32:05 PM
Actually with the number they had then they would get 10 seasons if it was on the air today with the same.
So you believe that a series at mid-season below a 4 would survive ten seasons? And Enterprise was at a 2.5 by mid season two. You really believe those kind of ratings even today would keep a show on ten years on a major network?
Kevin
Yep, supernatural averaged a 2.47 for season 6 and is renewed for season 7. Nikita rates a 1.9 and is getting another season too
Here is what I pulled from Smallville wiki
The following is a table for the seasonal rankings, based on average total estimated viewers per episode, of Smallville on The WB and The CW. "Rank" refers to how Smallville rated compared to the other television series which aired during primetime hours.
Season Timeslot (ET/PT) Network Premiered Ended Rank Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions) Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
Season 1 Tuesday 9/8C The WB October 16, 2001 8.40[167] May 21, 2002 3.80[168] #115[169] 5.90[169]
Season 2 September 24, 2002 8.70[170] May 20, 2003 N/A #113[171] 6.30[171]
Season 3 Wednesday 8/7C October 1, 2003 N/A May 19, 2004 5.92[172] #141[173] 4.96[173]
Season 4 September 22, 2004 6.07[174] May 18, 2005 5.47[175] #124[176] 4.40[176]
Season 5 Thursday 8/7C September 29, 2005 5.90[177] May 11, 2006 4.85[178] #117[179] 4.70[179]
Season 6 The CW September 28, 2006 4.96[180] May 17, 2007 4.14[181] #125[182] 4.10[182]
Season 7 September 27, 2007 5.18[183] May 15, 2008 3.85[184] #175[185] 3.77[185]
Season 8 September 18, 2008 4.34[186] May 14, 2009 3.13[187] #152[188] 3.74[188]
Season 9 Friday 8/7C September 25, 2009[189] 2.58[190] May 14, 2010 2.45[191] #129[192] 2.38[192]
Season 10 September 24, 2010[193] 2.98[194] May 13, 2011[195] 3.02[196] #202[197] 3.19[198]
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I enjoyed Enterprise and I also liked season 4 the best. I wish it would have continued. And as far as the finale, being a big Riker-Troi fan, I didn't like it to much.
I enjoyed Enterprise. I wished that we could have at least got to the Earth-Romulan Conflict.
Quote from: M-5 on July 03, 2011, 01:38:03 PM
I enjoyed Enterprise. I wished that we could have at least got to the Earth-Romulan Conflict.
that would be nice. maybe more with the klingons too.... ;)
i watched several episodes today (i don't remember the titles)
[spoiler]one was about trip when he fell into a coma and had to be cloned. it was pretty good.[/spoiler]
I avoided Enterprise for a long time, but finally watched it at the urging of a friend. The first season was rough, but some of the stuff in the third and fourth seasons was really great. I found the Xindi, as a species, to be really interesting, even thought I sometimes got annoyed with that story arc.
The thing I wish we had in Enterprise was more "beginnings." We meet all of these aliens throughout the series that we haven't seen before. Should we assume they're around in later years, and we just never saw them in TNG, DS9, etc? I would have been interested to see early dealings with the Bolians, or first contact with Bajor or something. Exploration of a different aspect of cultures that we're already familiar with from other series. (Although, I'll admit they did a good job of this with the Andorians - I just wish there was more of it.)
The relationship with the Andorians was probably the best thing in Enterprise. :andorian
The early proto-Prime Directive discussions and episodes were cool.
I loved it, they're my third favorite crew behind TNG and TOS. I especially loved Bakula's performance as Archer, and I believe I am alone on the forums and perhaps in the world in that I really enjoyed the series finale.
Yes, a goo series but stinger towards the end.
I didn't like the way that some of the standard starfleet tech was conveniently introduced about season two but the stories through three and four were strong. I think the season four stories could have been even better if they'd been allowed to spread them and extend them through a few more seasons.
Quote from: Feathers on July 08, 2011, 09:12:53 AM
Yes, a goo series but stinger towards the end.
I didn't like the way that some of the standard starfleet tech was conveniently introduced about season two but the stories through three and four were strong. I think the season four stories could have been even better if they'd been allowed to spread them and extend them through a few more seasons.
I think you meant "stinker"?
Totally agree that about season 4. Would have been nice to see those stories (except the finale) in season 2 or 3.
Yes. I liked the series. Wasn't a fan of the Xindi crap. But the rest was pretty good.
I enjoyed Enterprise. I thought it was pretty well done, of course, there were some not awesome episodes, but what series doesn't have their off episodes? I loved Archer, awesome acting job by Scott, loved Tripp and Malcom.
Yeah, I think "Enterprise" had a great cast, all the main actors did a terrific job.
Yup, love the show. I enjoyed the "experiment" they did in season 3 with the story arc and I also really liked where they were going with season 4. The show really hit its stride, if only it had a bit more time.