I see plenty complaints at how Enterprise is disappointing, or just 'not good trek'.
So the question is - what would you like to see in an episode of ENTEPRISE? What kind of things would you like to see happen to the characters, what kind of situations or dilemmas would you like to see the crew go through?
I have some of my own ideas, but would like to hear your input as well.
This has nothing to do with the fact that I'm currently attempting to write a spec script for the show to send out to networks that air shows with a similar demographic.
None at all.
Err...
[ June 02, 2004, 09:05 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I liked the episode where they went back in time...
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'd like to see some hard science fiction. And some continuity. And the complete elimination of mystical powers, time travel, and psionics.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Without saying too much, the ep concept I'm currently playing with will have a bit of thematic unity in the "A" and "B" storylines. Most of the time, the "B" storyline is just a fun diversion, or the 'continuity' part of the episode, and really doesn't have much to do with the "A" line.
In my case, I'll discover the main theme of what I want the episode to be about, and while the "B" story may be a more 'every day' situation, it will almost flat out state the problem that will be evident allegorically in the major "A" storyline. I've seen this done to amazing effect in some shows recently, and find it quite poigniant.
And that's something ENTERPRISE has lacked (mostly) - poigniancy. Although there were a few fabulous episodes in the latter part of the Season 3 Xindi arc. Not too many, but there were some that made it all worth while.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: I'd like to see some hard science fiction. And some continuity. And the complete elimination of mystical powers, time travel, and psionics.
Agreed!
Also, I would be thrilled if they STOPPED CONTRADICTING THIRTY YEARS WORTH OF ESTABLISHED CANON!
[ June 02, 2004, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I think rivka might have some head trauma.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
The thing is, from the bits that I've noticed, what they 'contradict', they do so knowingly, and seem to leave 'ways out'. Take the Ferengi ep, for instance. The name of the race is never stated, and they jump away, vowing to never make contact with the humans again. Yes, te contact in TNG was supposed to be the First Contact with them, but that doesn't preclude something like this from happening.
The Borg ep? More fun with changed timelines.
I can understand people getting annoyed with Vulcans getting 'pissed on', but I think this makes them more interesting, and doesn't really screw around too much with the Canon. Just...changed perception.
What exactly (apart from suddenly having a 'New Enterprise That We've Never Heard Of Before' show up) has been screwed up continuity wise that you find so alarming?
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
I'd like to see Picard come back in time with Kirk, Janeway, and Sisco, slap Scott Bacula upside the head, and say, "Get some decent theme music."
No particular reason - I just think it'd be funny.
Dagonee
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Eh, I find the theme lyrics very appropriate for the spirit of the show. Took a short while to get used to, but now I kind of like it. I know, that puts me in the minority, but it works. At least they still use Dennis McCarthy's "Archer's Theme" for the End Credits.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The Vulcans. From the very first episode, they messed with the timeline, the relationship between the two races, the established patterns of thought, behavior, societal structures . . .
Kirk's Enterprise was among the first (or, according to the book The Final Frontier, THE first) starships to be built. Ever. OOPS! We changed our minds on that!
Andorians, and Andorian/Vulcan relations.
There's more, but I'm blocking it out. Or maybe mack is right. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Because Janeway's theme music was that good...
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
But seriously:
THEMES ISSUES CHARACTER ARCS
What of these would you like to see explored? And for arcs, which characters, and what aspects?
I'm trying to find a use for Mayweather, because as is, he's DREADFULLY underused -- and Hoshi, because I think she's the most fascinating character on the show. We've had T'Pol and Tucker shoved down our throat this season, I think it's time for Hoshi to shine. Mayweather, too.
And Phlox just rocks. DEAR DOCTOR is one of the best episodes to have aired in the three season run - and it was a Phlox based episode.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I tried watching Enterprise the other night, and I almost didn't recognize it as Star Trek. The best part was that there were these scaly green aliens that looked exactly like the bad guys in Galaxy Quest. You knew they were evil because they were scaly and green, and they ate live mice. It was really pathetic.
So anyway, I gave up watching after several minutes. I got the feeling that the creators of the show would be much happier doing a Star Trek series set later in the future, not earlier.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Actually, the theme music is one of my favorite things about Enterprise. Voyager's was pretty forgettable, though.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Truthfully, I'd like to see a lot more Malcolm. I didn't catch any of the second half of this past season (being in Greece sans television will do that to you), but I caught a glimpse of one of the episodes... the one where they took the wormhole with help from their "descendants"? Something like that. But the scene that struck me was when Hoshi and Travis were talking about their offspring and Malcolm sat there depressed - he died a bachelor. I thought he played that extremely well.
The episode with Travis' family on the cargo ship was one of my favourites. It made him a person instead of the token black guy. Now I fear he's slipping back into the latter role. Which sucks. On the positive side, though, that man is built... Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Rivka: The novels aren't, and never were, canon. Unless it was stated so in an epsisode or in a film, it Isn't Canon.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Novels are not. Writers guides written by Roddenberry for TOS sure as heck should be.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I like Malcolm a lot as well. He's got a rough exterior, filled with tradition and family honor and responsibility. But his eyes used to light up whenever he got a chance to 'blow something up'.
At least, that was pre-Xindi conflict. That may have somewhat soured the joy of blowing things up.
They also set him and Trip up as a great 'buddy duo' - that was downplayed a lot this season as he was given more 'private time' with T'Pol. I'd like to see their relationship return and grow.
[ June 02, 2004, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: Taalcon ]
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Oh, don't mind me. I'm still petulant because Angel went off the air. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
The slasher in me *really* liked the Trip and Malcolm interaction.
The normal sane person in me enjoyed Malcolm's unceasing outward displeasure but secret revelry in Trip's antics.
Yeah, that would be a fun thing to bring back. Stupid T'Pol. Who needs her anyway?
Posted by Jalapenoman (Member # 6575) on :
Okay, here's an idea:
Dr. Sam Beckett steps into the quantum leap accelerator and vanishes......
....he jumps into the body of Captain Archer, a Starship Captain on Earth's first starship. He begins having conversations with Al (a hologram that no one else can see). As the token Vulcan on the ship can sense no other presence, even though the dog keeps going to Al for ear scratching, she is positive that Archer is going crazy.
Sam's mission is to try to save Enterprise from cancellation. He accomplishes this by convincing his commanders to follow this idea that he remembers from his swiss cheese brain. Earth command now wants him to "explore strange new worlds, seek out new life, and new civilizations, ...."
Along the way, of course, he convinces them that he should get his shirt half ripped off in every other episode and have a new girlfriend in each episode.
Before leaping out after another successful mission, he also buys a toupee.
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
What I'd like to see is actual meetings with, and exploring of human society's relations with, the alien societies we see in TOS, and to a lesser degree TNG and later. Yes, we've seen some of that, with the Klingons, Vulcans, Romulans, and Andorians, but there are all kinds of others that are being ignored, and a lot more development that could go on with those who aren't.
And, whatever people may think about the psionics etc., it's long since part of the canon. Just like warp travel. It'd be a massive time paradox eliminating it now.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I want a Starfleet Academy series (focusing on the teachers, not the cadets; Boston Public in space! Well, San Francisco, but close enough).
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
We're not talking about new series, we're talking about ideas for Enterprise.
Although, knowing UPN's demographics, I woldn't be surprised at all to see a Starfleet Academy be a future, if not the next, Trek Incarnation.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
My tongue was firmly in cheek, Taal .
As for specific elements, I suggest stealing the basic outline of a plot from a great play. Shakespearean themes have been done to death, how about reading some Ben Jonson and stealing from him?
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
I've only seen the first season, but stuff I liked from the first season =
Humans being less cocky and sure of themselves -- seeing them blunder into situations they didn't understand -- a nice contrast to the later series' "We're the biggest players in the Federation and we're destined to be the best species ever so there" attitude.
Strained relations with the Vulcans.
Some commentary about how space affects human culture, like with the Boomers.
Characters being unsure of themselves, like the early episode where Hoshi's scared of exploring the alien ship.
Technology that's not so advanced and doesn't always work.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
On a tangent -- we've got episodes of seasons 2 and 3 on tape -- anyone have recommendations of particular episodes to watch? (Or know of a link to any fan sites that rate the individual episodes?)
[ June 02, 2004, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: plaid ]
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
I think they should turn it into a sitcom at this point. They should bring the beagle to the forefront of the action and intrigue. Lots of "piddle" jokes from week to week.
"Captain, we have a problem on the engineering deck!"
"Where's that darned dog?"
and so forth...
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
quote:And the complete elimination of mystical powers, time travel, and psionics.
That might be difficult. If you count mind melds, psionics have been in the Trek universe since the original series.
quote:And Phlox just rocks.
Agreed. John Billingsley is far and away the best actor on the series.
quote:Dr. Sam Beckett steps into the quantum leap accelerator and vanishes......
....he jumps into the body of Captain Archer, a Starship Captain on Earth's first starship.
Here's the problem with that: the quantum leap accelerator only allows you to travel within the span of your own lifetime. Captain Archer is a hundred and fifty odd years in our future, and Sam Beckett was likely born in the forties or fifties.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Hot female sorta-aliens in skin-tight, painted on outfits.
But I guess I just don't see it happening in Star Trek universe.
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
Um, that was a joke, right, Ralphie?
*Seven of Nine* *tries not to stare*
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
I never joke. Don't insult me.
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
*activates AIM siren call*
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
...or... hear me out on this one...
a star-trekerverse "reality" dating show featuring characters from any ST venue?
eh?
*mind implodes under the crushering weight of comedic possibilities*
Posted by MoonRabbit (Member # 3652) on :
4 words:
Jolene. Blalock. Wardrobe. Malfunction.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Actually, I'm pretty sure Star Trek is the only time you can see Jolene Blalock with her clothes on.
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
*plucks furry creature from memory*
"how about one of these?"
*inspects tag*
*thumps communicator*
"Cap'n, I'm about to set one of 'em free to roam."
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I'm a huge Enterprise fan (including the theme music!) however I can't think of anything I would suggest at this point.
It is SO HARD to come up with ideas that aren't old/used and redundant.
But I will ask my imaginative kids, who love Enterprise, if they have any ideas for you, Taalcon.
Farmgirl
Posted by Ayelar (Member # 183) on :
I've only watched one episode of Enterprise, and it was both painfully stupid and utterly forgettable. What your episode should be like is DEEP SPACE 9! Wooooooo!
We're up to Season 6 on Netflix, and it just keeps getting better. The character development, the resurfacing plot elements, the whole Dominion story arc.... man, this show is incredible. The second episode from season 6, "Rocks and Shoals", just blew my mind. It was, by far, the most well-crafted Star Trek story I've ever seen.
So be like that! Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
DS9 rawks the quad!
I've only seen 9 episodes of Enterprise and my feeling towards them ranged from hatred to indifference.
There are too many great things about DS9 for me to list, but one thing that jumps out at me is the great villans on that show.
Dukat and Garrick are the best trek villans of all time. Before Dukat degenerated into a madman in season seven, he was a complex and charming character. Yes he was a butcher during the Occupation, but he was also a good father, a stout patriot, and a loyal friend. Dukat is even charming at times. His likability in the early parts of the series only makes his horrible acts even more disturbing.
Bashir once asked Garrick whether he ever told a true story in his life.
Garrick replied: "They were all true."
"Eeven the lies?" Bashir asked.
"Especially the lies!" answered Garrick. I think that sums up Garrick's awesomeness pretty well.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I was wondering when you'd chime in . . .
Posted by Ron Lambert (Member # 2872) on :
How about "Q?" Bring in John DeLancie! He really livened up TNG.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
"Q" is by far the greatest Star Trek character of all time.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
I'm 100% with Tom. If I want magic, I'll watch Buffy. If I want Time Travel, there's Doctor Who.
Psionics is boring anytime, anywhere.
I want :real: science fiction. Something that makes me think "The future could REALLY be like this."
Trek abandoned that idea long ago.
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
The end of the UFP. Something that would make the other series completely change.
And no time travel to "fix" it.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Ack! No Q! They played with him on "Voyager" and it was horrible (except the episode in season 7 with his son. That was fun. But all the other ones were bad!). I enjoyed him on TNG, I love watching "Encounter at Farpoint" whenever humanly possible, but still.
Was I the only one who didn't like the Borg appearing on "Enterprise"?
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
Shan, I've restrained myself lately. I only post about DS9 after someone else has done so. Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
I've purchased the official scripbook featuring the teleplays of every single Trek epsidoe (from TNG, through DS9 and Voyager) in which Q makes an appearance. It's quite thick.
I also started watching the first season of TNG again - you can tell that the first couple eps were written by those who worked on the original series. FARPOINT is Very Rodenberry, and The Naked Now is blatantly (and they even reference it in the episode!) a take off of an episode of TOS (The Naked Time). It's interesting seeing the change in tone from the Rodenberry Era (bright and optimistic) to the Berman/Piller - Berman/Braga era (dark darkety dark dark dark).
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
quote:I want :real: science fiction. Something that makes me think "The future could REALLY be like this."
Trek abandoned that idea long ago.
At what point was Trek ever like that?
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Good point. But at least old trek didn't have every other episode be a time travel one. I mean, jeez, just turn the enterprise into a Tardis already.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
That's IT! Dr. Who meets Star Trek wherein the Daleks and the Borg battle it out for control of the entire universe. Q to provide comic relief. OF course.
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
...or...
one of the ST crew (any series) time travels back into the half-time festivities of a late 20th century superbowl game?
eh? eh?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Only if I get to play Janet Jackson. Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
*cough*
quote: half-time festivities of a late 20th century superbowl
*clears throat*
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
Then I want to be Justin Timberlake. Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
I think you two are missing flish's point that 2004 is not in the 20th century.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
*Blinks confusedly*
Won't a time warp thingymajiggy take care of that little problem?
*Laughs at Beren*
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
My problem's with the cannon of trek and enterprise:
1)earth was at war with the romulans before the formation of the federation and starfleet.
2)the federation and starfleet were created at the same time.
3)kilingons weren't known of until 50 years after the formation of the federation.
4)klingons in TOS had a different appearance that the modern klingons do not discuss.
they could be explaned due to all the f****** time travel episodes screwing up history, but still...
oh, and rivka,
quote:Kirk's Enterprise was among the first (or, according to the book The Final Frontier, THE first) starships to be built. Ever. OOPS! We changed our minds on that!
the enterprise was not one of the first, it was built a century after the formation of starfleet, and there was a s.s. enterprise (one of the first earth ships) series that was going to air after tos was cancelled but it never went through, there was even a picture of the s.s. enterprise in the first star trek movie.
OH SHIT...I just realized i'm a trekkie...
[ June 05, 2004, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: MEC ]
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote: 4)klingons in TOS had a different appearance that the modern klingons do not discuss.
Actually, DS9 does explain this, as I recall.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
MEC, were any of those actually discussed in an episode? The 'official chronology' and 'Star Trek Encyclopedia' don't count. If it wasn't said on screen in a televised episode or film, canon-wise, it didn't happen.
And the only explanation given in DS9 (during the brilliant episode "Trials and Tribble-ations") was that "We don't discuss it." - and that from Worf.
Seeing as ENT takes place a good deal of time BEFORE 'TOS', there is still room for some sort of genetic testing and/or 'stealth program' that would be instituted in the Empire.
As for the Romulans? I have a feeling we'll be seeing them show up in Season 4. Call it a hunch.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
the only evidance i can offer of the s. s. enterprise is the picture in the first movie.
The u.s.s enterprise was launched in 2245 from the san francisco yards("The Cage" [TOS])
First contact between the klingons and the federation took place in 2218("Day of the Dove" [TOS])
a bitter war occured between earth and romulan forces around 2160 using early space vessels using primative atomic weapons("Balance of Terror" [TOS])
the united federation of planets was founded in 2161("The Outcast" [TNG])
it seems i was mistaken about starfleet and the federation being formed at the same time, starfleets founding date is never stated.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote: And the only explanation given in DS9 (during the brilliant episode "Trials and Tribble-ations") was that "We don't discuss it." - and that from Worf.
I thought Worf said that the TOS Klingons were from the Northern Hemisphere and his type were from the Southern one, or vice-versa, and that the other group had been in prominence back then. Am I imagining that?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
U.S.S. = United StarShip S.S. = Space Ship (AND would predate Starfleet, as I recall)
The U.S.S. Enterprise, Naval Construction Contract 1701 was (among) the first starships. The S.S. Enterprise was not. Hoverer, in the first episode of Enterprise (and several others) that ship was referred to as a starship.
[edit: clarity]
[ June 06, 2004, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
starship = ship that can travel between stars
spaceship = ship can travel in space
also note that your novel said it was the first, however in the show, there are deadleus class starships that outdated the constitution class starships in starfleet.
also note that the u.s.s. enterprise was launched almost a century after the formation of the federation.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The starship/spaceship thing did NOT come from a novel. I have a feeling it may have come from one of the gazillion "about ST" books, though. *thinks* although I thought it had actually come from TNG episode.
There was evidence in some of the time-travel episodes that Starfleet was not created until quite some time after the Federation.
Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :
I think I speak for all of us when I say:
what we'd like to see on the Enterprise is "The L Word".
Posted by WheatPuppet (Member # 5142) on :
In the vein of having a starfleet acadamy spinoff, there should be an away team spinoff filmed in the style of Cops or Reno 911!
I'm not a big fan of Enterprise. It really doesn't feel like Star Trek.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
well, u.s.s. is reffered to as united starship and united space ship in the original series. And the logical conclusion is tht united starship is the correct name since all the ships are called starships. Also logic would tell us that s.s. stand for starship without the united. But it has not yet been said wheather u.s.s. refers to a ship in starfleet or a ship in the federation.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Did you guys know that William Shatner published a book called 'Get A Life!' ?
But seriously, I am a Star Trek fan all the way.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
I have a life, i just enjoy watching the show and as long as i'm alive i will do that.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Since Shatner didn't actually write any books (although the number with his name on the cover seems to keep increasing ), I don't see the relevance of your comment, Whale.
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