Alternative ENTERPRISE Series Concepts

[F. King Daniel]

You mean the audience that was big enough to sustain TNG, DS9, and Voyager? We didn't all die between Voyager and Enterprise, nor did we lose interest in good Star Trek. The problem is that the first seasons of Enterprise weren't good, and the TNG movies weren't good either (although First Contact had its moments)

If the "core audience" don't support the show, it dies. And that's what happened, so they got new showrunners and a new audience. The people who made Next Gen huge had long since gone on to other things before DS9 ended, let alone Enterprise beginning.

I suspect the spamload has to do as much with the success of the Star Wars model than JJ

Star Trek announced and began their spamload before Disney+ announced their plans for Marvel or Star Wars. They copied Trek's model for year-round content on their new streaming service.

 

[dupersuper]

Hell, I say go ALL IN with the time travel. Maybe one of Jonathan Archer's descendants is a time traveler from the 29th century (who also happens to LOOK like Jonathan Archer, since all descendants obviously look like their ancestors ). He's sent back to prevent a Suliban from sabotaging Captain Archer's maiden voyage of Enterprise. Something happens, Archer's descendant fails miserably, and Captain Archer dies. So, unable to return to the future because it doesn't exist, Archer's descendant has to take Captain Archer's place and try to recreate Jonathan Archer's voyage. From memory. Without blowing his cover and fighting off temporal agents from the future (don't ask me how there are still temporal agents if the future doesn't exist, something about hating temporal mechanics, or whatnot )

Or an ancestor who never made the leap home...

• Suliban, Tandarans, Xyrillians, Wisps, Insectoid/Aquatic/Arboreal Xindi, Vissians, Denobulans, Antarans– if they are supposed to be a great power during this time period, there needs to be an explanation as to how they fell and are no longer relevant by TOS/TNG.

I never got the impression ANY of those were "great powers" during the 22nd century. Suliban were second class citizens on their adopted homeworld after a bunch of them were taken in by the time guy. The Xyrillians were advanced, but so were plenty of one off aliens in TOS and TNG: we only saw them once and never heard them being talked about, leaving me with the impression they had no far reaching influence or involvement with the big governments in the quadrant. The Wisps were just body snatching baddies. The Xindi were homeless refugees stuck in a dangerous area of space. The Denobulons and Antarans had a scope similar to the Xyrillians, but were less advanced.

Does anyone remember Picard's reference to a bad first contact at Station Salem-One that lead to interstellar war?

I remember him saying in the episode First Contact that our, um, first contact with the Klingons led to decades of wars. Who knew he meant when a Klingon got shot by a farmer?

It's not too late to make seasons 6 and 7, and right what once went wrong . . .

We're skipping 5?

 

[FederationHistorian]

Nah, I think that’s an excuse. nBSG was also on at the time, and it was brilliant. Cutting edge in a way TOS was in its own, with interracial kisses and Ruskkies on the bridge of the Enterprise at the height of the Cold War.

I was referring to the decon scenes and how such scenes as they were produced were more okay back then compared to now. Nowadays such scenes will generate complaints from somewhere, likely Twitter, ironically enough.

Another show I admired was Torchwood which did what Trek should have at the time and made an LGBTQ captain the lead. Cut to fifteen years later and Trek still hasn’t done that, though it’s missed its chance at this point. No credit where none due, Stamets doesn’t count.

Yes, there should have been an LGTBQ captain for this series. I do wonder if it was ever considered, since there were plans to make both Reed and Chef gay to begin with, and in an alternate timeline Reed did become captain of the Intrepid.

I never got the impression ANY of those were "great powers" during the 22nd century. Suliban were second class citizens on their adopted homeworld after a bunch of them were taken in by the time guy. The Xyrillians were advanced, but so were plenty of one off aliens in TOS and TNG: we only saw them once and never heard them being talked about, leaving me with the impression they had no far reaching influence or involvement with the big governments in the quadrant. The Wisps were just body snatching baddies. The Xindi were homeless refugees stuck in a dangerous area of space. The Denobulons and Antarans had a scope similar to the Xyrillians, but were less advanced.

Well, since the point of this topic is supposed to be alternative Enterprise concepts, I was suggesting that maybe some of these powers get reframed as major powers in the mid-22nd century. Maybe a proto-Federation exists headed by the Vissians, Xyrillians & Tandarans that rejects the cowboy diplomacy of 22nd century United Earth, but is also comfortable with their treatment of the cogentitors and Suliban. Or there is a Xindus Confederacy encompassing all of the species in the Delphic Expanse that fell apart after the Xindi homeworld is destroyed due to the Xindi civil war. And the fall of these powers are lessons in how the Federation is to be built.

I remember him saying in the episode First Contact that our, um, first contact with the Klingons led to decades of wars. Who knew he meant when a Klingon got shot by a farmer?

More like the Klingon Empire’s longstanding issues with Archer (disrespecting Klingon rituals in regards to death, aiding the Xyrillian ship that were engaging in actions considered “acts of war” by the Klingons, aiding that deuterium mining convoy the Klingons were harassing, being a fugitive who escaped Rura Penthe, the Augment virus) either contributed to or was even the reason for the start of the Federation-Klingon Cold War in the early 2220s. Archer is supposed to be still alive when the Federation-Klingon Cold War begins, and the Battle of Donatu V happens the same year Archer dies, in 2245. Burnham just reignited the conflict when she killed T’Kuvma.

As for what the Klingons were doing in those 70 years before hostilities with the Federation? Likely dealing with the Suliban Cabal, since they were planning to start a civil war in the Klingon Empire.

 

[Arpy]

I was referring to the decon scenes and how such scenes as they were produced were more okay back then compared to now. Nowadays such scenes will generate complaints from somewhere, likely Twitter, ironically enough.

The majority of the complaints you were suggesting I imagine would be related to sexism. Although I agree with them, my complaint at the time was additionally just how blatant and out of left field the appeal to sexuality was...like a scene out of a soft-core sex film. It could have been a couple of gay men showing us everything but the happy ending and I’d still have been just as perturbed.

I don’t mind sex in the slightest, but it has to fit the story.

 

[Arpy]

Actually, on sex, the place to go batshit crazy is with the Deltans. If the writers could be mature in the exploration of adult sexuality, they’re the best aliens to really test our mettle for the subject material. Different practices should be as alien to us as Klingons with violence and cannibalism.

Rissians could be more conventionally sexually fun. Betazoids might be interesting with telepathic dialogue happening during. Maybe Bolians are like bonobos and have sex to settle disputes lol

But Trek could tackle all sorts of alien sex practices more maturely as reflections of our own. And as contrasts. Not silly stuff like humans don’t mate until marriage (some do, it’s not a racial characteristic) whereas Deltans might have sex with relatives like we give each other hugs.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Actually, on sex, the place to go batshit crazy is with the Deltans. If the writers could be mature in the exploration of adult sexuality, they’re the best aliens to really test our mettle for the subject material. Different practices should be as alien to us as Klingons with violence and cannibalism.

Rissians could be more conventionally sexually fun. Betazoids might be interesting with telepathic dialogue happening during. Maybe Bolians are like bonobos and have sex to settle disputes lol

But Trek could tackle all sorts of alien sex practices more maturely as reflections of our own. And as contrasts. Not silly stuff like humans don’t mate until marriage (some do, it’s not a racial characteristic) whereas Deltans might have sex with relatives like we give each other hugs.

The Deltans were referred to once in ENT as one of Mayweather’s experiences on the Horizon. I think they would fit for the the early days of exploration..

The writers did try something with Phlox, Feezal & Trip during "Stigma" and never revisited it again after that episode. Although there were plans to visit Denobula during S5.

But I agree, more mature writers would be needed for that. Avoid juvenile “A Night in Sickbay” type of stories.

 

[diankra]

There's a lot that should be different, but one obvious thing is the transporter. Make it a Chekhov's Gun.
We know that eventually it will be in routine use. They think it's only safe for cargo. When will things be so dire that they risk it?

 

[F. King Daniel]

Now I'm picturing a Netflix Trek show with sex scenes and Hannibal-level transporter malfunction gore

 

[FederationHistorian]

Expanding on my proto-Federation idea - maybe call it the United Republic - it would be the Vissians, Xyrillians, Tandarans, Malurians & Kzinti, as the remaining members. It’s lost many member worlds over time, with species such as Rigelians, Orions, Rhaandarites, Betelgeusians, Edosians, Coridanites and Denobulans having left as recently at the turn of the 22nd century. While the Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites either rejected joining the United Republic or had their application to join rejected. The Kzinti connection would mean that the United Republic are at least aware that Earth exists, although they have not put forth an effort to establish diplomatic relations.

The Vissians are still benevolent and friendly, as are the Xyrillians. They even offer to help make the homeworld of the Suliban habitable once more. But then there are the Tandarans, Malurians, and Kzinti who make it difficult and tend to undercut the Vissians and Xyrillians diplomatic efforts.

Meanwhile, the Xindus Confederacy would be comprised of Arboeals, Insactoids, Aquatics, Avians, Skagaarans, Triannons, Ossarians, Oran’taku (Rajiin’s species), and Illyrians. With the exception of the adventurous Illyrians, the Xindus Confederacy are closed off to what goes on outside the Delphic Expanse, and tend to be more insular and decentralized in how they handle their crises. Frequent anatomical inversions and spatial anomies tend to be the reason why most of the species have ever ventured beyond their region of space. And it is in the Delphic Expanse that humans first meet the Remans, who regularly trade with the Xindus Confederacy on the behalf of the Romulans (various supplies in exchange for kemocite), since the Romulans suffer from the same neurological effects as the Vulcans when they come into contact with trellium-D.

 

[publiusr]

I thought the star was VAY-ga. Probably because that’s how Jodie Foster pronounced it in Contact. (Fantastic movie)

And the name of a car only a bit less crappy than a Pinto. In DC comics, there is Xindi level diversity. They should have been the nearby threat...crossover potential too.

 

[Imaus]

There's a lot that should be different, but one obvious thing is the transporter. Make it a Chekhov's Gun.
We know that eventually it will be in routine use. They think it's only safe for cargo. When will things be so dire that they risk it?

I just wouldn't have any transporters. They still seem new-ish by 2265. Cargo Shuttles and personnel shuttles are just fine IMO.

 

[Arpy]

I just wouldn't have any transporters. They still seem new-ish by 2265. Cargo Shuttles and personnel shuttles are just fine IMO.

I could do without them. But if they’re there, maybe do them differently. Have the effect take longer, with multiple stages, or requiring pre-transport preparation, and on a larger and more elaborate platform.

I don’t understand why they tried to fake us in “Broken Bow” that their transporter was only suitable for inorganic material, only to have Archer be saved by it by episode’s end. There’s no dramatic tension there since in every other incarnation of Trek the transporter has worked.

Maybe if they showed us some organic material materializing burned beyond recognition (or inside out or something) for the first season. Maybe have the transporter not save the day, to really sell how new the technology is. Heck, maybe we lose a beloved character to it. Maybe everyone who uses it in season two gets cancer (everywhere) near season’s end that they then have to elaborately treat, and not everybody makes it or for whatever reason returns the following season.

Maybe there’s anti-transporter sentiment among neo-flat-earther types and intellectuals alike. I mean...does it kill you every time?

Maybe this series explores transporter terrorism (or serial killers!) or warfare, and a Cold War/race between different powers to perfect the technology lest it gives the other a fatal military or economic advantage.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Maybe if they showed us some organic material materializing burned beyond recognition (or inside out or something) for the first season. Maybe have the transporter not save the day, to really sell how new the technology is. Heck, maybe we lose a beloved character to it. Maybe everyone who uses it in season two gets cancer (everywhere) near season’s end that they then have to elaborately treat, and not everybody makes it or for whatever reason returns the following season.

Maybe there’s anti-transporter sentiment among neo-flat-earther types and intellectuals alike. I mean...does it kill you every time?

Maybe this series explores transporter terrorism (or serial killers!) or warfare, and a Cold War/race between different powers to perfect the technology lest it gives the other a fatal military or economic advantage.

This is a theme that could span the entire series.

 

[valkyrie013]

Could make the transporters a booth to booth technology? Like The Fly? Not being able to do site to booth or booth to site.
And like the fly , may be good for cargo, but sketchy for organic. Maybe like said, a bit of a discussion on the morality of the device.
As for sexuality. I like the deltain idea . maybe with them there is no diseases, and can mentally control fertilization so that sex turns from procreation to pleasure, and not as taboo or looked down upon.that that they have marrages for kids but sex isn't regarded as a monogamus activity.
Push some limits.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I don’t understand why they tried to fake us in “Broken Bow” that their transporter was only suitable for inorganic material, only to have Archer be saved by it by episode’s end.

They weren't trying to fake us. Enterprise's transporter was said to be cleared for organic material from the start, but some crewmembers weren't too keen on being that organic material.

 

[Arpy]

They weren't trying to fake us. Enterprise's transporter was said to be cleared for organic material from the start, but some crewmembers weren't too keen on being that organic material.

Oh, right. I think the issue for me was that that should have been a much much bigger deal for them. Even if they’d been transporting goods for whatever indeterminate amount of time, probably only after First Contact, “transporting” people should have been a bigger story. It seemed like a wasted opportunity or, again, a fake to dunk on at episode’s end — which was too “cute” for me.

The transporter is potentially a much bigger deal. Up there with FTL and perhaps artificial gravity. In contemporary terms, it’s the difference between a person landing on Mars vs a rover. We could imagine the first test people were transported in a controlled lab setting and maybe that made the headlines throughout all human worlds...but it seemed in the episode like they just bureaucratically approved one for the Enterprise and crossed their fingers that it worked, then it did spectacularly so to save the Captain before the commercial break. ...meh.

I’d have the first big ribbon-cutting ceremony of the transporter be some big affair they broadcast throughout the solar system and all colony worlds, only to have the inventor fail to rematerialize. Have the societal memory of that be why some like McCoy still have the heebie-jeebies about using it a century later. Perhaps even have an urban legend about him returning one day from parts unknown. Or his specter haunting children as they try to sleep or something. Have his name be slang for trying something before it’s ready. Maybe have the Vulcans use it to remind the humans not to fly too close to the sun.

 

[dupersuper]

I just wouldn't have any transporters. They still seem new-ish by 2265.

How so?

 

[C.E. Evans]

Oh, right. I think the issue for me was that that should have been a much much bigger deal for them. Even if they’d been transporting goods for whatever indeterminate amount of time, probably only after First Contact, “transporting” people should have been a bigger story. It seemed like a wasted opportunity or, again, a fake to dunk on at episode’s end — which was too “cute” for me.

The transporter is potentially a much bigger deal. Up there with FTL and perhaps artificial gravity. In contemporary terms, it’s the difference between a person landing on Mars vs a rover. We could imagine the first test people were transported in a controlled lab setting and maybe that made the headlines throughout all human worlds...but it seemed in the episode like they just bureaucratically approved one for the Enterprise and crossed their fingers that it worked, then it did spectacularly so to save the Captain before the commercial break. ...meh.

I think in "Daedalus" it was implied that the first Humans to be transported was at least a decade or two before Enterprise was launched. In that light, the only novelty about the transporter on the ship was that it might have been the first safe-for-people one installed aboard a Starfleet vessel. If beaming people still wasn't all that commonplace yet though, that would explain some Enterprise crewmembers being initially skittish about it...

 

[Tim Walker]

Make it really more of an early warp ship series.
* No temporal cold war. And seriously limit time travel stories. This about meeting aliens, not time travelers.
* Transporter is NOT in regular use. Humans observe that other species use it regularly, but don't have the tech themselves.
* Photon torpedoes aren't available to humans yet.
* Porthos is adorable... but a spaceship of this era shouldn't be hauling a dogg. Enterprise D, fine. I could have even lived with a few critters on Voyager.
* Reinstate JG and LCDR ranks. Mayweather is a JG by Season 2 and an LT by Season 4. Hoshi reaches JG as well. Reed makes LCDR, while Trip goes from LCDR to CDR.
* T'Pol's initial uniform is more like Vulcan robes. When she accepts a commission in Starfleet, she wears the same blue coveralls as everyone else.

I like the idea of a ring ship era. Earthling technology is relatively primitive compared to Archer's Enterprise. Early version of warp drive. High performance rocket for sunlight propulsion. Centrifuge for simulated gravity. No transporters yet. Reliance on projectile weapons.

 

[Tim Walker]

My initial impulse was to compare the Malurians to the Gorn, but perhaps they could be compared to the Sleestak in Land of the Lost.