Why did it need to be "Birth of the Federation?"

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Back in 2001, people hated the show, because it wasn't Birth of the Federation. Why did it need to be that? I was fine with it simply being a pre-Federation Enterprise having weekly adventures a decade before the Federation. I do agree that there were times where it felt like the show forgot it was a prequel. A lot of S2 episodes felt like they could have been Voyager episodes.

S1: Strong season! Loved it start to finish.
S2: Got stale, felt episodes could'a worked for VOY or ENT or even TNG.
S3: The Xindi saga, my favorite season overall of the series.
S4: I honestly didn't mind the shift to prequel-mania given they knew there was a 99.99% chance of cancellation. The only fan service I didn't like was Klingon foreheads, because it was just stupid. I liked the two-parter, Klingon augments, deadly virus that needed curing, everything was great - just drop the forehead thing. I did like the series finale - for what it was trying to be. Great ideas, but last-minute cancellation... people are too hard on B&B. They had a season finale and had 5 minutes to rework it into a series finale. They tried.

I kind of like how the show shifts gears, changing premise and tone twice over. S1-2 exploration, S3 the Xindi saga, S4 the Federation begins. Then we get a "6 years later" flashforward because cancelled.

 

[Nerys Myk]

It was a good tagline.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I think the trouble was that the show wasn't really about anything, at least at first.

It's 2001, Babylon 5 and DS9 have just finished, and Farscape and Stargate SG-1 are well established. Cowboy Bebop recently showed off what populated Solar system in the early days of space colonisation could look like, full of life and culture. People have gotten a taste for sci-fi series that set up a world, build upon previous stories and really live up to their premise.

Then Enterprise comes along, Star Trek's first prequel series, promising to give fans the story of Kirk's childhood hero. We're finally going to see what Starfleet was like back in the days of all those ancient ships the Enterprise kept investigating like the Valiant and the Archon! We're going to see the distasterous first contact with the Klingons! We're going to see the build up to the Romulan War! We're going to see the Birth of the Federation!

Episode 4: The crew go on a camping trip.
Episode 5: Trip has a baby.
Episode 6: The crew find people in a cave.
Episode 7: The crew are held hostage by the Andorians and find a secret Vulcan spy facility!!
Episode 8: Mayweather builds a snowman.

The show really picked up when Andorians showed up and it seemed like it could be building towards something, so I'm not surprised that's what people wanted more of. Especially as 'the crew haven't done space exploration before and don't know what they're doing' was going to get old before too long and show had wasted no time making the prequel setting less distinctive by introducing phasers and transporters etc.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I think the trouble was that the show wasn't really about anything, at least at first.

It's 2001, Babylon 5 and DS9 have just finished, and Farscape and Stargate SG-1 are well established. Cowboy Bebop recently showed off what populated Solar system in the early days of space colonisation could look like, full of life and culture. People have gotten a taste for sci-fi series that set up a world, build upon previous stories and really live up to their premise.

Then Enterprise comes along, Star Trek's first prequel series, promising to give fans the story of Kirk's childhood hero. We're finally going to see what Starfleet was like back in the days of all those ancient ships the Enterprise kept investigating like the Valiant and the Archon! We're going to see the distasterous first contact with the Klingons! We're going to see the build up to the Romulan War! We're going to see the Birth of the Federation!

Episode 4: The crew go on a camping trip.
Episode 5: Trip has a baby.
Episode 6: The crew find people in a cave.
Episode 7: The crew are held hostage by the Andorians and find a secret Vulcan spy facility!!
Episode 8: Mayweather builds a snowman.

The show really picked up when Andorians showed up and it seemed like it could be building towards something, so I'm not surprised that's what people wanted more of. Especially as 'the crew haven't done space exploration before and don't know what they're doing' was going to get old before too long and show had wasted no time making the prequel setting less distinctive by introducing phasers and transporters etc.

Part of the problem is that the show was on UPN which was extremely anti-serial. VOY had to be episodic per UPN, Berman had to fight for two-parters. This continued into the first two seasons of ENT. Come S3, the network said F it and told B&B do what ya gotta do to keep it going. The show finally went serial. Part of why ENT struggled is a lot of casual Star Trek fans didn't know it existed. In 2001, who was still watching local TV? Everyone had gone to cable TV by then.

The way you described E4-8 had me laughing, good job.

 

[FredH]

Seems to me that it was “Birth of the Federation” — how these separate and antagonistic species slowly, gradually found their way to coming together into alliance. It’d be silly if that had happened all at once from the beginning; and once the Coalition is formed, they’re basically there. (The Coalition—>Federation stuff that happens because of the war might’ve been nice, but we don’t need to see it; the big shifts have already happened.)

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Seems to me that it was “Birth of the Federation” — how these separate and antagonistic species slowly, gradually found their way to coming together into alliance. It’d be silly if that had happened all at once from the beginning; and once the Coalition is formed, they’re basically there. (The Coalition—>Federation stuff that happens because of the war might’ve been nice, but we don’t need to see it; the big shifts have already happened.)

Agreed - in Season 4.

 

[FredH]

Agreed - in Season 4.

Even earlier, though — we set up the initial relationships with the Vulcans and Andorians (and I think the Tellarites, though that’s never given much) even before there’s any thought of a Coalition, and that’s necessary backdrop.

 

[somebuddyX]

I think most people expected it to be 2161 and the Federation, just because it was harder to imagine a Star Trek series without it. I thought everything pre-Romulan War was just going to be backstory for a potential series, like how the Minbari War was to Babylon 5. I also never expected anything like the idea of the Warp 5 engine and the idea of it taking a while to get to that. I figured if Earth was dumping out ships like S.S. Valiant like 5 years after First Contact that all the contact with alien races occurred before end of the 21st century and by the middle of the 22nd century Earth was going to be a bigger player on the board, again like Earth in Babylon 5. Also setting it in 2151 was wild to me, because even with seven seasons I was wondering when the hell were they going to get to the Romulan War. We still never got there.
That all said, I like how the universe ended up. I like that Earth developed slowly and was such a minor power, but like the glue holding everyone together. I think Season 1 still sucks ass though. But my problem is story, not all the dumb details.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Even earlier, though — we set up the initial relationships with the Vulcans and Andorians (and I think the Tellarites, though that’s never given much) even before there’s any thought of a Coalition, and that’s necessary backdrop.

Agreed, I can buy this. I remember back when the show was new, fans considered the show too "episodic" and wanted it to be S4 from the word go. I honestly like what we got. 2 seasons of just TOS/TNG type stories in the 22nd century, the Xindi saga, and then bow out with pre-Federation stuff. Worked for me.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I think most people expected it to be 2161 and the Federation, just because it was harder to imagine a Star Trek series without it. I thought everything pre-Romulan War was just going to be backstory for a potential series, like how the Minbari War was to Babylon 5. I also never expected anything like the idea of the Warp 5 engine and the idea of it taking a while to get to that. I figured if Earth was dumping out ships like S.S. Valiant like 5 years after First Contact that all the contact with alien races occurred before end of the 21st century and by the middle of the 22nd century Earth was going to be a bigger player on the board, again like Earth in Babylon 5. Also setting it in 2151 was wild to me, because even with seven seasons I was wondering when the hell were they going to get to the Romulan War. We still never got there.
That all said, I like how the universe ended up. I like that Earth developed slowly and was such a minor power, but like the glue holding everyone together. I think Season 1 still sucks ass though. But my problem is story, not all the dumb details.

I think fans were expecting what you said, hoping the show would mostly be about the Romulan War, alliances, and the formation of the Federation. That said, I don't think that's the story B&B wanted to tell, and I feel like the fans at the time (2001-05) "got that."

B&B wanted to just do a pre-Federation Starfleet Enterprise, "the first exploration ship."
Fans wanted pre-Federation alliance building, Romulan War, Birth of the Federation.
What B&B were doing and what the fans wanted just weren't the same thing.
With the show renewed for a final season and Manny Coto in charge, it was prequel mania in S4.

I know there was a save Enterprise campaign, but in reality, the show was cancelled as soon as it was renewed for S4. The studio negotiated for "one more season" with a lower budget so they'd have about 100 episodes for syndicated rerruns. The network never had any intention of a 5th season.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Also setting it in 2151 was wild to me, because even with seven seasons I was wondering when the hell were they going to get to the Romulan War. We still never got there.

There needed to be a Columbia spinoff series to cover those years.

But that was never going to happen, with the ratings ENT was getting, and the sets being demolished immediately as so as they stopped filming.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

There needed to be a Columbia spinoff series to cover those years.

But that was never going to happen, with the ratings ENT was getting, and the sets being demolished immediately as so as they stopped filming.

I don't think the show was created with Romulan War & Birth of the Federation in mind.
It was created to be about the pre-Federation Enterprise, Starfleet's first exploratory starship.

 

[evilchumlee]

For me it was a bit more just how it ended up presented. The fact that they decided to set the show so close to the founding the Federation meant... yeah I was expecting the show to be the buildup to the birth of the Federation. If it were set a few years prior, or just after, I wouldn't have the expectation.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

For me it was a bit more just how it ended up presented. The fact that they decided to set the show so close to the founding the Federation meant... yeah I was expecting the show to be the buildup to the birth of the Federation. If it were set a few years prior, or just after, I wouldn't have the expectation.

This is where the B&B and fans disconnect happen.
B&B: Look, we're doing a prequel, the Enterprise pre-Federation, it'll be low tech and more relatable compared to TNG-DS9-VOY. You guys are gonna love it!
Fans: Romulans, Birth of the Federation, YAY!
B&B: What?

 

[evilchumlee]

This is where the B&B and fans disconnect happen.
B&B: Look, we're doing a prequel, the Enterprise pre-Federation, it'll be low tech and more relatable compared to TNG-DS9-VOY. You guys are gonna love it!
Fans: Romulans, Birth of the Federation, YAY!
B&B: What?

B&B were fully intending to do all of that. The show just didn't make it that far.

They wanted it to be even lower tech than it was, but the executives were constantly screwing with the show, and there were some practical things... they wanted the ship to be more cramped, like a submarine, but they decided it would have made filming too difficult.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

B&B were fully intending to do all of that. The show just didn't make it that far.

They wanted it to be even lower tech than it was, but the executives were constantly screwing with the show, and there were some practical things... they wanted the ship to be more cramped, like a submarine, but they decided it would have made filming too difficult.

I do know they expected a 7-season run, because it worked for TNG, DS9, VOY. Never assume your series will be long running, take it one season at a time. The executives are the ones who wanted it to be lower tech, S1 on Earth, S1 seeing the launch of the NX-01, the NX-01 being the first Starfleet starship all together instead of simply the first explorer.

The problem is that like VOY, the show was on UPN, and UPN wanted it to be more Trek-like, more familiar, and wanted it post-VOY. This is where the TCW came in so it could be both a prequel and a sequel. The TCW didn't have to be this big grandiose thing, but I do think at the very least, the Suliban and Future Guy should have been more thought out. Anyway, S3 going full serial was a response to UPN backing off and saying do wha'cha gotta do to save the show.

 

[evilchumlee]

I do know they expected a 7-season run, because it worked for TNG, DS9, VOY. Never assume your series will be long running, take it one season at a time. The executives are the ones who wanted it to be lower tech, S1 on Earth, S1 seeing the launch of the NX-01, the NX-01 being the first Starfleet starship all together instead of simply the first explorer.

The problem is that like VOY, the show was on UPN, and UPN wanted it to be more Trek-like, more familiar, and wanted it post-VOY. This is where the TCW came in so it could be both a prequel and a sequel. The TCW didn't have to be this big grandiose thing, but I do think at the very least, the Suliban and Future Guy should have been more thought out. Anyway, S3 going full serial was a response to UPN backing off and saying do wha'cha gotta do to save the show.

"Executives" is kind of a broad term. It's better to say UPN Executives yes... they very much did not want ANY of the above stuff. My favorite absolutely ridiculous idea was wanting to feature boy bands in episodes. It's because of some creative nudging from Drexler that NX-01 wasn't... a fucking Akira. He was able to make something "close enough" that they were like "Sure, that's the thing we liked". B&B REALLY aren't to blame for most of ENT's fault, aside from potentially being a bit too confident that the show was going to get 7 seasons.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

"Executives" is kind of a broad term. It's better to say UPN Executives yes... they very much did not want ANY of the above stuff. My favorite absolutely ridiculous idea was wanting to feature boy bands in episodes. It's because of some creative nudging from Drexler that NX-01 wasn't... a fucking Akira. He was able to make something "close enough" that they were like "Sure, that's the thing we liked". B&B REALLY aren't to blame for most of ENT's fault, aside from potentially being a bit too confident that the show was going to get 7 seasons.

It is so satisfying to watch Braga shred UPN to bits on the Blu-ray sets. He holds nothing back.

 

[valkyrie013]

Wish theyd started it further along, Romulan war was from 2156 -2160 (suposidly) but they started in 2151.. Start it in 2154, do 2 years lead up, 4 years war, 1 year post war/Federation.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Wish theyd started it further along, Romulan war was from 2156 -2160 (suposidly) but they started in 2151.. Start it in 2154, do 2 years lead up, 4 years war, 1 year post war/Federation.

I think a big part of this was a strong disconnect between B&B and the fans.
B&B: We're doing Star Trek 10 years before the Federation, the early days of Starfleet and space exploration, the first Enterprise.
Fans: What? They're doing the Romulan War and Birth of the Federation!!!
I feel like the fans got wind of the pre-Federation time period and assumed the show would be something B&B weren't making. Keep in mind, I'm looking at this through a 2001 lense.