What do Voyager fans think of Enterprise?

[startrekwatcher]

Enterprise is the only Trek series I found unwatchable. It comprehensively failed my primary criterion for liking any TV show: Namely, interesting characters. In all honesty the only Enterprise character I found even remotely interesting was Porthos, and when the most interesting character in a show is (literally) a dog it's not a good thing. If I can't get interested in the characters in a show, I couldn't care less about what they do. And what they did didn't interest me much anyway. It was generic, formulaic and bland.

To each their own, but the show wasn't for me and thus I stopped watching.

I notice that we tend to have similiar opinions about things so I thought I might recommend giving ENT a chance in season three and four. I really felt that both were entertaining. Season three was a vast improvement over the first two seasons and if you like story arcs this one is pretty good. It adopts a Lost/Heroes format to some degree throwing a bunch of unanswered questions at you, has a pretty impressive storytelling canvas, the mysteries are engaging, and there is plenty of excitement and suspense.

And since you don't care for the characters too much, the season is mostly plot-driven where we see the characters trying to get to the bottom of everything. It does a good job in respecting continuity, developing a rather impressive mythology for the aliens and the region of space they inhabit. And despite knowing the outcome the show imparts a great deal of peril into the unfolding events. Even Archer and T'Pol have some nice character work.

I must point out though that the season is not nearly as consistent as Lost or Heroes. It is quite erratic. When it focuses on the arc threads the episodes are mostly good , great or even excellent. When they create a standalone with no real connection to the arcs they are rather middling but I think in the end it was worth sticking it out because I really enjoyed myself.

And if you like TOS, I think you'll enjoy and appreciate season four. I thought it was the most consistent season of the series. It wasn't perfect but I thought the writers did a good job of telling a series of stories that not only stand well on their own for the uninitiated but also added some richness to the Trek backstory. The stories, with maybe one exception, didn't exist to serve the namedropping or fan elements but rather used those pre-existing Trek pieces to enhance the episodes.

Once again I think many could enjoy this without liking the characters because it really was more about looking into the TOS aliens, their relationships, their culture etc. Usually the stars of the show this season is Archer and the guest of the week.

So I just thought I would throw that out.

 

[Kegek]

It had entertaining stories served up with generous dollops of fan service and, as KayArr notes, wisely chose not to focus on the characters too much.

WISELY!!!! Hey, now!!!!

Heh. I'll admit I should have clarified that; I included your observation (shoving the characters to one side) with my opinion (smart move).

 

[Orac Zen]

I notice that we tend to have similiar opinions about things so I thought I might recommend giving ENT a chance in season three and four. [...] So I just thought I would throw that out.

Yeah, we do, and you make some interesting points. But I saw a few third season eps (I can't recall what they were) and still didn't see anything that appealed to me. Which brings me back to this:

If I can't get interested in the characters in a show, I couldn't care less about what they do.

I really, really cannot watch a show if there aren't any characters that interest me. It's one of the primary reasons DS9 did so little for me, the main reason I found nBSG unwatchable, the list goes on. I have no objection to arc shows (Babylon 5 and Farscape are two of my favourite ever shows), but in order to be able to persist with an arc I have to be able to muster up some interest in the characters involved...and the Enterprise characters just don't fit the bill.

You make a good case for it, anyway.

 

[Smiley]

When ENT decided to tie in old aliens or tell fresh Trek stories, it usually did it quite well. In particular, the Andorians and Tellarites got some good exposure on ENT. It was only when it rehashed old TNG and VOY scripts and did a poorer job in the execution that I couldn't stand the show. If I remember my list correctly, ENT got a 72% approval rating from me.

 

[EnsignRicky]

I find the title of this thread interesting. Has Star Trek finally achived the same level of division as sports religion and politics? I know there was always a rivalry between Star Wars and Star Trek, something else I never quite understood; But I always felt that by the very nature of Star Trek, either your a fan, or your not. That's not to say that some shows weren't better than others, but I wouldn't label myself specifically to one series. That being said, as a Star Trek fan, my opinion is that though Enterprise had some fairly decent episodes, overall it wasn't the franchise's strongest link.

 

[Kio]

I know there was always a rivalry between Star Wars and Star Trek, something else I never quite understood; But I always felt that by the very nature of Star Trek, either your a fan, or your not.

I can see why you'd say that, the Trek universe is pretty consistent from show to show. On the other hand, there's a huge difference between, say, TOS and VOY and I like them for completely different reasons.

I hadn't expected so many replies, thanks all . And I'm surprised to see so many people had something positive to say, or even found ENT watchable at all, based on what I've heard before. Looking at this thread in its entirety, I wouldn't say you guys have given ENT a ringing endorsement, but I'm running out VOY episodes and at least ENT is Star Trek. S4 sounds interesting.

In all honesty the only Enterprise character I found even remotely interesting was Porthos, and when the most interesting character in a show is (literally) a dog it's not a good thing. If I can't get interested in the characters in a show, I couldn't care less about what they do.

Yeah, it's bad when a dog has to carry a show. I found myself agreeing with you at first, but then I thought, "How much did I really care about the characters in TOS?" Of course, that might be an exception since it had so much cheesy goodness going for it.

 

[startrekwatcher]

I really, really cannot watch a show if there aren't any characters that interest me. It's one of the primary reasons DS9 did so little for me, the main reason I found nBSG unwatchable, the list goes on. I have no objection to arc shows (Babylon 5 and Farscape are two of my favourite ever shows), but in order to be able to persist with an arc I have to be able to muster up some interest in the characters involved...and the Enterprise characters just don't fit the bill.

That's fair. I can understand having to be interested in the characters but I have found from time to time that if the plot is really interesting I can overlook the weakness of the characters.

When ENT decided to tie in old aliens or tell fresh Trek stories, it usually did it quite well. In particular, the Andorians and Tellarites got some good exposure on ENT. It was only when it rehashed old TNG and VOY scripts and did a poorer job in the execution that I couldn't stand the show. If I remember my list correctly, ENT got a 72% approval rating from me.

I agree. I didn't mind the TOS/TNG/VOY formula but when they did a very similar episode as one of the other series, usually TNG, it more than likely felt like "been there done that, been there done that better."

 

[THE_FETT]

And now for something completely different...

I really like Enterprise. In my factual opinion, it was the closest any of the series ever came to recalling TOS. In complete contrast to everyone else, I thought the characters were interesting enough. In theme, the stories were well written for the most part (exceptionally well, in fact) and the acting was good as any of the other series. Very well done, and it sucks to no end that it was canceled. But, apparently, being canceled is what happens to the really good Trek.

BUT, I absolutely despise- despise- the theme song.

 

[KayArr]

And now for something completely different...

I really like Enterprise. In my factual opinion, it was the closest any of the series ever came to recalling TOS. In complete contrast to everyone else, I thought the characters were interesting enough. In theme, the stories were well written for the most part (exceptionally well, in fact) and the acting was good as any of the other series. Very well done, and it sucks to no end that it was canceled. But, apparently, being canceled is what happens to the really good Trek.

BUT, I absolutely despise- despise- the theme song.

Completely different? I wrote all that stuff. Well...except...I love the theme song!

 

[THE_FETT]

Completely different? I wrote all that stuff.

Would you buy that I wrote the same stuff in a completely different way?

 

[ialfan]

VOY isn't my favorite but I am a fan of it. Personally I loved Enterprise and thought it got better each season.

 

[freak]

Enterprise is the only Trek series I found unwatchable. It comprehensively failed my primary criterion for liking any TV show: Namely, interesting characters. In all honesty the only Enterprise character I found even remotely interesting was Porthos, and when the most interesting character in a show is (literally) a dog it's not a good thing. If I can't get interested in the characters in a show, I couldn't care less about what they do. And what they did didn't interest me much anyway. It was generic, formulaic and bland.

To each their own, but the show wasn't for me and thus I stopped watching.

Same here with me. I only watched maybe one or two episodes of Enterprise and it wasn't for me either. I think a Trek series has to grow on you and Voyager just grew on me. I loved the storyline and the characters as a whole. The show did have some stinker episodes but I loved Voyager. Enterprise just wasn't that interesting. I didn't like Phylox or whoever that werido doc was. He really freaked me out! And the enemies weren't all that interesting either. It just wasn't watchable and made me change the channel immediately. I appreciated Voyager because of the characters and the storyline. As for Enterprise, I only appreciated it as sci-fi. I think that doing a series before kirk and spock was a big mistake. Enterprise seemed too technologically advanced for it to be before kirk and spock. If they had done a series after Voyager, it might have skyrocketed. But I agree..Enterprise was blah even though I loved Trip..thought he was hotter than a fire cracker! !

 

[KayArr]

Completely different? I wrote all that stuff.

Would you buy that I wrote the same stuff in a completely different way?

Sure--you wrote it all out better, too!

 

[Tactical Drone]

I dislike most of what I have seen of seasons 1-3 and loved all of what I've seen of season 4. Especially the Augment episodes, Klingon Augment episodes, In a Mirror Darkly, and the one that Peter Weller was in as the xenophobe.

 

[KayArr]

I dislike most of what I have seen of seasons 1-3 and loved all of what I've seen of season 4. Especially the Augment episodes, Klingon Augment episodes, In a Mirror Darkly, and the one that Peter Weller was in as the xenophobe.

Wow, there's lots of people that I disagree with around here about one thing or another, but this is so totally the opposite of me on every single point (well except for the Weller ep), that it's a little spooky! It made me laugh, though!

 

[Cyke101]

The funny thing about all the praise that "In A Mirror Darkly" gets: it's such a great two-parter, but when you think about it, none of our main cast is in the story at all.

Alt-Trip, Alt-Tucker, Alt-Archer? They don't count at all. Funky that.

 

[JiNX-01]

Well, I like it!

 

[Cyrus]

The first 2 seasons of ENT were not as good as VOY, but the last 2 seasons were better.

 

[McCoy]

I like VOY a lot. I didn't find ENT unwatchable, but I don't consider it re-watchable. As such, it's the only TREK for which I own no DVDs.

 

[speed_cochrane]

Ugh, Enterprise.

Great show in the first couple seasons, but after the Xindi nonsense started, I switched channels. It had excellent potential but fell short with their arc-ed storylines and uninteresting characters. I'm talking to you, boob--er, I mean T'Pol. The only character I really enjoyed was Trip because he wasn't as flat as a pancake.

As a die hard Voyager fan, I have to say, Voyager surpassed Enterprise with its ability to tell a story, period. Did VOY have some shitty episodes? Definitely. Did Enterprise have some awesome episodes? Hell yes.

I think the one problem Enterprise had that VOY didn't, was that the ENT characters were constantly angry about something or sexing it up. The Voyager characters were a little more grounded and I found them easier and more entertaining to watch. But, to each his own.