Just starting season 1

[Wyse]

I'm mostly a TNG fan. I grew up with it and still try and catch reruns when I can. Voyager had a good premise but after the second season I dropped out because the writing was never very good and I didn't take to any of the characters (except I liked Kes, and I heard she left the show at some point; what happened to her?). DS9 I saw a total of two episodes and didn't like the starbase local (prefered the exploration of TNG and VOY) and it seemed rather heavy viewing (I was 12 at the time).

So after seeing the first season of Enterprise on sale and needing a new sci-fi series to watch I picked up a copy. I'd only seen maybe a dozen episodes before now and then not fully (I'd maybe catch the first half or the last half of an episode) so while I have a general idea of the characters (like their names) and some memory of a war or time traveling aliens, this will be my first time watching it. And from the beginning!

Now my friend warned me that the pilot was very poor, but after watching it myself I didn't think so. I mean, yeah, it dragged during some parts of the second half, but it did well for the introductory episode. The characters were intro'd well, their personalities established, the captain got his crew together and the ship was launched. It even set up some future plot points (I'm guessing) with the Suluban and Hologram Guy.

Was it perfect. No. But what pilot is? Comparing it to TNG's first episode, I thought this was a vast improvement.


Liked: The captain. He seems like a good guy, and its nice to have a captain who gets excited as heck over going into space. Heck, I like all the characters. Right now they're all one-note (logical Vulcan, boyish ensign, easy going engineer, by the book tactical officer, etc) but I have hopes they flesh out over the upcoming episodes. The ship is designed nicely. Seems more accurate as to what an early starship would look like, all cramped and stuff. Phlox!!! Finally an alien crew member who acts alien! Love him!

Kind of meh about: The Suluban. They seem kind of lame for villians. They just don't exude that 'mwahahaha' feeling, or seem like a serious danger. Decon (?) chamber. Lame way to get some TnA in.


The pilot Broken Bow gets a nice 3.5 out of 5 from me.


Now the follow up episode, Fight or Flight. Gosh, after getting all keyed up and excited from the Enterprise pilot I had to sit through this mess. In short, it was boring. It lost me halfway through and couldn't get me back. I do want a Beagle now, though. And Hoshi is cute in the ending scene.

I give it a 2 out of 5. Not mind-numbing bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it again.


The last one I got to watch this morning was Strange New World. A GREAT improvement over the last episode. In fact, I really, really liked this one. Cutler (Cutter?) was good and I hope she and that other guy remain as secondary characters as this continues. The cave scene, omg! VERY good acting by Trip and if a lessor actor had tackled it it would have come off as cheesy or ackward, but he handled it masterfully.

I give it a 4 out of 5. Probably the first episode I will rewatch once the season ends.



Tonight I'm watching Unexpected and possibly Terra Nova if I can fit it in. I guess we'll see how Unexpected goes and if it makes me want more.



I know Enterprise is treated and thought of rather poorly by some trek fans, but so far I'm not seeing any worse than TNG's early episodes. I heard season three is considered the worst and four the best? Are there any episodes from season one I should specifically look forward to?

 

[Ro Boat]

I lived in South America during the original run of ENT, so I missed all of the pain and anguish that seemed to be felt by the fan base at the time. Watching it after it was cancelled, I found many episodes to be quite good, rivaling some of best of any Trek series.

My favorite episode of Season 1 is Dear Doctor. I will not spoil it, but it is the type of Trek episode that makes me proud to be a Trek fan.

Other Season 1 highlights for me:

Terra Nova
Cold Front
Detained
Shockwave

Low points:

Acquisition
Rogue Planet

 

[Saga]

most would consider season 3 to be one of the high points of the series. i certainly do. you have a nice, season long arc that really takes the ship and crew to the breaking point. 'Damage' being prime example.

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

Welcome to the forum, Wyse!

You'll find folks here who are for or against just about every episode, character, or plot turn on the show. The best course is to sit back, enjoy, and make up your own mind about what you like.

Keep on sharing your thoughts with us, too! It's great to have someone here who brings a fresh viewpoint to the discussion of Enterprise.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I thought the pilot was the best of all the series.

Please stick with it. Remember it is finding it's way and establishing ground at first. Many love seasons 3 and 4 when it took a real direction turn but character is set up in the first two seasons and the helps you appreciate 3 and 4 even more.

Oh and when you have finished ENT you are instructed to return to DS9 and have another go.

 

[Vykan12]

I just saw the first 2 episodes of ENT, and I found it appallingly bad.

What disappoints me the most is the terrible acting. Almost none of the actors possess anything resembling conviction, and it seems as though they are just reciting lines from memory. Is it really that difficult to show some enthusiasm in a sci-fi show?

Then we have some of the dullest Trek characters I've ever run across:

Archer- One of the two characters I actually find bearable. Though, aside from his cheerful disposition and tendency towards free talking, he cannot even remotely compare to any other Trek captain I've come across.

T'pol- I must say I was anticipating a female vulcan as a main character, but she dissapointed me greatly. In fact, it seemed as though the vulcans in general were extremely arrogant and condescending. For instance, she says something like "Vulcan children play with toys more sophisticated than your sensors". Was that really necessary? And, for someone who's supposed to be the epitome of logic, I've noticed she's had some contradictive behavior. It doesn't help that she delivers her lines so flatly it usually does injustice to her Vulcan insightfulness.

Trip- There’s absolutely nothing note-worthy about him.

Malcolm Reed- He has a nice british accent…

Hoshi Sato- The idea of a linguistic specialist is definitely unique, but horribly executed. In “Fight and Flight”, she already becomes aggravating with her living quarters relocation so she can see “the stars moving the right way”. Then she starts whining about claustrophobia in a space suit, which doesn’t even make sense since she could handle it in her Star Fleet training. If these seemingly pointless rigidities weren’t enough, she then has to be inconsistent about her desire to stay on the ship. First she wants to return home, then she convinces herself that Archer needs her, then out of nowhere she tosses that idea away and returns to her original homesick prerogative. It’s a wasted opportunity for character development, and ultimately leaves me feeling confused about Sato’s intentions.

Travis Mayweather- A black helmsman… the only remotely memorable dialogue he had was with Trip in the 0 gravity room.

Dr. Phlox- Sadly enough, this is my favorite character of the show currently. He reminds me a bit of Voyager’s Doctor, but with cynicism replaced with fascination for human culture.

Even if I were the victim of below average episodes, the cast isn’t going to change, so most of the problems I described above are probably going to carry out throughout the entire series. That’s not leaving me very optimistic about downloading past the first season.

Anyway, here’s some minor nitpicks about the first two episodes I noticed:

In Broken Bow, there’s a scene where T’pol and Trip are being de-contaminated of radiation or something, and the process is primitive enough that they basically need to strip naked for it to take effect. I don’t mind the notion on an intellectual level; it’s certainly plausible that this kind of inconvenience was required before the invention of bio-filters and whatnot. However, it’s curious that T’pol and Trip unchange in the same room, and even rub each other with cream. You’d expect either of them would care a little about privacy in such a procedure. I can overlook this as an opportunity for some dialogue, but I can’t help but feel this is just a sexually driven scene created to boost show ratings.

Speaking of dialogue, a lot of it seems pointless, contributing very little to the prevailing plot, or towards character development. For example, Fight or Flight’s entire B-plot concerning the slug they found. I know it’s supposed to exemplify how they couldn’t manage to find anything interesting for many light years, but there’s already plenty of other dialogue which makes the perfectly clear, not to mention the target practice with asteroids.

I must inquire what people think of Archer bringing a dog on the Enterprise. Personally, I don’t think a captain with long work shifts would want the added responsibility of a pet, and supplying the dog with resources is at least a minor inconvenience.

At the end of Broken Bow, Archer is beamed on a runabout as he’s running. I could’ve swore you’re supposed to remain stationary during transport, especially considering that this is early Star Fleet transporter technology we’re talking about, so adjusting it to a moving pattern would seem very unlikely.

If the humans are only familiar with Vulcans, Klingons and a couple other alien races, then what the hell is the doctor? Maybe such information is being withheld until a further episode, but it seems strange that there’s no mention of Phlox’s species.

Not to pick on Sato again, but it makes absolutely no sense that in the end of Fight and Flight, her universal translator fails, she claims she cannot even say conjugates in a certain aliens’ language, and yet manages to communicate adequately with said alien by voice. I’m sure that detail was ignored so that Sato could conquer her lack of self-assurance, but that ultimately came off as an artificial conflict. I really do hope that Sato recovers in future episodes.

I could probably go on for another few pages in word, but most of this has probably been explored to death anyways. Plotholes aside, what this show ultimately suffers from is being boring. There’s nothing besides Archer, Phlox, the Sulubans and a thin sense of hope that can compel me to watch further.

 

[Mach5]

I just saw the first 2 episodes of ENT, and I found it appallingly bad.

Are you sure someone hasn't slipped you ANIS & TATV labeled "Pilot" ?

Archer- One of the two characters I actually find bearable. Though, aside from his cheerful disposition and tendency towards free talking, he cannot even remotely compare to any other Trek captain I've come across.

Oh, come on! You had to find him better than Harriman!

T'pol- I must say I was anticipating a female vulcan as a main character, but she dissapointed me greatly. In fact, it seemed as though the vulcans in general were extremely arrogant and condescending.

Have you seen the new movie yet? Vulcans are even bigger assholes there.

Trip- There’s absolutely nothing note-worthy about him.

...Okay, I wasn't prepared for that...

Travis Mayweather- A black helmsman…

African-American

the only remotely memorable dialogue he had was with Trip in the 0 gravity room.

Don't expect that to change.

In Broken Bow, there’s a scene where T’pol and Trip are being de-contaminated of radiation or something, and the process is primitive enough that they basically need to strip naked for it to take effect. I don’t mind the notion on an intellectual level; it’s certainly plausible that this kind of inconvenience was required before the invention of bio-filters and whatnot. However, it’s curious that T’pol and Trip unchange in the same room, and even rub each other with cream. You’d expect either of them would care a little about privacy in such a procedure. I can overlook this as an opportunity for some dialogue, but I can’t help but feel this is just a sexually driven scene created to boost show ratings.

Your point being?

I must inquire what people think of Archer bringing a dog on the Enterprise. Personally, I don’t think a captain with long work shifts would want the added responsibility of a pet, and supplying the dog with resources is at least a minor inconvenience.

Meh, only thing Porthos ever does is eat, sleap and not fetch. Wouldn't worry about him.

 

[Wyse]

Hi, thanks for the welcome!

Oh and when you have finished ENT you are instructed to return to DS9 and have another go.

Aye aye, captain.

I just might give voyager another shot, too. What the hey.


Vykan12, I do kind of agree with you on Hoshi, she does come off rather like a whiny brat in most scenes. Hopefully as the series continues the writers have her grow out of it. I can understand she's nervous and scared, but she did complete Starfleet training...



Watched four more episodes last night.

Unexpected. My God. This was horrible. It had a good early moment; I liked how they juxtaposed Trip's uncomfortable moments on the alien vessel with jarring camera angles and tight close ups against Archer's relaxed and neutral shots. The alien ship was lame, and the second half with the realization that Trip is (ugh) pregnant was difficult to watch. I just felt... embarassed to sit through it. Wrist nipples!? It showed promise with the first few scenes, but after the holodeck on the alien ship it went downhill fast.

Liked: 'I can see my house from here!'. Archer's trying to keep a straight face during the dinner scene with Trip and Phlox.

Disliked. Almost everything else.
I give it a 2 out of 5. I was going to hit it with a 1, but I figure 1s should be saved for the absolute dreck that makes one contemplate suicide. It was close!!! But not the worst trek I've seen.


Terra Nova. Hallelujah. Is this a pattern I'm seeing? Good ep, bad ep, good ep, bad ep, good ep. I can only hope the one after this bucks the trend. But I throughly enjoyed this one. A lost colony where the descendants (human) have to be convinced that Archer and crew aren't enemies and that they share a past. Good acting by the cast, a fast-paced plot, DRAMA! It was very good Trek. Thumbs up. My favorite episode so far.
4 out of 5.


The Andorian Incident. WOW! Great episode! Action was much better handled than in the pilot. It started rather slow, but it slowly built into a very good story and SURPRISE ENDING! The Andorians were in the right. Enjoyed the scene between Archer, T'pol, and the Andorians near the end. Did I say the last episode was my favorite? This came darn close! The direction was noteworthy as well.
4 out of 5.


Breaking the Ice. Can't say much about this one, it didn't come out very memorable. I do like how they're showing the Vulcans hovering about the Enterprise, out of view (mostly), making sure the humans don't what, misbehave? Do something they, the Vulcans, wouldn't do? Other than that this episode doesn't enhance season one at all.

Liked: The Vulcan captain. Best actor of the episode, hands down. Archer letting go of his pride and asking for the Vulcan ship's help rescuing Malcolm and Travis.

Disliked: The letter answering scene. Went on waaaaaay too long. Filler most likely. This entire episode felt like filler. And Trip sure gets dumped on alot so far this season; infected by a paranoia bug, wrist nipples!, and now a poop question. lol
2 out of 5.


Tonight will be Civilization, fortunate son, and cold front if I can fit it in. But heck, I crammed in four last night and with Ro Boat's suggestion I'm eager to get to Dear Doctor.

 

[SFRabid]

And now you realize that the first two seasons of ENT is just like the first two seasons of TNG; good, bad, good, bad, good, bad. Like TNG it really does take off in season three, but you are better off watching it from the beginning so you can build an attachment for the characters before the season three ordeal. Unlike TNG, they did not shake up the cast by bringing in new members and reassigning Geordi. What they did is improve the writing.

 

[frenchman]

it's exactely that! bad, good, bad, good.

concerning the character, don't judge them too fast. wait the end of season 2. well, that was like that for me.

 

[Mach5]

And now you realize that the first two seasons of ENT is just like the first two seasons of TNG; good, bad, good, bad, good, bad.

Interseting, I thought ENT S1 was: good, good, mediocre, yawn, good, good... S2: good, bad, worse, bottom, mediocre, bottom, great...
And TNG S1&2 were: bad, worse, horrible, unwatchable, childish, trashy, crap, plain awful (S3 onward: phenomenal)

 

[Penguin]

Wykan2, Wyse. Welcome.

Like the rest of us it will be your preceptions and your bias that will dictate how and what you like in Ent.

Believe that if you watch the series through a few times that your likes and dislikes are going to change a great deal.

Also believe you are going to find that there as some board members who are devoted to certain characters and dislike others intensly. to be expected.

Don't know about other board members but my attitude towards the Series and the characters has changed redically after seeing the series entirely three times.

NOt sure you can do it but it would be interesting if you could save your comments you just made and then look at them again after seeing the entire series two or three times.

 

[E-Blonde]

African-American

Even if you're born on a cargo ship in space?

 

[Mach5]

African-American

Even if you're born on a cargo ship in space?

OK, OK, African-Extra-Terrestrial (though his name and accent suggest north-american heritage)

 

[SFRabid]

And now you realize that the first two seasons of ENT is just like the first two seasons of TNG; good, bad, good, bad, good, bad.

Interseting, I thought ENT S1 was: good, good, mediocre, yawn, good, good... S2: good, bad, worse, bottom, mediocre, bottom, great...
And TNG S1&2 were: bad, worse, horrible, unwatchable, childish, trashy, crap, plain awful (S3 onward: phenomenal)

I'm watching TNT again on DVD. People complain about that Trip/T'Pol decon scene. That is bliss compared to the Ricker boy toy costume scene.

I really do think that if the two shows were switched in time Enterprise would have gone at least 7 years and TNG may not have survived the first season.

Somehow I missed "Unexpected" the first time I watched Enterprise through. When I did watch it I liked it a lot. I wonder if I would have felt that way if I watched it early, before building an attachment to the characters. I did feel that Trip was"whiny" to the point of irritating in the scenes going through the atmosphere acclimation while transferring to the other ship.

 

[Mach5]

I'm watching TNT again on DVD. People complain about that Trip/T'Pol decon scene. That is bliss compared to the Ricker boy toy costume scene.

Hehe, just for comparison:

 

[Hoshi's sis]

Unexpected iand Breaking the Ice are two of my favourites from Season One, while I thought Terra Nove was just (we need a vomit icon).

Looking forward to what you think about the rest of the episodes Wyse.

 

[Ro Boat]

I just saw the first 2 episodes of ENT, and I found it appallingly bad.

I could probably go on for another few pages in word, but most of this has probably been explored to death anyways. Plotholes aside, what this show ultimately suffers from is being boring. There’s nothing besides Archer, Phlox, the Sulubans and a thin sense of hope that can compel me to watch further.

You might want to watch more than two episodes before passing judgement on the whole show. If you were to judge TNG by just Farpoint and Naked Now you might have an even worse opinion of that show than ENT.

 

[Ro Boat]

it's exactely that! bad, good, bad, good.

concerning the character, don't judge them too fast. wait the end of season 2. well, that was like that for me.

This is a regular pattern for ENT. The good episodes tend to be very good though. This differentiates ENT from VOY for me (another show that I saw mostly on DVD). VOY got to a point where almost all of their episodes were mediocre. Their really bad episodes were scarce, but so were their good episodes. For only a short run, I feel that ENT has a higher percentage of really good episodes than VOY.

 

[Shatmandu]

Get ready for shoot out after shoot out.

Other than that, it's pretty good.

Joe, shot out