I'm not sure that there's "Gaze Speech Hate" per se... it's just such a perfect anecdote how pedantic and bland the writing, directing, acting and indeed entire feel of the series, at least in its first half, was. At least when the Shat had similar moments, there was that partly-mad gleam in his eye, like there was always still a little boy inside who thought everything around him was mind-blowingly cool. As for Stewart... well, he could read a menu with enough gravitas to stun a clown.
But when it's turn for Archer to give his big speech... he looks and sounds like a sitcom high school counselor. It wasn't Bakula's fault, and the result wasn't even awful... it was just dull, dull, dull. This was the conclusion of the second-season premiere, a chance to go big, do a gripping cliffhanger, gain or lose a cast member, shake up the status quo, promise wild adventures in the year ahead, anything. And what did we get? Chicken Soup for the Trekkie Soul.
Smallville's second-season premiere, for comparison, ended with Lex's first-ever intentional killing of a man. And it was awesome, because it was justified. We got a major step towards his becoming the villain, and we cheered him on for it. That felt fresh. That was exciting.
