How was the Xindi arc a "middle finger to existing canon"?
Re-doing Enterprise
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
How was the Xindi arc a "middle finger to existing canon"?
One thing I'd do is make the transporter further low-technified. Make it cargo-only, but technically capable of transporting people in the most dire of emergencies, and make it take 15 seconds or so to actually finish the materialization.
I'd also make the science a bit more low tech. No magic "sensors" which can instantly detect anything about any ship, but instead more heavy reliance on probes and simpler scanning methods.
Oh, and I almost forgot. Remove the third season. And make the fourth about exploration. It's called "Star TREK" for a reason, after all.
I'd also make the science a bit more low tech. No magic "sensors" which can instantly detect anything about any ship, but instead more heavy reliance on probes and simpler scanning methods.
Oh, and I almost forgot. Remove the third season. And make the fourth about exploration. It's called "Star TREK" for a reason, after all.
The transporter was initially designated for cargo, and I remember Reed's first "transport" and how nervous he was. And I loved how they explored Hoshi's fear in a later episode. But during the Xindi arc, it seemed nearly everything was "life or death" and they overused it.
Then in S4's Daedelus, they introduced the egotistical inventor of the transporter, and I REALLY questioned his integrity..and the safety of the device. It would have been nice to have a S5 to address the long term side effects.
For this reason, I enjoy some of the Trek lit, particularly how Chris Bennett addresses the transporter problems, having at least 2 primary characters suffering long term side effects...and how Starfleet basically banned its use on humans. It seems like every third commercial I see on TV addresses the problems of failed medications, and their side effects - including death. So it makes sense to me that a new technology like the transporter would have some major issues .
Previous series and movies had very little exploration. And I would argue that ENT's journey into of the Expanse is the most sustained exploration Trek has ever shown.
Voyager had quite a bit of exploration, but TUC and Insurrection are the only two movies that (iirc) even mentioned exploration, and the latter was a lament that they haven't done it in a while.
I enjoyed the Xindi arc, although I felt that it was too long. A half dozen episodes would have been fine. Save cowboy town and cloning Trip for later post-Xindi adventures.
I enjoyed the Xindi arc, although I felt that it was too long. A half dozen episodes would have been fine. Save cowboy town and cloning Trip for later post-Xindi adventures.
(I thought of VOY but didn't mention it so as to avoid the obvious debate.)
I thought Similitude and North Star were two of the best ENT episodes, and arguably they don't lengthen the Xindi arc because they are essentially stand-alone. But I agree that with some of the specifically arc episodes, it did feel like they were stretching things out unnecessarily. I do think it would have helped if they had made the interstellar culture within the Expanse a bit more complex (apart from intra-Xindi rivalries).
I thought Similitude and North Star were two of the best ENT episodes, and arguably they don't lengthen the Xindi arc because they are essentially stand-alone. But I agree that with some of the specifically arc episodes, it did feel like they were stretching things out unnecessarily. I do think it would have helped if they had made the interstellar culture within the Expanse a bit more complex (apart from intra-Xindi rivalries).
I would definitely get all the Time Travel stuff out (time travel has become the bane of Star Trek) such as the Temporal Cold War nonsense, and probably as much TNG references as possible. (at least the subjects we know would be handled for the first time during that series).
There are plenty of classic series species that could have used more development like the Andorians (they already got a little), Tellarites, Orions, Rigellians and so on.
I would also like to kick out the Xindi Arc and instead replace it with a build up towards the Romulan Wars.
There are plenty of classic series species that could have used more development like the Andorians (they already got a little), Tellarites, Orions, Rigellians and so on.
I would also like to kick out the Xindi Arc and instead replace it with a build up towards the Romulan Wars.
I think it would have been interesting to be mentioning the Romulans right from the starrt, but never by name until well into the third season. Every second or third episode we'd hear something, a cargo ship disappears, a colony raided, rumors from aliens.
A slow build up before the war.
I'm assuming he means that the Xindi were never seen, heard from, or talked about in TOS, TNG, or beyond. Which, based on their attack on Earth, does seem a bit far-fetched. But then again, we never saw Suliban, Denobulans, Kreetassans, etc. either, so take that how you will.
(Personally I don't think the Xindi were a "middle finger" to canon.)
I once argued with a guy who thought Elizabeth was a middle finger to canon just after Terra Prime aired. He said the that getting sympathy (and tears from some) made his stomach turn. There's nothing out there to say Spock was the first human-Vulcan hybrid. Even if there was, how many people can tell you who the first interracial couple in their neighborhood was? Or even about Pocahontas and John Rolfe's family? It's sad that some people can't enjoy something for what it is because of rigid "continuity" issues.
Personally, I thought the Xindi story gave ENT some much-needed direction. With the exception of T'Pol's drug addiction, it was very good TV.
If the Xindi were a middle finger to canon, then I've been flicking off canon for half my life and counting. The Xindi were the best thing to ever happen to Enterprise.
But haven't Vulcans been acting on their emotions from day one? Look at "Amok Time" - T'Pring is acting purely on emotion, as is Stonn. T'Pau's racism is emotional.
They're a people who have lofty ideals, but like so many today who claim to answer to a higher power, they fall far short.
See this: http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=11150822&postcount=48
I also find it interesting that people here (so far) seem to like the addiction story while most on the Triaxian Silk boards hate it. Some more than me.
Me too.
I enjoy Star Trek, but I'm not one of the fans who can remember every detail of canon (unless it involves a favorite character or storyline,etc). So, I've never had a problem with the way ENT presented Vulcans. I saw TOS premier not to long ago and Spock was smiling. I'm never sure where "canon" begins...or ends.
I didn't hate it, but I think it could have been handled better. Despite the Xindi arc, Trek at that time was still having trouble with genuine dramatic continuity, so T'Pol's addiction wasn't really foreshadowed or followed up in a meaningful way. I mean, wouldn't season 4's Vulcan arc have been a great place to bring it up again, and maybe come to some resolution?
