Should I bother with Voyager and Enterprise?
- Thread starter sensi277
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Love Voyager. Not big on Enterprise. But watch 'em both. And TOS too, man. TOS is the best.
Voyager had a bit of a rough go early on; like DS9 and TNGs early seasons. Enterprise isn't bad so much as it is different in its take on the Trek universe and thus kind of annoys a lot of fans, but since you're not neck-deep into Trek you should be alright with it.
TOS, there are 10 or so episodes I'd avoid like the plague, but otherwise it's all good.
Voyager had a bit of a rough go early on; like DS9 and TNGs early seasons. Enterprise isn't bad so much as it is different in its take on the Trek universe and thus kind of annoys a lot of fans, but since you're not neck-deep into Trek you should be alright with it.
TOS, there are 10 or so episodes I'd avoid like the plague, but otherwise it's all good.
Actually, I think Enterprise's problem was that it was too similar to TNG and Voyager.
Yeah, I've been watching some TOS while I work lately (it's been a while). I stared And the Children Shall Lead. I just... couldn't. OMG. I did make it all the way thru The Way to Eden, though. Barely. As a fan of hippie music, the faux hippie music was really hard to take.
Yeah, I've been watching some TOS while I work lately (it's been a while). I stared And the Children Shall Lead. I just... couldn't. OMG. I did make it all the way thru The Way to Eden, though. Barely. As a fan of hippie music, the faux hippie music was really hard to take.
To the OP:
Sure! Take the time to skim your way through both series, cherry picking the best, and if you really like the best episodes watch some of the the others.
Sure! Take the time to skim your way through both series, cherry picking the best, and if you really like the best episodes watch some of the the others.
I'd definitely check them both out. Seasons 1-3 of Voyager have some good episodes in there (although I don't care for the Kazon, the Vidiians are pretty awesome) and really comes into its own in Season 4 with Seven of Nine. I know I gave Berman & Braga all sorts of hell in my old fanfiction, but Seasons 5 and 6 are really good with only a couple of clunkers in there. Season 7 isn't so good.
Season One of Enterprise feels like Voyager Season 8 to me, and it gets pretty terrible for season 2, but it really gets good in seasons 3 and 4. On Enterprise, if you notice Chris Black's or Michael Sussman's name in the story or teleplay credits, it's usually a sign you're in for a good episode
Season One of Enterprise feels like Voyager Season 8 to me, and it gets pretty terrible for season 2, but it really gets good in seasons 3 and 4. On Enterprise, if you notice Chris Black's or Michael Sussman's name in the story or teleplay credits, it's usually a sign you're in for a good episode
Here's my attempt at an objective recommendation:
I think it's important to bear in mind that a lot of the veneration of TOS and TNG is due to nostalgia. But these shows are not perfect; in fact, all the series have their ups and downs. If you're coming to Star Trek fresh, any of the series might grab you, depending on how you feel about the characters and the look of the show.
If it's possible, the best thing to do might be to watch a couple of the most highly rated episodes of each show. (And be warned that the episodes of VOY and ENT in the "fan collective" DVD sets tend to reflect the views of TOS/TNG fans rather than people who actually liked the later shows.)
I think it's important to bear in mind that a lot of the veneration of TOS and TNG is due to nostalgia. But these shows are not perfect; in fact, all the series have their ups and downs. If you're coming to Star Trek fresh, any of the series might grab you, depending on how you feel about the characters and the look of the show.
If it's possible, the best thing to do might be to watch a couple of the most highly rated episodes of each show. (And be warned that the episodes of VOY and ENT in the "fan collective" DVD sets tend to reflect the views of TOS/TNG fans rather than people who actually liked the later shows.)
I think all the series are headed into nostalgia territory where long time viewers are concerned. It has been nearly a decade since Enterprise was cancelled.
I've liked some of the characters and situations that have come along in the spinoffs, but none have been able to duplicate the chemistry of Shatner, Nimoy and Kelly. I think that's why they finally went back to TOS when the spinoff era finally petered out. Movie goers find the characters and friendships engaging to watch. They are friends despite massive differences in culture and temperament.
For someone new coming to the franchise, I think there will always be stumbling blocks because society, technology and TV have changed so much. Even Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comes across as dramatically simplistic when compared to The Wire, Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. Also, people are going to find the bread box computers of TOS or the dozen PADD's scattered across an officers desk laughable. In twenty years, we're liable to find LCD monitors hanging everywhere on the Enterprise just as laughable.
And this is where the generational divide kicks in. I watched the later shows religiously when they were on the air, but TOS is the show that's burned into my brain.
Then again, I'm old.
Voyager is my collective. It is deeply personal for me. The series for me is full of the philosophical questions I value most in StarTrek. It has characters I emotionally care about, stories I enjoy, a production value I respect. It has the balance of action to character driven episodes I prefer. It is the series that speaks the deepest to me and the character interaction and camaraderie that appeals to me the most.
And this is where the generational divide kicks in. I watched the later shows religiously when they were on the air, but TOS is the show that's burned into my brain.
Then again, I'm old.
I hail from the same era as TNG (we are both children of 1987), and I'll take TOS over TNG any day of the week. It's not a close contest by any means, either.
Heck, TOS wasn't even the first show in the franchise I got to see, that'd be Voyager. TOS is just that good, really.
And this is where the generational divide kicks in. I watched the later shows religiously when they were on the air, but TOS is the show that's burned into my brain.
Then again, I'm old.
You and me both!
I don't think I've gone into my TNG DVDs in a couple of years, but I throw a TOS ep on the player while I'm working quite often.
It's also probably cause it's easier to write 3 characters than it is to write a large ensemble cast.
The one thing (at least) that the newer Treks have over TOS is engaging female characters. That was why I liked the later Treks (except for Voyager) better than TOS for the most part. That is not to say that I dislike TOS, because I don't. Having a better rounded cast is more interesting to me.
That's a fair observation. Lord knows Uhura could have used a lot more screen time, especially compared to the likes of Troi, Kira, Seven, etc.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Voyager are not great. Season 3 gets better. Seasons 4-7 are awesome! The episodes and the writing just got better.
OP Be a completist. Just do it.
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