My number one problem with ENT is the production. From allowing sloppy writing--falling back on Borg and Ferengi ,weak, inconsistent character development, and deus ex mechina solutions--to failing to use dramatic incidental music, to misuse of SFX and technobabble, the producers just don't seem to get it.
Look at the "HMS Bounty" going to warp as she slingshots around the Sun in ST:IV. By Warp 3 there is a noticable whine to the engines, and by Warp 4, crap is vibrating off of consoles. Sulu has to shout to be heard as he ticks off the speed increase--all very dramatic and conveying a real sense of the danger of the situation. Now look at Enterprise as she goes to warp. Does anything happen, 'cause I sure haven't noticed. She pretty much just seems to sit there. Heck, even THE Enterprise, KIRK'S Enterprise made that characteristic whining noise as she went to higher and higher warps. Plus the neat, distinctive computer/scanner noise of the bridge. All very simple, cheap effects that add as much to the show as any expensive CGI effect.
Now, on to technobabble. As is so often the case, TPTB have managed to grasp the problem while totally missing the point. Technobabble as the plot solution is a bad thing. Technobabble for atmosphere is a good thing. Yes, if you solve the problem of an IR Shift in the sun of a system that is killing off a planet's life by re-modulating the navigational deflector you are abusing technobabble, however if you use it in the background it is good. Here's some of the beginning of "...
Buckaroo Banzai ..." as they prepare to launch the jet car:
"HB88, this is Control. Driver's door check secure."
"Control, this is HB88, commander's voice check, over." "Roger, HB88, read you two two, out."
"Control, HB88, event timer started, over."
"HB88, this is Control. APU start is go. You are on your onboard computer, over."
"Roger, I copy."
"Altimeter set, cross-check. Compasses, cross-check. Reserve brake system two, ah, closed and guarded. Gear handle - down. Engine start levers - free, closed, and off.
Number four electric hydraulic pump and press - on, and checked. Parking brake - set, and press checked.
Radios, radar, and transponder - set, and standby.
..."
While that scene goes on far longer than is practical every time NX-01 goes to Warp, it does give a good idea of how technobabble, combined with good editing can build a scene. I mean, if instead of having: "Lay in a course for Verindi 3." "Course laid in, sir." we got "Entering course. Factoring gravometric fields. Scanning for subspace anomalies and uploading to the helm. Course laid in, sir." doesn't that give more of a sense that they're not just tooling around the galaxy? And, if, once in awhile, while doing cross-checks before going to warp, they had a problem with the Bussard collectors, the Captain would get a chance to actually be commanding. Instead, we get Travis with his joystick and a ridiculous smile on his face. That's another problem--by giving us a helmsman/navigator, we really don't have anyone for Travis to do op-checks WITH, unless he's talking to the Engine Room or something.
So anyway, because they've decided technobabble is bad, instead of technobabble cop-out endings, we're treated to magic future-tec endings dredged from the cell ship or Daniels' closet.
In summary, with a show that's so close to being pretty good, that manages to flub key production details, one must suspect that the problem lies in the Producers.
