What if Coto had been in charge from the start?

[Bad Thoughts]

I grew up watching Trek in the 80's and 90's and loved Roddenberry/Berman Trek, I've noticed he gets some flak for the demise of Star Trek which in my opinion is unfair.

I think it is perfectly fair. The previous series featured a lot of strong personalities who were willing to fight with Berman over ideas, and Berman, for the better, had more ideas from which to choose. By the start of Enterprise, most of those writers had left, in part because they tired of fighting with Berman. As a consequence, Berman was more in charge of Enterprise, and Enterprise seasons 1-3 reflected his style and personality more than any other series.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I hope he would've treated the Vulcans right.

As a race, they never strike as being one that does things quickly (given the length of their civilisation and long life-spans), but within a century of the Syrenite "revolution" to the time of TOS then they all appear to embrace its teachings and previously taboo practices (mind melds) without batting an inner eyelid.

Its a shame, as they are one of my favourite species. I felt that ENT unjustly warped them.

Vulcans are "traditionalists". I'm sure many saw the Syrrannite "revolution" as a return to a purer form Surakian values. The High Command and its ways were a corruption of what it means to be a Vulcan.

The Enterprise Vulcans for the most part rang true to me. The idolization/idealization of the Vulcans by some fans misses the point of the Vulcans. Showing them "warts and all" is a better approach and more conducive to interesting story telling
"

 

[gblews]

I hope he would've treated the Vulcans right.

As a race, they never strike as being one that does things quickly (given the length of their civilisation and long life-spans), but within a century of the Syrenite "revolution" to the time of TOS then they all appear to embrace its teachings and previously taboo practices (mind melds) without batting an inner eyelid.

Its a shame, as they are one of my favourite species. I felt that ENT unjustly warped them.

Vulcans are "traditionalists". I'm sure many saw the Syrrannite "revolution" as a return to a purer form Surakian values. The High Command and its ways were a corruption of what it means to be a Vulcan.

This is exactly what happened. Surak's Katra tells Archer that the Vulcans have "gotten away" from his teachings. So the discovery of the Kir'Shara didn't represent some revolution in Vulcan society in terms of teachings, but simply a return to old "traditions" as Nerys points out.

The Enterprise Vulcans for the most part rang true to me. The idolization/idealization of the Vulcans by some fans misses the point of the Vulcans. Showing them "warts and all" is a better approach and more conducive to interesting story telling
"

Amen. Much more interesting than watching "all -powerful", near perfect Vulcans. I really liked what Ent did with them and I was looking forward to seeing more, especially the secret Romulan incursion into Vulcan government.

 

[MacLeod]

I hope he would've treated the Vulcans right.

As a race, they never strike as being one that does things quickly (given the length of their civilisation and long life-spans), but within a century of the Syrenite "revolution" to the time of TOS then they all appear to embrace its teachings and previously taboo practices (mind melds) without batting an inner eyelid.

Its a shame, as they are one of my favourite species. I felt that ENT unjustly warped them.

Conversely they might be more willing to admit when they are in error and correct it more quickly than humans might.

 

[Viper78]

I grew up watching Trek in the 80's and 90's and loved Roddenberry/Berman Trek, I've noticed he gets some flak for the demise of Star Trek which in my opinion is unfair.

I think it is perfectly fair. The previous series featured a lot of strong personalities who were willing to fight with Berman over ideas, and Berman, for the better, had more ideas from which to choose. By the start of Enterprise, most of those writers had left, in part because they tired of fighting with Berman. As a consequence, Berman was more in charge of Enterprise, and Enterprise seasons 1-3 reflected his style and personality more than any other series.

Have to admit I don't know all the facts regarding writers, artists leaving so I will retract my earlier statement on Berman. I have just read a quote on Andrew Proberts view on Berman, it's a real shame Probert left! He designed my favourite Star Trek ship after all.

I suppose my main point was that growing up watching TNG/DS9 then Voyager and Enterprise I was a fan of Trek Berman was heavily involved in. Perhaps it would have been much better had others had more input but I enjoyed what was the end product.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I wonder what would have happened if Berman and co. embraced UPN's direction and suggestions and ran with them, rather than the grudging inclusions we got? I think that would have made for a very different kind of Star Trek.

That's precisely the problem. What UPN and Paramount were asking for was no change.

Didn't they want weekly bands playing in a club on the Enterprise? Doesn't sound like more of the same to me.

Does anyone know if the Decon Chamber was UPN's idea, or B&B's?

 

[Dukhat]

Didn't they want weekly bands playing in a club on the Enterprise? Doesn't sound like more of the same to me.

UPN wanted different boy-bands to play on the ship, even though they were supposed to be exploring unknown space. Where would these bands have been picked up?

And all that idea was about was a retread of having Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in an episode of VOY. Professional wrestling was popular (I think UPN was even showing it), so they wanted to cater to fans of that, same as the N'Sync and Backstreet Boy fans. Hell, that kinda thing even went back to TNG, when they did the Robin Hood episode when that god-awful Kevin Costner Robin Hood movie came out. Nothing new here.

Does anyone know if the Decon Chamber was UPN's idea, or B&B's?

I would suspect that UPN told B&B, "We want more sex in this show," and they came up with the idea, just like UPN said, "We want more sci-fi gobbledygook than just a prequel to TOS," and they came up with the TCW.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Actually, UPN did not ask for a place for boybands. It was only one executive (among many) who was seeking cross-promotion opportunities, and only starting in the second season. Enterprise had already been conceived and produced at that point. Moreover, there had been a shake-up at UPN, so that the same execs who produced season 1 were not there for season 2 (and they were all replaced for season 3).

 

[Trek Survivor]

As a consequence, Berman was more in charge of Enterprise, and Enterprise seasons 1-3 reflected his style and personality more than any other series.

I really enjoyed Enterprise season 1-3, so I have no problem with this.

 

[Yanks]

It would have been a cotostrophy.

Nice

UPN.

Berman didn't even want another show so soon. He was pushed to do it.

This is true and I support him and think he was right. Give the "machine" a well deserved break, create some demand and take the time to plan out a sequel that fit and was fresh.

Dukhat is right. Most of ENT's conceptual issues were because of UPN. The only way to fix those would be to cut the network suits out of the process. Berman and Braga actually had some really good ideas for ENT, but UPN just wanted more of the same.

This is also true.

The "network" wanted the same TNG type format and they also demanded the season long arc we saw in season 3.

The TCW was all Braga's though.

My personal take on "B&B" was they were just tired. I don't call it "Franchise fatigue" I call it "B&B fatigue". This of course was confirmed by Coto's most recent reveal about Braga when he entered Enterprise.

I don't necessarily blame B&B either. They gave us TONS of great trek over the years. I'm not into bashing them as so many are.

Simply put, I just think they needed a break. Let the batteries recharge. Just think of the drain creatively and physically all that trek took on them over the years.

I personally love Enterprise (as I do all of trek) but I can see where it comes off tired and repetitive too.

 

[MacLeod]

I still think the best think for ENT would have been a couple of years break between VOY ending and ENT starting, and they could spend those 2 years working on ENT conceptually.

 

[Skywalker]

I still think the best think for ENT would have been a couple of years break between VOY ending and ENT starting, and they could spend those 2 years working on ENT conceptually.

Agreed. Berman wanted a gap year between VOY and ENT, too, partly to recharge and partly to refine the show, but UPN wanted a new show out right away.

 

[ReedEnterprise]

I still think the best think for ENT would have been a couple of years break between VOY ending and ENT starting, and they could spend those 2 years working on ENT conceptually.

I agree with that. I think it was a case of too much Trek.

Still is my favorite Trek though.

 

[Ssosmcin]

For all the fatigue and restrictions and demands, I still very much enjoyed this series. They had a great cast and the sense of wonder in exploration was really nice to have back. There's great re-run value to this series and I go back to it more than I do TNG. It certainly got better as it went along.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

From the storywriting perspective, a break was probably warranted. Comparing the 7th season Voyager credits to the 1st season Enterprise credits, many experienced trek writers were leaving. Instead of lots of Biller, there was lots of Berman and Braga.

On the other hand, what would have been the long term effects of making the rest of the crew hang around for two or more years? Trek had been a cottage industry unto itself, and it would be unreasonable to expect everyone to return after a lengthy hiatus.