So, I have to ask. (Yes, I'm new here and, although I don't see it, I apologize if this is an ongoing on previously discussed topic!) Why do people consider the ending sooooo bad? I didn't think it was the greatest thing ever, but I didn't mind it!
Why do people consider the finale so bad?
- Thread starter The Newer England
- Start date
Getting right to it!
My problems with it were the focus on characters from another show, and Trip dying for no reason.
Well, I think the most common points of criticism voiced by viewers are these:
While personally I always felt it was a major letdown as a series finale (or even a “franchise finale”, as they wanted to frame it), it was not the worst thing ever. Some ideas are cool, like Riker spending time with each character as the ship’s chef, or the montage of ships and monologs at the end, but ultimately these couldn’t save what felt like a major let down.
- It’s doesn’t feel like a proper episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, but more like a weird attempt at recreating the feel of The Next Generation. There’s way too much focus on Riker and Troi, two characters from a different show, and it’s entirely at the expense of spending more time with the main cast.
- Trip Tucker’s death felt meaningless, rushed and disrespectful to one of the most beloved characters of the show.
- Viewers expected the finale to conclude with the founding of the Federation and half the episode the characters talk about Archer’s big speech, which they then don’t even show!
- Despite the time jump all of the main character’s lives felt stagnant. Many viewers expected to get glimpses of what happened to them after their time together on the Enterprise, but instead they are all still at their same posts, wearing just slightly different uniforms.
- There was a definite feeling of let-down after the fourth season was received so well by viewers. So many people perceive a drop off in quality between the season and the series finale.
- Part of the problem was also a very obvious disconnect between the fans of the show and its executive producers. Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, who came back to write the finale, even though the season had been largely in the hands of a different producer, and when they described the episodes as a “valentine to the fans”, many viewers took this as sheer mockery. Even some of the cast came out voicing their displeasure with the finale. Jolene infamously called the finale “appalling”.
- And what’s also unfortunately true for many is that it’s just a very boring episode.
While personally I always felt it was a major letdown as a series finale (or even a “franchise finale”, as they wanted to frame it), it was not the worst thing ever. Some ideas are cool, like Riker spending time with each character as the ship’s chef, or the montage of ships and monologs at the end, but ultimately these couldn’t save what felt like a major let down.
Thank you. From the other posts it is apparently an ongoing topic...sorry for the repeat but thank you for the response!
Everything you say makes sense and I would likely agree with. Enterprise was never my favorite and I didn't follow it like others (and I started/grew up with TNG), so that disconnect was likely why I didn't feel as disappointed as "truer" fans of Enterprise.
Thanks again!
It's a poorly told story that drags another story in to it and this makes both stories lesser in consideration. Sidelining the whole Enterprise crew for Riker and Troi's scenes, plus not following up on a huge emotional point with Trip and T'Pol's daughter from the last episode all makes this episode very poor.
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