Star Trek and The Impending Death of Enterprise

The Trek, I love the Trek, like a brother, a close familiar type of love. We have our differences sometimes but in the end, we are still family. The original show from the 60's: loved it when I was two and three. But watching it as an adolescent was different, I hated it, loved sci-fi probably because of my exposure to it as a toddler, but I could not stand to watch it. The story lines were, in my humble opinion at that time, simply put, trash. Kirk, couldn't stand the guy, too cocky and he acted like he had no one to answer to. Later I saw the movies, loved them but I was really into other stuff. Star Wars, Galactica, Dune there was some really good creative movies being made so I didn't pay the Trek much mind. Then in September 87, something new happened. A new Trek, at first I was positive I would hate it. I didn't. Starship Captain Jean-Luc Picard, I don't know if it was how the character was written or the portrayal by Patrick Stewart, but this is the guy I wanted to be. A gentleman always always weighing his and his crews actions and how the would affect the Federation and the new worlds they were discovering. I was hooked and hooked bad. It was actually making me better person! A tv show shouldn't have this kind of power. But I guess when there's no one around for you to identify with, the lofty ideals of tv heroes is better than nothing. Then later came DS9 I remember joking with a friend that show is going to be a lot better when Avery Brooks becomes Hawk. Two seasons later we got our wish and it was all good. I would like to personally thank all who worked on the two series they were profound influences in my life.

Now onto the bad, or what I considered the bad. Voyager, I thought it was bad, it wasn't until the 3rd season. I figured out I was not the demographic to which show was aimed. It was a show with many strong female characters. All of the guys were very likeable but I wouldn't follow a one into a fight. I'd allow them to accompany me but none had the strong decisive personalities I was used to seeing in Star Trek males. After I figured out the shows demo I actually began to enjoy it. My favorite character was the doctor with Seven being close second and it was cool to see a black vulcan for a change. It was entertaining, but no one I could identify with. for me in the bunch.

I remember being so excited about hearing about the 5th franchise. Enterprise cool name but I read something disturbing "Star Trek" would not be included in the title. Hmm...Ok, but why not? Seems strange Trek distancing itself from Trek. That doesn't make sense. I was in from the first moment record button ready. Then that music played, it was like fingernails on a chalk board. The storylines were a mess. I still hung in there. Even seeking others to find episodes I had missed. The Ensemble cast sat cool with me. A little stiff, but they all are at first. We have 7 seasons to get this stuff together,right? Wrong! The second and third season were a mess. It wouldn't be me if I didn't say this, "a fuc*ing mess." Cries went up from fans early "Wrong direction make a course correction." No one listened, in fact they hunkered down more sticking to their bad decision. The ratings fell like rocks in water. Fans gave direction in every venue possible. Violations of Star Trek history, which is cannon, where violated with impunity. When cries when up noses were thumbed. Star Trek producers became deaf to the ears of fans. Now what do we have? Cancellation, and a well deserved one I might add. If I'm watching Nightline and Ted Koppell(?) starts flying around the set, and I say "hey dudes, this is the news he shouldn't be flying," and my reply is "Fuc* you dude he's gonna fly and you're gonna like it," guess what, I'll turn to CNN. So now faced with ratings so low they are laughable for a show that has a budget in the top five. UPN and Paramount are saying to hell with Star Trek: Enterprise and you can't blame em. But who can you blame, Rick Berman and Brannon Braga two stiffs who refuse to deviate on any decision they make. Not a very Trek thing to do. Their stubbornness will leave us Trek-less for 2-5 years. Alas, there is a campaign to save Enterprise, which I believe is worth saving. This season in particular has been very good and I haven't missed any unlike the 2 previous seasons where I didn't even bother watching. Why, BECAUSE OF DUMB-AS* STORYLINES WHICH VIOLATED CANON!! Stop sniffing your own asses and listen to what people a asking for any you might get you ratings back, keep your jobs putz's and by accident make the fans happy.