Enterprise at 20: The Series and its Legacy

[cooleddie74]

As I type and post this new thread the date where I am located is September 26, 2021, twenty years to the day since ENT premiered on UPN. As the fifth and final series in the "Classic" Era of Trek(sixth if we count TAS) reaches its 20th Anniversary what are your thoughts on the show's original network run and legacy? Where did it succeed at executing the prequel concept and pay appropriate tribute to both TOS and the rest of the franchise and where did the series fall short and not live up to its potential as the first Star Trek prequel show and - even now - the earliest series on the Trek timeline?

Where were you 20 years ago when ENT debuted and did you enjoy the premiere "Broken Bow"? Consider this the "20th Anniversary Celebration Thread" and have at it! And remember, everybody: you can't be afraid of the wind.

#FaithOfTheHeart

 

[publiusr]

At the same bloody job I’m at now…
It was just the thing to take one’s mind off 9/11

 

[somebuddyX]

I've made a schedule for watching shows because I'm ususally so shit at thinking of what to watch, so Sunday is going to be Enterprise night. I'm going to watch at least Seasons 1 and 2 because 1 I haven't seen since 2002 and I've only seen about half a dozen episodes of 2. As I get older I appreciate the one and done episodes a bit more so it might be fun to watch some of those rando episodes.
I like a lot of elements of Broken Bow but at the time I was quite pissed off that some Klingon turned up on Earth in 2151 and the decon scene. In the 90s I'd thought up a whole bunch of ideas about what a Star Trek show in the 22nd century would be about. As a fan of Babylon 5 I kinda wanted the Earth Alliance style technology for that era or maybe even that Earth would be like B5's Earth as the new kid on the block and a serious power. I think the idea that it's just a bunch of astronauts from a nation going investigating stuff is a neat idea and I like that Earth was more the glue of getting a bunch of different nations together to go form that great....Coalition of Planets. ahem. I was saying to someone earlier that some of my favourite episodes of all Trek is in this series, like Future Tense, Regeneration, In a Mirror Darkly. I don't know what it says about me that I enjoyed A Night in Sickbay and yet I've never seen Darmok.
I even like the Temporal Cold War, but more as concept than execution. I think it would've benefitted from more rules to their timefuckery but I also really like that if you watch "Cold Front" Silik could be seen as the good guy, a Sam Beckett type, and Daniels is actually more the Evil Leaper. I've been reading and listening to Movieblog's reviews on Enterprise and they've been fun to get a modern perspective on the episodes with a lot of background info thrown in.

 

[ChristopherPike]

It's fair to say that my love for Star Trek has waned since Enterprise ended. A muted 20 celebration here, compared to the past where I would spend half a day on all the best episodes....but I will watch something. I have a special place in my heart for the show and it's hard for me to separate my love for it from the bitterness of it having not gone on longer.

 

[cooleddie74]

Spoiler: No. Not even close to it.

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[StarMan]

I remember downloading Broken Bow on dial up. That was an epic 3 day effort!

 

[valkyrie013]

Was in the military, and after 9-11, was on guard patrols for a awhile after, but did have some down time, Having something to look forward to was nice, and was okay with it at the time. Watched the whole series as it came out, I didn't give up. and was bumed when it was canceled.
Really liked the show, and it is the one I go back to the most often when rewatching.
Still wish we'd seen the romulan war, maybe one day.

 

[cooleddie74]

I hope we see at least a couple of Short Treks dealing with the ENT timeframe and the Earth-Romulan War. If they're animated then the ENT cast can reprise their roles with voice acting and thus keep the budgets down when it comes to recreating the mid-22nd century ships and look.

 

[tomalak301]

I didn't do it mainly because of the 20th anniversary, but it might as well be appropriate, I rewatched the series recently. I think of all the Star Treks, I've gained more appreciation for Enterprise, even though it was showing how tired and, maybe stretched too thin, Star Trek was. Season 1 and 2 were OK, but they did feel like an extension of Voyager. At least they were willing to try something new in Season 3 and they finally showed what a prequel series could achieve with Season 4's Vulcan trilogy (which made the Vulcan behavior before understandable) and the Andorian/Aenar arc.

I think about Enterprise's legacy and find it in the same position DS9 was in the 2000s, which was a misunderstood series people are realizing wasn't all bad. I loved Broken Bow (my second favorite premiere after Caretaker) and its overall legacy is that of a worthwhile Trek series.

 

[cooleddie74]

Yeah, if I had to pick two series that would be the redheaded stepchildren of the Trek franchise they'd have to be DS9 and ENT. Both series languished in the doldrums with many fans for longer than either deserved while TOS and TNG were the glossy poster children and VOY was the middle child of sorts that had the sex appeal with certain characters and the first woman lead of a Trek series.

 

[Reanok]

I remember watching Enterprise Broken Bow and I really liked the characters and and enjoyed it. I wanted to see the rest of Season one.It's still one of my favorite Star Trek series.I'm sorry it didn't get the seven seasons it deserved.

 

[CaptainJonathanArcher]

Two decades later, and it is still the best show ever! Everything about this program was perfect! Not one miscast person or poorly written episodes and, I just loved the opening theme! Oh, and it's score!

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[1001001]

My wife, daughter and I watched Enterprise together from beginning to end.

I loved Broken Bow and think it’s still one of the best premieres.

The series itself was uneven for sure, but there were some gems in there. Two ENT episodes are in my Star Trek All-Time Top 20: Carbon Creek and Dead Stop.

And the series led to me meeting one of my best friends, so I appreciate that.

 

[DS9ers]

I would have been 20 when it premiered. DS9 and TNG were by far my favorite trek series. I was in the national guard at the time. It was nice to escape away from 9/11. I thought Enterprise had a good start with Broken Bow but they had a ton of mediocre episodes during the first two seasons. I felt like they improved significantly in season 3 and 4. I really liked season 3 but they really hit their mark in season 4. I would have loved if they had continued for another season.

 

[CaptainJonathanArcher]

My wife, daughter and I watched Enterprise together from beginning to end.

I loved Broken Bow and think it’s still one of the best premieres.

The series itself was uneven for sure, but there were some gems in there. Two ENT episodes are in my Star Trek All-Time Top 20: Carbon Creek and Dead Stop.

And the series led to me meeting one of my best friends, so I appreciate that.

A Night in Sickbay is my favorite episode. I was so worried about Porthos! And like Archer. I grew up around dogs! So that one hit home!

 

[CaptainJonathanArcher]

I would have been 20 when it premiered. DS9 and TNG were by far my favorite trek series. I was in the national guard at the time. It was nice to escape away from 9/11. I thought Enterprise had a good start with Broken Bow but they had a ton of mediocre episodes during the first two seasons. I felt like they improved significantly in season 3 and 4. I really liked season 3 but they really hit their mark in season 4. I would have loved if they had continued for another season.

And yes, it was a great escape post 9/11.

 

[cooleddie74]

ENT teasers and trailers leading up to the September 26, 2001 premiere.

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[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

ENT teasers and trailers leading up to the September 26, 2001 premiere.

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Man, how I wished they used The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go" as the actual theme song. Oh well.

 

[beardy2]

I saw a few episodes (was living in Germany and Ireland at the time and found it hard to catch) so just doing a rewatch recently when I need escapism. And actually finding it odd how much it really does seem very culturally specific to have been happening in immediate post-9/11 US. The anniversary has definitely been a reflection of how much I've grown up and even how Star Trek has changed since Discovery....boy do I feel old!

And yes, it was a great escape post 9/11.

 

[tomalak301]

Two decades later, and it is still the best show ever! Everything about this program was perfect! Not one miscast person or poorly written episodes and, I just loved the opening theme! Oh, and it's score!

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I visited Seattle recently and toured the Museum of Flight and I kept thinking about Enterprise and the Title sequence showing the history of aviation from the first plane to Enterprise. Say what you want about the theme song (And many people have, good and bad) but the sequence itself is one of the best sequences of any of the trek shows. Heck, even the In a Mirror Darkly Sequence was awesome.

@cooleddie74

I remember The Calling's "Wherever You May Go" as being the song to advertise the series. I also remember people confusing the lead singer with Chad Kroeger from Nickelback. Brings back the nostalgia.