Enterprise officially renewed
What was rumored all week is now official--the
Star Trek franchise will continue next fall as
Enterprise got its official renewal notice. As I've said before, the last couple of episodes have really won me back over to the series and made me actually look forward to watching it each week, rather than just watching it out of some weird sense of duty since I'm a
Star Trek fan.
However, before the new season begins, I'm a bit concerned. UPN is promising that next fall, we'll get more action and super special effects. I think they're missing the whole point. The reason there has been this huge ground swell of fan and critical praise for season three is that the series has finally found the right balance of all the elements. We have a show that is carrying off a rather cohesive, consistent and well done arc and is actually showing some character growth. And yes, we've had some action sequences, but they've been actually vital to continuing the plotline and we actually sort of care about those involved. Take for example this week's episode in which we had a rather nicely done space battle and an assualt to take back Hoshi in which we lost Major Hayes. The storyline had actually given us enough of a backstory to Hayes that we actually cared that he had died and we understood why he died and that he knew he was doing the right thing. Of course, looking back, I should have seen from all the speechifying he did early on about Hoshi being his friend too and he'd bring her back that they were fitting him for a red-shirt, but that thought never crossed my mind. Also, I have some worries about one scene where Archer says he can't wait to get back home and restart their original mission. Well, after all you've been through in the Xindi storyline, can you go back to just exploring space without any consequences? I think there is some great drama to be seen from that conflict within him and maybe that is why the Federation is founded in the way we come to know it in the future of the franchise.
And let's face it--there may be some crewmen who disagree with how Archer has done things and leave the crew because of it. Also, I'd love to see an episode that focuses on back home and how they're reacting to all this. I can only imagine how the population at home feels, waiting around and not hearing if Enterprise has succeeded or if the Xindi might just attack at some point like they did with their test weapon. Knowing the big weapon is coming and Enterprise is your only hope to stop it has got to make life a bit nerve wracking, don't you think?
Also, TV Guide On-Line is reporting that next season will be the last for
Enterprise. I don't see any other confirmation of this--and I figure if that were the cast Trek Today would be all over it. So it is the final season or not? Of course, what TV Guide may be saying is that the original
Star Trek moved to Fridays and that was its death knell. Maybe it will be the same for
Enterprise.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 5/21/2004 09:47:00 AM |
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