"Enterprise - Quo Vadis?"

Officially announced: the new Star Trek series

May 17th, 2001

It's been a long time since I wrote the last "Star Trek Journey", but the break was necessary. After (sadly) most of the rumors regarding Voyager's series finale "Endgame" turned out to be true, I don't want to speculate on this anymore, but just watch the final product on May 23rd, with the hope that the actors, the pacing and the effects could rescue this finale.
On the other hand, the Series V news were stagnating. We know, and knew hell a lot about the new series, its setting and its pilot, but without any word from the officials, we couldn't be totally certain if it's truly the real thing.

We couldn't be certain - until last Friday, when it finally happened, the Major Star Trek Event^TM. Already the day before, late on May 10th (EST), all big internet entertainment news sites had covertly posted the official Paramount announcement. Interestingly, I wouldn't actually have known of this groundbreaking development for three days if I hadn't turn on my computer for a short peek in the message boards on Friday morning. Was it a gut feeling? Maybe. Good instinct? One never knows. Trek obsession? Definitely.
Anyway, hurried because of my soon departure I discovered a note concerning the long expected and now finally published series V announcement in a thread of the TrekBBS - no Trek website had posted anything at that time, and most people were still unenlightened.

Quite surprised, but also annoyed (I wouldn't take part in the "aftermath" of one of the most important Star Trek events for several days!) of the confirmation of an old rule (important things happen in the most unfavorable moment, of course...), I decided to write at least a short note for the German Star Trek Dimension. Consequently, at half past eight (CET), my website was one of first to react on the announcement, before all other German news sites. Enough self-praise, back to the topic ;-)

Well, the news were, actually, no news to me, as they weren't for most trekkers who regularly use the modern means of communication. The official announcement of the fifth series, "Enterprise", its lead actor, Scott Bakula, playing Captain Jonathan (a slight change from "Jackson") Archer, the other characters and yesterday finally the 22nd century setting (with the last minute-surprise that the series will play early in this century, mere one hundred years after present), was more of a confirmation of all the rumors, semi-official comments of actors and insider news.
The casting sheet, that mentioned Archer for the first time, had leaked back in early March. Shortly afterwards, the first rumors concerning the series (and the starship) being called "Enterprise" and regarding Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap") taking the leading role of the new series appeared. However, the actual premise, a series playing *before* Starfleet and even the Federation has been founded, was not known until early April, long after the casting sheet and loads of other information had leaked. Those indicated a 22nd century prequel series, so everyone assumed the "Birth of Federation" concept, floating around the web for months, would be the chosen premise. Admittedly, both settings are only divided by mere decades, but the effect is drastic: a series without the ubiquitous institutions of the 23rd and 24th century, the Starfleet directives and Federation laws would be even more different concerning background and acting principles.

All these rumored aspects we now consider as official facts have been emerging for two and a half months. Yes, I still remember I evaluated these "insider" information with attitudes from ridicule to absolute denial in my first few articles. I mocked at the "nicely faked" casting sheet ("True or False?"), boldly promoted not to make the series "Star Trek: White Male American" and even made Scott Bakula the obligatory April Fool's joke of the Star Trek Dimension. As time went on, and we got more and more hints the one or the other speculation could be true, I began to accept that the probability of a series as depicted by the rumors might be not as low as I thought.
Yes, the one or other speculation. But who could have known that *all* the more serious-looking rumors were true??? I almost couldn't believe it then I got my personal confirmation on this on April 10th, ironically mere hours before the in-depth pilot review was published that backed up what I have been told, leaving no doubt that the new series would be "Star Trek: Enterprise" with a Pre-BOTF premise (and explaining my "open-mindedness" concerning the prequel series in the last article). So reconsidering the whole development since March, I have come to the conclusion

• This is the 21st century, or third millennium, since suddenly everything what looks true is actually true. Where are the good ol' false rumors (that really deserve that designation), the misinformations, the obvious fallacies?

• Rumors (and not only rumors) travel at warp 10 in the internet. They emerge from one moment to the other and are everywhere at once. And sometimes, it seems as if they are present before we actually realize it. Talk about time travel...

• The safety measures of Paramount are ridiculous. Actually, we should have been warned that there are obvious leaks that present critical information on new movies and series very early ever since the complete Star Trek: Insurrection plot was published in March 1998 (nine months before the premiere). No one knows it? The rumor hasn't reached the internet yet? Forget it, TPTB.

• I shouldn't dismiss potential facts prematurely, no matter how ludicrous they look (and how much I dislike them *sniff*). And I should have learned this lesson since the unbelievable "Nazis in space" spoiler turned into an actual two-parter... Yes, that's "suspense of disbelief" in a different sense...

Not even a week after the official announcement, these points have been verified by a whole bunch of new rumors, sorry, potential facts concerning series V details. We know the full cast and what role everyone will play, we got information on the uniform design, character name changes and even the current pilot title. I don't even try to doubt these "facts". Even if they are wrong, what does it matter? They are mere details of a picture whose basic motive we, finally, know for sure.

"Enterprise" - Great chances, greater risks

First, let me say that I don't think a prequel series is necessarily a bad thing (actually I prefer The Phantom Menace over all other Star Wars movies, but, that's another universe...). To my mind, the 22nd century premise has quite a lot of potential. The 24th century Star Trek series TNG and Voyager, and, to a much lesser extent, the Original Series and Deep Space Nine, showed us an idealized, utopian future, where humanity has defeated poverty, crime and war, where nearly perfect, matured, reasonable and extremely cunning humans live and work to improve their own lives and mankind itself. With doing this, Star Trek was a really unique kind of science fiction, since shows of that genre usually show us dark, pessimistic futures (reflecting the anxiety and fatalism of people at the beginning of the 21st century). Star Trek's vision was and has always been one of hope and confidence, carrying a message that encourages the people, gives them hope and makes them wishing they would live there. Now, this concept just can't be altered, even after four Star Trek series, but a new point of view was needed. As you might know, I don't think the true core of Star Trek, the idea behind it, is restricted to a special future (it's "psychologic science fiction" detached from the classic futuristic elements), or even a future at all. To my mind, the said vision is universal and applicable to any setting (proven by Voyager's "11:59", a Star Trek-like story playing in our very present!). As long as the spirit of Enlightenment and Humanism is kept, it's irrelevant where and when the voyages take place.

"Star Trek: Enterprise", for the first time, now plays at a significantly different, much earlier point of the Trek time line, and might provide the needed fresh view.
We all know the utopia, the eden of the 23rd and 24th centuries wasn't created from one moment to the other. Actually, "Star Trek: First Contact" was the first story that gave us a small glimpse on how life on Earth was before a world governement was established and a interstellar alliance was forged (but still some time after our present), and how "everything changed" after the perhaps most important event in Men's history: the first warp flight, and the First Contact with an Alien cilivization. Though playing half a century after these happenings, "Enterprise" won't most probably show us the goal of the development. That has been done very satisfactory in the last 35 years. It will show us the development itself. How First Contact changed Man's point of view of the universe and how it effected his life, knowing that he is not only not alone in the cosmos, but also only a tiny part of a larger Galactic community. How mistrust between the "irrational" and emotion-driven, "primitive" humanity and the rational, more advanced Vulcan race developed to a new understanding. How the working together and cultural exchange helped mankind to climb the next step of both technological and social evolution. And it will relive certain aspects of Star Trek which have become "worn out" or were somehow lost since TOS and "Star Trek: The Next Generation". The problem is that we just got too used to the 24th century. We're so familiar with (Star Trek's version of) life in space that it doesn't mean anything special to us. In contrast, Kennedy's final frontier definitely has something romantic and mystic in our days. The sense of wonder for the vastness of the universe and the associated new possibilities, new ways of living, for the actual exploration of an undiscovered country (in both senses) are aspects which especially fit the era of the new series.
Now if "Enterprise" can depict this optimistic, Roddenberryan development of mankind towards an unbelieved excellence and perfection, and its strive for a new form of existance in light of the advancement of all frontiers, it will successfully carry and advance the Star Trek spirit.

So, my problem with "Star Trek: Enterprise" is not the intended idea or premise (which has already been hinted in the casting sheet and the pilot review), but the actual realization of this mere framework of thoughts. A prequel series in general, and especially a Star Trek series which precedes 9 feature films and over 600 episodes from four other series, requires a lot of responsibility, reason, persistence and, by all means, in-depth knowledge of the established background. First, are the writers really willing not to contradict, but to keep up the established continuity of the Trek timeline, and the basics of the Star Trek universe in 170+ episodes of prequel Trek? Moreover, do they really intend to restrict the crew's knowledge of the universe in general and treknology in particular? Everything is (relatively) new to mankind in the 22nd century: the outer regions of space, the alien races, the fantastic new technology. And, most important: many of these things are even unknown for them, given that they haven't been discovered or invented at that time, or were even new in the future. I'm speaking of technologies like holodecks, replicators and phasers, most of the Alpha Quadrant and regions of space farther away than some dozens of light years regarding galactic cartography and such species as the Ferengi, the Borg and the Trill. Additionally, most of the unsolvable situations most be exactly that for the Enterprise crew: unsolvable. Deus ex machina and technobabble solution is a no-no, they just can't pull a new miraculous particle or an obscure new technology out of their hat to save the day. They've done that in the past, sure, but for once, consequences are important. For example, Voyager, as well as it kept the Roddenberry vision, pretty much damaged the coherence of the Star Trek universe, its science and chronology. By constantly devising new weapons, propulsion and communications technologies which finally made them even able to outgun the Borg, to travel tens of thousands of light years within days and to establish transgalactic two-way realtime contact, the series made it very difficult to think of any near future where the Federation wouldn't be a galactic superpower. While this development is undesirable, but still not implausible, the difference with Enterprise is that the series already has an established future. And while it is a wanted option for the other series, the stories of a prequel series have to adapt and subordinate to the premise of the series and the entire background of the Star Trek universe, and not vice versa. It is a strict requirement to ensure credibility and inter-series continuity (while the inter-episode continuity, though not liked, might be as restricted as TNG's or VOY's given the classic, episodic television format preferred by TPTB). However, we all know that Voyager's writers all too often did not stick to that formula but altered character consistency, continuity and Trek technology at will to fit the intended stories. It wasn't because of their lack of knowledge. It was pure ignorance and the general desire to "play safe",  to satisfy all (casual) viewers, and therefore don't take any risks in favor of nice "p.c." solutions. Sometimes, it was a downright insult to the intelligence of the real fans. You now might understand my fears for "Enterprise" if you reconsider who the creators and executive producers of the new series are... 

Secondly, the Star Trek vision itself, and everything what Star Trek originally meant to the audience, is in danger. The Star Trek universe of the 22nd century and its social and political standards just give the writers the convience in thinking they are usually striving for so intensively. Summarized, if they aren't careful, not much of the "psychological science ficiton" will be left.
Let's face it: the Star Trek future, especially as it has been depicted in TNG, is very different from our present, and I don't mean the technology. In the 1960s, when Star Trek first aired, it not only showed technological, but also social and moral progress that was really revolutionary - and courageous - at that time. Race and gender issues, which wouldn't have been even raised in every other mainstream series, were openly discussed, and discrimination in the every day life of the sixities was exposed and condemned.

That was one of the points why The Original Series was so unique, so groundbreaking, and kept its viewers for such a long time.
The Federation really wasn't the post-war America. Star Trek showed individual thinking, versus nationalism and patriotism, it showed a certain amount of pacifism and a non-militaristic, scientific orientation, versus militarism, and it showed a non-profit, non-monetary economy, versus a materialistic, capitalistic society. While institutions like Federation and Starfleet formed the background of the adventures, corresponding regulations determined the actions of our heroes (more or less). The Federation charta and the Prime Directive, for example, ensured that no one shall intervene to a sovereign state and any pre-warp civilization, respectively. These institutions and rules were the framework that made TOS and TNG, in light of the society of their times, so mature and progressive.

However, starting with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek has somehow lost its social foresightedness, but seems more like a contemporary mirror. It is somehow remarkable that both post-TNG series, as different as they were, both represented high quality televison and Star Trek by all means, but both considerably damaged the saga.
While Voyager big failure was the realization, to me, Deep Space Nine's late seasons somehow falsified the idea, the vision behind it. There was no peace, but war, there was no hope, but despair, there was no rational thinking, but spiritualty. Of course, partly the series was so different because it was set outside the Federation, featuring alien cultures (Bajorans and Cardassians) much more intensively than any other Star Trek series.

Given the early 22nd century premise and the resulting consequences for the Star Trek background, there are similiar risks for "Enterprise", especially if they bring in too many new writers unexperienced with Star Trek. Furthermore, there is no Federation in the new series, and no Starfleet. Hence, the Prime Directive hasn't become valid yet (what is understandable in light of the lack of experience with alien cultures), and it is very doubtful if the Earth organization the Enterprise belongs to (UESPA or Earth forces) has a primarily scientific assignment as well.
Therefore, the writers have gotten all means to perhaps make the series more dramatic and realistic, but also to take it away from the intentions and goals of Star Trek at once.
Regarding the "Enterprise" cast (and, of course, the corresponding information of the inofficial, but correct casting sheet), I especially don't like the "22nd century soldier" Malcom Reed and his obsession with weapons (hinted militarism). And further questions arise while considering the premise: will there be religions, or already a humanist, Federation-like point of view? Will there be prejudices and discrimination (of alien cultures, in this case), criminal acts and vices (drugs and smoking), a materialistic, money-driven society? You see, there are so many issues that would make this series very different from "our" Star Trek, and could finally take it away... Well, I know that some fans would actually like this, but of course, I'm speaking of my own views and desires. And I really don't want Star Trek to become a second Babylon 5.

The third danger, and it might be the most imminent of all, appears odd in light of the mentioned (perhaps too much) difference of the new series. It is the risk that the new series will be only a lame re-hash of one of its predecessors, or, more likely, a colorful mix of well-known elements of all series. To boldly go where many have gone before...
Of course, after so many hours canon Star Trek, it is a difficult task not only to maintain continuity, but also show originality and creativity. However, the entirely different setting can provide a basis for some really unique stuff, but the question is, how much the writers will use this opportunity. Actually, you can make a "spatial anomaly" episode in the 22nd as well as 24th century, and a stereotypical, long-lasting war is even more plausible in the "past". Anyway, what we already do know about "Enterprise" up to now does not sound good in this respect.
Actually, the title "Enterprise" itself (which might led to confusion in Germany since the Original series is called here "Enterprise" as well), and the return to the original, more general Gene Roddenberry premise of a "starship named Enterprise which explores the stars and boldly goes where no one has gone before" shows that the producers intend to play safe again and attract the largest possible number of fans.

And: while Rick Berman announced the series itself would be "revolutionary new" and "taking Star Trek to the 21st century", something that is somehow not backed up by the announced cast, he also said that he would bring in "fresh blood" behind the scenes as well. However, up to now I've only read well-known names on the production crew list. If even the writing team is the same old one, our only hope of some difference in the look & feel of the show may be the creative concessions made to Archer actor Scott Bakula.

So setting off the chances against the risks, I must say the dangers really outweigh the opportunities. Now, at the beginning, everbody - including the producers and writers - naturally is very excited and enthusiastic about the show. They surely want to make it different and refreshing, but maintain the Star Trek values that make the saga so special by all means. They want this series to show "history", to actually show the development that, as a consequence, lead to the interstellar alliance known as "Federation", but will they really keep this premise and made their stories live up to it for seven years?
In my opinion, the difficulties are very high, and the temptations to repeat the blatant errors made by both predecessing series as well. And I can only say I am suspicious that they actually plan not to include "Star Trek" in the title - is this a kind of back door for the case Enterprise fails and must be "decanonized", or just a reminder that this series is only "loosely based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry"?
But - one never knows. My suggestion, as always, is not to hastily draw conclusion before we've actually seen and "felt" the real thing. And that experience will start next week, right after the end of Voyager, when we'll see the first footage of "Enterprise".

Let's hope it - the future has just begun.

Christian Rühl

Webmaster - Star Trek Dimension