Enterprise: A Preliminary View
We've known for quite a while it was coming. We just didn't know what form it would take. With the fervent onslaught of new episodes during the 1990s, the now 35-year-old Star Trek franchise was destined to live on-in a somewhat calmer state-after the end of Voyager this spring.
Rumors had been circulating for at least a year about what the fifth installment would have in store for us. A well-organized, though small, campaign attempted to pressure Paramount into bringing George Takei back for a series about the voyages of the Excelsior. Another popular rumor was that the new show would be more down-to-earth-focusing on Starfleet Academy.
I warned against both of these concepts in articles I wrote last year for Themestream. In one article, "Can Star Trek be Saved by the Bell?", I discussed the dangers of a stationary show focusing on students. (I have moved that article here now that Themestream is no longer with us.) In another article, "Why the Next Star Trek Series Won't Feature Sulu," I pointed out the inherent problems of a prequel series (you can read this article here). I was confident that Berman and company could also see these risks and would not go that route.
Low and behold, what did Paramount do? They put together a prequel, scheduled to premier this fall. But I have to tell you, from what I've seen so far this could be a brilliant move; and it could just breathe some new life into the franchise.
LIFE SUPPORT
While my favorite among the various Treks is one of the most recent incarnations-Deep
Space Nine-I can't help but feel that the franchise as a whole has been
treading dangerously near collapse for several years. DS9 was brilliant, but
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