Unlike some here, I never really enjoyed the origional series very much. Cheesy sets, bad acting (can you say Kirk?) and simplistic plots doomed it for me.
That being said, I sort of enjoyed TNG, even if Picard was as wimpy as overcooked Pasta. Voyager suffered from the same problems, but I did like certain elements, 7 of 9 for instance. Still, the series suffered from terminal PCitis IMO.
How to make Enterprise better?
# 1 Since there is no prime directive, act like it. If a pushy race comes along, looking for conflict, give it to them.
#2 Give us an enemy that is diabolical, mean and just plain bad ass. One that will not be defeated with a shield adjustment or some new gizmo that solves every problem.
#3 If I have to watch one more episode where they go throught he whole "shields are down to 10 % Captain" I am gonna SCREAM. Get a new way to add suspense!
#4 Gimme more of that hot Vulcan bootie. Sure I am a sexist pig? So what? Who do you think your audience is anyway?
#5 Weapons, I want weapons. The existing Phase Cannons are OK, but only for a start. I could never imagine sending a ship on a mission such as this without being armed to the teeth.
#6 If we have technology today that can do certain things, I would expect them to be much improved in the future. For instance, Enterprise is the first starship I have yet seen that has the same capability as any of the spy sattelites today. I was amazed to see Enterprise actually turn on a Telescope to look at a planets surface to try to ID a person. We can do this now, today. I would have expected this to have only gotten better in the future.
#7 Who is the Chef? I have been waiting since the first episode to meet him/her/it. Since the Chef is mentioned in nearly every episode, we need to know who or what it is. Be BOLD.
#8 I like the idea that the Transporters are very iffy. Too often in the past, it was a crutch that bailed the writers out by simply "beaming" them out of trouble. It is nice to see them have to think of new ideas.
#9 Trip is one of your best assetts, use him. He is a Texan (well Oklahoman anyway) a straight shooter and is the "everyman" we always look for in a Star Trek show. Highlight him and his straightforward approach every time Archer goes wobbly.
And finally...
#10 Fighting, Conflict and Battles. Deep down, we all know it is a savage world out there. Space would only be worse. PLEASE no more Aids PC episodes where we get beaten over the head trying to make some PC point. Real men are NOT PC.
But then agian, what do I know? I might be completely off base here.
Cheers,
knews hound
# 1 Since there is no prime directive, act like it. If a pushy race comes along, looking for conflict, give it to them.
They're doing some of that already, as in the last episode.
#2 Give us an enemy that is diabolical, mean and just plain bad ass. One that will not be defeated with a shield adjustment or some new gizmo that solves every problem.
Agreed. It's the use of technobabble to secure victory that kills 9/10th of the drama in Trek.
#3 If I have to watch one more episode where they go throught he whole "shields are down to 10 % Captain" I am gonna SCREAM. Get a new way to add suspense!
Did you see "Minefield" per chance?
#4 Gimme more of that hot Vulcan bootie. Sure I am a sexist pig? So what? Who do you think your audience is anyway?
Look, I've got the hormones of the next guy, but if you're going to complain about the writing of Trek being so fanboyish, stop acting like a fanboy.
#5 Weapons, I want weapons. The existing Phase Cannons are OK, but only for a start. I could never imagine sending a ship on a mission such as this without being armed to the teeth.
I'm actually happy with the Enterprise NX being so outgunned--it's a nice change of pace from the Federation always having the biggest gun (especially in Voyager). Of course, we want to see Starfleet ramp up its weapons program pretty quickly, but this is a good starting point.
#6 If we have technology today that can do certain things, I would expect them to be much improved in the future.
True, but given that the computers that we will be able to build in thirty years will make those in NextGen look like dinosaurs in comparison, they're walking a tightrope in establishing the right tech level.
#7 Who is the Chef? I have been waiting since the first episode to meet him/her/it. Since the Chef is mentioned in nearly every episode, we need to know who or what it is. Be BOLD.
The Chef thing is a running gag, not carelessness. I rather like never seeing him, but hearing all about him. :^)
#8 I like the idea that the Transporters are very iffy. Too often in the past, it was a crutch that bailed the writers out by simply "beaming" them out of trouble. It is nice to see them have to think of new ideas.
Amen.
#9 Trip is one of your best assetts, use him. He is a Texan (well Oklahoman anyway) a straight shooter and is the "everyman" we always look for in a Star Trek show. Highlight him and his straightforward approach every time Archer goes wobbly.
Agreed, Traineer is the best actor on the show besides Billingsly (Phlox).
And finally...
#10 Fighting, Conflict and Battles. Deep down, we all know it is a savage world out there. Space would only be worse. PLEASE no more Aids PC episodes where we get beaten over the head trying to make some PC point. Real men are NOT PC.
Now if we could just convince Hollywood of that . . .
Seriously, they've been doing a lot more battle scenes than NextGen ever conceived of (thanks to Roddenberry). The AIDS thing was stupid, I agree, but I think they more than made up for it with trapping the Enterprise between the Suliban and the Tholians last week. Archer was completely outgunned and still refused to turn over the TARDIS-thing before he could plant a bomb in it. He was positively Kirkian. :^)
Yours in Truth,