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Early Critics Mixed on Success of ENT Finale "These Are The Voyages..." (SPOILERS)

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By GustavoLeao / 21:35, 12 May 2005 / Enterprise

Many critics have weighed in on the final episode of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, "These Are The Voyages...". The series finale ends 18 years of almost non-stop STAR TREK production on the small screen.

SciFi.com is decidedly lukewarm, writing: "Even without the intrusive presence of Riker and Troi, the episode doesn't live up to the season's best episodes, which include the excellent two-parter "In a Mirror, Darkly." The central plot, in which the Enterprise crew returns to Rigel X (the very first planet they visited in Enterprise's pilot episode, "Broken Bow"), centers on a rescue mission that is of little consequence to the series' prequel arc and is merely an excuse to set up the demise of a central character. Once that sacrifice is made, it seems to have little resonance for the remaining crew members (compare the touching wake for Tasha Yar in TNG's "Skin of Evil"). At the end, the audience is robbed even of Archer's triumphant moment before the newly formed Federation."

You can read the full spoiled-filled review here.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette likes the finale, claiming "What's nice about this finale is that even those of us who long ago gave up watching STAR TREK can appreciate the nods to the past, present and future "Trek" crews, including a toast "to the next generation," a joke about Captain Picard's aquarium and a closing sequence that links three of the TV shows."

"I never hated ENTERPRISE the way I abhorred VOYAGER for squandering an interesting premise after only a handful of episodes; I just got bored with "Star Trek." The ENTERPRISE finale - and some good word-of-mouth about the current season - makes me wish I'd stuck with it. And that's a better way for a show to end its run - leaving a viewer wanting more."

The full review can be found here.

Ain't It Cool News's 'Herc' posted a positive review of the finale, awarding 3.5/5 stars to the episode and writing: "It is not appalling. It is certainly the weakest TREK series finale since 1969's "The Turnabout Intruder," but this represents faint condemnation. The episode boasts...virtues."

'Herc' lists what is so good about the finale "The fact that the TNG regulars play decidedly supportive roles. The loving recreation of the Enterprise-D, with its strangely multihued new-age consoles and oddly-shaped arches. The Patrick Stewart body-double glimpsed so fleetingly in the opening seconds of act one. Jeffrey Combs generally, but especially the way he spits out "former associates." The little Andorian girl. The "flashback." No Ferengi! The always-compelling Blalock, betraying onscreen no hint of her contempt for the teleplay. "Did you find him attractive?" The Phlox moment that recalls too vividly the promise of the ENTERPRISE pilot. T'Pol's final scene."

The original review can be found here.

Elsewhere in the Boston Herald, writer Mark A. Perigard reports on finale: "Ten minutes of this dreck and you'll be trying to give yourself a Vulcan neck pinch.

"If this really is STAR TREK THE LAST GENERATION, blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of co-creators and writers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, who have stewarded the TREK franchise for the last 15 years through increasingly turgid films and series."

Read the full review "here.

In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine, just out in the US, critic Marc Bernardin gives the STAR TREK ENTERPRISE finale "These Are The Voyages..." a grade of "B".

"This is the end of the voyages of the starship Enterprise." wrote Bernardin in his review "Its mission: to make sci-fi history, to redefine pop culture, to go off the air in a manner that does not suck. Mission accomplished, mostly. No, the finale does not reveal that Captain Archer's foray through the universe was one big holodeck fantasy (despite a visit by NEXT GENERATION vets Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis). But does it feel like a fitting send-off for a TV institution? Not really. Then again, it probably never could have."

And USA Today posted an editorial on the ending of the STAR TREK franchise here.



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Horrible | Report this post to moderator
By: cooper2000 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:57:13 on May 16, 2005

The whole thing was a mess and the inclusion of Riker and Troi like Tripps death was a stunt that didnt work.And where was the speech at the end.
Poor storytelling!!


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Boy was that bad | Report this post to moderator
By: cooper2000 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:54:12 on May 16, 2005

I had high hopes for the show but it was contrived, unoriginal and the Riker/Troi cameos which really werent cameos because they dominated the whole episode, were just flat. They served no purpose there at all.
The overall story was mundane and generic and the ending speech....where was it??? All that buildup to a speech and we dont get to hear it?
The Tripp death was just stupid and there for no other reason than to create some type of Drama. It was really out of character too. A real big stunt that crashed and burned.
Just horrible.
Valentine???


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disgraceful finish | Report this post to moderator
By: psp1 (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:29:06 on May 14, 2005

This finale is an embarassment to the franchise. The bloated Riker and Troi did not help lend any credibility to the supposed time frame of the episode.
The whole thing looked and felt like a TNG episode. It is a slap in the face of the people working hard to improve the show in the fourth season.

The underlying premise that the TNG lovefest would attract the audience and perhaps remind viewers of a better time is flawed. The last TNG movie was an utter flop critically and with the fans.

Amazing- I don't know how the two nitwits Berman and Braga can justify giving more screen time to Frakes than the regular cast. Even in case of a Shatner visit, only a cameo would have been appropriate, and more than enough to draw fans. The whole idea that a worthless actor like Frakes playing a dumbo character like Riker (whose main role was to yes-man Picard and puff out his chest) should dominate the episode is doomed to failure from the start.

They should have let Coto do it and have him give a graceful nod to what started it all - the original series, which was far more innovative in 1966 than TNG was in 1987.

I don't think this is a valentine to the fans. More like the manure the flowers for a valentine grew in.



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psp1


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RE: disgraceful finish by Grey17 @ 22:39:41 on May 15

News links | Report this post to moderator
By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:28:56 on May 14, 2005

More reading material...

The last voyage of the 'Enterprise'
@ CNN.

Damn It Jim! The Show's Over
By John Stith @ Web Pro News.

Local Star Trek fans mourn end of series
By Roger Bryant @ Midland Daily News.

'Star Trek' is boldly going ... off the air
By Jay Rath @ Wisconsin State Journal.

Slightly-Insanely-Difficult Star Trek Quiz
By Tim Clodfelter @ Journal Now.

Scifi Lives As Star Trek Dies
By Frederick Smith @ Useless Knowledge Mag.

Star Trek: Enterprise [The Worst Series Cancellation]
By Lee Caldwell-Owens @ Useless Knowledge Mag.

Fans bid farewell, expect 'Trek' will take off again
By John Coffren @ Baltimore Sun.

"Star Trek" will never die
By Stephen Seitz @ New Hampshire Union Leader.


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STAR TREK: NCC-1701-A Model Kit
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What a miserable way to die | Report this post to moderator
By: Spot (Odo's file, contact) @ 03:18:38 on May 14, 2005

I almost laugh myself to death...It’s so comical.

Like I have always predicted, there has to be some sort of phaser fighting or hostage situation in every episode. The final two episodes did not disappoint me. In “Terra Prime”, the spy pointed a gun on Archer and almost held Archer hostage. In “These are the Voyages”, the aliens exchanged fires and almost held Archer a hostage. It is so predictable that even the final episode does not fail this amazing consistency of excellence.

Adventure and exploration? Who cares? What is better than some silly phaser fights on Friday night?


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what??? | Report this post to moderator
By: jdm (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:56:28 on May 13, 2005



I tried to enjoy the finale. God knows I tried. But I couldn't do it. I enjoyed certain elements on the NX-01. Trip's death, was okay. Shrans involvment with the episode, what was that about? Archer speaking at a ceramony that would pave the way for the Federation, what the frell? Last I checked, the Birth of the Federation was 2261. Was that 2261 or 2260?

And no mention of the Romulan Wars? Dissapointing. May B&B burn in hell for the finale that was given to the hard core fans that stuck with Enterprise since day one. I'd say I hope they never work on Star Trek again, but I doubt it's going to happen.

They never should had given iker and Troi or the Enterprise-D the screen time. This was not not TNG. This was Enterprise for god's sake. Now I had wished I went to the store and bout a six pack. Many of us will forever be scarred after this Friday the 13th of 2005.

I want to thank Coto for what he did to pull this show above the ocean surface. But in the end, it was B&B that sank the boat.

Terra Prime, that was the excellent finale.


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Well... that was.... | Report this post to moderator
By: hughwolfgang (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:09:00 on May 13, 2005

I'm trying to find the words to describe what I just saw.

Interesting? No, that doesn't quite cut it.
Unique? No, it wasn't really unique at all.
Depressing? Certainly.

Yet somehow, it was fitting.

I'm talking about B & B's "valentine", not the episode as a whole.


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Voyager? | Report this post to moderator
By: Cryoplasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 17:32:08 on May 13, 2005 | Edit History (1)

I think that should be first handful of seasons, not episodes, squandered.

Yes I think Voyager was absolutely interesting and fun to watch the first two to three years. The mid-last seasons were squandered definitely.

Those were the days...


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It stinks | Report this post to moderator
By: TheKJB (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:56:37 on May 13, 2005

My review is up. Turn off you TV's after "Terra Prime" - you'll be doing the right thing and saving yourself a lot of grief.

--------

KJB || IGN Trek Report

The contents of this post are the opinions of the author and are not intended to reflect the corporate opinions of IGN.com or IGN Entertainment. The contents may not be reprinted or posted in any other forum, web site or transmitted by any other means without prior written consent of the author. All Rights Reserved.


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RE: It stinks by MoulinRouge @ 15:17:48 on May 13
    RE: It stinks by TheKJB @ 17:02:44 on May 13
       RE: It stinks by hughwolfgang @ 09:07:08 on May 14

More TATV RSVP | Report this post to moderator
By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:07:33 on May 13, 2005

Here are excerpts from other TATV reviews...

Jim Slotek at the Toronto Sun: "After seeing These Are The Voyages, the series finale of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, I've decided the castmembers of this last Star Trek series really are being punished for failing. I mean, why else would they be reduced to the role of bit players in the last episode of their own show?"

Enterprise: These are The Voyages – I've Got Good News And I've Got Bad News..., from Eclipse Magazine.

'Trek' finale: Big promise, no payoff, at The Arizona Republic.

With my own disappointment in ENTERPRISE, I've been discarding links to newspaper articles which are based on B&B and cast quotes already covered at TrekWeb, without my considering that others might be interested in reading them anyway. Here are some of those...

Departing ‘Enterprise’ didn’t capture magic
By Andy Dehnart @ MSNBC

Enterprise limps off to oblivion
By Rob Salem @ The Toronto Star.

The end of the Final Frontier
By Michael Peck @ USA Today.

"Beam 'em off"
By Thomas Conner @ Chicago Sun-Times.

A warped end to 'Star Trek'
By David Zurawik @ Baltimore Sun.

Final Star Trek spin-off beams up
@ BBC News.

'Star Trek' Franchise Went Where No TV Show Had Gone Before
By Frank Ahrens @ The Washington Post

'Captain, we're losing power!'
By Maureen Ryan @ Chicago Tribune.

Where No Geek Has Gone Before
By Douglas Kern @ Tech Central Station.

Series ends, but Trekkies refuse to be grounded
By Vince Horiuchi @ The Salt Lake Tribune.

STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
By Jamie Gumbrecht, Lexington Herald-Leader.

Goin' where all other 'Treks' have gone before
By Robert Philpot @ Star-Telegram.

Spaced out: 'Star Trek' is in dry dock, but it changed our world.
By Rick Kushman @ Sacrimento Bee.

Trek's final voyage
By Kevin Williamson @ Calgary Sun

'Enterprise' nearing black hole
By Charlie McCollum @ Knight Ridder Newspapers.

'Star Trek' beams up for last time
By Edward J. Crowder @ Connecticut Post.

Dwindling ratings rocket Star Trek series off the air
By Tim Clodfelter @ Winston-Salem Journal.

'Star Trek' ends long stint on air
By Robert Jablon @ The Associated Press

'Star Trek Enterprise' wraps up the series and the franchise
By Scott D. Pierce @ Deseret Morning News.

Long lost in space, 'Star Trek: Enterprise' limps back to Earth for its last gasp
By Melanie Mcfarland @ Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

STAR TREK moves out of orbit
By Diane Werts @ Newsday.

The final, final frontier. 'Enterprise' is dead. Can 'Star Trek' live?
By Bobby Bryant @ South Carolina The State.


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Alien Love Novelty Doll
Image


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RE: More TATV RSVP by Jadzia-Dax @ 17:55:06 on May 13

its a sad day for all | Report this post to moderator
By: Howie2000slc (Odo's file, contact) @ 00:03:51 on May 13, 2005

so the final episode jumps ahead 7 years, kills off a main character and then stuffs 2 old Trek stars in to increase the ratings.. and they wonder why we are pissed off.. its quite simple, we dont want this to end yet, it just started to actually get good with Coto running the show and we want it to continue, ofcurse B&B know that oif it was to continue then they would not be a part of it, so they end the story early. even with the possibility of a future movie somewhere down the line involving the enterprise characters, they kill it off and jump ahead time to stop anyone from evey tampering with there story. ofcourse there storyline had just started to actaully make some sence without the Future Guy and the whole temporal Cold War, and lets face it the onl;y reason that didn't work was because WE the fans are just too used to getting Star Trek, its become FATIGUED.. eveyone one with a shread of intelligence will be able to see that the writing for this season takes a HUGE drop for the final episode, this will be the END of B&B (applause starts here). and i hope that in a few years time Manny Coto will come back and make TREK what it once was in the before time when B&B where just little shit kickers that had little creative control.. you know when the show was good.


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Sci-fi.com lukewarm? That's being kind by MoulinRouge @ 01:19:11 on May 13
Sci-fi.com lukewarm? That's embellishing by MoulinRouge @ 01:09:02 on May 13

Correction | Report this post to moderator
By: Defiant (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 23:41:48 on May 12, 2005

There was a break of 4 months between Voyager's last episode, and Enterprise's first.

Technically, there were not 18 years of non-stop Star Trek ;)

-Defiant


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RE: Correction by rumandchocolate @ 16:15:36 on May 13
RE: Correction by droopymcc @ 15:57:23 on May 13
Double Correction by Cap'n Calhoun @ 01:18:30 on May 13
RE: Correction by GustavoLeao @ 01:10:57 on May 13
    Nitpicking the nitpick by Cap'n Calhoun @ 03:01:46 on May 13
       RE: Nitpicking the nitpick by GustavoLeao @ 04:17:07 on May 13
Double Correction by Cap'n Calhoun @ 00:07:44 on May 13
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