Unveiling the Truth Behind Star Trek Enterprise's Controversial Finale: Fans Left Speechless

Summary

Frakes candidly acknowledges the mistakes made in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, admitting that it wasn't a Valentine to the fans.

Fans were angered by the inclusion of characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation in the final episode of Enterprise, perceiving it as a disrespectful gesture towards the show and its main cast.

Given the popularity of the recent Star Trek series, fans are eagerly anticipating the possible return of Enterprise characters in one of the new shows, particularly Strange New Worlds, as a way to rectify the disappointment caused by the criticized finale.

Jonathan Frakes openly discusses his involvement in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, titled "These Are The Voyages." The show, which was executive produced by Rick Berman, was cancelled in 2005 due to its low ratings after four seasons on the UPN Network. Frakes, known for his role as Commander William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation, reprised his character alongside Marina Sirtis, who portrayed Counselor Deanna Troi. However, the Enterprise finale primarily focused on Riker and Troi's visit to the heroes of the NX-01 Enterprise within a holodeck simulation, much to the dissatisfaction of both fans and the regular cast of Star Trek: Enterprise.

During an interview with Variety conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jonathan Frakes openly acknowledges the mistakes made in the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise. He also reflects on how fans have continuously expressed their disappointment with the episode since its airing 18 years ago. Read his quote below:

“We didn’t quite fit. It was advertised as a special tribute to the fans, but it didn't turn out that way. The fans weren't interested in seeing us. Scott Bakula handled it graciously, but the other 'Trek' shows had all gone on for seven seasons. Nobody wanted to be part of a 'Star Trek' show that didn't have that longevity. And it felt disrespectful to have characters from another successful series come in and essentially bring the story to a close. It just didn't feel right. I have to admit, it was a good episode and we had a lot of fun filming it. However, the more I reflect on it and hear feedback from fans, it might not have been the best decision we made for 'Star Trek.' Not every episode can be a winner, but it's unfortunate that it had to be the final one for our show.”

Enterprise Fans Hope The Characters Return In New Star Trek Shows

Star Trek has entered a distinctive era, marked by the release of various successful and markedly diverse series on Paramount+. This shift came about following the revival of the TV franchise in 2017 with Star Trek: Discovery. Notably, Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Prodigy have centered their narratives around venerating iconic figures from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager, respectively. Furthermore, in the two decades since its initial debut, Enterprise has garnered a newfound and more appreciative following through streaming platforms. Consequently, fans now hold onto the hope of witnessing the inclusion of characters from Star Trek: Enterprise in one of the fresh Star Trek shows.

The 23rd-century setting of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds creates the opportunity for familiar characters such as Captain Jonathan Archer (played by Scott Bakula), T'Pol (played by Jolene Blalock), and Dr. Phlox (played by John Billingsley) to potentially make appearances. The crossover episode of Strange New Worlds pays homage to Enterprise, the prequel series led by Bakula that did not receive the recognition it deserved. The return of Enterprise characters in Star Trek would not only be welcomed by many fans but also help rectify the dissatisfaction caused by the controversial series finale.