"Enterprise" as it was known four years ago (at the time this article was written) premiered with one of the best Sci-Fi pilots I've ever seen: "Broken Bow". It showed the 22nd century, aboard a spaceship that was closer to a submarine then a luxury liner. It also showed a crew that would be like you and me going out into space.
The first 10 episodes of the series were excellently done. The second half of the first season, although not up to the same standards as the first half, were also well done. Then came the season finale: "Shockwave pt I". It was new, yes, with Captain Jonathan Archer trapped in the 31st Century A.D. The second half left much to be desired, However, and Enterprise succumbed to the same fate that Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine before it did: The bad second season. Granted, TNG had "Measure of a Man" in the second season, but most of it were still filler episodes. The last few episodes of Season 2, however, started to pick up pace. Starting with "The Breach" the episodes became thought provoking and tough, save "Bounty", which was a poor substitute. "Cogenetor" is rated as among the greatest episodes of Enterprise and is also considered a Trek classic. Then came the Xindi, and with the Third Season consisting of a major story arc that in the end proved to be as complex as one that belonged in Deep Space Nine. The Third season was by far the greatest year of Trek since the end of Deep Space Nine, and with Braga taking a step back to oversee his new show, Manny Coto is slated to take the Helm. For what seemed like a show gone astray, it has managed to re-rail itself pretty well, it's major issue now is not one of story-telling, for Season Three provided the viewers with episodes like "Twilight" and "Similitude" as well as several more. No, the issue now is one of promotion, the are where the network, UPN, has faltered...
The first 10 episodes of the series were excellently done. The second half of the first season, although not up to the same standards as the first half, were also well done. Then came the season finale: "Shockwave pt I". It was new, yes, with Captain Jonathan Archer trapped in the 31st Century A.D. The second half left much to be desired, However, and Enterprise succumbed to the same fate that Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine before it did: The bad second season. Granted, TNG had "Measure of a Man" in the second season, but most of it were still filler episodes. The last few episodes of Season 2, however, started to pick up pace. Starting with "The Breach" the episodes became thought provoking and tough, save "Bounty", which was a poor substitute. "Cogenetor" is rated as among the greatest episodes of Enterprise and is also considered a Trek classic. Then came the Xindi, and with the Third Season consisting of a major story arc that in the end proved to be as complex as one that belonged in Deep Space Nine. The Third season was by far the greatest year of Trek since the end of Deep Space Nine, and with Braga taking a step back to oversee his new show, Manny Coto is slated to take the Helm. For what seemed like a show gone astray, it has managed to re-rail itself pretty well, it's major issue now is not one of story-telling, for Season Three provided the viewers with episodes like "Twilight" and "Similitude" as well as several more. No, the issue now is one of promotion, the are where the network, UPN, has faltered...