Enterprise 05-26-04

[Mark]

Enterprise - "Zero Hour"

Archer tries to coax a traumatized Hoshi into using her decryption skills to disable the doomsday weapon before the Reptilians can use it to destroy Earth as the Enterprise embarks on a desperate mission of its own to cripple the rest of the spheres.

Cast: Scott Bakula, Connor Trinneer, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, John Billingsley.

Guest(s): Rick Worthy as Xindi Sloth, Tucker Smallwood as Xindi-Humanoid, Scott MacDonald as Reptilian Commander, Josette DiCarlo as Sphere Builder Woman, Mary Mara as Sphere-Builder Presage, Ruth Williamson as Sphere-Builder Primary, Matt Winston as Daniels, and Jeffrey Combs as Shran.

And here is the season finale...

 

[Mark]

I suppose it is a sign of the times that fewer folks are posting in advance of the episode than on previous weeks. All indications are that we will be seeing another season and that these last few episodes are being generally well received, so perhaps folks are waiting to view the show rather than discussing it ahead of time. Personally, I am looking forward to it and glad that the franchise has guarenteed that we won't be losing another Sci-Fi show ahead of its full run (which I belive should be a minimum of five years given the nature of things).

 

[Napftor]

Well, besides rampant speculation, there really isn't much to discuss until the episode airs. That said, I hope it is well done and well received by the masses. To be honest, Berman and Braga together do not have my vote of confidence. After all, where have they been lately in terms of writing? And now they're swooping in to do the finale? We'll see...

 

[Wycen]

I think much of it has to do with using the thread for the previous weeks episode as well. Personally I plan to blow off my Wednesday night game to watch it.

 

[Mark]

Well, besides rampant speculation, there really isn't much to discuss until the episode airs. That said, I hope it is well done and well received by the masses. To be honest, Berman and Braga together do not have my vote of confidence. After all, where have they been lately in terms of writing? And now they're swooping in to do the finale? We'll see...

They only seem to be "at the helm" when discussions of the show are on the downslide. While these last few weeks have been well-recived, I haven't seen much in the way of "attaboys" cast their way. For good or ill, even your post seems to be saying that they deserve only the credit for whatever failures the series might garner but none of the successes. I've read countless posts of folks saying they should increase the input of outside writers but if that has happened and is the reason for the recent success you seem to be saying that is not something for which they deserve credit. Except for the paychecks, I simply don't understand why they put up with you...

I think much of it has to do with using the thread for the previous weeks episode as well. Personally I plan to blow off my Wednesday night game to watch it.

You, sir, are a true fan! (I'll be watching, as well, of course, as I do almost every week ... unless the call of the ever decreasing wild rears its fair head.)

 

[Napftor]

They only seem to be "at the helm" when discussions of the show are on the downslide. While these last few weeks have been well-recived, I haven't seen much in the way of "attaboys" cast their way. For good or ill, even your post seems to be saying that they deserve only the credit for whatever failures the series might garner but none of the successes. I've read countless posts of folks saying they should increase the input of outside writers but if that has happened and is the reason for the recent success you seem to be saying that is not something for which they deserve credit. Except for the paychecks, I simply don't understand why they put up with you...

Actually, I'm not saying any of that.

I've never once uttered that B&B are to blame for anything. I know they approve everything that goes on the air, and I've enjoyed what I've seen lately, but my comments were aimed at their writing abilities only. Don't read too much into my posts there, Mark.

 

[Red Spire Press]

One reason there may not be a lot of pre-airring discussion is that there aren't really any unknowns as the season nears completion. It's pretty obvious what will happen, and as entertaining as the lead up episodes have been -- some of the best episodes of Enterprise, i think, though Vulcan zombies are still my personal favorite -- they're very predictable.

 

[Mark]

Actually, I'm not saying any of that.

I've never once uttered that B&B are to blame for anything. I know they approve everything that goes on the air, and I've enjoyed what I've seen lately, but my comments were aimed at their writing abilities only. Don't read too much into my posts there, Mark.

Fair enough.

There seems to be three camps... Those who are fine enough with B&B wriiting, those that think B&B lost it, and those that think B&B never had it. I'll assume by the "After all, where have they been lately in terms of writing?" post that you feel they once had a handle on the writing but have dropped the ball in that regard (correct me if I am wrong). What of their writing did you like and when do you think they took a wrong turn?

 

[Mark]

One reason there may not be a lot of pre-airring discussion is that there aren't really any unknowns as the season nears completion. It's pretty obvious what will happen, and as entertaining as the lead up episodes have been -- some of the best episodes of Enterprise, i think, though Vulcan zombies are still my personal favorite -- they're very predictable.

That might be the case, seemingly, (and I, too, very much enjoyed the Vulcan Zombies), but the

Spoiler

deaths of Major Hayes and Degra both

took me by surprise.

 

[Napftor]

Fair enough.

There seems to be three camps... Those who are fine enough with B&B wriiting, those that think B&B lost it, and those that think B&B never had it. I'll assume by the "After all, where have they been lately in terms of writing?" post that you feel they once had a handle on the writing but have dropped the ball in that regard (correct me if I am wrong). What of their writing did you like and when do you think they took a wrong turn?

They have the pacing and the elements down as evidenced by the series premiere and the Shockwave two-parter. But what they don't have is good characterization. They seem to think that throwing the characters into sexual situations with each other makes for good TV/ratings. Well, how about we get to know the characters first? Wasn't TNG well on its way into the latter half of the series before we had Worf having feelings for Troi, much less any other sexual interaction among the main characters?

B&B know good drama but I'm not certain they know how to make the charcacters function inside it. Does that make any sense? I'm tempted to lay the blame on Berman. Braga & Moore are of course top notch and I've always enjoyed Braga's solo writing, but I'm hard pressed to name any good Berman writing credits (are there any solo eps from him?). His inexperience in this department may be what's detracting from the dialogue and interactions. Don't know for sure, of course. And I hope tonight's episode can prove me wrong!