More info on ENTERPRISE's new direction... (!!spoiler-thingies!!)

[Viking Bastard]

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From TrekWeb:

Change Unchained: New Aliens, New Weapons, New Hairdos, New Mission a TREK "First" Berman Tells TVG
Posted: 12:45:27 on May 01 2003
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: Enterprise | stenterprise.com

The news about ENTERPRISE's radical new direction for season three is going mainstream in the May 10th issue of TV Guide, according to a press release from the magazine. Executive producer Rick Berman will reveal all new details about the prequel series' finale "The Expanse" and what it means for the third season of the struggling UPN show that TV Guide recently lambasted for lack of imagination (story).

In the season finale, "a mysterious probe from space will blast a swath of destruction across North and Central America, causing epic explosions and annihilating everything between Florida and Venezuela," according to the article. "As viewers will learn, this is a preemptive strike by an alien race known as the Xindi (that’s Zin-dee), who have obtained knowledge that Earth will destroy their home world 400 years in the future. The hour ends on a chilling threat of more devastation to come, but this is no mere summer cliff-hanger. In fact, it marks a whole new direction for the series."

Rick Berman says the new direction will be a first for the STAR TREK franchise.

"What we are about to do is a first for STAR TREK,” Berman tells TVG. “In the past, our captains have had the general mission to explore outer space and, in the case of Voyager, a mission to find a way back home. But there has never been a Trek series built around a specific mission and specific stakes-in this case, the very future of mankind.”

He goes on to say that the new Xindi threat will be the greatest that Captain Archer's Earth will yet have faced.

"We find out that the Xindi space probe was merely a test and that they are creating an even more powerful weapon,” Berman says. “It’s up to Captain Archer to go there and stop them from destroying us altogether.”

TV Guide also reveals new details about the repercussions of the finale for next season, writing that the Enterprise NX-01 will be "retrofitted for war" and that we'll get our first glimpse at the use of photon torpedos in Starfleet's history. Furthermore, the dangerous Delphic Expanse, likened to the Bermuda Triangle, causes those who enter to "become anatomically inverted (skin on the inside, organs on the outside)." Furthermore, even Jolene Blalock's 'T'Pol', as a result of resigning from the Vulcan High Command, "will sport a new cat suit and hairdo next season."

All the grisly details will be on newsstands May 10th.

 

[nHammer]

Not the least bit interested in it....I'm no longer living thru the torture that is watching Enterprise...

 

[Umbran]

Not the least bit interested in it....

Right. And your lack of interest is so well demonstrated by your reading threads about the show

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Y'know what? This sounds interesting to me. I actually like the sound of this. I guess it's because I'm such a fan of Babylon 5, and felt Crusade never got a chance to prove itself. So, yeah, Crusade used a similar hook for that series, but it's a hook that I think is going to make for a good storyline on Enterprise.

 

[Viking Bastard]

Right. And your lack of interest is so well demonstrated by your reading threads about the show

I can see that.

I mean, I can't stand a lot of stuff, yet I still go through threads
that talk about it and even, once in a while, comment on things
said in there.

Oh and I agree Col. Whatever takes them away from just wandering
aimlessly around the Quadrant. I mean, IF you have strong enough
stories to tell like TOS and TNG that can really be good, but until now
ENT hasn't.

 

[Black Omega]

Y'know what? This sounds interesting to me. I actually like the sound of this. I guess it's because I'm such a fan of Babylon 5, and felt Crusade never got a chance to prove itself. So, yeah, Crusade used a similar hook for that series, but it's a hook that I think is going to make for a good storyline on Enterprise.

Agreed. I might even watch Enterprise again. The more they copy from B5 the better.

Though I'm still a little disappointed. A series that built up to TOS would have been very cool. They should try it sometime.

 

[Ranger REG]

After what I've been through as a longtime Trek fan, I'm still not yet sold. But I will watch to see if there is an improvement.

A ship retroffited for war? Let's see. I've seen DS9 fully equipped in time for the Dominion War, as well as acquiring a mobile weapon platform called Defiant. Picard & Co receive a heavy explorer fully equipped for war since the Borg Invasion prompted further change in the role of Starfleet. Not new to me I'm afraid, but at least they can be prepared for the eventual Earth-Romulan War.

T'Pol resigning from Vulcan High Command? Now they're telling me that Spock is not the first Vulcan in Starfleet, or are they're going to remind us that this Starfleet is not the Federation's Starfleet ... yet?

At least the Delphic Expanse look interesting and yet painful (a definite "Viewer's Discretion" warning may be needed).

 

[coyote6]

It sounds interesting, but given that it's still the same creators, I'm skeptical.

It also doesn't help that someone on Pyramid has been predicting since they hinted at a "new direction" that it would be the plot of Star Blazers. Looks like they were mostly right.

 

[uv23]

Dark story arcs good. (B5)
Stupid and boring stand alone episodes bad. (Enterprise)

So if they can make Enterprise more like B5 in that respect then I'll give it a second chance. Good stuff.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

It sounds interesting, but given that it's still the same creators, I'm skeptical.

It also doesn't help that someone on Pyramid has been predicting since they hinted at a "new direction" that it would be the plot of Star Blazers. Looks like they were mostly right.

Oh wow, Star Blazers! I hadn't thought of that. You're right. That brings back a lot of memories; I remember Star Blazers playing on a local channel just before I went to school in the morning, back in the late 70s/early 80s, if I recall correctly.