I don't hate these two guys. Especially since Braga was responsible for some of the best Trek ever in the TNG days. But they have stuck around too long. That is the problem. They are spent and both need to move on. This should have happened 5 years ago. I blame Paramount.
Well, I used to like Braga in the early days. After all, he was a co-creator of the Borg race. He is a decent writer, but only if he has someone over him editing his material. But when you put him in th executive producer's chair, let's face it, most stuff under his leadership sucks. He managed to mangle his own Borg creation during his reign of Voyager. In summary: a good writer, but a bad producer.
John Crichton said:
Couldn't agree more. Coto gets it and has done a great job cleaning up the place.
I think it's because the fan base isn't growing. 10-30 years ago, people knew what a Klingon or a Photon Torpedo or a Phaser were. When I talk to the people in my classes or in my residence here, they don't know anything. It's stopped becoming a cultural icon.
That, and once it stopped being spoofed on SNL or MadTV was a dead giveaway. At least DS9 had a sketch on one of the earlier MadTV seasons called "Star Trek: Deep Stain Nine" or so.
I didn't even like the Borg. Inhuman adversaries just don't do much for me (allowing that the best aliens in ST are the ones that are basically human emotional personas). That's really why I think TOS worked, they're basically more of a "look at people" instead of "look at aliens" sort of thing. The borg worked best when they were off screen and you got to deal with the human drama of Picard on the bridge.
I think Voyager and Enterprise failed for two key reasons.
One: Failure to follow thru on the premise
Go back a look at the description of what Voyager was going to be; Maquis and Star Fleet in conflict, Maquis must learn to work within the rules and Star Fleet must learn when to break the rules and all of the crew must learn to survive without the resources of the Federation.
And Enterprise is supposed to take place before everything we know even happened, but how long did it take both shows to go back to Holodecks, Feringi and Borg? Neither show took any risks, they kept it simple and stayed where it was safe. Look how many FX shots from Voyager have been recycled into Enterprise (Flea Ship= Romulan Drone, Science Station=MIDAS Array) as well as stories.
Both of these series had something the writers and producers said they wanted, freedom from the franchise. They always complain that there is too much back story, people can't jump into Star Trek, well both of these series had the chance to create their own rules, their own universe.
Two: Abandon the fan base
Remember when 2nd edition D&D got rid of Demons & Devils? They did it to appease the "Angry Mothers from Heck", those who disapproved of the game. But all they really did was piss of the fan base of gamers who actually played the game. Critics are not going to just stop criticising, that's what they do and they are not going to start buying the product just because you made a little change.
Both Star Trek series tried to "reach a new audience" and there seemed an effort to divorce themselves from the "Trekkie" fan base. But all they managed to do was dumb down the shows and piss off the fan base. And after a while it got personal between the fans and Berman & Braga. You can see it in the writings of both sides, and if the final episode of Enterprise pulls off a Dallas-like ending *Spoiler*
It was all a Holodeck program
, B&B may need bodyguards.
As with any TV or Movie series, it has to be made by someone who loves the topic and respects it. In the best shows, you can see a passion in the writers, actors and fans. I don't see it in the last two Star Trek series, I see more imagination on fan sites like Ex Astris Scientia than in Enterprise, at least until the 4th season. You can tell Manny Coto is a fan and wants to please the fans. While Berman and Braga are just wandering around out in the corn field behind left field saying "We are very pleased".
As far as most fans are concerned, they can keep pleasing themselves out there.
I didn't even like the Borg. Inhuman adversaries just don't do much for me (allowing that the best aliens in ST are the ones that are basically human emotional personas). That's really why I think TOS worked, they're basically more of a "look at people" instead of "look at aliens" sort of thing. The borg worked best when they were off screen and you got to deal with the human drama of Picard on the bridge.
I can't believe this part contributed to your A+. Russell Watson's rendition of "Faith of the Heart" is extremely well done (much better than Rod Stewart's take on it, certainly), and the montage of images displayed during the opening theme sync up rather well (if not perfectly) with the song.
I agree. I don't know why fans bashed the opening sequence; the whole idea of it was a nod to humanity's thirst for exploration and desire to reach out to the stars. It felt right for Star Trek. It also connected history and the modern world more firmly to Trek. Were Roddenberry still alive, it would probably be a touch he'd approve of.
Also, the fact that it doesn't have a more classical type of score and so is bad is a bad argument; TOS didn't have a classical score for its opening credits either.
I agree. I don't know why fans bashed the opening sequence; the whole idea of it was a nod to humanity's thirst for exploration and desire to reach out to the stars. It felt right for Star Trek. It also connected history and the modern world more firmly to Trek. Were Roddenberry still alive, it would probably be a touch he'd approve of.
Also, the fact that it doesn't have a more classical type of score and so is bad is a bad argument; TOS didn't have a classical score for its opening credits either.
I remember the first time I saw/heard the opening sequence. I didn't love the song (I warmed to it later) but the whole package made me feel good about the series as a whole. Kinda bridged modern times to what could be seen as the future.
I remember the first time I saw/heard the opening sequence. I didn't love the song (I warmed to it later) but the whole package made me feel good about the series as a whole. Kinda bridged modern times to what could be seen as the future.
