FINALITIES

THOMPSON
It didn't end very well, did it?
BERNSTEIN
(shaking his head)
It ended

- from "Citizen Kane"

Normally, I don't get into the behind-the-scenes stuff for TV shows, just their inner realities. (And how many times have I invoked that disclaimer in the last few weeks? I might as well stop kidding myself!) Actually, I get a secret thrill when the Powers That Be screw with plot contradictions and other continuity errors. That way I can rise to the challenge here in Inner Toob and show off my self-serving splainin skills.

Gads, I love alliteration!

At any rate, I feel a need to comment on the 'Enterprise' finale because as enjoyable as most of it was, there were so many things about it that could have been done better.

As noted in the previous essay, the finale was chosen as the Crossover of the Week because of its connection to the characters and the plot of an episode of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. But that was also the biggest flaw - it became an episode of 'TNG' itself, and the main cast for 'Enterprise', who struggled against a lack of creative direction for seasons two and three, were reduced to a roster of supporting roles.

They became the Not Ready For The Prime Directive Players.

And to make it worse, they were presented as just the holographic recreations of the original "historical" figures. Whether we're watching westerns or WWII dramas, we get caught up in their moments, suspending for the moment that these characters are already dead; buried in our past. The same held true for the cast of 'Enterprise'; for even though they were 150 years into our future, they were 200 years gone in the past of the Trek timeline.

So because we were left watching holographic reenactments, we ended up removed from any emotional involvement - especially with the decisive Big Moment for a key crew member. Aside from groaning over the final moments of this character's ham-handed over-acting, I was left strangely unmoved by the events.

(I'm going to have serious back trouble in the morning from all this bending over backwards to remain spoiler-free! And I don't even know why I bother - the new TV Guide was in my mailbox today and it had an interview with the actor in question about this "Big Moment".)

To be fair, go back one episode to 'Terra Prime' for its final scene which involves the same character. His speech was highly emotional, very involving, and well played. I'd rank it right up there with the death and eulogy for Spock in "The Wrath Of Khan".

So in my mind, it wasn't the actor's fault; it was the script and perhaps the direction as well. And it wasn't the only example of wrong-headed thinking when talking about a script that's supposed to be one last grand showcase for these characters.

Let me give two other examples where Rick Berman and Brannon Braga fumbled with the finale.

After spending four years developing the relationship between the human Trip and the Vulcan T'Pol, Berman and Braga completely blew off the chance to showcase one final scene for them together, one that should have been required as dictated in Drama 101.

Maybe the way it did play out was seen by "B&B" to be more realistic; not always do we get a chance to say goodbye. But even I, the TV Universe nutjob, even I accept that this is hardly Reality. And the fan base should have been given the chance to see Trip and T'Pol together one last time.

And then there was the running subplot about Captain Archer's upcoming speech to the first conference for the new Alliance of Planets: what he should say; what he shouldn't say; whether or not he should take any of the credit for this alliance.

And just as we were about to see him give the speech, to hear a stirring summation of what this first tour of duty meant in the grand scheme of things for a ship named Enterprise (and for the series by the same name as well), Riker ends the holodeck program because he got what he needed.

And to hell with what the audience, those who stuck it out for all four seasons (And I must admit I was not among that company.), wanted/needed as payoff for their devotion.

Ah, well. As Mr. Bernstein said, it ended. And dat's de name of dat tune.

Hopefully the franchise will be allowed to lie fallow for a few yarrens and one day come back reinvigorated with a new creative vision.

And I have just the idea for that......!

BCnU!
Tele-Toby