Script Review: "Enterprise," A Star Trek Pilot.

(7/9/01)

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All right, all right you got it out of me. I'M A TREKKER Well actually I was a Trekker ...Voyager kinda dragged out my spirit for the franchise. Now don't get me wrong I liked Star Trek: Voyager, I saw every episode, but I felt it was force-fed to me. Voyager was a decent show, a fucking genius when compared to most swill on television, when your older brothers are The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, you expect more from your weekly Trek intake. Rick Berman has screwed the show more ways then one, going against the very ideals that Trek was based on... breaking the prime directive week after week and then showing us some lame excuse, but Enterprise may show us something better, something new.

Unlike most script reviewers on the net, I usually do not get to keep the scripts that I read. You see, I have three main script sources and two of 'em only allow me to read the scripts for a short while. These two are the big budget guys... they let me read scripts like GANGS OF NEW YORK, SPIDER-MAN, RED DRAGON, and FINAL FANTASY. It's kind of a tease, but I take what I can get. So when one of these guys calls me up and says that he can sneak me a peak of the pilot script for the new Star Trek series, I speed on over to the local Borders and await his arrival.

The script is not what I expected. After tidbits of info surrounding this new series, I expected a simpler, less explosive premiere. That's not to say I wasn't please though as the script is quite entertaining.

After receiving a zillion emails from you readers about including more about the story, I have now responded! Expect at least an extra sentence. No seriously folks... I'm not a man of sentence-by-sentence spoiler filled reviews...I give you what you need to know. The basic plot outline. Here is your plot for Enterprise-"Broken Bow."

The Enterprise is bringing a Klingon, who by the way is a "new" alien in this time period, was shot down over Broken Bow, Oklahoma (hence the title), back to Kronos, the Klingon home world. While in route, new flashy aliens called the Sulibian take over the ship and take the Klingon with them. A bit of the script deals with the Enterprise and its captain, Jonathan Archer searching for the Klingon until Archer gains a lead.

All right... where to begin...

Okay, technology wise we're good. It's not like Episode I where the technology in the past is more advanced. From the descriptions of the script, we're talking controls a lot like the ones in the original series with huge flashing lights and such. The crew seems to be a bit apprehensive about using the transporters, because well...they are new. They have just been given the OK for life forms to be transported. Weapons...well, we get new primitive-like phasers that are even new to the Enterprise crew. Oh, and the ship is only able to travel warp 4.5.

I like most of the characters... well except for the main ones. Johnathan Archer and T'Pol are too Trek-stereotypical. We've seen these characters on every single Trek series...maybe the T'Pol in The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine isn't Vulcan, but they are still the cold, unemotional voice of reason. It's time for a damn change already. T'Pol isn't technically the first officer, but pretty much gains that position later on in the script. The captain of the Enterprise is Johnathan Archer who again is just another version of James T. Kirk. Archer, who is played out a bit older then Kirk, seems less likable then past captains...now this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it somehow gets in the way when you need to trust him in certain sticky situations. Sato is the Communications officer...the first since Uhura, right? Yeah, I like her character quite a bit... the only problem is that she doesn't get in enough time as some of the other characters. She is also a bit more knowledgeable then Uhura. Charlie Tucker comes in as the Chief Engineer. He is the McCoy of the script... a Southerner and the friend of the captain. Malcolm Reed is the ships Armory Officer...is this like the Chief Of Security? Mayweather is the young ship's pilot. Our doctor is one odd bird of an alien, Phlox. He is really weird, but personable.

Another problem with the script that I have is the overwhelming sentimental garbage probably thrown into the script at the last minute. We get warp drive creator, Zefram Cochrane, giving us useless sap about "Strange new worlds..." and unnecessary speeches in the heat of battle.

On to the critique...

-The space battles are fairly cool. Some creative stuff going down...

-The technology is realistically aligned with the Trek timeline.

-The pilot opens up for what could be a kick ass show.

-All right, Star Trek is not funny. It shouldn't try to be humorous and this script has too many attempts at "the funnies."

-The characters are too "been there and done that."

-Too much sappy nonsense.

Finally...

From reading the script, I think that Enterprise shows promise. While the script isn't all that spectacular, it is a solid vehicle for the series. Compared to previous Trek premieres, Encounter at Farpoint" and "The Caretaker" (I like "Emissary"), "Broken Bow" is damn good. When the show premieres, I'll be watching... and so should you.

7.9 out of 10

Juliusfunkenstein@hotmail.com

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