SPECULATION/PREDICTION:

How many of you think that the Vulcan Ambassador (Sikes from Alien Nation) will turn out to be a Romulan spy in disguise??

I just saw this on the TiVo board, and it makes total sense to me.

1) They made a point of commenting that he'd shown a surprising amount of emotion/anger -- in his only key scene

2) He mistakenly says "Warbirds" instead of "Birds of Prey" to describe the Klingon ships. A warbird is the Romulan ship of the exact same design. Trivial detail? Not so trivial that millions of hardcore Trek fans won't notice...

For continuity's sake, humans CAN'T find out about the Romulans/Vulcan connection during this series-- they didn't find out about them until Kirk's era.

But I think it WILL turn out that Romulan spies have seriously infiltrated (and compromised) the whole Earth/Vulcan relationship... And the Vulcans will hide it from the Humans and try to deal with it internally...

maybe the klingons wipe out the chameleons. maybe the dr is from a minor member of the federation. Andorians weren't seen much and they were a founding member of the federation IIRC

Originally posted by das Monkey:
As for 2161, that's when the articles of the Federation were ratified, thus beginning the UFP and consequently StarFleet as we know it. 2161 is on the seal at StarFleet Academy, and it's been mentioned in an episode (and obviously many books), so it's pretty much canon now. It makes sense to start this show at 2151 so we can build to the forming of the UFP ... it would be in perfect timing for their first feature after a seven year run.

The beginning of the United Federation of Planets, yes, but is it clarified in any episode that Starfleet was created after that event, rather than before, as ENTERPRISE states?

This is confirmed in "Outcast" when Troi wants to play Federation Day, where Aces, Dueces, and Sixes are wild. Note that Worf wasn't too keen on a "woman's game" with all those wildcards.

Again (since I can't run to my old off-the-air VHS recording), does this episode just confirm the 2161 UFP origination date or does it also clearly state that Starfleet was not created until 2161+?

I just got done telling a friend that the Vulcans acted more like Romulans in the pilot. Hmmm ...

das

Surely they must have "focus grouped" this pilot to death ... how could that theme EVER had made it through that? I'm a guy who watched the reruns of the original series as a kiddo. Was with the Next Generation all the way through. Bailed out on Deep Space Nice (although I watched most of the last season when they were blowing up stuff). Also bailed on Voyager UNTIL the tasty Jeri Ryan came on board and made my pants go crazy. That series was really hit and miss in extremes. Really good, or really terrible episodes.

I think the debut of Enterprise shows a lot of potential. Can't wait for next week's episode. Oh, and they showed that scary navel on the show, but we were all hypnotized by the nipplage.

I can't run to my collection either, but I recall it being a VERY brief mention, simply getting the date 2161 out there as the founding of the UFP. Combine that with 2161 on the plaque at StarFleet Academy. I recall the pre UFP StarFleet being called the United Earth Space Navy or something like that, but it's a little hard to keep track of it all. I'm willing to cut them a little slack.

das

Great 1st show. Much better than "Far Point".

Technology was advanced, but still in the "I hope this works stage".

Humor was well written. Everyone seemed to have their moments of well placed lines. Like when the communication woman told the Klingon to shut up.

Characters were somewhat the same and somewhat different. The doctor seemed to played by the actor who played the taylor on Deep Space Nine. I thought the Vulcan played her role with lots of emotion: anger, bitterness, frustration and distain. I loved captain archer. He was "like" a captain Kirk without the rules and years of training that would have come with Star Fleet. The Communcations officer won my heart over when she told the Klingon to shut up and when she tried to translate what the Klingons were saying through out the show. The rest of the characters had some development, but seemed a little dry.

Part of the plot that was left hanging will make for great future shows. My prediction on who the person from the future will be a Romulan. Romulans are always doing things behind the scenes. They are related to both Klingons and Vulcans. They have the "Stealth/Cloaking" device that could have been gived the "mustard" skin aliens which they used to board the Enterprise. And the person that was giving the orders from the future had a short hair and a high collar like the Romulans(I could not tell what kind of ears they have).

I hated the shower sceen. It did not belong in Star Trek. I can't let my boy watch this show with me.

Overall the series looks promising, fun and full of mystery.

Well I don't want to repeat to much - just want to affirm with my opinion on this great pilot.

Bakula!!! Oh he could be as good as Kirk. I mean it. I was very impressed on how they have made his character and how Scott play him. The telling scene was when he first sees the Kilingon on life support and take charge of the whole situation. A strong captain will carry the series - all the rest, inc. nipples and bellybuttons is incidental.

Grapplers and all the lo-tech: nicely done - felt like the ship was not quite baked yet and that gives a welcome edge to it all.

Characters: great ensemble cast and the female T'Pal Vulcan is a nice touch - much much different from the Kirstyn Alley version in ST2&3.

T'PAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE HAS NOTED/MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE SAME T'PAL AS IN THE KIRK ERA "AMOK TIME"!!! Remember Kirk & McCoys disbelief that she was presiding over the ceremony and remarked how unbelievable OLD she was. Yep I am sure she is that T'Pal. WHAT A GREAT GREAT TIE-IN!!!

In TOS I'm pretty sure the Romulan ships were Birds of Prey
the klingons had D7 Battlecruisers

THE DOCTOR
 

Oh oH! I swear, damm I know that the doctor is played by the same guy in the Cellular One adds and keeps asking about the "FEEEEATURES" (features)


yep

I've been thinking about the shower scene. TOS showed a lot of skin too

Normally, I wouldn't quibble over silly details, but Robin Curtis is such a fine actress and a wonderful person that she deserves notice. Kirstie Alley, the big drawback of Wrath of Khan, was only in that one film. Robin Curtis was Saavik in 3 and 4.

This is T'Pol ... Amok Time was T'Pau (and T'Pring). Originally, Blalock's character was going to be named T'Pal, but they intentionally renamed her to avoid confusion.

das

JANK, you're right, although in my area (Oklahoma) he does commercials for the company I presently work for, U.S. Cellular--funny commercials, but STAR TREK is the gig-of-gigs...

2 out of 3 ain't bad
 

Yeah I got corrected by a guy at work on the T'pal/T'Pau/(who was T'Pring? - I forget) angle that I was -wrong- on. Damm, that would have worked too. Lots of discussion here on this and that that this thread is on. It is showing again here in the Midwest USA Sat night - I may watch it again. See what FEEEatures I missed the 1st time. lol

Geek alert:

Since it's being discussed, the whole Bird of Prey/Warbird Romulan/Klingon thing is one big clusterf*ck.

Technically, the "Bird of Prey" design is a Klingon ship, like we see in the K't'inga Class ships, but we all know that the ship in "Balance of Terror" is called "Bird of Prey" also, even though it's another design entirely. When the Romulans and Klingons hook up (2268 or something ... it's a few years after "Balance of Terror"), they exchange technology. The Klingons share the "Bird of Prey" design and the Romulans share cloaking technology. Over time, the Romulans adapt the "Bird of Prey" to get a lower section as well and form the "Warbird", example the D'deridex (sp?) ships from TNG.

In any case, there's no way that the term "Warbird" used in 2151 should relate to the same "Warbird" from TNG, since it's based on technology they get in 2268. Yet, it's never made sense why the Romulans had a ship called the "Bird of Prey" before they hooked up with the Klingons either, so who knows?

Like I said, one big clusterf*ck.

das

Re: 2 out of 3 ain't bad
 

T'Pring's the ho that he's supposed to hook up with.

das

I liked it.

I liked Bakula as Archer. His attitute is perfect.

I like the Vulcan.. -other-, but she was too emotional. Seemed to show a lot of frustration and general b!tchiness.

I esp liked Cromwells cameo and his speech. "boldly go where no man has gone before..." " ...seek out new life...etc". An homage to the original. I liked it.

Theme song was ok, but the visuals were great.

Overall a :thumbsup:

I know they won't entirely because every hardcore Trekkie on the planet would start foaming at the mouth but they really should ditch a good chunk of the pre-ST: TMP continuity. I don't mean big stuff like who commanded what ship and who was where when and things like that that aren't too tough to explain. It's stuff like the Klingons suddenly cruising around in Romulan Birds of Prey and vice versa and the non-ridged Klingons. I mean, those things weren't done with a purpose...they were done because there wasn't enough money in the budget at the time or someone had misplaced the Klingon/Romulan ship effects shots or something. I've actually seen people try to come up with plausible explanations for the blank viewscreen in The Enemy Within episode and other obvious snafus in production. :)

In defense of T'Pol's overt emotionalism, allow me to remind everyone that she appears to be a very young Vulcan (I seem to remember Archer saying something like "if you were alive 30 years ago" to her). It has been stated multiple times in TREK lore that the drive to submerge all outward displays of emotion takes quite awhile for the average Vulcan to perfect, with only a choice few reaching the "nirvana" of total emotional disconnection afforded through the practive of Kohlinar. Just like the smiling Spock in the early TOS episodes, she's trying hard. Hopefully, with time, she'll get there (though constant contact with humans may place her at a further disadvantage).

I'll agree with her age being a factor as to not her controlling emotions but I was under the impression that 'true' Vulcans ala Tuvok from VOY (Spock was half-human remember hence his smilin' outburtst) no matter which age, showed NO emotion. I don't quite get the emotion in T'Pal right now.... It shouldn't be there.

rotfl Don’t make me crack up at work!!!

I hate to put more stress on the bandwagon’s suspension, but…that theme! I thought for a few moments that I was on the wrong channel and had tuned into the show about the physically and mentally disadvantaged individual coming to grips with life in the big city (perhaps a law firm) and conquers adversity to warm everyone’s hearts and put a triumphant tear in our eyes.
I thought, “When did PAX start broadcasting on this channel?”
Then I saw the spaceships and knew some exec had F*CKED UP!
It took about 15 minutes of a show I was really enjoying to make me forget about that opening. Even without the lyrics, that music HAS to go. 2151, 2161, who knows. This theme sets it in 1983 as far as I’m concerned!

Forgive me if I repeat anything already talked to death, I dont have time to read everyones post but want to say what I thought.

The Good- Pretty solid writing, could've used a slight rewrite to punch up the humor (though I did giggle) and Vulcan-Archer conflict...LOVE the British weapons guy, good character, good acting, spoke technobabble convincingly, look forward to him...Bacula was easygoing and seems to have the goods... Good makeup on the bad guys... I liked that the show was oriented towards getting them going, rahter than a lot of character backstory (although I dont know their names other than T'Pol and Archer)... Oh, clumsy earthlings in space! Best moment was the freaking out over the bug on the alien planet- hilarious...CRUDE, thank God, no technology to save you (well, okay there was a little), Treks been needing to ditch that crutch for a long time... It was far better than I thought it would be, a nice start.

The Bad- The ship is far too cold and deviod of character. I know this is somewhat intentional, to make it crude, cramped, and ill-suited for long term space travel, but if we are to follow this ship for seven yrs, it needs some personailty beyond being uncomforatable... The decontamination rub down was stupid/obvious titilation. Plus, to be logical about it, they didnt oil their genitals of buttcracks, so God only knows whats festering in there!... Didnt like the engineer/Archers bud/hick guy. He seems to be the Chekov, Troi, Bashir, Kim of the bunch (though that title will most likely go to the black guy or Asain chick)... Ditch the theme song and intro... The time travel element to the bad guys is scary. Trek + Time Travel is a formula for disaster 85% of the time.

Now, lets see if the show can have some legs.



***SPOILER? My prediction for who are the bad guys from the future. Well, as I was looking at their shadowy/blurry form, I swear I had the feeling they were Vulcan/Romulan, and I swear I spotted pointed ears.***

Filmmaker - good to see you about and in one of my threads!

bfrank - TAG!

Easily they could have lost the shower scene, but that's Braga for you. [yawn] I hope there won't be a lot of these or it's going to get old fast. HOWEVER, no matter how bad this show may get, I doubt it can EVER make Voyager look good.

Also, for those of you who are unaware, Savik (sp?) was half Romulan. She should have had more emotion. Robin Curits was directed to play her more Vulcan and that woman got Vulcan down to a science.

I like the fact that the dog is there, and I've always loved beagles. I grew up with them.

Most of this is going to depend on the writing and the ability to develop the characters.

Originally posted by JANK:
I was under the impression that 'true' Vulcans ala Tuvok from VOY (Spock was half-human remember hence his smilin' outburtst) no matter which age, showed NO emotion. I don't quite get the emotion in T'Pal right now.... It shouldn't be there.

That's not been my understanding (from what I've seen, read and explored, Vulcans have to continually work at supressing their emotion until it becomes second nature after two or three decades) but we can easily agree to disagree. One more thing in my defense though--Tuvok was well over one-hundred years old, whereas T'Pol appears to be under 30. It would be expected for there to be a large difference in maturity levels between the two.

Oh yeah, hey elektra! :) Glad you've liked what you've seen so far...