Star Trek: Enterprise was the second series in the franchise to get cancelled, but there is a chance for a new show that will bring back some, if not all, of the characters.
What Is It?
This Star Trek prequel is set in the mid-22nd century before the formation of the United Federation of Planets, and it follows Captain Jonathan Archer and the crew of Earth’s first Warp 5 starship, the NX-01 Enterprise, as they venture into deep space and encounter new species, including early interactions with the Vulcans, Andorians, and Klingons.
Aired: 2001-05, 4 Seasons Totaling 98 Episodes
Starring: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park
Created By: Rick Berman, Brannon Braga
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Why Was It Cancelled?
When Star Trek: Enterprise arrived on the UPN schedule in 2001 (then known just as Enterprise), it picked up the franchise baton from Voyager and appeared to be off to a promising start. It was the first prequel among the Trek shows and offered the chance to go back and explore the origins of the Federation and also return to the feel of the original series. The premiere episode drew 12.5 million viewers, and overall the first season enjoyed similar ratings to what Voyager had been seeing. Reviews of the show were somewhat mixed, with some fans unhappy with what they saw as changes to canon, such as the Vulcans appearing more sinister and manipulative. But the show did get the greenlight for a second season.
Sadly, Enterprise went through a creative slump in its second year, and the ratings dropped off notably, averaging only 4 million viewers per episode versus 5.9 million in the first season. There were talks of cancelling the show at that point, but a letter-writing campaign by fans convinced the network to keep it going. Changes were demanded, though, resulting in the season-long Xindi storyline, which some fans liked while others were not too happy with the new direction.
The show appeared to be facing cancellation again after its third season, but the network did greenlight a fourth year, in part because Paramount reduced the license fee for the series. However, all indications were that it was headed into its last season as it was moved to the Friday night death slot (the same one that killed TOS in its third year), and the budget per episode was dropped by over half, from $1.7 million to $800,000. Despite this, Enterprise soared creatively, delivering its best season since its first. But the ratings were at series lows, and UPN decided not to keep the show going.
The fans made the call to action once again, writing letters and even trying such crazy stunts as attempting to raise the money to finance a fifth season and also appealing to Congress to step in and save the show (as if they really thought politicians could get something done). But UPN was unwilling to greenlight a fifth season, and the show ended with what is considered by many to be the worst finale of all the Star Trek sequel/prequel shows.
Had Enterprise continued, there were plans to cover events that preceded the original series, such as the buildup to the Romulan War. Showrunner Manny Coto had also mapped out a “miniseries within a series” that would have covered multiple episodes and acted as a follow-up to the Mirror Universe episode “In a Mirror, Darkly.” We also would have learned more about the Kzinti race, which originated in Larry Niven’s Known Space novels and appeared in the animated series episode “The Slaver Weapon.” But sadly, none of those stories were realized, as Star Trek: Enterprise became the second series in the franchise to be officially cancelled. It had a decent run at four seasons and 98 episodes, surpassing TOS, but it met with a disappointing ending.
Read more about cancelled sci fi TV shows and the decisions that drive those cancellations in Why Were They Cancelled? 2nd Ed.
Can It Be Revived?
So far, Nu Trek has given us prequels with ties to The Original Series along with a continuation of The Next Generation (Star Trek: Picard and, to an extent, Star Trek: Lower Decks) and a link to Voyager (Star Trek: Prodigy), but neither Deep Space Nine nor Enterprise have had much coverage in the shows streaming on Paramount+. There is no reason that either of them could not go through some sort of revival, though, and something is currently in the works relating to Enterprise.
Trek veteran Michael Sussman has proposed a series titled Star Trek: United, which would focus on Jonathan Archer’s tenure as one of the earliest presidents of the Federation of Planets—something hinted at in Star Trek: Enterprise and later made canon (you can read more about the proposal at this link). The idea has been floating around for a while, and word is that Sussman recently met with Paramount execs, allegedly to discuss this series. It would not be a direct continuation of Enterprise, taking place many years later and no longer on a starship, but it could still pull from the series and bring in various members of the crew, possibly giving a better resolution than the series finale did. Sussman has supposedly mapped out five seasons, though it is unclear if Paramount is willing to make that much of a commitment.
This “political thriller” in space could be an interesting way to carry on the story of Enterprise, and fans do seem receptive to the idea (although many would prefer a Star Trek: Legacy continuation from Picard). And if there is a general interest in seeing Star Trek: United go forward, now is the perfect time for a Call to Action. Sussman appears to be talking with Paramount about the show, so a push from the fans could certainly give it a boost. An online petition would be a good way to show support, along with plenty of related activity on social media. Fans could also start staging watch parties for Star Trek: Enterprise to get it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings. Execs at Paramount are currently considering what direction to take the franchise at this point, and Star Trek: United has plenty of promise. If fans show their support, perhaps that series will be next on the Trek production list.
Where Can You Watch It?
As with most of the Star Trek shows, Enterprise is currently available for streaming on Paramount+. You can also catch episodes streaming for free (with ads) on the Pluto TV live-streaming Sci Fi channel, and you can purchase it VOD from sellers like Amazon.com.
Are you a fan of Enterprise, and would you support the Star: Trek United series? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
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Thought I’d was a really good show. Liked how it had a long story going weeks and weeks following the story( the zindi) hope they can somehow bring tucker back. Also the theme song became a song I would sing my late wife. She past in 2023. Anyways, would be nice if they brought it back. Jon DeHaan(a real trek fan. 60 years old).
Every time they design a good show some of the writers get bored because they’re not getting paid enough well I think they should be a sexy on writing for shows like this I want to see it come back I watch the reruns every day over and over again there’s an interesting show it deals with the beginning of the formation of the federation and for some reason people are afraid of new things bring it back and pay a marginal wage for people who want a job and who have good ideas some people get so spoiled because they write so many shows four shows that they get big heads and they quit or they don’t want to continue because they’re not getting paid enough get somebody who wants to do the show and doesn’t mind being paid a regular fee for writing because this is ridiculous people get greedy and if they’re too stupid to come up with new ideas then fire them and hire new people that’s what it’s about.
I have been a Trekie ever since it first aired on CBS (TOS September 66) Then the movie in ’78 with each and every TV series and movie that has given us the future of the human race after our darkest moments and how even though we don’t realize it we have followed the Star Trek ways and have reached out for the stars to seek new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no human has gone. We know and accept that we are not alone in the universe and we are ready to explore
IMHO, Enterprise was a great show and did the Star Trek legacy as a whole a great service. I do feel the finale was just plain sad, not giving the true team its own rights to the series final episode.
I for one would love to see it revived in some way but I truly feel the whole series is about exploration and should try to continue on that premise.
Live Long & Prosper,
50 Year Fan
If your going to turn it into another woke propaganda venue forget it
No Kurtzman. Make Matalas showrunner for either show
. You would have to get new or replacement cast for Enterprise.
I am in the middle of the 4th season of Enterprise and I love the show. I never watched it when it was on broadcast tv, however I’m enjoying it immensely. I liked when the show transformed Archer from a fairly carefree captain to a man on a mission, no nonsense captain trying to save the Earth from being annihilated. Please count my voice and I’m sure millions of other fans as definitely wanting a return of Enterprise in whatever form the creators can give us!
I also love star trek and enjoyed Enterprise. The last season covered lots of issues, but it was rushed as if they had to explain 100 years in one season. The series finale was obviously just thrown together. Enterprise could have become another great series. All star trek series started poorly and developed into great shows. I felt like Enterprise never had the chance. A continuation is sorely needed. Please finish Enterprise properly. I hope they do a star trek united. The birth of the federation.
Yes I would like to see the Enterprise come back to fill in alot the missed opportunities with the alternative universe where the dark captain found the newer Enterprise ship and other stories that seemed to not fully told but shortened
Bring the show back!!!!
After the events of Terra Prime, the Enterprise NX-01 went back out to the edge of allied space to confront the Romulans who were making aggressive moves into pre-Federation territory. Emissions from the experimental Romulan ship’s quantum singularity warp drive reacted with a high concentration of chroniton particles in local subspace to create a space time anomaly, similar to the one in ST:TNG Timescape. As a result, the Enterprise was then caught in a space time bubble where time went by faster for them. It took them twenty-five years to develop the technology to escape the anomaly, but outside only one (or two or five) years went by. Yada yada yada and we have season five of Star Trek Enterprise, with the characters all being 25 years older, but well explained in star trek terms.
I watched every episode and have researched it several times. I would like to see star Trek Legacy before star trek united. I’m also a dan of Alex Kurtzman and his vision of star Trek. I would very much like to see several trek shows on at once and I really wish Enterprise and even Discovery were given their due 7 seasons. I will always be a Trek fan but in my opinion Legacy needs to come first then United.
As a long time Trek fan, I enjoyed all the shows. Would love to see the new one. Star Trek Enterprise was never.the chance to explain the Romulin issue. All the actors on the show fit the characters. Would be nice to see them in some way again.
My favorite Series of all . I don’t know why it was panned so heavily.It was the closest to the original of all of them.I was tired of the cereberal stuff of the Next Generation and all those.
Let it rest in peace. They killed it just as it was getting good like ds9. Aka deep snooze nine. Marina Sirtis calls it that! Lol she right.
I’d love to see a revival of Enrerprise with many new episodes. Loved T’Pau, Archer, Reed, The Doctor and the romance with Tucker and T’Pau. All the others too. Such an important era, building Star Fleet, the Federation and all the discoveries leading up to Strange New Worlds.
Enterprise was my favorite of all the Star Trek series. Was bummed when it was cancelled. Would love for it to get reborn like a phoenix!
Well personally I loved it and have rewatched the series numerous times. Enterprise and Next Gen are my favorites love them both warts and all. : )
TOS, TNG, DS9, and Enterprise are also on broadcast TV at H&I six nights a week.
Been watching Star Trek since it was created loved all of them check out 2001 a Space Odyssey and how that compairs to NASA on YouTube WOW!
I enjoyed the series, especially Scott Bakula ,please count me in as a fan of Enterprise and TOS
You can also watch nightly on H&I (Heroes & Icons channel. It is over the air broadcast in Vermont. 8:00 tos 9:00 nxg 10:00 ds9 11:00 voy 12:00 Enterprise. I believe the channel also streams somewhere.
Absolutely I would love for them to go forward and produce Star Trek: United.
Scott Bakula is an awesome actor as well are other members of the Enterprisr cast.
Stat Trek from TOS to and including Enterprise Air nightly, one episode of each, beginning at 8PM EST on the FRNDLY TV App’s Heroes and Icons (H&I) network for ROKU devices.
It is only about $13 a month and you get ME TV out of Chicago (Svengoolie hosted classic horror movies on Saturday nights), ION, Lifetime, westerns,and other channels.
I have not found another place you can stream MeTV, and Heroes and Icons networks.
You failed to mention that a replica of the NX-O1 is in Star Trek Starfleet Academy
Cancelled my cable recently, stoped watching SyFy years ago. You just arent what you were when you began as Sci Fi. Now, too much crap.
My friends and I would love to see Enterprise resurrected. The original Enterprise’s finale left many of us hanging. Please consider this household in total support of reviving Enterprise and/or creating Star Trek: United.
Enterprise died because UPN died. Any other claims are just UPN-ass-covering nonsense.
If all the actors of Star Trek enterprise are willing to make this new series I think it would be great , but it needs to be true to the original series Enterprise and have excellent writers to make it work.
Yes I would watch it I’m a big fan of star Trek