Short answer: Star Trek Enterprise “These Are the Voyages” is the final episode of the series that served as a tribute to all of Star Trek. It featured cameos from characters of The Next Generation and centered on the decommissioning of the NX-01 Enterprise.
The Making of Star Trek Enterprise’s ‘These Are the Voyages’: Step by Step Guide
The creation of “These Are the Voyages,” the series finale for Star Trek: Enterprise, was a long and complicated process that involved multiple steps and decisions made by the creators, directors, writers, and actors. In this detailed step-by-step guide, we’ll take a closer look at how “These Are the Voyages” came to be what it is today.
Step 1: Conceptualization
The initial idea for the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise was to create an episode that would serve as a bridge between Enterprise and the original Star Trek series. The goal was to provide closure for fans while also paying homage to the beloved franchise’s legacy. Rick Berman, one of the executive producers of Enterprise, came up with the concept of using clips from The Original Series as part of the episode.
Step 2: Scriptwriting
Once the basic idea was established, it was time to start writing the script. Brannon Braga and Manny Coto were tasked with writing “These Are the Voyages.” They knew that they wanted the story to revolve around Commander Riker visiting an alternate reality version of Enterprise on his holodeck. This allowed them to incorporate characters from both Enterprise and The Original Series into one final episode.
Step 3: Casting
As part of their plan to incorporate characters from both shows, Braga and Coto knew they needed actors who could convincingly play younger versions of classic Star Trek characters like Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock. For instance, actor James Cawley portrayed Kirk in a brief scene in “These Are The Voyages.”
However, there were some notable omissions such as William Shatner who played Captain Kirk in Star Trek’s Original Series and subsequent movies declined appearing in ‘These are The Voyages’. His absence caused controversy among fans because he had previously appeared on many episodes of other Star Trek series but wasn’t present for this momentous episode.
Step 4: Filming
In order to create a believable holodeck recreation of the Enterprise, it was important to pay attention to detail while filming. The production team went all out when designing and building the sets that would represent Enterprise for the final episode.
When it came time to film, everyone involved in the show brought their A-game. As a result, “These Are the Voyages” is one of the most visually stunning episodes of any Star Trek series. But the fact remains- fans were disappointed by how fast and rushed everything felt because they tried to cram multiple story arcs in only 47 minutes.
Step 5: Editing
After all filming was completed, it was time for post-production. In this stage, editors worked long hours piecing together footage from both Enterprise and The Original Series. They also added sound effects and music (like Alexander Courage’s iconic Star Trek theme) to create an immersive experience for viewers.
Step 6: Public Reception
When “These Are The Voyages” debuted on television, it wasn’t exactly what fans had
Answering Your Burning Questions on Star Trek Enterprise’s Finale, ‘These Are the Voyages’
As a fan of Star Trek Enterprise, I know firsthand the frustration and confusion that ‘These Are The Voyages’, the finale of the series, has sparked among its viewers. While some hail it as a fitting end to the show’s four-season run, others have called it a disrespect to the characters and fans alike.
So, what exactly are the burning questions surrounding this episode? Let’s dive in.
Firstly, why was ‘These Are The Voyages’ criticized so heavily?
There are a number of reasons why fans were disappointed with this particular episode. Firstly, there was the fact that it was not actually an ending for Enterprise itself: instead of concluding the journeys of Archer and his crew aboard Enterprise NX-01, ‘These Are The Voyages’ saw them take something of a backseat in their own show in order to facilitate a Next Generation crossover storyline.
This meant that many felt that this standalone episode lacked cohesion with much that had come before it in terms of plot or character development—as if it was hastily produced just to please executives’ demands ahead of cancellation.
Secondly, there was some controversy surrounding how different actors portrayed original characters such as Riker on board ten years later enterprise. As such sometimes even hardcore Trekkies found themselves adrift rewatching what should’ve been interpreted as transparent links between all three shows/movies.Let alone confusing and easily offending casual folks who know nothing about Star Trek universe.
But perhaps one of the most vexing aspects of ‘These Are The Voyages’, is how rushed everything felt. Characters we had grown attached over 98 episodes were presented with shallow generic emotional turmoil without being fully explored.–that made viewer feel like writers simply wanted to tie up loose ends quickly rather than providing beloved characters appropriate closure putting aside commercial ends.
What could’ve been done differently?
Of course, hindsight is always 20/20—so while we may never get an entirely satisfying ending for Enterprise, it’s interesting to consider what could have been done differently. For starters, ‘These Are The Voyages’ could’ve done away completely with the Next Generation crossover aspects, instead focusing solely on Archer and his crew grappling with the end of their journey.
In addition, the writers could have taken more time to truly dig into the emotional impact that wrapping up four years worth of storylines would have on each major character. Perhaps giving them a suitable send-off that was unique in its own way,making sure viewers got a feeling that this episode does justice to all these characters evolution throughout enterprise run–something less generic and rushed- which would have given fans a better sense of closure as show’s cancellation news seem inevitable from its lower ratings.
Why is ‘These are the Voyages’ still an important part of Enterprise’s legacy?
Despite its flaws, many agree that ‘These Are The Voyages’ does serve an important purpose beyond just concluding Enterprise‘s run. It gives us a chance to reflect back on everything we love about the show: what made it different or
How ‘These Are the Voyages’ Culminated Star Trek Enterprise’s Legacy
Star Trek: Enterprise, the prequel series to the iconic sci-fi franchise, had a tumultuous run. It premiered in 2001 with high expectations, aiming to reinvigorate the Star Trek brand for a new generation. However, it struggled with ratings and creative challenges throughout its four seasons on the airwaves. Despite this struggle, “These Are the Voyages,” the final episode of Enterprise, has come to be seen as an effective conclusion to what was ultimately an important piece of Star Trek’s history.
Firstly, it should be noted that “These Are the Voyages” is not your typical series finale. Instead of a typical episode that wraps up plotlines and allows characters a chance to say goodbye, “Voyages” takes a different approach. The majority of its runtime is dedicated to depicting events from another classic Star Trek era: The Next Generation’s holodeck simulation of Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew as they undertake a mission during Enterprise’s interlude between Seasons Three and Four.
Despite fan dissatisfaction with how this Holodeck-set story takes time away from We wanted Space Tony Danza – oops, sorry about that typo! what I meant to write was “Enterprise’s main cast,” it also provides commentary on how Starfleet officers are remembered. The VR-recreated depiction we see highlights some realities surrounding legacy-building: individual actions become part of someone else’s story after you’re gone, someone else sometimes decides your place in history instead of yourself and those who come after may view your accomplishments through their preconceived notions.
The highlight of “Voyages,” however, is ultimately its final scenes. These allow for long-serving cast members Jonathan Frakes (Riker) and Marina Sirtis (Troi) to make guest appearances during which they commemorate all prior iterations of Star Trek by paying homage through watching recordings from every iteration accompany William Shatner reminds us all that Star Trek’s accomplishment lies in its legacy.
While this may seem like a peripheral thing, it goes a long way to functionally ending Enterprise’s contribution to the series, while at the same time validating series’ supporters for their journey. It was a nice touch from the writers of “Voyages” to acknowledge how important Star Trek has been as a cultural force for nearly 40 years and what purposeful mission storytelling can serve beyond mere entertainment value.
In conclusion, “These Are the Voyages” is not without flaws; however, it offers an unconventional but fitting conclusion to Enterprise. While primarily serving as fan service through its depiction of another beloved era of Star Trek and acknowledgement of all those who came before, it also gives meaning to every story episode the show told; ultimately contextualizing what being part of Starfleet means. With its reminder that space travel represents exploration and making new discoveries rather than just wars between powerful species struggling for dominance or settling colonial disputes within ourselves keeps alive the idealism central to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision which continues into even today
