Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1 Faced a Major Writing Challenge, Says Creator
Paramount originally released "Star Trek: Enterprise" to mixed reactions, and for many fans, it marked a low point in the beloved franchise. Set in the 22nd century as a prequel to the original series, "Enterprise" certainly garnered its share of supporters, but the fact that it only ran for four seasons—compared to the seven seasons each of the previous three Star Trek series—tells a clear story about its struggles.
But here’s where it gets controversial: it wasn’t just the audience who felt fatigued. Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, the co-creators of "Enterprise," had been deeply involved in the Star Trek universe for over ten years, starting with "The Next Generation." Braga revealed in a 2021 interview with Den of Geek that when it came time to write for "Enterprise" season one, he was already feeling worn out.
"When we were filming the pilot, I was excited with lots of ideas," Braga explained. "But as soon as the series launched, I felt restricted. It was like, ‘Here we go again,’ and I faced a serious creative challenge."
If you glance at the writing credits for that first season, you’ll spot several writers who contributed only once or twice and then disappeared from future seasons. Braga attributed this to some questionable hiring choices:
"It was the first time I wasn’t collaborating with long-time colleagues. We had a big team of about ten writers, but ‘Star Trek’ is notoriously tough to write for. It’s not just difficult—it’s unique. The show has a very specific voice, and many on the new writing staff weren’t familiar with the genre. Out of those ten, only a couple stuck around beyond season one."
Season 1’s returning writers, such as Mike Sussman, Phyllis Strong, and André Bormanis, were veterans of the franchise, much like Braga himself. Director James L. Conway, who helmed four episodes including the pilot "Broken Bow" and fan-favorites like "Judgment" and "In A Mirror Darkly," confirmed this view in his Den of Geek interview.
"That pilot was fantastic," Conway said. "But the rest of the first season felt repetitive and uninspired, almost as if written by people who were burnt out. Brannon admitted that he made some poor staffing decisions and that exhaustion from finishing ‘Voyager’ lingered. It definitely took some time for the show to find its footing again."
Why Season 1 Suffered: Franchise Fatigue Hits Hard
Paramount
Braga and Conway’s honesty shines a light on a glaring truth: season one was undoubtedly the downturn for "Enterprise." Episodes played it safe, offering little innovation despite the fresh setting in Star Trek’s timeline. Instead of delivering real tension or adventure, the show often felt like business as usual.
Adding to the confusion was the series’ overarching storyline—the "Temporal Cold War," involving factions manipulating history through time travel—a plotline that many found at odds with the rest of the show’s tone and made the narrative feel unfocused.
Scott Bakula, who portrayed Captain Jonathan Archer, has spoken openly about how the grueling 26-episode-per-season schedule prioritized quantity over quality, further complicating efforts to produce compelling storytelling.
Today's "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is encountering some reminiscent challenges, with episodes occasionally feeling like rehashes of classic Star Trek moments. But unlike "Enterprise," it’s clear the cast and crew are genuinely enjoying themselves, bringing a joyful energy to their work. Back in "Enterprise’s" time, there was little playfulness or fresh homage—just a series seemingly running on empty, following a rigid formula dictated by network demands.
After "Enterprise" ended in 2005, the franchise went quiet until the 2009 "Star Trek" film reboot by J.J. Abrams, which, regardless of opinions, brought fresh energy and a bold new direction to the series.
But here’s the most exciting part—25 years later, "Enterprise" might finally get the fresh perspective it deserved. It’s well established in Star Trek canon that Captain Archer left Starfleet to enter politics, eventually becoming the Federation president from 2184 to 2192. Now, Bakula and Sussman have teamed up with a new pitch for a series centered on President Archer’s leadership days, blending the spirit of "Star Trek" with the political drama vibes of "The West Wing." This era—the early years of the Federation—is a largely unexplored chapter in Star Trek lore.
While Paramount has yet to greenlight this project, the passion from both Bakula and Sussman is clear: success in any show hinges on the dedication of its creators, something "Enterprise" sometimes lacked in its early days.
What do you think? Was season one of "Enterprise" a victim of unavoidable franchise fatigue, or did the creative choices seal its fate? Could this new Archer-centered series reignite the magic, or is it too late for fresh Star Trek stories in that timeline? Share your thoughts below!
