Star Trek has built a commendable legacy with its series finales, often delivering memorable and impactful conclusions to its various narratives. Notable examples include the highly acclaimed finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation, titled “All Good Things…,” as well as the strong conclusions of both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Even the finale of Star Trek: Picard received praise for effectively bringing closure to the story of The Next Generation characters.
However, amidst the positive reception of Star Trek finales, there stands an exception that neither fans nor actor Jonathan Frakes view favorably—the finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, titled “These Are the Voyages…”
This particular finale sparked controversy for several reasons, primarily due to its decision to retroactively depict the events of Enterprise as a holodeck recreation by William Riker, diverting attention away from the Enterprise characters and focusing on characters from The Next Generation who had already concluded their story arcs. The Enterprise cast, including Jolene Blalock (T’Pol), expressed dissatisfaction with this narrative choice, with Blalock labeling it “appalling.”
In a candid discussion on the Shuttlepod podcast, hosted by Enterprise cast members Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer, Jonathan Frakes, who played William Riker, shared his honest thoughts about the controversial finale. He expressed that the decision was “inappropriate,” particularly for lead actor Scott Bakula, and that bringing in characters from The Next Generation for what was supposed to be a “valentine to the fans” felt wrong.
Frakes reflected on the situation, stating, “It couldn’t have been more inappropriate, for Scott [Bakula] certainly, but for all of you: to bring in characters from the original Next Gen of that world of Star Trek. It was Riker and Troi, Marina and I were invited in for what was allegedly a ‘valentine to the fans.’ And I could feel in my heart and my gut and my brain that it was wrong.”
He continued by emphasizing that Enterprise deserved its own ending, given that other Star Trek series had run for seven seasons, and the decision to incorporate characters from The Next Generation into Enterprise’s finale felt disconnected and awkward. Frakes acknowledged the misstep, calling it one of the few “real bumps in the road” and stating, “It had nothing to do with the show. It was insane… it was so disconnected.”
Frakes’ candid comments align with sentiments shared by fans over the years, emphasizing that the finale of Enterprise was a regrettable conclusion to Star Trek’s golden era. Nonetheless, the experience serves as a lesson to be learned, a reminder that even in the vast universe of Star Trek, missteps can occur, but they offer opportunities for growth and improvement.