Battlestar Galactica Vs. Star Trek Enterprise
As you know, I didn't care much for the Battlestar Galactica mini-series that debuted on the Sci-Fi Channel a few months back. You also know that I have despised Enterprise from the beginning. Having now seen four episodes of the former (now a full-blown series) and nearly four seasons of the latter, I am forced to amend a few opinions.
BG rocks. I'm not saying it's the perfect sci-fi show, but the first few eps have been more compelling, more interesting, and more original than the first four seasons of ENT combined. I think the BG mini-series tried to pack in too much, and came across as a little shallow and disjointed. But the first two eps, "33" and "Water," were truly stellar.
As for ENT, it has certainly improved with time, but not much, and not enough. For me it boils down to the characters; I don't really like any of them because they haven't been sufficiently developed. I continue to watch the show out of some bizarre and misguided sense of loyalty, but it disappoints me almost every week.
BG rocks. I'm not saying it's the perfect sci-fi show, but the first few eps have been more compelling, more interesting, and more original than the first four seasons of ENT combined. I think the BG mini-series tried to pack in too much, and came across as a little shallow and disjointed. But the first two eps, "33" and "Water," were truly stellar.
As for ENT, it has certainly improved with time, but not much, and not enough. For me it boils down to the characters; I don't really like any of them because they haven't been sufficiently developed. I continue to watch the show out of some bizarre and misguided sense of loyalty, but it disappoints me almost every week.
posted by Rick Broida @ 8:58 AM
8 Comments:
At January 26, 2005 12:46 AM,
Dave said…
I'm guessing they've switched your medication again, because you're actually making some sense. Yes, Battlestar Galactica is a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary television landscape right now. In fact, it's one of the best sci-fi shows I've ever seen. That's pretty remarkable when you consider the source material--the original 70s series--is so horribly campy. The show is as gripping as a good book. The direction and special effects are first class, and the combat is the most seemingly authentic depiction of modern flightline operations I've seen in years outside of a Tom Clancy novel. I've now seen almost the entire first season in HDTV thanks to thwe fact that it got a headstart in Europe, and I can testify to the fact that the show stays consistently great.
That said, I also agree that Enterprise has improved slowly, but I doubt it's improved enough to rescue it from cancellation. And that's too bad; if it ends this year, I'lll be without new Star Trek for the first time in my entire adult life.
At January 26, 2005 9:09 AM,
Rick Broida said…
Hey, pal, don't dis the original BG, 'kay? History will remember Dirk Benedict as the Brando of campy sci-fi TV!
Speaking of which, I hope you meant "otherwise dreary SCI-FI television landscape." Because the new BG is by no means the only reason to tune in these days. I give you: Arrested Development, Scrubs, The West Wing, Third Watch, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and on and on. There's a shocking amount of good TV these days...
But I digress. You seem to mourn the impending cancellation of Enterprise just because it means the end of an era. Surely you'll agree that after an 18-year run, Trek should take a break. The last couple movies bit, and Enterprise has no spark at all. Hey, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out...
At February 02, 2005 10:31 AM,
Dave said…
Sure, I see your point. Out of a mere 44,000 unique hours of television programming broadcast in the United States each week, there's easily a dozen or so hours of good TV that's actually worth watching. Woo hoo! Celebrate! A truly shocking amount!
While I'm not one of those TV snobs that says "I don't watch TV; I read books or attend community theater," I try to keep my TV viewing to a bare minimum. Life is busy enough without adding hours and hours of sedentary, passive non-activity to it each week. So my bar is pretty high--mostly. I watch 24, Alias, Battlestar, The Simpsons, Monk... And, yes, Enterprise.
And that's why Star Trek is like an old friend that I'll miss dearly when it's gone. Sure, every last movie since Kahn has been miserable. The Next-Gen movies actually allowed me to recalibrate the definition of "bad cinema" in ways I wouldn't have thought possible. Sure, the Next Gen series was bad and DS9 was worse. Voyager teetered on unwatchable on a routine basis. Enterprise has cynically squandered its chnace to be different and to tell really interesting stories about humanity's first bold step beyond the solar system. But I'll still miss it. Berman and Braga: damn you both to hell!
At February 02, 2005 5:18 PM,
Rick Broida said…
Well, you won't be watching Enterprise much longer. It just got cancelled. Which, of course, validates my opinion and renders yours meaningless.
For instance, if you think The Undiscovered Country and First Contact weren't good Trek movies, you obviously have little to no appreciation for the series in any form. And don't dis my beloved Voyager; them's fightin' words!
So, let's see, you said the television landscape is "dreary," yet you rattled off a list of shows you like. You include Enterprise among them, yet say it "cynically squandered its chnace to be different and to tell really interesting stories about humanity's first bold step beyond the solar system." (I agree wholeheartedly, btw.) Does it cause you physical discomfort to contradict yourself so severely?
At February 06, 2005 11:51 AM,
Dave said…
Honestly, there are so few bright spots in the Star Trek movie landscape you'd surely think there was some sort of a power failure. Of course, I momentarily enjoyed most of the Trek films while I was watching them, but their value was as fleeting as integrity on a politician. Here's the real test: are there any Star Trek movies you'd want to watch, say, a third time? Kahn, to be sure. But the one with God? The Nexus? Insurrection? Good lord, don't say Nemesis. Undiscovered Country is the best of the bunch since Kahn, I suppose. But for the most part, they're all scripts that would have been aired as regular episodes, as far away from a sweeps week as they could have managed. Do I miss the fact that we probably won't ever see another Trek movie? Sure, but only because I'm a sucker for All Things Trek. Heck, I could probably even tolerate sharing a meal with Brent Spiner, as long as he didn't talk much.
At February 07, 2005 9:56 AM,
Rick Broida said…
"Their value was fleeting"?! This from the guy who said Star Wars Episode II was the second-best movie in the franchise. You've got a really warped opinion of what makes for a good movie. But, of course, you're entitled to your opinion--even when it's limping along on thrusters.
You really need to stop changing the subject, which is that Battlestar Galactica is caviar; Enterprise, pork rinds. Look at last week's episode of the latter, which planted the seeds for the building of the Federation. FINALLY, a good script, some non-forced witty banter between characters, and even a decent cliffhanger ending; but there's Scott Bakula awkwardly trying to channel William Shatner and failing at every turn. I'm not wild about any of the actors in that show, but he is by far the worst. He's so wooden, he makes Pinocchio jealous. Ha!
At February 07, 2005 10:39 AM,
Dave said…
Well, there's no arguing with insanity, so I'm not sure what I can say as a counter-argument.
First of all, I stand by my statement about Star Wars -- only the very first movie -- you know, the one called Episode IV -- is actually a "classic." It's a great movie, without a doubt. But all the others are all failures on some fundamental level. That's why I feel safe calling Episode II the second best film. It's better than Episode I, and there's not much competition.
As for Enterprise, I feel uncomfortable almost completely agreeing with you. You're right on almost each and every count--even that Bakula was channeling Kirk in last week's episode. It's exactly the way Kirk would have handled the situation, though not how Shatner would have acted it. Whether that's good or bad, I'll leave an open issue. And that's important to remember: you're wrong, so very, very wrong, about Bakula.
Remember that this all started with William Shatner, the archetype starship captain, who was a genuinely bad actor who filled the room with pork every time he opens his mouth. His characterizations brought a certain notorious style to James T. Kirk, but no one has ever accused him of elevating Star Trek to Shakespeare. In fact, critics agree there's a narrow handful of episodes in which he controlled his Porky Pig urges well enough to deliver excellent performances.
So what's my point? Bakula is a decent, personable actor that has handled his role pretty well. I don't love the guy, but he's far, far from the worst actor on the show, and on an average day, matches or betters Shatner's abilities. For the honor of worst on Enterprise, I'd pick the helmsman dude that never gets any lines (I wonder why) or the whiney linguist lady. I don't even know either of their names.
Finally, I'll add that some of Shatner's failings had to do with the melodramatic scripts he was handed. It was part of the era. But you've seen the guy on other shows and on Priceline commercials; he chews up scenery for breakfast no matter what lines he's given.
At February 07, 2005 11:20 AM,
Rick Broida said…
Oh. My. God. Scott Bakula a better actor than William Shatner? Now I know you've gone round the bend. Do you even like Star Trek at all? Apparently you do, but why? You don't like William Shatner. You don't like most of the movies, especially those with the TNG cast. You hated Voyager and disliked DS9. You professed your love for Enterprise when it debuted, but have now expressed dislike for that as well. Why in the world are you so "sad" to see it go off the air?!
William Shatner is a Shakespearean-trained actor who, while certainly cartoonish at times in his portrayal of Kirk, made the character fun and complex and endlessly watchable. (I imagine you wouldn't have watched every single Trek spin-off series if you hadn't enjoyed the original.) Scott Bakula comes across as a dweeb most of the time, and when he switches to hothead mode (his only other method of acting), it seems contrived and overboiled. Bleh.
Go enjoy your milquetoast captain. I understand he's having Chef whip up a lovely frittata for dinner.
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