The series finale of Star Trek: The Original Series not to run for 7 seasons.
The main problem with Star Trek: Enterprise’s series finale boils down to the episode’s premise: “These Are The Voyages…” revolves around TNG's Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes. Enterprise's finale actually takes place during the TNG season 7 episode, “The Pegasus,” and the events of Star Trek: Enterprise take place in the holodeck as Riker struggles with a moral dilemma. The fact that Enterprise's characters were reduced to holograms in their own finale, which was really about a TNG guest star, incensed the fans and the cast as well. Compounding the problem was the decision to kill off the beloved Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer). Those are the main grievances used to condemn “These Are The Voyages…” and the complaints are valid. Yet the finale is not without its strong points as well.
10 It Was Nice To See Riker & Troi (& Hear Data) Again
As unfair as it was to Star Trek: Enterprise’s cast that Riker was the main character of their finale, it was still nice to see Will Riker and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) together again. “These Are The Voyages…” aired 3 years after Star Trek: Nemesis killed the TNG movie franchise, so it was fun to see Riker and Troi in their heyday on the USS Enterprise-D and giving themselves a tour of the NX-01 Enterprise. In addition, Data (Brent Spiner) has a vocal cameo, and it was also an unexpected pleasure to hear the beloved android, especially since he died at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis.
9 Enterprise's Finale Recreated TNG's Enterprise-D
Star Trek: Enterprise's series finale also recreated the Enterprise-D. Riker and Troi are seen in Ten-Forward, in the hallways and turbo lift, and in the conference room. This was the first time the Enterprise-D was seen since it was destroyed in Star Trek Generations 9 years earlier. "These Are The Voyages..." also had some fun with Riker and Troi contrasting the plush and pastel interiors of Captain Picard's (Patrick Stewart) Galaxy-class ship with the metallic, utilitarian interior of the NX-01 Enterprise.
8 Enterprise's Finale Was A Glimpse Into Archer & Crew's Future
Star Trek: Enterprise's finale also saw a time jump to 2161, and the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise was winding down after 10 years of serving aboard Captain Archer's starship. Some, like Ensign Hoshi Sato (Linda Park), were planning the next phase of their lives on Earth or in Starfleet. The time jump was jarring for audiences, and it was a reminder of all of the adventures we'd never see because Enterprise was canceled, but it did convey the historic accomplishment of the NX-01 Enterprise and its crew.
7 Riker Posing As Chef & Interviewing Enterprise's Crew Was Fun
Following Star Trek: Picard.) Each Enterprise actor brought their A-game to play with TNG icon Jonathan Frakes. And it was Trip himself, after Riker witnessed him sacrificing his life to save Captain Archer, who triggered Riker making the right decision in "The Pegasus," which retconned TNG.
6 Shran Returned As Enterprise's Best Recurring Guest Star
Star Trek: Enterprise's finale also brought back Shran (Jeffrey Combs), who was the show's best and most popular recurring guest star. Shran was believed dead years prior, but he revealed he faked his demise and asked Archer for help in rescuing his kidnapped daughter. This plotline set up Trip's death, but it was fitting that Shran ed the final Enterprise episode. Had Star Trek: Enterprise been renewed for season 5, there were plans for Shran to the crew of the NX-01 Enterprise as an "auxiliary or an advisor."
5 T'Pol & Trip's "I Believe I'll Miss You" Scene Is Good
"These Are The Voyages..." also revealed that the controversial romance between T'Pol and Trip Tucker has been over for six years, meaning it ended in Star Trek: Enterprise season 4. While their love story was divisive, Jolene Blalock and Connor Trinneer did share an appealing chemistry. It was fully on display in Star Trek: Enterprise's finale when T'Pol asked Trip if he ever missed her, and the Vulcan confessed, "I believe I'll miss you." Later in the finale, it was fittingly T'Pol who mourned Trip the most.
4 Enterprise Returning To Rigel X Called Back To The Series Premiere
It was a nice symmetry for Star Trek: Enterprise to return to Rigel X in its series finale. As Captain Archer pointed out, Rigel X and its seedy trading outpost was the first planet the NX-01 Enterprise visited in the series premiere, "Broken Bow." Rigel X was no less dangerous for the Enterprise's crew a decade later, as they got in a firefight after rescuing Shran's young daughter. Rigel X was a smart callback to bring the voyages of Captain Archer's Enterprise full circle.
3 Archer & T'Pol's Final Scene Is Heartwarming
Before Captain Archer signed the Federation Charter, he nervously paced while memorizing his speech, which actually made T'Pol break her own Vulcan stoicism to help him fix his collar. It's also notable that Archer was with T'Pol and Dr. Phlox, which was a nod to Star Trek: The Original Series' classic triumvirate of Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Archer deciding to hug T'Pol is one of the sweetest moments of the entire series, encapsulating how far their relationship has come. Also, note T'Pol's body language as it takes every iota of her Vulcan training to fight her urge to return Archer's hug.
2 Enterprise's Finale Gives Us A Glimpse Into The Founding Of The Federation
The founding of the United Federation of Planets is a pivotal part of Star Trek history. Star Trek: Enterprise's finale gave a glimpse into the first step, which was Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3.
1 Archer Gets To The Other Enterprise Captains To Say The Mission Statement
The final scene of "These Are The Voyages..." is a montage of the three Starships Enterprise that were the focal points of three Star Trek TV series. The intention was to tie Captain Archer's NX-01 to the legacy of Captain Kirk and Captain Picard's Enterprises, with all three Captains taking turns reciting the iconic Star Trek mission statement, "Space, the final frontier..." Captain Archer only got to say the last line, "To boldly go where no man has gone before...", and perhaps it would have been better if Archer got to say the entire mantra, but seeing the NX-01 warp into legend is an uplifting final image for Star Trek: Enterprise to end on.