This week
Enterprise is stuck in a temporal wormhole the experts
call "rerun." And while we all have to suffer from
Trek withdrawals, the break gives us the opportunity to look
into the future of Archer and his crew.
While
the three previous Star Trek spin offs have been different
in content, they've all had dramatic similarities. Each show
has lasted only seven seasons. Each series was launched with
a certain alien race written to be the human's arch villain
but then around the third season a new alien race became the
lead bad guy.
Enterprise
is only in its third season but there is no reason to believe
the show won't go seven years. (Don't you even try to say
they'll pull an Old Yeller and put down Star Trek.
If Voyager can go seven rounds then so should a show
that doesn't suck.)
And Enterprise
has already gone through the arch nemesis metamorphosis as
discussed at length here
and the follow up here.
The next
big Star Trek milestone is the dreaded Cast Change. It's like
puberty for TV shows. The Cast Change is a direct sign the
show is growing up, but right when it happens it's not a pretty
thing.
The
Next Generation's cast was shaved down to a manageable
size when Denise Crosby left her role as Tasha Yar in season
three. And things locked into place in season four when Wil
Weaton's character Wesley Crusher went off to school.
In the
fourth season of Deep Space Nine the writers were forced
to add The Next Generation's Worf (Michael Dorn) to
boost ratings and thicken the plot.
Since
there can only be one short-haired blond girl on a Trek show,
Jennifer Lien's character Kes was replaced by Jeri Ryan as
the legendary Seven Of Nine in Voyager's fourth season.
Some characters were written
out because the actors playing them wanted to leave. Others
were written in because the show needed action. And still
others were just plain obliterated.
Poor Kes.
Enterprise
is over halfway through its third season. If there is going
to be a Cast Change it will most likely happen at the top
of the next season. But the seeds will be planted now.
So what
will happen next year? Will a member of the present cast be
asked to stand down? Probably not Archer, T'Pol or Trip, as
it seems all the episodes center around them. Dr. Phlox, Lieutenant
Reed and Ensign Hoshi are occasionally allowed to step into
the spot light from time to time. Their characters have a
unique take on man's first deep space adventure.
But Ensign
Mayweather… just what does he add to the show? He's as
bland as baking soda. I'm not saying that Enterprise
is looking to write him off… but if there has to be a
character to leave then my money is on Mayweather.
Poor guy.
But the
question is - who will be added? Here are some characters
to consider, based on the state of the show and the past Character
Changes.
Major
K. Butt: When Enterprise entered the Delphic expanse they
picked up a squad of Space Marines. They're bad asses. One
of them could rise to Trek Stardom and add more action to
scenes.
Nevik
the Vulcan: Once the Enterprise finishes with the Xindi
they have to return to Earth, and the Vulcans will probably
want to station a Vulcan officer on Enterprise. Unless they
reinstate T'Pol, they may put a Vulcan male on board.
Gralik
the Xindi-sloth: Gralik was responsible for stalling the
Xindi's attack on Earth. Perhaps he defects to the Enterprise,
and departs his aged wisdom onto the human crew.
Selanck
of Andoria: As the Andorians and the humans work to strengthen
their pre-Federation alliance, perhaps an Andorian will be
posted on Enterprise. So they have a Vulcan ambassador and
an Andorian ambassador. And they could fight!
Phloxina:
Really, Enterprise needs more women and more aliens.
And more women aliens. Perhaps Dr. Phlox goes though a mysterious
Denobulan meiosis and spawns a hot female clone of himself.
Worf:
It worked for Deep Space Nine. Either a temporal wormhole
brings classic Worf to the 23rd century or Worf's great
great great great great granddaddy joins the crew.
Porthos:
In attempts to capture a more British audience, perhaps Enterprise
will borrow a page from Red Dwarf. After some radical
accident the Captain's puppy Porthos will evolve into a human
and become a working member of the crew.
The
possibilities are endless. Let's put it to a vote. Email
me your idea for the new Enterprise character (chose
one of these or create your own) and we'll post them all
at the end of the season.
Enterprise's
cast, including the unseen Mayweather, is pretty well rounded.
The characters balance each other out nicely. If Mayweather
could develop like the others maybe they won't make a Character
Change. But if they do…
