The long road that gets from there to here starts with smooth promise, turns unexpectedly through uneven stretches, then recovers at the end save an unpleasant jolt. I believe Enterprise ends stronger than it begins, in quality if not ratings, and that's rare legacy in Star Trek history. It has faith, it has heart, it ... suffers in logic, yet those who love Star Trek, should love Star Trek more because of Enterprise.

Performances from the cast are impeccable. Anthony Montgomery needed time to realize Travis Mayweather but exploration gets sidelined. Dominic Keating develops Malcolm Reed even considering the silly section. (Malcolm and Trip moments are treats.) Linda Park's Hoshi Sato grows steadily then blooms late but beautiful. With his emotional range John Billingsley nimoys Phlox as the best Denobulan we'll probably see!

As Trip Tucker Connor Trinneer acts up a storm outside the engine room (but young chief engineers aren't credible). Jolene Blalock capably handles the challenge of T'Pol despite handicaps thrown her way. I understand Scott Bakula chose to portray Jonathan Archer as we see him, so the success of the character is his. Oh and don't forget Porthos! One of few original ideas that paid off.

NX-01 (the real star of the trek is always the ship!) was an unnecessary letdown in concept and design, not at all thought through, and devoid of interesting features and flattering camera angles. The timeframe issue isn't much a problem except when treknical continuity is invoked. Everything is too fancy, too far along technologically. Yet where the outside suffers the inside does not (except for the caves). The production values on this series easily outshine the rest (one marvels at the reborn Defiant).

The show draws on great guest talent like Jeffrey Combs, Peter Weller, Clancy Brown, and Clint Howard. The alien melting pot includes strange Vulcans, improved Tellarites and Orions, Klingons and Romulans, some neat newcomers (bug Xindi) and even the Ferengi and Borg. And of course the Andorian Mining Consortium, that runs from no one!

Towards the end of the series T'Pol informs the crew (I paraphrase) that history will remember their accomplishments. She's right. Some exploits of Enterprise rank with the best of Trek already and time will be kind. Sadly the series will also be remembered for throttling the golden goose, denying opportunities to breathe life into the project without insulting the ideas that started it all. Yet fans, all in all, should be happy. We went wherever you would go, and this trek was worth it.