Summary

• The premise of Star Trek: Enterprise was flawed from the beginning as it failed to establish the ship as the only human vessel in space, thus lessening the drama of the show.
• The original idea of the show, where Enterprise would be the lone human vessel in deep space, was deemed more rugged and dangerous but was changed due to various factors, which resulted in a more predictable Star Trek series.
• Manny Coto's efforts to inject new energy and focus into Enterprise couldn't prevent its cancellation in season 4, but the prequel has gained a new audience in recent years through streaming.

A fundamental problem with the concept of Star Trek: Enterprise was identified by the show's late showrunner, Manny Coto. Enterprise premiered on UPN in 2001 as the fourth Star Trek series produced by Rick Berman. Although it was a prequel set in the 22nd century, which retcons the NX-01 Enterprise led by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) as the first Starship Enterprise, the series closely followed the proven formula of Berman's successful Star Trek franchise. This ended up being a mistake, says Manny Coto, who took over the role of showrunner in Enterprise's 4th and final season.

In the oral history "The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek" by Peter Holmstrom, Manny Coto explains that the premise of Star Trek: Enterprise was flawed from the beginning. The NX-01 Enterprise was Starfleet's first Warp 5 ship capable of deep space exploration, but it soon became clear that the human race was already in space long before Enterprise launched. This was a mistake, as Manny Coto explains in his quote below:

If you're going to do that show, then it has to be the only human ship out there. Alone! You know? So when the series is starting, you're watching, nd suddenly Anthony Montgomery is talking about being a boomer and being on a ship that is transporting cargo. What, wait a minute, we're already out there? So, what's the Enterprise? It's just kind of going further out? It was vague and it lessened the whole drama of it.

[Brannon's original idea was right], they should have been the first and the only and all on their own. The drama would have been heightened tremendously because we just have no one to depend on. By the way, I would have included the Vulcans with that as well. I think the Vulcans as backup really kind of undercut the whole thing.

Why Star Trek: Enterprise's Original Premise Was Changed

Executive producer Brannon Braga, who co-created Star Trek: Enterprise with Rick Berman, originally wanted the prequel to be more rugged and dangerous. Braga's starting concept was that the NX-01 Enterprise really was the lone human vessel in deep space, and they were in over their heads in the dangerous galaxy. With Enterprise's technology relatively primitive and with no allies to rely on, Enterprise's inexperienced crew would have been thrown into the deep end of the cosmos, and Braga envisioned Enterprise season 1 ending with a damaged and broken NX-01 limping back to Earth. This is closer to what Manny Coto says about what went wrong with Enterprise's core premise.

However, multiple factors "watered down" Braga's more ambitious plans for Enterprise. Braga and Berman had to answer to UPN, plus Berman also didn't want to stray too far from the Star Trek formula that had proven successful since Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. Enterprise became a more recognizable - and predictable - Star Trek series that, unfortunately, bled viewers. Manny Coto ing Enterprise and taking over as season 4's showrunner injected the prequel with new energy, and focus, and he serialized the series. Unfortunately, the creative improvements couldn't save Enterprise from being canceled in season 4. However, in recent years, Star Trek: Enterprise has found a new, more appreciative audience who discovered the prequel through streaming.

Source: "The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek" by Peter Holmstrom