Star Trek: 10 Behind The Scenes Decisions We Can't Forgive

10. Forcing "Star Trek" Into Enterprise

You might argue that "Star Trek" should have always been in the title when Enterprise – just Enterprise – premiered on UPN in 2001. At the time, creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga explained that the name "Enterprise" had become so synonymous with the franchise that putting "Star Trek" in the title was simply redundant. They also explained that, because the series preceded the existing Star Trek franchise, Enterprise was better suited by this simplified title – it was its own show, with its own rules and conflicts all borne out of the "100 years before Kirk" timeframe.

And then the show premiered and it was basically the old Star Trek formula with a 22nd century coat of paint.

Apparently the executives at UPN mandated that all the famous Trek hallmarks like phasers and transporters continue to play a part in Enterprise and vetoed Berman and Braga's plans to set the first season entirely on Earth. As aired, Captain Archer and the crew of Enterprise encounter the threat of the Klingons for the very first time, but luckily still have phasers (erm, phase pistols) and photon torpedoes (erm, missiles) at their disposal to reduce any real threat or tension that might've come from the prequel setting.

After two low-rated seasons, UPN requested the "Star Trek" brand be slapped back onto Enterprise, rechristening it "Star Trek: Enterprise". The network believed that by retitling the failing the show (as well as retooling certain aspects to make it sexier), viewers would miraculously return to both Enterprise and save the sinking UPN. However, this was emblematic of the network's failure to embrace what made Enterprise the unique show it was conceived to be and (despite the rebranding) Star Trek: Enterprise was just as unsuccessful with audiences, canceled after another two seasons.

The show has since been retoactively titled Star Trek: Enterprise on Netflix and other streaming platforms where audiences have rediscovered the series and given it new life. But renaming Enterprise midway through its run remains a bizarre and embarrassing episode in the history of the franchise and a reminder of the poor management and lack of imagination that put Star Trek on life support in 2006.