Few television send-offs have stirred up as much lasting controversy among Star Trek fans as the series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise — and one of its guest stars has made absolutely no secret of how she felt about being part of it.
Marina Sirtis, best known for playing Counselor Deanna Troi across seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, appeared alongside her former co-star Jonathan Frakes in the Enterprise finale, titled “These Are The Voyages…” Her verdict on the experience? She has described it as being like “a cup of hot sick.” That is not the kind of review any production hopes to receive from its own cast.
Sirtis and Frakes reprised their TNG roles for what was meant to be a capstone moment for the Enterprise era. Instead, the episode became one of the most debated and criticized finales in the entire Star Trek franchise — and the people brought in to add nostalgic weight to it ended up being among its most vocal critics.
What “These Are The Voyages…” Actually Was
Star Trek: Enterprise ran for four seasons before being canceled. Its finale, rather than giving the show’s own crew a proper farewell, was structured around Riker and Troi — characters from a completely different Star Trek series set over a century later in the franchise’s timeline.
The conceit placed the TNG characters in a holodeck simulation of events aboard the NX-01 Enterprise, effectively turning the Enterprise crew’s final chapter into a supporting story within someone else’s narrative. For fans who had followed Captain Archer and his crew, it felt like a dismissal of the show they had invested in. For Sirtis, the experience of actually filming it was apparently just as unpleasant as fans found it to watch.
The episode featured both Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi and Jonathan Frakes as Commander Will Riker, with the TNG guest stars taking center stage in what was ostensibly an Enterprise story. That creative decision remains a sore point in Star Trek fandom to this day.
Why Marina Sirtis Has Been So Blunt About It
Sirtis has never been known for softening her opinions, and her feelings about “These Are The Voyages…” are consistent with the broader fan reaction. The episode was widely seen as a disservice to Enterprise’s own cast — actors like Scott Bakula, who played Captain Jonathan Archer, spent the finale largely as holographic characters in someone else’s story rather than getting the send-off their four seasons of work might have warranted.
The colorful phrase Sirtis used — comparing the experience to “a cup of hot sick” — captures something that a lot of viewers felt too. There was a mismatch between what the moment called for and what was actually delivered. A series finale is supposed to honor the journey. This one redirected attention almost entirely away from the people who made that journey.
It is worth noting that Sirtis and Frakes did not write or produce the episode. They were brought in as guest stars at the direction of the production. Their presence was meant to generate excitement and provide a connective thread to The Next Generation. The reality, at least for Sirtis, was something far less satisfying.
The Broader Problem With Enterprise’s Cancellation
Enterprise was canceled after its fourth season, which is significant context for understanding why the finale landed so badly. The show had actually improved considerably in its final year, with many fans and critics acknowledging that it had found its footing just as the plug was being pulled.
Going into a series finale under those circumstances — knowing the show was being ended before its time — already creates a difficult emotional environment. Layering on top of that a creative decision to make the finale primarily about characters from a different series added insult to injury, both for the cast and the audience.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Episode Title | “These Are The Voyages…” |
| Series | Star Trek: Enterprise |
| Guest Stars | Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker) |
| Guest Stars’ Original Series | Star Trek: The Next Generation |
| Enterprise Seasons Aired | Four seasons before cancellation |
| Sirtis’ Description of the Experience | “Like a cup of hot sick” |
What This Says About Franchise Finales Done Wrong
The Enterprise finale is frequently cited as a cautionary tale about how not to end a television series. The impulse to bring in beloved legacy characters is understandable — nostalgia is a powerful tool, and familiar faces generate attention. But when that decision comes at the expense of the show’s own characters and story, it tends to backfire.
Fans of Enterprise felt their investment in the NX-01 crew was not honored. Fans of The Next Generation did not necessarily need or want to see Riker and Troi used as framing devices for another show’s ending. And the guest stars themselves, at least in Sirtis’ case, came away from the production with feelings that could be generously described as deeply negative.
The lasting lesson may be simple: a finale belongs to the show it is closing out. Borrowing from another series’ legacy, however well-intentioned, risks satisfying no one — and in this case, it apparently made at least one of the borrowed characters wish she had stayed home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Marina Sirtis say about appearing in the Star Trek: Enterprise finale?
Sirtis described the experience of guest starring in the Enterprise finale as being “like a cup of hot sick,” indicating she did not look back on it fondly.
Which characters did Sirtis and Frakes play in the Enterprise finale?
Marina Sirtis reprised her role as Counselor Deanna Troi and Jonathan Frakes returned as Commander Will Riker, both originally from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
What was the title of the Star Trek: Enterprise series finale?
The finale was titled “These Are The Voyages…” and it served as the final episode of the series after Enterprise was canceled following four seasons.
Why was the Enterprise finale so controversial?
The episode was widely criticized because it centered on TNG guest characters Riker and Troi rather than giving Enterprise’s own crew a proper farewell, which many fans and cast members felt was a disservice to the show.
How many seasons did Star Trek: Enterprise run?
Star Trek: Enterprise ran for four seasons before being canceled, with many fans noting the show had significantly improved in its final year.
Did Jonathan Frakes share Sirtis’ negative view of the finale?
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