Star Trek Actor Tells Fans To Get Over Controversial Ending
Connor Trinneer has made peace with the death of his Star Trek: Enterprise character, Charles “Trip” Tucker III. However, fans have not shared the sentiment since Trip’s demise in the Season 4 episode “These Are The Voyages…” Speaking at the Star Trek Cruise during a segment called The Hot Seat with fellow cast member John Billingsley, Trinneer addressed the unhappiness plaguing viewers.
Connor Trinner Was Honest With Fans
“He’s dead. Get over it,” the actor told the crowd, who remained disappointed by the creative choice. Connor Trinneer played Chief Engineer Trip Tucker aboard the NX-01 Enterprise led by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) in all four seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise. The character died after successfully rescuing Talla (Jasmine Anthony), the daughter of Shran (Jeffrey Combs).
Trip Tucker Was Part Of Star Trek: Enterprise
In a selfless act, Trip sacrificed himself by orchestrating an explosion to eliminate Talla’s captors and safeguard Captain Archer. Connor Trinneer reprised his role as Trip Tucker in the non-canonical Star Trek: Very Short Treks episode “Holograms All The Way Down.” The voice-over role marked the first time the actor returned to the sci-fi franchise since the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise.
Fans Hate The Series Finale
The handling of Trip’s (Connor Trinneer) death is arguably one of the most significant missteps in the Star Trek franchise. To commemorate his 18-year tenure with Star Trek shows, which began with The Next Generation in 1987, executive producer Rick Berman opted to end Star Trek: Enterprise with Riker observing the past events of the ship.
However, the audience and some of the Star Trek: Enterprise cast were unhappy with the result, as it marginalized the series’ characters, rendering them inconsequential in their own finale. Captain Archer, Trip, T’Pol, and the rest of the Enterprise crew were just holograms in Riker’s role-playing game in the final episode of the series.
No Resolution For Trip And T’Pol
Having Connor Trinneer’s Trip die in a holographic vision only exacerbated the poor Star Trek: Enterprise series finale. While he bravely sacrificed his life to save Captain Archer, the time gap between the penultimate episode, “Terra Prime,” and the concluding installment, “These Are The Voyages…,” meant that Trip’s story, particularly his romance with T’Pol, was left unresolved.
A Shock Ratings Ploy
The real Trip was last seen in “Terra Prime.” The audience was later subjected to his abrupt demise six years later. The decision to kill off Trip, a beloved character from Enterprise, appeared to be a ploy for a shocking series finale twist, yet it ultimately misfired. The most fitting tribute to Trip would involve reintroducing him through a time-travel crossover in an existing series.
Enterprise Was Never Given A Chance
Star Trek: Enterprise, which aired from 2001 to 2005, served as a prequel to the original Star Trek series. Set in the 22nd century, predating the formation of the United Federation of Planets, the story follows Captain Jonathan Archer, who leads the crew of the Enterprise. This includes Sub-Commander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), Chief Engineer Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer), and others.
Connor Trinneer’s Career Outside Of Star Trek
Although he is best known for his work on Star Trek: Enterprise, Connor Trinneer has worked on multiple television series and films. He is passionate about supporting charitable causes and enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping. The actor actively engages with his fans through social media and has a strong presence at Star Trek conventions worldwide.
