As Enterprise wraps its freshman season tonight (at 8 pm/ET on UPN), star Scott Bakula promises big surprises. "There's no Prime Directive yet, so we're at a loss," Capt. Archer's portrayer tells TV Guide Online. "We've been invited to come visit this planet with 3500 colonists, and as we're entering the atmosphere, there's an explosion — they're all dead.

"Needless to say, no one's happy about it," he cracks. "The Vulcans want to shut down the whole space-travel program because of this huge disaster." (Those pointy-eared pot-stirrers!) Plus, look for the Suliban baddies and a "time-traveling visitor from the future" to fuel the Trekkers' troubles.

Having spent a full year as a Star Trek captain, Bakula's now qualified to answer many queries he couldn't at first — except why Enterprise's opening theme is so hated! "It's not my call," he laughs. "Nobody [here] asked what I thought of it. I think it works for this Trek incarnation. In the past, it was always theme music and never lyrics. [Exec producer] Rick Berman wanted to say, 'This isn't the Star Trek of old' and this is one of the ways they chose to do it."

One thing he's getting a handle on is Trek's techno-babble. "Not only do you have to spit it out, they're sticklers about you doing it verbatim," Bakula groans. "In this season finale, I think I modify our phaser cannons and turn them into something else — and it's a page of techno-babble in the script. It's quantum physics combined with engineering technology, and I'm just spewing it. They saved the worst for last for me this year!"

Backstage, Bakula looks to UPN to solve the real dilemmas. Such as? To compensate for a weak Wednesday-night lineup, he feels they've watered down his show's impact by airing "too many back-to-back episodes." As the 37-year-old actor admits: "This whole notion of how they program at UPN is bizarre to me... I'd like us to not be on TV as often. I'm excited about The Twilight Zone coming up after us this fall. It's a great combination."