Ever wake up and think "My favorite franchise show isn't stressing political and social issues?" If so, you might very well be a Star Trek fan.

Star Trek at it's peak has always reflected social and political issues, but "Star Trek: Voyager" and the more recent "Star Trek: Enterprise" -- some say -- have seemingly strayed from that formula and most of the two shows' criticisms stem from this fact, with the recent "Star Trek Enterprise" episode, "Chosen Realm" directly dealing with the criticism.

Could there be a subject too taboo for Star Trek though?

"The answer is that if we find issues that are too taboo, then we're ignoring Gene Roddenberry's premise," executive producer Rick Berman recently told Star Trek Magazine. "I think that if there are issues we can turn on their ear a little bit, and deal with in a science-fiction fashion, we're going to do it. Obviously we need to stay within certain boundaries."

However, Berman said he's pleased with how this season
went.

"We set out to do an arc that would maybe last a season," he said. "We didn't know if it would be able to sustain 24 episodes, 25 actually, if you consider that it began with the last episode of last season, but I think what we succeeded."

When asked of the season finale, Berman simply said that "it all comes to a real head in the finale. I don't know if 'resolved' is the right word, but it's going to come to a very exciting end."

As for the recently confirmed upcoming fourth season, Berman confirmed that he is in talks with William Shatner for a guest appearance. However, with Shatner doing a stint on ABC's "The Practice" and also appearing on its spinoff, "Fleet Street," next season, scheduling could be grueling. However, talks are still underway, he said.

"We have had discussions in the last week, when we were talking with the studio about areas and directions we would like to go in next season, and there were two different ideas that we think could be developed into a good vehicle for Bill," Berman said. "And hopefully we're going to pursue one of them for next season.".

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