A Criticism of Voyager

By Mike Greczyn

Ok, Voyager as a whole wasn’t all that bad. It could’ve been better though if the story was more believable. The whole idea of a federation starship lost in the DQ and trying to get home to the AQ was great, but the writers and TPTB just squelched on it and ruined what could’ve been the most diverse, imaginative trek ever. A few things that just didn’t make sense:

I don't get it....

The "resource problem"- Voyager was in the middle of nowhere with no starbases and minimal resources, yet they never had a problem keeping things running. They’d get the living shit beat out them and by episodes end Voyager was in perfect working order. The hull would be torn off, circuits would burned out yet they had plenty to replace them over the 7 years in the DQ.

The so-called maquis/Starfleet conflict- the maquis are renegades. Starfleet considers them outlaws. Any good Starfleet crewmember despised the maquis and vise versa, yet after the maquis joined Voyager the maquis and Starfleet crews got along and the maquis adjusted to Starfleet rules and conduct.

"This is a Starfleet crew"- after 7 years lost in the DQ? I find that hard to believe that they would remain such a strict Starfleet crew after all that has happened in the DQ.

The borg- they used to be a scary, impossible to defeat enemy that should be feared by all. They popped up so much and Voyager got away or defeated them so easily. How is that possible? After a single borg cube wiped out a fleet of 40+ ships at Wolf 359. Yes, advances have been made in weaponry since then. But even in 2373 when another cube was heading for earth Starfleet was still having a problem defeating them. We’re supposed to believe that a single small moderately armed starship could defeat the borg so easily? Does the word megalomania come to mind?

"I’m right and you’re wrong" or Janeway and crew- over the past 7 seasons there has been one consistency. Janeway is always right. Never has she been proven wrong, at least not that I can remember. Whenever it looked as though a big change was about to happen, something that would make Janeway question her position on "this is a Starfleet crew" TPTB chickened out and made Janeway right to stand behind Starfleet’s prime directive 100%.

As far as making Voyager a better series, many things could’ve been done. The first 3 seasons showed promise for the series, albeit it was slow going. In 1st season, maybe part of 2nd, there should’ve been a lot of maquis/Starfleet conflict. It should’ve been be about not only the journey home but also working together. The whole 7 seasons they should’ve shown the resource problem. The back up supplies run at after a while and they’re forced to jury rig systems and such. The ship should’ve taken and outward and inward appearance change. By the time Voyager makes it home Starfleet Command should look at this ship and think, "What the hell is that thing? What did they do to Voyager?" and also they should be thinking about what to do about the crew because of how they’ve changed, but we saw none of this. Kate Mulgrew recently stated the reason Voyager got so much criticism was because of the change. As I recall a lot of people were excited about the prospect of a starship lost on the other side of the galaxy. The "change" from what everyone was used to, i.e. TOS, TNG, DS9 all in the AQ with Starfleet to back them up, was an exciting and great idea. It was a change from the norm, but over the 7 seasons Voyager hardly changed since "Caretaker".

What changes it did make was for the worse. The first 3 seasons they were focusing on all of the characters. It wasn’t like TOS where it was the top 3, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. In the 60’s that was fine, character development and drama wasn’t needed in sci-fi or Star Trek, but that changed in the late 80’s early 90’s. TNG focused on the entire crew and near the end of its run, when DS9 came out, it was more character development driven. DS9 was character driven with many story arcs, which is what made it worth to watch. Voyager started off this way too. They focused on everyone. They didn’t have many story arcs though but that didn’t matter. It was mostly the journey home. TPTB felt that stand alone episodes would be better, in other words they were trying to make it another TOS/TNG. Which could work for Voyager if done properly. They’re just passing through anyway. But there were some cases where an alien had a large amount of space, in reality they should’ve ran across them over the time I would take them to pass through their space, but they didn’t. They were forgotten in the next episode.

Things went downhill in the 4th season of Voyager when 7 of 9 joined the cast.

The curse of 7 of 9…

7 of 9 - She was an interesting character at first, though the wardrobe was questionable, especially for a senior staff member of a federation starship. At first they focused on her character, who she was and where she’s going, but then they totally forgot about character development. Up until she was introduced the focused on everyone, after she was introduced it became TOS’s top 3. Janeway, 7, and the Doctor. The others were thrown on the back burner for back ground characters.

The Top Three

Captain Kathryn Janeway - A very strong captain with the potential to become a great one in history. There was so much to learn about Janeway, yet we learn nothing about her after the 4th season. At first they not only showed her determination to get her crew home, but they also showed what Kathryn is all about, not just the Captain. After 4th season, it only shows her determination, her self righteousness and her ego. Her character became an unpleasant bitch.

7 of 9- at first they focused on development, they focused on the developments she got from the implants and I don’t mean the borg ones either. They showed her as the brains of the show and made everyone else look dumb.

The Doctor- the only one to make it to series end unscathed. [Interruption by T'eyla Minh - I beg to differ. Okay, physically unscathed, but emotionally, he was battered and bruised. I'm surprised we didn't end up with a suicidal hologram by the end of Season 7. Janeway saved him from being a recluse in "Renaissance Man", but other than that, he pretty much lost everything. Okay, carry on.] He was only one that had any real character development. He came a long way since his first "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

And the rest…

Chakotay- at first a rather interesting character. Beltran did a good job till they screwed him and the others over. I can understand his bitterness but how he got back, by not caring or even trying to do a good job on the show was very unprofessional.

Harry Kim- the young, wet behind the ears, naïve, fresh out of the academy ensign at ops. By the 3rd season he showed he was growing up and growing a back bone and some balls. But after that, it was all gone, it was back to the young, wet behind the ears, naïve, fresh out of the academy ensign at ops. And ensign? After all he’s done for 7 years? Tom came onboard as an observer and was commissioned as a Lt. Then he gets demoted to ensign for very brief time the promoted again to Lt. While all this time, Harry was still an ensign. Other people say its because they only have a limited amount of promotions for the senior staff. I think that’s bull. They could make Harry a Lt. And even if that is the case, Tom shouldn’t have gotten his rank of Lt. back so quickly, if the crime was enough to demote him let it stay that way so someone who deserves a promotion can get it.

Tom Paris- there isn’t much to say about Tom except that bad-boy Tom was castrated just like the rest of the men on Voyager. He was the trouble maker of the lot. Maybe it was good that he wasn’t so much so. They showed him grow up. So he faired well too by series end. He became responsible and a family man.

B’elanna Torres- once a hot headed maquis engineer under Chuckles. Forced to work under Starfleet’s rules and conditions as chief engineer. She changed nicely over the seasons, learned to control her anger and work well with others, but for a hot headed, temperamental maquis bitch, she adapted to Starfleet’s rules too quickly and easily.

Neelix- the annoying little rat in the galley. Personally I liked him. He matured a bit over the years, but he mostly became a "yes ma’am" he followed Janeway around like a lost puppy. He changed, but not for the better. He wasn’t the comical annoyance anymore.

Kes- poor sweet Kes. The doc’s first love. Taken away too soon. Leaving the ship and evolving to a higher plan of existence. Totally forgotten about in "The Fury". She returns evil and angry. A far cry from the strong willed Kes we all came to know and love. Something so horrible, so terrible happened to her that made her evil, yet what did it take to get her remember the love on Voyager? Basically a group hug. The evolving to another plane was a great way to end. They ruined her character in "The Fury". If they had to bring her back, they should’ve made her a recurring villain, now that would’ve been nice. In the end they finally get through to her or Neelix is forced to kill her to save Voyager. A sad ending but great character development for Neelix.

Tuvok- there is absolutely nothing really to say about him. Tuvok was the same in "Caretaker" up until "Endgame" which for a Vulcan is right. Though his illness should’ve been introduced earlier to lead up to "Endgame" so it would make more sense.

The romances

[T'eyla Minh adds: the codes here should probably be explained, just in case it's not obvious. P/T - Paris/Torres; D/K - the Doctor/Kes; N/K - Neelix/Kes; J/C - Janeway/Chakotay; D/7 - the Doctor/Seven of Nine; C/7 - *shudder* Chakotay/Seven of Nine; M/J- Mark/Janeway; K/L - Kim/Libby. I think that's everyone Mike mentions. I know of plenty more…]

P/T - was nice I thought. They made a cute couple. Just goes to show, opposites attract. Though in "Caretaker I could see hints of Kim and Torres.

D/K- the doctor and Kes would’ve been nice. Seems like he has a thing for blondes. If she had stayed on Voyager, it would’ve been nice to see the conflict between the two love-birds and the jealous Neelix who is still in love with Kes.

N/K- it just seemed right, he saves her from the Kazon, they fall in love. Kes mostly because this is all new and exciting for her. Neelix because he loves her young charms and how she looks at the world.

J/C- the most blatant of couples, just like Mulder and Scully. Keeping their distance for professional reasons. It makes sense.

D/7- the doc keeping up with his blonde fetish, falls for the busty borg chick. He, of all people, teaches her about humanity and romance. A nice conflict would’ve been with him and Kim competing for 7’s affection. Something Garret Wang stated earlier. It could be a B plot line, Doc and Kim trying to show off to impress 7. At some point 7 is in trouble, (something to do with the A plot line, on a planet or something) Kim and the Doc compete against each other to save 7 getting in trouble and 7 saves them instead. Thus you have character development.

C/7- an atrocity to say the least. Logically our wooden boy Chuckles Chakotay could be the best match for 7. But from experience I can tell you, logic and love DO NOT go hand in hand. The best way to handle this is simple. 7 could be exploring relationships, coming to the conclusion that Chuckles is the best logical choice for her. After the doc’s "death bed confession" she could get scared. Its all new to her and doesn’t know what to do. So she decides the next logical choice would be to go after the real wooden boy. But Chakotay doesn’t love her!!!!!!! He loves Janeway!!!!! So he rejects 7. 7 should then finally realize that the Doc is the best for her. Thus MORE character development.

M/J- Mark and Janeway. How long did he wait? Obviously in the 24th century it doesn’t take long to get over the loss of a loved one. If my fiancée was the captain of voyager I certainly would’ve waited longer before I date anyone. If ever. I certainly wouldn’t have gotten married in less then 6 years of her disappearance.

K/L- I don’t recall what happened with her. They should’ve said if she was still waiting for Harry or not. Or if Harry was still in love in with her. After about, what, 3 years he was sorta moving on. They don’t have much sentimentality in the 24th century do they.

The Homecoming

In reality, by the time Voyager gets home, in this case about 7 years. Starfleet shouldn’t recognize the ship in the first place due to the outward appearance change. They should be asking themselves, not only what should they do with the maquis, but what should they do with the rest of the crew. They’re not exactly like the other federation starships out there. They haven’t been going by the book like they should. If they did any of that stuff here in the AQ they would be Court Marshalled. And of course there should be great celebration for them. But alas it wasn’t like that. Voyager comes home and blends right in. It’s just like it never happened, much like the rest of the series.