434 reviews
I have a particularly strong attachment to this show and can honestly say it is my favorite in the whole Star Trek universe. I started to watch it from day one all the way to the end even though it took a while for the series to fully realize its potential. The first 3 seasons were good but nowhere near as great as the show would become later yet I hung on, hopeful that something better would come along and then boom, Seven of Nine appeared.
The show only started to become really wonderful when Jeri Ryan was added to the show with Scorpions at the end of the 3rd season as the cliffhanger for season 4. Somehow, I really connected with this particular character and from then on, they could do no wrong or at least, they could always count on my loyalty to watch. Sure the writing is uneven in places and some episodes are not as great as others but it's true for any series.
I have to say that the number one reason why I connected so strongly with this series is this particular set of characters. Somehow, it all gelled so well and even though I have favorites of course like Seven, The Doctor and Janeway, they all had something interesting to add to the mix and the chemistry always worked for me, even in sub par episodes. But thankfully, even the lowest rated episodes have something interesting to offer.
I was particularly satisfied with how the series ended, the perfect conclusion to one heck of a journey and I still miss it to this day even though I can always watch to my heart's content any time I feel like it. This is connected with a great time in my life and I will always remember if fondly.
A strong 9 stars is well deserved and the 1 star is deducted from the perfect score only because the writing is sometimes not as strong as it should be, especially with episodes not connected to the Borg or Seven of Nine. But still, every single show has something to offer and this series remain one of the very best I had the pleasure of experiencing as it ran for 7 successful seasons and I could not recommend it enough.
The show only started to become really wonderful when Jeri Ryan was added to the show with Scorpions at the end of the 3rd season as the cliffhanger for season 4. Somehow, I really connected with this particular character and from then on, they could do no wrong or at least, they could always count on my loyalty to watch. Sure the writing is uneven in places and some episodes are not as great as others but it's true for any series.
I have to say that the number one reason why I connected so strongly with this series is this particular set of characters. Somehow, it all gelled so well and even though I have favorites of course like Seven, The Doctor and Janeway, they all had something interesting to add to the mix and the chemistry always worked for me, even in sub par episodes. But thankfully, even the lowest rated episodes have something interesting to offer.
I was particularly satisfied with how the series ended, the perfect conclusion to one heck of a journey and I still miss it to this day even though I can always watch to my heart's content any time I feel like it. This is connected with a great time in my life and I will always remember if fondly.
A strong 9 stars is well deserved and the 1 star is deducted from the perfect score only because the writing is sometimes not as strong as it should be, especially with episodes not connected to the Borg or Seven of Nine. But still, every single show has something to offer and this series remain one of the very best I had the pleasure of experiencing as it ran for 7 successful seasons and I could not recommend it enough.
- breckstewart
- Apr 13, 2019
- Permalink
Just paying my tributes here: I gotta confess, on the side of the original Star Trek with Captain Kirk and his crew, Star Trek: Voyager is my other most favorite piece of Roddenberry's universe: lots of interesting and unique (and lovable) characters and on top the idea of a crew getting lost in some far away place of the galaxy, which provides a great background story for lots of unique and special stories. Still top notch.
- Tweetienator
- Jul 15, 2020
- Permalink
I just finished watching Voyager start to end over the last several months. Of course there are some misses at times but mostly it's very good and definitely gets better as it goes along. Adding Seven of Nine was a great move but Janeway and the heritage crew also get more interesting as time goes on.
For me TNG is always #1 for the amazing reboot they did and the first class acting including the master Patrick Stewart. DS9 is my #2 because it tried to do something different, darker and serialized, and it worked! Voyager a close #3 for doing it all without the usual Alpha Quad crew of Klingons, Vulcans, Cardassians, etc. They really had to start from scratch in the D Quad and they did a great job.
Thanks to the writers, cast and crew for making this series special and a very worthy journey for this viewer. I'm on to 'Enterprise' now which doesn't have a great reputation but just a few episodes in I'm enjoying it.
Live Long and Prosper!
For me TNG is always #1 for the amazing reboot they did and the first class acting including the master Patrick Stewart. DS9 is my #2 because it tried to do something different, darker and serialized, and it worked! Voyager a close #3 for doing it all without the usual Alpha Quad crew of Klingons, Vulcans, Cardassians, etc. They really had to start from scratch in the D Quad and they did a great job.
Thanks to the writers, cast and crew for making this series special and a very worthy journey for this viewer. I'm on to 'Enterprise' now which doesn't have a great reputation but just a few episodes in I'm enjoying it.
Live Long and Prosper!
- Hughmanity
- Mar 7, 2021
- Permalink
The universe of Star Trek has done something brilliant to keep alive. The creators have imposed a story arch for all the series starting with DS9. Don't get me wrong. TNG was what got me into Star Trek in the first place. It had vibrant characters, unique ideas, and was the building block for setting the stage for the other series and the later movies. However, in all it's glory, it lacked something. Continuity. The longest the crew of the Enterprise D would have to deal with an immediate situation, was no more than 2 episodes. No doubt things would reoccur, but it was seldom. Voyager, however, would have numerous back to back episodes dealing with something. And that might even resurface somewhere down the line.
I can't understand what people dislike so much about this show. They explored so much more than any of the others. Not just in the unverse, but with the crew. They all grew. Some more than others, but you can't go 7 years and not show growth in a character. And as with every other Star Trek, it was rough at first, but it gets so much better once the writers and the actors have about a year or two to get it right.
I truely believe that if people give it a chance and don't jump on the bandwagon, they'd like it. It's easy to say you don't like something if you've never really given it a chance.
I can't understand what people dislike so much about this show. They explored so much more than any of the others. Not just in the unverse, but with the crew. They all grew. Some more than others, but you can't go 7 years and not show growth in a character. And as with every other Star Trek, it was rough at first, but it gets so much better once the writers and the actors have about a year or two to get it right.
I truely believe that if people give it a chance and don't jump on the bandwagon, they'd like it. It's easy to say you don't like something if you've never really given it a chance.
It was great! Some blah episodes, like all trek, but great when it was great. Do yourself a favor, if you like tng and ds9 watch Voyager
- harrypothead42024
- Jan 18, 2019
- Permalink
Captain Janeway knows how to lead and is a role model for today and tomorrow. By far this is the best Star Trek show available!
It is not perfect but nothing really is and it took a while to find itself but I really love Voyager. People can argue all day about what the best Star Trek show was and I wouldn't say that Voyager is the best but that is not an insult to Voyager it is just that it is impossible to compete with the others. The Original Series is legendary and TNG is somehow even better and DS9 was so ahead of its time that people kind of forget how good Voyager was too. I think it might not be the best show overall but at its best I think it was definitely in the same league as the other shows. I love Star Trek so much and it is the same reason I love cats etc. I have autism and have had the bad luck to meet a lot of truly horrible people in life who are vicious and cruel but in Star Trek and lord of the rings etc there is none of that cruelty and hostility. There is good vs evil but humanity as a whole has kind of moved past the primitive and petty cruelty and hostility. I with real life could be like that too. I love Star Trek because it shows me what humans ideally could be and that makes me feel good. I wish that The Doctor and Seven Of Nine ended up together, they were by far the best characters.
- vincentviolet-65071
- Sep 3, 2023
- Permalink
It is the third masterpiece in the Star Trek series and without thinking too much!
Yes it had some parts where the "Borgs" presented as a way to weak fraction but if we compare all other parts it is still one of the best Star Trek series.
- neutrongeminga
- May 11, 2020
- Permalink
Much like much of the other Star Trek series, some episodes are better than others. On the whole, I enjoy this series. I especially like the characters of The Doctor and Seven of Nine. Jeri Ryan's character was originally introduced as a bit of "eye candy" I'm assuming, but yet Seven of Nine became one of the more endearing character developments of Voyager.
- swordsnare
- Jul 23, 2019
- Permalink
I had to respond to someone who said this was the worst of the franchise. I happen to favor DS9, but Voyager has many great qualities including cast and unique plots. Captain Janeway was an excellent addition to the captains of Star Trek. Let us not forget the criticisms that James Kirk had during the beginnings of his work in Star Trek. The ensemble worked well together, slowly but surely over seven seasons and there were many truly memorable segments. Chakotay, Tuvok, Blana, Tom, 7 of 9, Kes, Harry, Neelix, the Doctor, at the end named Joe, each and every one developed into a character you liked each and every week, irrespective of the episode. They grew even better over time, although I wondered how Chakotay and the Captain never got together and on occasion how Blana and Tom did!and the final episode a two parter was truly a great ending to the show.
There is no edge like there is in DS9, just questions on how they are going to get home, and it is the third of this group so it gets compared to ST:TNG sometimes unfavorably. But, just as the ensemble was great in each, so as it is in Voyager.
If you take the time to watch the first season you will want to see each and every episode and feel badly when it all ends. Wanting more that is just not forthcoming.
Criticize if you will, but the current Enterprise could take some notice of the great ensemble of the previous Star Trek's and the wonderful writing that kept many turning in week after week and continue in syndication.
I just recently purchased the full seven seasons on DVD and saw it again after its television airing. The show is even better than when I first wrote about it. Each show stands alone with compelling story lines that are creative in their design and resolution. The franchise of Star Trek- from its inception in the 60's through Voyager should continue in some form other than conventions. There is a void for good stories, writing and ensembles.
There is no edge like there is in DS9, just questions on how they are going to get home, and it is the third of this group so it gets compared to ST:TNG sometimes unfavorably. But, just as the ensemble was great in each, so as it is in Voyager.
If you take the time to watch the first season you will want to see each and every episode and feel badly when it all ends. Wanting more that is just not forthcoming.
Criticize if you will, but the current Enterprise could take some notice of the great ensemble of the previous Star Trek's and the wonderful writing that kept many turning in week after week and continue in syndication.
I just recently purchased the full seven seasons on DVD and saw it again after its television airing. The show is even better than when I first wrote about it. Each show stands alone with compelling story lines that are creative in their design and resolution. The franchise of Star Trek- from its inception in the 60's through Voyager should continue in some form other than conventions. There is a void for good stories, writing and ensembles.
OK, the last season was a disappointment, no arguments here. up until that point however, this was a pretty darn good show. season four was my personal favorite. with episodes like nemesis, year of hell and living witness, (the revisionist history point could have been used again)who could not like this show. it was episodes like those that made this show true, poignant star trek.
Get the season four DVD! it is awesome as has the most of the most skillfully crafted written, directed, acted, shot) episodes of this show or Ds9.
For the first two years, they couldn't seem to get the marquis thing out of their (the writers) head's, but for the most part this was OK. the episode where Paris' little act was revealed and Alliances more that made up for learning curve (Tuvoks boot camp) and parallax where Torres first became chief engineer; which actually was a necessarily rough episode, being the first one after the premiere. The characters developed gradually over time but each of them developed steadily and at their own pace; even Tuvok, who at first was so terribly stolid/stoic.
things actually started to wane plot-wise around the 6th season. most were still watchable but they lacked drive and intensity. Muse, fury and blink of an eye (was that a 6th season?) were pretty great though. who determined that every star trek set in this century needed 7 seasons anyway? that is how disappointing season 7 feels to many people: it never should have happened. I can't believe (or can hardly believe) what they did to some of the main characters during that season. (thinking mainly of author author-like episodes here.) but everyone had ample amounts of episodes in the spotlight and most had ample time in episodes that were focused on others; here is what set voyager apart:everyone got significant time on-screen
well, that's about it. save that Janeway did at times seem bi-polar and the whole thing about getting home (the restart button?) got pretty old eventually. that's one thing that set timeless apart: time-travel, good Kim episode, voyager didn't get home but ended up getting closer to home. the show had many individual episodes on all points on the rating scale. over all, 7 out of 10 points
Get the season four DVD! it is awesome as has the most of the most skillfully crafted written, directed, acted, shot) episodes of this show or Ds9.
For the first two years, they couldn't seem to get the marquis thing out of their (the writers) head's, but for the most part this was OK. the episode where Paris' little act was revealed and Alliances more that made up for learning curve (Tuvoks boot camp) and parallax where Torres first became chief engineer; which actually was a necessarily rough episode, being the first one after the premiere. The characters developed gradually over time but each of them developed steadily and at their own pace; even Tuvok, who at first was so terribly stolid/stoic.
things actually started to wane plot-wise around the 6th season. most were still watchable but they lacked drive and intensity. Muse, fury and blink of an eye (was that a 6th season?) were pretty great though. who determined that every star trek set in this century needed 7 seasons anyway? that is how disappointing season 7 feels to many people: it never should have happened. I can't believe (or can hardly believe) what they did to some of the main characters during that season. (thinking mainly of author author-like episodes here.) but everyone had ample amounts of episodes in the spotlight and most had ample time in episodes that were focused on others; here is what set voyager apart:everyone got significant time on-screen
well, that's about it. save that Janeway did at times seem bi-polar and the whole thing about getting home (the restart button?) got pretty old eventually. that's one thing that set timeless apart: time-travel, good Kim episode, voyager didn't get home but ended up getting closer to home. the show had many individual episodes on all points on the rating scale. over all, 7 out of 10 points
- ceojonathanmontgomery
- Sep 1, 2023
- Permalink
After watching all the episodes of TNG, DS9 and VOY over the last few months, I have come to the conclusion that Voyager doesn't come close to the other two series from the 1990s. Actually, Voyager would have had the best potential to become a great series. But unfortunately half of the main characters remained underdeveloped and the central element of the journey home was actually more of a side plot.
TNG is about a crew of explorers who roam the galaxy to discover new civilizations and space phenomena. The focus here is clearly on first contact. The individual episodes are mostly "alien of the week" episodes, although there are also overarching story elements: The Borg, Q, Data's background and his quest to become human. In DS9, however, the focus is on a space station, which, as the name suggests, is stationary. This means the focus of the series is different. The focus is not on space exploration, but rather on an overarching conflict. The threat of the Dominion and the changelings. In addition, the previous war between Cardassia and Bajor plays a central role, giving the characters depth. Because everything basically begins and ends on the station, we also get to know a lot about the main characters there. Quark's restaurant serves as a meeting place. You also see the main characters in their private lives, which gives you as a viewer a much closer connection to them.
Voyager should actually have been conceptually located exactly between these two series. On the one hand, the crew is traveling on a ship and is constantly encountering new species. On the other hand, the crew has been crammed into a very small space for seven years and the interaction between the crew members should have played a key role here. Furthermore, Voyager has a central plot element: the journey home to Earth. A dangerous odyssey through unknown space. And the chance to find new planets, new species, new technology and new allies.
But this is where Voyager fails. The journey home is not the focus of most episodes. As a viewer, you often don't have the feeling that this is actually the motivation of the crew. In addition, this trip leaves hardly any traces on board. Voyager should actually have been packed with alien technology by the end of the voyage. In the ship one should have seen foreign art objects, archaeological evidence of the foreign cultures they encountered. From time to time, strange travelers should have become part of the crew to spice up the plot. Basically, as a viewer, you should have constantly had the feeling that this crew is destined to fly home and that they are doing everything to achieve this. Instead, like TNG, most episodes of Voyager are just "alien of the week" episodes.
Another drawback: While in DS9 the characters were really developed in detail and their storylines were intertwined, in Voyager you get the feeling that half the crew are just extras. Apart from the senior officers, none of the crew was ever seen anyway. And even the main characters mostly remained superficial. Just take Harry Kim, Chakotay, Kess, even Tuvok. While DS9 featured eloquent and absolutely iconic characters like Quark, Garak, Dukat and Weyoun, such central figures are missing in Voyager. And while you felt like you knew the DS9 crew personally after a while because you were able to follow Bashir and O'Brien's friendship up close or saw Dax playing Tongo with Ferengi, you didn't learn much about the Voyager crew's private lives. Paris and Kim's holodeck adventures just aren't the same as the bromance between Miles and Julian.
The series definitely got better when Seven of Nine replaced Kes. However, this wasn't because she was constantly running around in a tight jumpsuit, but because both her connection to the Borg and her cool and rational manner were often central elements in solving problems within the episodes. The optics and visual effects also got better in the end. However, the ending of this series is disappointing. In the seventh season, hardly anything happened and then suddenly they are home. Here you really noticed that the whole series never really focused on the central element of the journey home. Essentially, Voyager should have been like Frodo's journey to Mount Doom. Always with the central goal in mind and on the move, the crew constantly fighting against dangers and new friends and allies appearing on the scene to help.
Although Voyager has some extremely good individual episodes, it unfortunately falls short as a complete work of Star Trek fiction.
TNG is about a crew of explorers who roam the galaxy to discover new civilizations and space phenomena. The focus here is clearly on first contact. The individual episodes are mostly "alien of the week" episodes, although there are also overarching story elements: The Borg, Q, Data's background and his quest to become human. In DS9, however, the focus is on a space station, which, as the name suggests, is stationary. This means the focus of the series is different. The focus is not on space exploration, but rather on an overarching conflict. The threat of the Dominion and the changelings. In addition, the previous war between Cardassia and Bajor plays a central role, giving the characters depth. Because everything basically begins and ends on the station, we also get to know a lot about the main characters there. Quark's restaurant serves as a meeting place. You also see the main characters in their private lives, which gives you as a viewer a much closer connection to them.
Voyager should actually have been conceptually located exactly between these two series. On the one hand, the crew is traveling on a ship and is constantly encountering new species. On the other hand, the crew has been crammed into a very small space for seven years and the interaction between the crew members should have played a key role here. Furthermore, Voyager has a central plot element: the journey home to Earth. A dangerous odyssey through unknown space. And the chance to find new planets, new species, new technology and new allies.
But this is where Voyager fails. The journey home is not the focus of most episodes. As a viewer, you often don't have the feeling that this is actually the motivation of the crew. In addition, this trip leaves hardly any traces on board. Voyager should actually have been packed with alien technology by the end of the voyage. In the ship one should have seen foreign art objects, archaeological evidence of the foreign cultures they encountered. From time to time, strange travelers should have become part of the crew to spice up the plot. Basically, as a viewer, you should have constantly had the feeling that this crew is destined to fly home and that they are doing everything to achieve this. Instead, like TNG, most episodes of Voyager are just "alien of the week" episodes.
Another drawback: While in DS9 the characters were really developed in detail and their storylines were intertwined, in Voyager you get the feeling that half the crew are just extras. Apart from the senior officers, none of the crew was ever seen anyway. And even the main characters mostly remained superficial. Just take Harry Kim, Chakotay, Kess, even Tuvok. While DS9 featured eloquent and absolutely iconic characters like Quark, Garak, Dukat and Weyoun, such central figures are missing in Voyager. And while you felt like you knew the DS9 crew personally after a while because you were able to follow Bashir and O'Brien's friendship up close or saw Dax playing Tongo with Ferengi, you didn't learn much about the Voyager crew's private lives. Paris and Kim's holodeck adventures just aren't the same as the bromance between Miles and Julian.
The series definitely got better when Seven of Nine replaced Kes. However, this wasn't because she was constantly running around in a tight jumpsuit, but because both her connection to the Borg and her cool and rational manner were often central elements in solving problems within the episodes. The optics and visual effects also got better in the end. However, the ending of this series is disappointing. In the seventh season, hardly anything happened and then suddenly they are home. Here you really noticed that the whole series never really focused on the central element of the journey home. Essentially, Voyager should have been like Frodo's journey to Mount Doom. Always with the central goal in mind and on the move, the crew constantly fighting against dangers and new friends and allies appearing on the scene to help.
Although Voyager has some extremely good individual episodes, it unfortunately falls short as a complete work of Star Trek fiction.
- tomsly-40015
- Feb 16, 2024
- Permalink
Voyager has the strange distinction of being the first Trek series that I didn't like. To me there's a throughline of complexity that runs from TOS to DS9 and then just stops at Voyager. An intriguing premise is spoiled early on with pretty much all the Maquis conflict resolved within 4 episodes. The "unfamiliar" Delta quadrant ends up being populated with species that are largely derivative of other races already seen.
Lacking imagination the writers sought to shoehorn as much of TNG's cast offs into the show as possible: Lieutenant Barclay, Troi, and how could we forget the Borg. One of the biggest mistakes the show made was to return to the Borg well too often. Every time we learned something new about the collective their power and presence was compromised. How many times can a poorly equipped science vessel defeat them before all menace is removed? Voyager lacked originality and never strove to bring anything different to the franchise. The characters lacked any real sparkle and the episodic nature of the show ended up making a number of characters look schizophrenic, especially Janeway, who see-sawed in her behaviour depending on what the episode called for. This was further compounded by Kate Mulgrew whose goose-like voice, overexpressively constipated facial expressions and robotic body movements made watching a disbelieving experience.
The biggest downfall of the show was that the solution to everything seemed to be technology, especially Borg for the last few seasons. The solution to problems being the pressing of buttons did not make for high drama.
Voyager had the occasional excellent episode, usually the 2 parters, and it did have some good actors amongst the cast, though the parts they played rarely gave them the opportunity to display this.
Voyager is regarded as the beginning of the end of Trek, being less popular than its predecessors and less well regarded critically than what had come before. Voyager, like Enterprise, failed to keep pace with the wider changing TV environment to which shows like DS9 and Babylon 5 were early adopters (and maybe even trend setters - there would be no programmes like 24 or Lost without shows like these). It isn't so much a bad show as "bad by comparison".
Lacking imagination the writers sought to shoehorn as much of TNG's cast offs into the show as possible: Lieutenant Barclay, Troi, and how could we forget the Borg. One of the biggest mistakes the show made was to return to the Borg well too often. Every time we learned something new about the collective their power and presence was compromised. How many times can a poorly equipped science vessel defeat them before all menace is removed? Voyager lacked originality and never strove to bring anything different to the franchise. The characters lacked any real sparkle and the episodic nature of the show ended up making a number of characters look schizophrenic, especially Janeway, who see-sawed in her behaviour depending on what the episode called for. This was further compounded by Kate Mulgrew whose goose-like voice, overexpressively constipated facial expressions and robotic body movements made watching a disbelieving experience.
The biggest downfall of the show was that the solution to everything seemed to be technology, especially Borg for the last few seasons. The solution to problems being the pressing of buttons did not make for high drama.
Voyager had the occasional excellent episode, usually the 2 parters, and it did have some good actors amongst the cast, though the parts they played rarely gave them the opportunity to display this.
Voyager is regarded as the beginning of the end of Trek, being less popular than its predecessors and less well regarded critically than what had come before. Voyager, like Enterprise, failed to keep pace with the wider changing TV environment to which shows like DS9 and Babylon 5 were early adopters (and maybe even trend setters - there would be no programmes like 24 or Lost without shows like these). It isn't so much a bad show as "bad by comparison".
- newstarinthesky
- Jan 25, 2009
- Permalink
If IMDB had a way of getting a blood pressure reading on some of the users making comments for this show, the results would be frightening. There's no reason to EVER get that worked up over a program!
I've never been able to understand why a person would watch an entire seven year series, hating it all the way. Option: Turn the channel. You've got nothing to lose. It's not like in the theater where one might sit through a tepid movie because they paid admission. Voyager was free. Take it or leave it.
Personally, I enjoyed the show. I liked the plot, the cast, and most of the storylines. I appreciated the mix of drama and action. Voyager, in my opinion, was a very good program. Had I not felt good about it... I would have turned it off. Problem solved.
Not every series is going to be a masterpiece. Not everyone is going to like every show. If it's your cup of tea, drink it. If not, put the cup down.
I've never been able to understand why a person would watch an entire seven year series, hating it all the way. Option: Turn the channel. You've got nothing to lose. It's not like in the theater where one might sit through a tepid movie because they paid admission. Voyager was free. Take it or leave it.
Personally, I enjoyed the show. I liked the plot, the cast, and most of the storylines. I appreciated the mix of drama and action. Voyager, in my opinion, was a very good program. Had I not felt good about it... I would have turned it off. Problem solved.
Not every series is going to be a masterpiece. Not everyone is going to like every show. If it's your cup of tea, drink it. If not, put the cup down.
I was not really a big fan of Star Trek until I saw Voyager accidentally one time on cable. I forgot which particular episode but it was so creative and funny, that I kicked myself for not noticing this treasure. Thanks to the advent of Netflix and post 2000 video technology distribution, I am able to embark into every episodes for the entire 7 seasons. What about the doctor!? Emergency Medical Hologram to Emergency Command Hologram, Robert Picardo made me love the show so much, what a joy to just see him perform and struggle with his "humanity". He makes me laugh out loud so many times, I had to apologize to my roommate for my uncontrollable outburst. Voyager is my painkiller for breaking out the laughs. It's just so funny sometimes, I can't help it. My wife and I love, Jeri Ryan (Seven) and Robert Picardo (EMH) duet -- "You are my sunshine". Their voices so pure, I still hear it in my head. It might be corny to some but Voyager is making a grand statement -- to EXPRESS as humanly possible -- the purest form of unrelentless expression of art -- without restraint -- of music, dreams and holo novels, etc. I have to say, Voyager is a very entertaining series. There are immense creativity into the moral conscience, and interpersonal development within each member of the crew. Instead of making artificial intelligence awkward and jerky, writers of Voyager gave Picardo the freedom to express beyond anything you can imagined. He is more feeling and more emotional than most organics -- and boy, can he sing! I love the premise for doctor's expansive, self growth, developing, and becoming a valuable member as part of "the family" decision in the final 2 episodes of Endgame; science fiction at its best! Toward the end, EMH actually disobey Captain's order and make "human" mistakes. I believe the chemistry between the crew works well. Harry Kim and Tom Paris, Neelix and Tuvok <-- those two are actually quite funny. I love Tuvoc occasional humor, despite being a Vulcan. Finally, I'm SO GLAD they did not go with the original actress for Janeway-- have you seen the rare 1st episode footage?! -- thank God for Kate Mulgrew! She has developed through the 7 years into an extremely confident, believable, and respectable female captain. Let me put it this way, Kate Mulgrew did more than I ever envision a female Captain could do -- even with a hint of feminine quality. Hard to believe but the chemistry balance was just right. Kate, what a GREAT job! Thank you Star Trek for making Voyager, I enjoy every episode, the creativity, of morals issues we face everyday, and the potential possibilities of our Cosmic expanse.
- whosjohnny
- Nov 22, 2007
- Permalink
Here in The Netherlands, Star Trek Voyager was on the TV every 4 days of the week. I've never payed much attention to this since I am not the biggest fan of since-fiction and sorts of movies and series like it. One day, nothing was on and I decided to lower myself to the 'level' Star Trek was on. From that moment on, I didn't knew what I was saying before!
I began watching it every day, until I discovered I dropped right there in to the middle of Season 4. Which was pretty bad for me. Since I had NO clue what so ever how they got to the Delta Quadrant, where in war with the Kazon and who 'Kes' was, I decided I just had to afford the 99,99 euro 7parts DVD box. This box was kept in storage somewhere behind my schoolbooks, until I missed a couple of episodes because of my weekly and daily responsibilities. I decided to start all over again and watch the entire series without subtitles or synchronization. Pure all-American humor and language that is.
From that moment on, I knew what was going on, and how they got where they were. Including what happened to them. I didn't gave up watching Star Trek Voyager on TV, since there were still subtitles included on TV. It simply drew me back in all over again! (which I didn't mind at all) My initial misgivings suddenly disappeared and I began to be a huge fan of the series. I used to stay up all night watching it and I still do! After watching every single episode more than 3 times. Since I haven't gotten into all the other series, Voyager still raised above my expectations and for sure it amazed my how 'modern' it was for that time of year.
Therefor I want to conclude; everyone who is interested in SF, star traveling, interesting plot-twists and more, should definitely watch this series! I gave it a definite 9+.
I began watching it every day, until I discovered I dropped right there in to the middle of Season 4. Which was pretty bad for me. Since I had NO clue what so ever how they got to the Delta Quadrant, where in war with the Kazon and who 'Kes' was, I decided I just had to afford the 99,99 euro 7parts DVD box. This box was kept in storage somewhere behind my schoolbooks, until I missed a couple of episodes because of my weekly and daily responsibilities. I decided to start all over again and watch the entire series without subtitles or synchronization. Pure all-American humor and language that is.
From that moment on, I knew what was going on, and how they got where they were. Including what happened to them. I didn't gave up watching Star Trek Voyager on TV, since there were still subtitles included on TV. It simply drew me back in all over again! (which I didn't mind at all) My initial misgivings suddenly disappeared and I began to be a huge fan of the series. I used to stay up all night watching it and I still do! After watching every single episode more than 3 times. Since I haven't gotten into all the other series, Voyager still raised above my expectations and for sure it amazed my how 'modern' it was for that time of year.
Therefor I want to conclude; everyone who is interested in SF, star traveling, interesting plot-twists and more, should definitely watch this series! I gave it a definite 9+.
I've been a fan of the Star Trek series since Star Trek the Next Generation. I used to watch The Next Gen after school and I loved the idea of going off to space to explore new worlds and meeting new peoples. But the one thing that bothered me about the series was all the constrictions that the Enterprise had to go through. There was several shows that had the Federation saying 'You can't do this, or that!' But with Star Trek Voyager you have a smaller ship with only a couple of dozen of people on board in a distant part of the galaxy who are trying to get home. Far away from their family, friends and superiors. The series does an great job at redefining several species and introduces new ones. The cast is great and is always fun to watch Robert Picardo as the Doctor because he gets me laughing all the time. The ship has plenty of interesting characters all growing throughout the series. The Doctor becomes more then just a hologram medical helper and becomes a real member of the ship. Captain Janeway becomes a strong confident captain. Tom Paris, a womanizing troublemaker buckles down with a former hot head, federation hating Klingon.
So if you love space exploration then this is the series for you.
So if you love space exploration then this is the series for you.
- thepartyoftea
- Jun 8, 2006
- Permalink
I was an angry teenager back when it aired on local networks in my country South Africa. Star Trek was oh so lame for the 90's generation. There was nothing on TV so I switched to a channel where Voyager was showing. I still recall the episode that changed my life. It was the one where the crew fell asleep and believed they reached earth, all but Seven of Nine. The Venus flytrap nebula episode. Since then I got interested in science and physics, all I needed was a good TV show with hypothetical scenarios to make me think.
Most exciting was when I was able to afford the DVD box set and watch from episode 1. I officially became a Trekkie. Voyager is still by far my favourite. There is only two TV series I rewatched more than 4 times throughout the years. That would be Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Voyager.
Most exciting was when I was able to afford the DVD box set and watch from episode 1. I officially became a Trekkie. Voyager is still by far my favourite. There is only two TV series I rewatched more than 4 times throughout the years. That would be Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Voyager.
- markwilliams91983
- Sep 27, 2006
- Permalink
A couple years ago I made a point to rewatch every Star Trek series to date (not yet touching Discovery, since it's both ongoing and on a subscription site I've not yet ventured into). Of them all, I was (and really, still am) least familiar with Voyager. I should've counted as I watched, but I'd previously seen maybe 10-20 episodes, compared maybe 10-20 episodes total that I *hadn't* previously seen of TNG & DS9 combined.
Despite that lack of knowledge, I entered my rewatch with a presupposition that I wouldn't like Voyager. And I couldn't even tell you why; I just remember not caring for it based on what little I had previously watched or knew of the series. I was mistaken.
What are Voyager's weaknesses?
What leaps out at me the most is that once Seven joins the cast, it somewhat seems to become The Janeway & Seven Show, featuring The Doctor, and sometimes other crew members might show up, too. Exaggeration, yes, but not entirely. Not to say there wasn't good material as such, but other characters definitely took a back seat by comparison.
There's also the common accusation that Seven was introduced as "Barbie Borg" to boost ratings. That's not unfair; it's unfortunate that the character was cheapened in that way. Although, at least the writers didn't treat Seven the same way the costumers did.
Another issue with VOY: When the writers aim for sentimentality, it becomes saccharine to the point of falling apart in your hands. Exhibit A, S7E12 "Lineage": I'm not convinced the script wasn't stolen from a soap opera filming nearby. Easily the single worst episode of the series. S5E23 "11:59" isn't much better. I certainly don't want narrative bereft of sentiment, but there has to be a balance. And too often, VOY came down heavily on one side, to its detriment.
And one more thing: There's not a whole lot of follow-through in VOY. Sure, characters mention things that happened in previous episodes, and character arcs progress over the course of the series, and there are recurring villains. But I'm talking about plot points that come back to haunt the crew further in the series, actions that bear consequences 2-3 years later. It just doesn't happen here. Much like the series finale, where the ramifications of everything therein aren't even broached. Granted, maybe there just wasn't enough time to do everything that could/should have been written in, but it's a detraction nonetheless.
To that point--Voyager as a series felt very episodic. If Deep Space 9 was one long thread, The Next Generation was multiple threads woven together. That's a sharp contrast with the original series, which was something new every week. In terms of narrative development, VOY feels a bit like a link between TOS and TNG.
Less specifically, there's one more broader complaint of VOY I understand, but which I don't carry for reasons I'll get into. I could understand a person looking at the episodes & judging them to be too ridiculous for their own good, falling short of the legacy of previous series. Holodeck episodes. Antagonists that defy suspension of disbelief. Crew members stranded in time/in space/in their own minds hold the key to saving the day. Episodes focusing on a single cast member's activities/development w/ no bearing on the larger narrative. Time travel. Family episodes. Etc.
But--& this is a really, really big but--those episode plots that are just too ridiculous to work? That lack of follow-through & narrative connection? Those moments of overly sentimental tripe? The focused attention on 1-2 cast members, putting the ensemble in the back seat?
Here's the thing: All those faults & issues of VOY we dislike?
TNG did it. So did DS9. Holodeck episodes, plots that defy suspension of disbelief, one person saves the day, mundane activities, time travel, family; missed connections, sentimentality, focus on 1-2 crew members. All of it. Who can forget the time Beverly Crusher fell in love with a ghost? Or the Seven-esque jumpsuit that Troi wore for 4 seasons? The time Lwaxana & Alexander had a fun day in the Holodeck with Dustin Diamond's kaleidoscopic head in a bubble? The DS9 crew playing baseball? The day Data learned to dance. All the episodes that focused on Miles O'Brien & his family, even as the Alpha Quadrant was at war. The DS9 crew pulling a heist on a holographic casino, or Odo confessing his love to Nerys. Worf in the Old West. Data & Yar having sex. TNG S7E19, "Genesis." The alien parasites at the end of TNG S1 who seemed poised for a comeback but never showed up again.
All the things we give VOY grief for, TNG & DS9--rightfully hailed as the best of Star Trek--did the same things. "Not as much, though," you say. "Maybe even more," I say.
It became a lot easier to like Voyager when I realized I didn't have a specific reason to dislike it.
That said, without a doubt VOY is still not nearly as good as TNG or DS9. And I can't entirely place my finger on why. The cast are all quite good, there's no faulting them. Writers & crew on the shows didn't necessarily change much from one series to the next. So what gives? For as good as VOY was, for the surprising number of episodes that I'd rank right alongside the very best of TNG & DS9, somehow it's not as convincing as its predecessors. It's not as endearing, it doesn't strike the same chords, it isn't remembered as fondly. Why is that?
The best answer I can give--personal opinion--is that VOY never found its voice.
Consider TNG. Classic sci-fi tropes like exploration, space battles, phasers, alien encounters were grounded w/ a strong ensemble cast depicting a highly organized crew who were also close friends. For all the tropes that TNG borrowed, explored, or created, it also delved into heavy topics of ethics and philosophy, further broaching questions of honor, integrity, duty, responsibility, freedom, science, grief, love, power, life & death, existence, & the nature of humanity. Consider DS9. Largely one connected narrative with individual threads woven in, featuring a disparate cast of characters who were both friends & antagonists, family & enemy, yet who worked well and closely. If DS9 didn't probe big questions like TNG did, it's only because it had A Story To Tell. At their worst, TNG & DS9 were silly & fun sci-fi romps. At their best, they were Very Serious Shows, expertly crafted narratives that made one think.
So what of VOY?
Strong cast, with characters in a definite hierarchy who nevertheless interacted more like family than crewmates or friends. Plenty of sci-fi tropes, but only in service to the narrative. A story to tell, but not the focus per se. Hints at bigger questions, but rarely probed deeply. VOY as a series had things to say and do, but it never quite seemed to truly say or do the things it really wanted to. Before it could, it was time to move on to the next episode.
One of the things that struck me about VOY was how the ship faced multiple threats as it traversed across the Delta Quadrant. Antagonists that they faced in one season didn't necessarily show up in the next because, hey, they'd moved beyond that region of space. As I think about it, it's almost as though that narrative thrust was woven into the very construction of the series. Constantly moving from one thing to the next, never really giving time to develop anything in particular. From one week to the next, we might have gotten an episodes full of tropes, or action, or VERY SERIOUS THINGS, or silliness, or sentimentality, or mundane goings-on - never in any particular order, never really connected to one another, all at random.
Again, VOY's weaknesses are nothing that aren't found in TNG & DS9. But even as the type of plot varied sometimes in those series from one week to the next, there was largely a distinct unity of vision to them that kept the whole together despite its varied parts. For all the things that VOY shares in common with its predecessors, a unity of vision within the series wasn't one of them.
Maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe VOY is easier to get into for some people than DS9 or TNG. But only if you've never seen any other Star Trek series can you watch VOY without bearing the legacy of its precursors in mind.
It may sound like I'm trashing VOY here, but that's not my intention. This is me trying to reason my way through the "why" of liking it less. 1-2 genuinely bad episodes, sure. But VOY had many more episodes that were absolutely stellar. And for all its faults and weaknesses, the average episode, and certainly VOY as a whole, was actually quite good.
There was a time near the start of my rewatch where I said aloud, "I haven't gotten to the point where I figured out why I dislike it, but I'm sure I'll get there."
...but I guess I never did. There are reasons I like it *less,* but I can honestly no longer say I dislike VOY. Nor can I give any reason why I ever did.
People love VOY more than any other series? Okay, great. People hate VOY more than any other series? Seems a bit much, but okay. All I know is, I began with mixed expectations, & they were exceeded.
Deep Space 9 is the best Star Trek series; The Next Generation arguably had the most impact. Voyager may not get or deserve the same amount of recognition, but it definitely deserves more respect than it gets. After decades of groundbreaking sci-fi, Voyager was a Star Trek series that was Just Enough. And that's okay.
Despite that lack of knowledge, I entered my rewatch with a presupposition that I wouldn't like Voyager. And I couldn't even tell you why; I just remember not caring for it based on what little I had previously watched or knew of the series. I was mistaken.
What are Voyager's weaknesses?
What leaps out at me the most is that once Seven joins the cast, it somewhat seems to become The Janeway & Seven Show, featuring The Doctor, and sometimes other crew members might show up, too. Exaggeration, yes, but not entirely. Not to say there wasn't good material as such, but other characters definitely took a back seat by comparison.
There's also the common accusation that Seven was introduced as "Barbie Borg" to boost ratings. That's not unfair; it's unfortunate that the character was cheapened in that way. Although, at least the writers didn't treat Seven the same way the costumers did.
Another issue with VOY: When the writers aim for sentimentality, it becomes saccharine to the point of falling apart in your hands. Exhibit A, S7E12 "Lineage": I'm not convinced the script wasn't stolen from a soap opera filming nearby. Easily the single worst episode of the series. S5E23 "11:59" isn't much better. I certainly don't want narrative bereft of sentiment, but there has to be a balance. And too often, VOY came down heavily on one side, to its detriment.
And one more thing: There's not a whole lot of follow-through in VOY. Sure, characters mention things that happened in previous episodes, and character arcs progress over the course of the series, and there are recurring villains. But I'm talking about plot points that come back to haunt the crew further in the series, actions that bear consequences 2-3 years later. It just doesn't happen here. Much like the series finale, where the ramifications of everything therein aren't even broached. Granted, maybe there just wasn't enough time to do everything that could/should have been written in, but it's a detraction nonetheless.
To that point--Voyager as a series felt very episodic. If Deep Space 9 was one long thread, The Next Generation was multiple threads woven together. That's a sharp contrast with the original series, which was something new every week. In terms of narrative development, VOY feels a bit like a link between TOS and TNG.
Less specifically, there's one more broader complaint of VOY I understand, but which I don't carry for reasons I'll get into. I could understand a person looking at the episodes & judging them to be too ridiculous for their own good, falling short of the legacy of previous series. Holodeck episodes. Antagonists that defy suspension of disbelief. Crew members stranded in time/in space/in their own minds hold the key to saving the day. Episodes focusing on a single cast member's activities/development w/ no bearing on the larger narrative. Time travel. Family episodes. Etc.
But--& this is a really, really big but--those episode plots that are just too ridiculous to work? That lack of follow-through & narrative connection? Those moments of overly sentimental tripe? The focused attention on 1-2 cast members, putting the ensemble in the back seat?
Here's the thing: All those faults & issues of VOY we dislike?
TNG did it. So did DS9. Holodeck episodes, plots that defy suspension of disbelief, one person saves the day, mundane activities, time travel, family; missed connections, sentimentality, focus on 1-2 crew members. All of it. Who can forget the time Beverly Crusher fell in love with a ghost? Or the Seven-esque jumpsuit that Troi wore for 4 seasons? The time Lwaxana & Alexander had a fun day in the Holodeck with Dustin Diamond's kaleidoscopic head in a bubble? The DS9 crew playing baseball? The day Data learned to dance. All the episodes that focused on Miles O'Brien & his family, even as the Alpha Quadrant was at war. The DS9 crew pulling a heist on a holographic casino, or Odo confessing his love to Nerys. Worf in the Old West. Data & Yar having sex. TNG S7E19, "Genesis." The alien parasites at the end of TNG S1 who seemed poised for a comeback but never showed up again.
All the things we give VOY grief for, TNG & DS9--rightfully hailed as the best of Star Trek--did the same things. "Not as much, though," you say. "Maybe even more," I say.
It became a lot easier to like Voyager when I realized I didn't have a specific reason to dislike it.
That said, without a doubt VOY is still not nearly as good as TNG or DS9. And I can't entirely place my finger on why. The cast are all quite good, there's no faulting them. Writers & crew on the shows didn't necessarily change much from one series to the next. So what gives? For as good as VOY was, for the surprising number of episodes that I'd rank right alongside the very best of TNG & DS9, somehow it's not as convincing as its predecessors. It's not as endearing, it doesn't strike the same chords, it isn't remembered as fondly. Why is that?
The best answer I can give--personal opinion--is that VOY never found its voice.
Consider TNG. Classic sci-fi tropes like exploration, space battles, phasers, alien encounters were grounded w/ a strong ensemble cast depicting a highly organized crew who were also close friends. For all the tropes that TNG borrowed, explored, or created, it also delved into heavy topics of ethics and philosophy, further broaching questions of honor, integrity, duty, responsibility, freedom, science, grief, love, power, life & death, existence, & the nature of humanity. Consider DS9. Largely one connected narrative with individual threads woven in, featuring a disparate cast of characters who were both friends & antagonists, family & enemy, yet who worked well and closely. If DS9 didn't probe big questions like TNG did, it's only because it had A Story To Tell. At their worst, TNG & DS9 were silly & fun sci-fi romps. At their best, they were Very Serious Shows, expertly crafted narratives that made one think.
So what of VOY?
Strong cast, with characters in a definite hierarchy who nevertheless interacted more like family than crewmates or friends. Plenty of sci-fi tropes, but only in service to the narrative. A story to tell, but not the focus per se. Hints at bigger questions, but rarely probed deeply. VOY as a series had things to say and do, but it never quite seemed to truly say or do the things it really wanted to. Before it could, it was time to move on to the next episode.
One of the things that struck me about VOY was how the ship faced multiple threats as it traversed across the Delta Quadrant. Antagonists that they faced in one season didn't necessarily show up in the next because, hey, they'd moved beyond that region of space. As I think about it, it's almost as though that narrative thrust was woven into the very construction of the series. Constantly moving from one thing to the next, never really giving time to develop anything in particular. From one week to the next, we might have gotten an episodes full of tropes, or action, or VERY SERIOUS THINGS, or silliness, or sentimentality, or mundane goings-on - never in any particular order, never really connected to one another, all at random.
Again, VOY's weaknesses are nothing that aren't found in TNG & DS9. But even as the type of plot varied sometimes in those series from one week to the next, there was largely a distinct unity of vision to them that kept the whole together despite its varied parts. For all the things that VOY shares in common with its predecessors, a unity of vision within the series wasn't one of them.
Maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe VOY is easier to get into for some people than DS9 or TNG. But only if you've never seen any other Star Trek series can you watch VOY without bearing the legacy of its precursors in mind.
It may sound like I'm trashing VOY here, but that's not my intention. This is me trying to reason my way through the "why" of liking it less. 1-2 genuinely bad episodes, sure. But VOY had many more episodes that were absolutely stellar. And for all its faults and weaknesses, the average episode, and certainly VOY as a whole, was actually quite good.
There was a time near the start of my rewatch where I said aloud, "I haven't gotten to the point where I figured out why I dislike it, but I'm sure I'll get there."
...but I guess I never did. There are reasons I like it *less,* but I can honestly no longer say I dislike VOY. Nor can I give any reason why I ever did.
People love VOY more than any other series? Okay, great. People hate VOY more than any other series? Seems a bit much, but okay. All I know is, I began with mixed expectations, & they were exceeded.
Deep Space 9 is the best Star Trek series; The Next Generation arguably had the most impact. Voyager may not get or deserve the same amount of recognition, but it definitely deserves more respect than it gets. After decades of groundbreaking sci-fi, Voyager was a Star Trek series that was Just Enough. And that's okay.
- I_Ailurophile
- Dec 17, 2020
- Permalink
Voyager can be said to be a science fiction version of Homer's story of The Odyssey with Captain Janeway as a female version of Odysseus. The crew of Voyager face the same adventures that Odysseus and his crew did after the Trojan War. Many of the episodes reflect the myths of the of The Odyssey especially the one where the planet of women that capture men to drain them of life such as Ceres did to the crew in the novel.
- mysmith121350
- May 8, 2017
- Permalink
I like 'Star Trek: Voyager'. There, I've said it and I'm not ashamed to admit that truth despite how a number of my fellow Trek fans feel. The premise sees the Starfleet crew of the USS Voyager investigating the disappearance of a Maquis ship in the perilous area of space known as the Badlands when they are pulled seventy-five light years away into the Delta Quadrant by an alien entity. After destroying the Maquis ship to save both crews from a warlike alien race, the Starfleet and Maquis are left merging into one group on-board Voyager with Starfleet Captain Janeway (the first female captain to lead a 'Star Trek' show) in command and Maquis Commander Chakotay as her First Officer. As they traverse through space, interacting with various alien species on the way, the main objective of the Voyager crew is to return home to Federation space.
Although the characters didn't develop quite as much as they could have, the main cast of the show all portrayed their characters well (even Ethan Phillips who played the often annoying Neelix!), growing into their roles as they progress through the seven years that 'Voyager' aired for. In particular, the younger characters of the show did 'grow up' the most. The jaded, delinquent Tom Paris (played by Robert Duncan McNeill) developed into a loyal and strong-natured officer without sacrificing his devil-may-care attitude so integral to the character, Seven (played by Jeri Ryan) grew from robotic drone who relied on her looks to sell her character to a more rounded, human character while the moody half-Klingon B'Elanna Torres (with Roxann Dawson in the role) eased off with her temperamental tantrums to show there was more to her than anger. And, of course, there has to be a mention of Robert Picardo's excellent depiction of the holographic Doctor whose journey into becoming more human was probably more touching than that portrayed by Data from 'The Next Generation'.
Many of the stories covered by 'Voyager' were engaging, exciting and, sometimes, even thought-provoking. It was probably most true to Gene Roddenberry's concept of 'going where no-one has gone before' since the crew really were stuck in an undiscovered area of space, alone with no back-up and only each other to rely upon. There was contact with different species (as well as one very familiar race) that were a pleasant change from the usual faces of the Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians. When you compare 'Voyager' to 'The Next Generation', which had many dire episodes in its initial season, it's clear that the former does fare well, finding its feet quicker. And at least the child characters on 'Voyager' don't leave you wanting to drown them in the way Wesley Crusher did.
There were a few sticking points that could have been handled differently such as seeing what the possible results would be if the crew had suffered from resource shortages and if a few crew members had problems integrating and accepting their situation. That said, this show is meant to be far lighter than 'Battlestar Galactica', which does deal with such issues, and this stance works for 'Voyager' and the more enlightened ideals that are meant to be held in Roddenberry's future. Also, what were they thinking when they paired Chakotay and Seven together? Probably the same thing they were thinking when they devised the hideous romancing of Troi and Worf in TNG!
It may not be perfect but 'Voyager' deserves to be acknowledged as another great addition to the Trek-verse.
Although the characters didn't develop quite as much as they could have, the main cast of the show all portrayed their characters well (even Ethan Phillips who played the often annoying Neelix!), growing into their roles as they progress through the seven years that 'Voyager' aired for. In particular, the younger characters of the show did 'grow up' the most. The jaded, delinquent Tom Paris (played by Robert Duncan McNeill) developed into a loyal and strong-natured officer without sacrificing his devil-may-care attitude so integral to the character, Seven (played by Jeri Ryan) grew from robotic drone who relied on her looks to sell her character to a more rounded, human character while the moody half-Klingon B'Elanna Torres (with Roxann Dawson in the role) eased off with her temperamental tantrums to show there was more to her than anger. And, of course, there has to be a mention of Robert Picardo's excellent depiction of the holographic Doctor whose journey into becoming more human was probably more touching than that portrayed by Data from 'The Next Generation'.
Many of the stories covered by 'Voyager' were engaging, exciting and, sometimes, even thought-provoking. It was probably most true to Gene Roddenberry's concept of 'going where no-one has gone before' since the crew really were stuck in an undiscovered area of space, alone with no back-up and only each other to rely upon. There was contact with different species (as well as one very familiar race) that were a pleasant change from the usual faces of the Romulans, Klingons and Cardassians. When you compare 'Voyager' to 'The Next Generation', which had many dire episodes in its initial season, it's clear that the former does fare well, finding its feet quicker. And at least the child characters on 'Voyager' don't leave you wanting to drown them in the way Wesley Crusher did.
There were a few sticking points that could have been handled differently such as seeing what the possible results would be if the crew had suffered from resource shortages and if a few crew members had problems integrating and accepting their situation. That said, this show is meant to be far lighter than 'Battlestar Galactica', which does deal with such issues, and this stance works for 'Voyager' and the more enlightened ideals that are meant to be held in Roddenberry's future. Also, what were they thinking when they paired Chakotay and Seven together? Probably the same thing they were thinking when they devised the hideous romancing of Troi and Worf in TNG!
It may not be perfect but 'Voyager' deserves to be acknowledged as another great addition to the Trek-verse.
- cosmic_quest
- Oct 4, 2006
- Permalink
I'm convinced that everyone has a TV format they'll watch which is basically rubbish. For some it's Soap Operas, others reality programs, for others Quiz shows or perhaps sports. For me it's Sci Fi and Fantasy, and thus I've watched every Voyager episode even though it's really not very good.
The first major problem is the characters, who are mostly either bland or annoying. Janeway is a pompous and annoying Kathrine Hepburn wannabe with a grating voice. Chakotay, a bland native American who stills believes in 'animal spirit guides'. Tom Paris a toned down prettyboy rogue. Harry Kim is possibly the most uninteresting main character in any ST series. Tuvok is alright, but too much like Spock. Torres is a stroppy, stereotypical Klingon. Kes, cute but again bland. Neelix is an annoying furball. The Doctor is the exception, an interesting, nuanced character, ironically the most human of the bunch. Seven was OK, but they comically decided to dress her in a catsuit (unlike the rest of the crew) to emphasise her large and impressive 'Borg implants'.
Then we have the excessive techno-babble. The first modification I'd make to any Star Fleet vessel is improving the Portner Cell so it doesn't leak plasma all the time, and indeed, 'my Portner Cell is leaking plasma' has become a euphemism for breaking wind with some of my friends.
Then there's the rehashed plots which are virtually identical to earlier ST:TNG ones.
And then there's lack of any real character conflict. Things started well with the tensions between the Star Fleet and Maquis crews, but within half a season the writers have copped out, leaving us with petty scrabbles rather than any real tension.
And then the the absurdity of much of it. In the pilot we learn that the Kazon has ships capable of challenging Voyager on mass, but they don't have any water?! Then Voyager travels in a straight line away from them for months on end, but the Kazon keep on popping up.
And then there's the flexibility of the Prime Directive, where it's a major issue in some episodes, and savagely and intentionally broken in others (particularly the Season finale, Janeway would have been court martialed for what she did, not promoted).
So why did I keep watching? Partially through desperation for some Sci Fi to watch, and because occasionally (rather like Star Gate:SG1) there'd be an outstanding episode such as the one where the Doctor falls in love with a Vidian.
One last thing, I really can't understand how anyone can compare this with the mostly excellent ST:DS9. Voyager is so inferior in just about every respect there really isn't a comparison at all.
3/10
The first major problem is the characters, who are mostly either bland or annoying. Janeway is a pompous and annoying Kathrine Hepburn wannabe with a grating voice. Chakotay, a bland native American who stills believes in 'animal spirit guides'. Tom Paris a toned down prettyboy rogue. Harry Kim is possibly the most uninteresting main character in any ST series. Tuvok is alright, but too much like Spock. Torres is a stroppy, stereotypical Klingon. Kes, cute but again bland. Neelix is an annoying furball. The Doctor is the exception, an interesting, nuanced character, ironically the most human of the bunch. Seven was OK, but they comically decided to dress her in a catsuit (unlike the rest of the crew) to emphasise her large and impressive 'Borg implants'.
Then we have the excessive techno-babble. The first modification I'd make to any Star Fleet vessel is improving the Portner Cell so it doesn't leak plasma all the time, and indeed, 'my Portner Cell is leaking plasma' has become a euphemism for breaking wind with some of my friends.
Then there's the rehashed plots which are virtually identical to earlier ST:TNG ones.
And then there's lack of any real character conflict. Things started well with the tensions between the Star Fleet and Maquis crews, but within half a season the writers have copped out, leaving us with petty scrabbles rather than any real tension.
And then the the absurdity of much of it. In the pilot we learn that the Kazon has ships capable of challenging Voyager on mass, but they don't have any water?! Then Voyager travels in a straight line away from them for months on end, but the Kazon keep on popping up.
And then there's the flexibility of the Prime Directive, where it's a major issue in some episodes, and savagely and intentionally broken in others (particularly the Season finale, Janeway would have been court martialed for what she did, not promoted).
So why did I keep watching? Partially through desperation for some Sci Fi to watch, and because occasionally (rather like Star Gate:SG1) there'd be an outstanding episode such as the one where the Doctor falls in love with a Vidian.
One last thing, I really can't understand how anyone can compare this with the mostly excellent ST:DS9. Voyager is so inferior in just about every respect there really isn't a comparison at all.
3/10