Star Trek: Voyager
Trapped in deep space, a long way from home, surrounded by unknown enemies (and enemies within), ''Star Trek: Voyager'' got off to a big start in 1995. The fourth series in the popular franchise, ''Voyager'' was an attempt to breathe new life into Star Trek, while maintaining ties to the universe without rebooting. Removing the safety net of Star Fleet, putting the crew in some truly unexplored territory, forcing members of a Starfleet ship to work with members of a rebel movement, the Maquis, all added up to some major changes from the status quo. ''Voyager'' also boasted a female captain and a very diverse crew, helping change to view of ''Star Trek'' as a homogeneous future.
Lost in Space
While other Trek series had openspace distortions, have a few adventures with Q, and clash with the Borg, even taking on a former Borg drone as a member of the crew.
Characters
Among the members of the crew trapped on the (not quite) 75 year journey home are:
* Captain Kathryn Janeway, the first female lead to be a Captain in Star Trek.
* First Officer Chakotay, a former Maquis leader.
* Security Officer Tuvok, a Vulcan with some difficulty controlling his emotions.
* Chief Engineer B'Ellana Torres, a half human, half Klingon former Maquis member with issues about her heritage.
* Helmsman Tom Paris, a troubled former Starfleet officer who is given a second chance on Voyager.
* Operations Manager Harry Kim an idealistic young Starfleet Ensign who's known for dying in alternate scenarios.
* The Doctor/The EMH, the hologrammatic replacement for the dead ship's Doctor.
* Cook/Morale Officer/Ambassador Neelix, a Talaxian with a jolly disposition.
* Nurse/Botanist Kes, and Ocampan with mild psychic abilities that develop to the point where she transcends life.
* Ast. Chief Engineer/Astrometrics Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone who must re-learn what it means to be human.
Using characters with such different backgrounds, the show was able to explore themes such as redemption, honor, family, cultural pride, and what it means to be human. The Doctor and Seven in particular personify that last theme, a proud tradition in the Star Trek mythos.
Fan Reception
Every franchise has it's low point, and ''Voyager'' is Star Trek's, at least until ''Star Trek Enterprise''. While the show was well liked enough for seven full seasons and a proper conclusion (fans of quickly canceled sci-fi shows will tell you that's a pretty big deal) it's not well looked upon by fans. Some of the worst episodes of any Star Trek series come from ''Voyager'', starting with Threshhold, an episode said to be so bad the show's writers and producers don't acknowledge it.
There has also been criticism of the series as too reliant on elements of ''ST: TNG'', namely Q and the Borg. This is seen as especially problematic, considering the dearth of popular, long lasting antagonists generated by the series.
Quick Picks
Related Guides
*
Star Trek
*
Star Trek The Next Generation
*
Star Trek Deep Space Nine
*
Star Trek Enterprise
*
Science Fiction TV Shows
