"Chance is irrelevant, we will succeed."
| "Star Trek: Voyager premiered
on January 16, 1995 with the episode "Caretaker". The whirlwind that had become Trek kept going. Many people don't like Voyager for some reason or another, and most make valid points. I myself did enjoy Voyager thoroughly, even though there were problems with it. When I had first heard the premise (and, no, it wasn't a woman as the Captain that bothered me, silly people), I was a bit worried and upset. What kind of Star Trek universe would it be with a Federation starship on the other side of the galaxy? No Klingons? No Romulans? No Ferengi? No HUMANS for God sake (other than the ones onboard)? No Enterprise? I was worried, that is, until I saw "Caretaker". I was instantly enthralled with the story, a Maquis Raider and the U.S.S. Voyager on the other side of the galaxy, brought there by a very powerful being, and marooned there by a Captain that stuck to her guns and lived the principles that Starfleet was supposed to operate under, even if it was inconvenient. In the blink of an eye, the Star Trek Universe included races and cultures totally unmentioned before, and a part of the galaxy not talked about thus far. It was very entertaining. The first episode set the tone for the entire series. Most of it was shoot-em-up, bumpy-headed alien of the week action, but that was forgiveable because the characters were developed, the stories were for the most part compelling, and I happened to like Captain Janeway. The entire series chronicled the Voyager crew's trip back home, making some friends, making many more enemies, and generally having a rough go at it. I was upset when Kes was taken away, and (at the time) even more upset that she was replaced with 7 of 9, but she grew on me. The Doctor got on my last nerves from the beginning, but by the last episode I had grown fond of him. Neelix was rather irritating at first, but as his character developed, I could see many things in him that I see in myself. B'Elanna Torres became one of my favorites, guarding her engines as if they were her children. Chakotay could be nerve-racking at times, what with his irritating calmness, but his character was so well developed that I felt like I personally knew him. Tuvok (many people didn't like him) was also one of my favorites (he had the some of the best jokes in the series, even though his character wasn't trying to be funny). Tom and Harry developed into fine officers, one coming from prison and having a disdain for authority, and the other fresh from the Academy, probably more than a little unsure of himself. I even liked Naomi Wildman, even though children irk me most of the time. I thought the series was passibly written, with great action scenes and more than a few opportunites to comment on human culture (especially in the episodes "Equinox, Parts I and II"). I could see in this series more than any other how hardily most Starfleet officers hold to their principles, even when its inconvenient and the cards are stacked against them. I did think that they brought Voyager back home too soon, they should have left that open for a possible movie, but that's my own opinion. Voyager ended on May 23, 2001 with the episode "Endgame". It was definately bitter-sweet for me, I wanted Voyager to get home, but at the same time I had hoped they stayed in the Delta Quadrant. If nothing else, their continued adventures could be played out in my imagination. Also, the end of Voyager marked the end of regular weekly Star Trek shows, until "Enterprise", but I'm sure everybody's already read my opinion on that. |
| I have yet to hear of an effort to work Voyager into any movies yet, but that's something I would like to see (but it would be difficult, if not impossible, to do). If nothing else, maybe the characters from Voyager could be worked into a movie that's mainly DS9 or TNG (still...)? If anybody knows of a movement to do that, please let me know. |
