Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? - Page 2

Ln X · May 27 2012, 01:58 PM

Sindatur wrote:

Up to 4.18 Tom did an awful lot. Top Pilot, Fathered an entire advanced Civilization, went on Away missions, helped with Engineering, was the nurse, was in the Holodeck many, many episodes.

After this point, from what I know, he continues in all these aspects, plus builds the Delta Flyer.

I don't think he was underused at all

The only thing more you could do with him was make him First Officer, and that didn't help Chakotay's character much

Yeah Tom was extremely versatile as a character, which can't be said of Kim or Chakotay... I would say Tom is the second most used male character in VOY, second only to the Doctor.

stj · May 27 2012, 06:33 PM

I never got a sense of what Tom's problem with his father was about, nor did I project any personal problems with my father onto the blank cardboard cutout.

The bad boy image was only believable by comparison to Kim, and there was very little onscreen interaction between Paris and Kim after the third season episode The Chute, for some reason. (

)

His interactions with B'elana seemed designed to establish that 1) Tom was way too cool to be pussywhipped but 2) his superior sensitivity was balm to her Angry Warrior soul.

I didn't even buy the idea that he was particularly smart, even if he was supposed to warn about the failure in Timeless, establishing he was smarter than Janeway, Tuvok, Kim and of course 7 of 9. (Plus the other throwaway incidents along the same lines.) This may be partly because the actor couldn't/wouldn't do the "technobabble" lines, but that's still what I got from the screen.

It was clear that Tom was supposed to be pretty much perfect, in a Rebel Without a Cause kind of way. He was a Gary Stu, complete with the seemingly obligatory peculiar, not a real name, name. Paris? Why not Schenectady, except that Paris is cooler? His perfection seemed forced upon us, rather than showed to us.

For my part, this meant he was used far too much. The vacuousness of this character, used as a main cast member far more than more interesting characters (like Neelix or Chakotay before Seska and religious heeby jeebies castrated him) or more strongly drawn characters (like Tuvok or Kim) left an emotional blank at the heart of the series.

When the series first began, Chakotay had salt and pepper hair, while Tom Paris had a sweptback do that made him look ten years older. I don't there's any doubt than Paris was supposed to be the romantic interest for Janeway, except that they couldn't make Paris interesting enough to be a plausible attraction for Janeway. We should be grateful that we were spared that horror show!

tighr · May 27 2012, 06:50 PM

I don't know where that came from, stj. I never got that impression.

I enjoyed Paris as a character, and thought he was one of the most well used on the show.

Guy Gardener · May 27 2012, 08:16 PM

Tom had a choice.

He was angry, and felt rejected by B'Elanna, so with 4 gallons of spite pumping through his heart he asked Seven of Nine on a date with every intention of hatefucking her as publically as possible so that that Klingon *&^^% would know what a good thing she was missing out on.

In her broken condition, there's no way that Seven wouldn't have imprinted on Tom.

However.

10 seconds after asking that drone on a date, B'Elanna reaffirms her loving feelings for Tom and demands that he not be such a dick who would run away from his feelings for her too.

Anika is forgotten about.

Maybe this is why she fluffed harry in the mess?

Any way, Tom's part in the Seven of Nine Show, as Voyager became in all but name, would have been Rikki, rather than Fred Mertz, if he just would have taken that blonde out for that date she had ccepted, and lived happily ever after

Ln X · May 27 2012, 10:00 PM

Guy Gardener wrote:

Tom had a choice.

He was angry, and felt rejected by B'Elanna, so with 4 gallons of spite pumping through his heart he asked Seven of Nine on a date with every intention of hatefucking her as publically as possible so that that Klingon *&^^% would know what a good thing she was missing out on.

In her broken condition, there's no way that Seven wouldn't have imprinted on Tom.

However.

10 seconds after asking that drone on a date, B'Elanna reaffirms her loving feelings for Tom and demands that he not be such a dick who would run away from his feelings for her too.

Anika is forgotten about.

Maybe this is why she fluffed harry in the mess?

Any way, Tom's part in the Seven of Nine Show, as Voyager became in all but name, would have been Rikki, rather than Fred Mertz, if he just would have taken that blonde out for that date she had ccepted, and lived happily ever after

I first I thought you were raving Guy Gardener, but then I remembered the little speech of Tom Paris (3rd episode of season 4) about him offering 'any' help to Seven. So you may be on to something. Maybe, just maybe, Tom had his eyes briefly set upon Seven before deciding to go for B'Elanna instead.

exodus · May 28 2012, 02:57 AM

stj wrote:

I never got a sense of what Tom's problem with his father was about, nor did I project any personal problems with my father onto the blank cardboard cutout.

Watch "The Great Santini" and you'll understand why it's hard having a military minded father with a personality like Tom's.

Guy Gardener · May 28 2012, 03:12 AM

But Tom's ideal life was just to be in a different military, y'know with boats.

Collingwood Nick · May 30 2012, 06:27 AM

exodus wrote:

Keiko was raising a child while Miles was playing with toys and video games with Julian.

Get off his back!! O'Brien is a champ, my sort of bloke. Like Paris. It's a shame that Star Trek isn't real, we could have formed a rat pack and gotten into all sorts of hijinks.

Females

Just dont get it

Guy Gardener · May 30 2012, 07:58 AM

Kieko had a full time job too.

Two once she started teaching.

Then she had twice as many children.

Then who took over the school after she escaped to Bajor?

Point is, there's an invisible baby sitter that we never saw... unless there's a holocloset they lock the children inside when they're at work?

And what about the Big.Love years when Kira was living as an O'Brien?

"Sigh"

Oh what about when Kieko was a 9 year old for a couple days?

molly wanted nothing to do with her.

And neither did Miles pants.

Which annoyed her because she was the same person on the inside which is where it really counts...

SEE!

Women ARE crazy!

exodus · May 30 2012, 08:18 PM

Collingwood Nick wrote:

exodus wrote:

Keiko was raising a child while Miles was playing with toys and video games with Julian.

Get off his back!! O'Brien is a champ, my sort of bloke. Like Paris. It's a shame that Star Trek isn't real, we could have formed a rat pack and gotten into all sorts of hijinks.

Females

Just dont get it

The Deadbeat Club, you mean.

Lord Manitou · May 30 2012, 11:27 PM

It took some character to get B'Elanna interested in the male genre. Tom had to try repeatedly to keep their relation. He was so strong with his beliefs that they came before serving Starfleet. They kept Harry on the par with women and B'Elanna isn't a lesbian. It was Capt Janeway who saved him and as the seasons advance her trust becomes more fully bonded in him.
Sorry- I can't get out of Explorer 7.

LuckyCharms · May 31 2012, 03:50 AM

I like the character of Tom Paris and thought he faired much better than poor Harry or Chakotay. Other than the lizard babies he had some good episodes and good development over the course of the series.

Kelthaz · May 31 2012, 09:49 PM

Neither. He was annoying and overused. This is a pretty standard criticism for Voyager, but for being the "bad boy" Tom was way too bland. Ooh, he submitted a report with poor grammar? What a rebel!

The Overlord · June 1 2012, 06:35 AM

Tom was an okay character. He was kinda underdeveloped compared to some of the great characters on other Star Trek shows, but on Voyager he was more interesting then the likes of Harry Kim, Neelix and Chakotay. However it did seem kinda silly that he was put in charge of so much stuff at once. He must have insane time management skills.

Purdy Bear · June 2 2012, 06:54 PM

I'm afraid Tom was extremely annoying to me and I should imagine to any crew under a similar situation with such a personality. People like that usually dont last it and either jump out or get focibly removed or worse - oh walk the plank pleeeeeaaaase Tom. He was the only thing that really got my goat about Voyager other then Harry's romantic endeavours that is.

May 27 2012, 06:33 PM	#17
stj Rear Admiral Location: the real world	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? I never got a sense of what Tom's problem with his father was about, nor did I project any personal problems with my father onto the blank cardboard cutout. The bad boy image was only believable by comparison to Kim, and there was very little onscreen interaction between Paris and Kim after the third season episode The Chute, for some reason. () His interactions with B'elana seemed designed to establish that 1) Tom was way too cool to be pussywhipped but 2) his superior sensitivity was balm to her Angry Warrior soul. I didn't even buy the idea that he was particularly smart, even if he was supposed to warn about the failure in Timeless, establishing he was smarter than Janeway, Tuvok, Kim and of course 7 of 9. (Plus the other throwaway incidents along the same lines.) This may be partly because the actor couldn't/wouldn't do the "technobabble" lines, but that's still what I got from the screen. It was clear that Tom was supposed to be pretty much perfect, in a Rebel Without a Cause kind of way. He was a Gary Stu, complete with the seemingly obligatory peculiar, not a real name, name. Paris? Why not Schenectady, except that Paris is cooler? His perfection seemed forced upon us, rather than showed to us. For my part, this meant he was used far too much. The vacuousness of this character, used as a main cast member far more than more interesting characters (like Neelix or Chakotay before Seska and religious heeby jeebies castrated him) or more strongly drawn characters (like Tuvok or Kim) left an emotional blank at the heart of the series. When the series first began, Chakotay had salt and pepper hair, while Tom Paris had a sweptback do that made him look ten years older. I don't there's any doubt than Paris was supposed to be the romantic interest for Janeway, except that they couldn't make Paris interesting enough to be a plausible attraction for Janeway. We should be grateful that we were spared that horror show! __________________ Morals are what you do to other people. Other people, what we call society, are essential to human happiness. Therefore, morals are the path to happiness. My morals, your happiness; your morals, my happiness: It's a fair trade.

May 27 2012, 06:50 PM	#18
tighr Commodore Location: California	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? I don't know where that came from, stj. I never got that impression. I enjoyed Paris as a character, and thought he was one of the most well used on the show. __________________ ~Tighr™: Not helping the situation since 1983

May 27 2012, 08:16 PM	#19
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? Tom had a choice. He was angry, and felt rejected by B'Elanna, so with 4 gallons of spite pumping through his heart he asked Seven of Nine on a date with every intention of hatefucking her as publically as possible so that that Klingon *&^^% would know what a good thing she was missing out on. In her broken condition, there's no way that Seven wouldn't have imprinted on Tom. However. 10 seconds after asking that drone on a date, B'Elanna reaffirms her loving feelings for Tom and demands that he not be such a dick who would run away from his feelings for her too. Anika is forgotten about. Maybe this is why she fluffed harry in the mess? Any way, Tom's part in the Seven of Nine Show, as Voyager became in all but name, would have been Rikki, rather than Fred Mertz, if he just would have taken that blonde out for that date she had ccepted, and lived happily ever after __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz

May 28 2012, 03:12 AM	#22
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? But Tom's ideal life was just to be in a different military, y'know with boats. __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz

May 30 2012, 07:58 AM	#24
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? Kieko had a full time job too. Two once she started teaching. Then she had twice as many children. Then who took over the school after she escaped to Bajor? Point is, there's an invisible baby sitter that we never saw... unless there's a holocloset they lock the children inside when they're at work? And what about the Big.Love years when Kira was living as an O'Brien? "Sigh" Oh what about when Kieko was a 9 year old for a couple days? molly wanted nothing to do with her. And neither did Miles pants. Which annoyed her because she was the same person on the inside which is where it really counts... SEE! Women ARE crazy! __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz

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May 30 2012, 11:27 PM	#26
Lord Manitou Lieutenant Commander Location: Michigan	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? It took some character to get B'Elanna interested in the male genre. Tom had to try repeatedly to keep their relation. He was so strong with his beliefs that they came before serving Starfleet. They kept Harry on the par with women and B'Elanna isn't a lesbian. It was Capt Janeway who saved him and as the seasons advance her trust becomes more fully bonded in him. Sorry- I can't get out of Explorer 7. __________________ Janeway #1: Think, people we need options. Janeway #2: I agree captain. http://www.voyagr-ep-memorys.com/

May 31 2012, 03:50 AM	#27
LuckyCharms Ensign Location: Behind the Couch	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? I like the character of Tom Paris and thought he faired much better than poor Harry or Chakotay. Other than the lizard babies he had some good episodes and good development over the course of the series.

May 31 2012, 09:49 PM	#28
Kelthaz Commodore Location: Toronto, Ontario	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? Neither. He was annoying and overused. This is a pretty standard criticism for Voyager, but for being the "bad boy" Tom was way too bland. Ooh, he submitted a report with poor grammar? What a rebel! __________________ "Who are you?! And how did you get in here?!" "I'm the locksmith. And... I'm the locksmith."

June 1 2012, 06:35 AM	#29
The Overlord Captain	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? Tom was an okay character. He was kinda underdeveloped compared to some of the great characters on other Star Trek shows, but on Voyager he was more interesting then the likes of Harry Kim, Neelix and Chakotay. However it did seem kinda silly that he was put in charge of so much stuff at once. He must have insane time management skills.

June 2 2012, 06:54 PM	#30
Purdy Bear Lieutenant Commander Location: Voyagers QM Stores	Re: Tom Paris - awesome or vastly underused? I'm afraid Tom was extremely annoying to me and I should imagine to any crew under a similar situation with such a personality. People like that usually dont last it and either jump out or get focibly removed or worse - oh walk the plank pleeeeeaaaase Tom. He was the only thing that really got my goat about Voyager other then Harry's romantic endeavours that is.