Was Kes a Good Character?

[Lynx]

The idea of a sentient who lives an entire life in 9 years is intriguing. I think the character would have worked better in a single episode or a short story arc. Having her as part of the main cast only served to expose the weaknesses in the idea.

I have to disagree here.

The nine-year lifespan was not a good idea. It limited the possibilities of the character, something the writers did realize and therefore her lifespan was simply forgotten in most episodes, only used in certain episodes when they bothered to use it in the story, like in "Before And After". Otherwise, it was hardly mentioned and there were also hints that her lifespan could be prolonged.

What they should have dome was to give her a prolonged lifespan and focus more on mer mental abilities, like they were in episodes like "Time And Again", "Persistence Of Vision" and "Warlord". In such episodes, Kes was at her best.

 

[JeffinOakland]

Reread my comment Lynx. I think we agree.

 

[Lynx]

Reread my comment Lynx. I think we agree.

At least in one case which is that the weakness in the idea was exposed by having her as a main character. Just because of that her lifespan should have been prolonged and the focus would have been on her personality and her mental abilities.

 

[2takesfrakes]

It would've been so cool if Kes' newfound powers could've somehow unlocked a way to extend her Lifespan, for some indeterminate amount of time. They should've had the power be within her to break through those limitations that might've held her back, like that. I've said it, before, Kes personified the Spirit of STAR TREK and Jennifer Lien was up to the challenge of realising all of that potential, for the character. Perfect casting ...

 

[jpch]

VOY can never please the nagging shrews ! there is always something wrong or something that needed more development... Kes was a good character for me,she was innocent teenager like character in Caretaker and by the end of season 1 she was growing,learning,and improving.

during season 4 she reached her full potential and i found it beautiful and sad at the same time, watching her leave but help her friends get 10 years closer to home.

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

I like the way you think Mirror_Barclay.
I would've liked to have seen Kes and Seven interact, I think there could've been some good scenes between the two. Because they were both ''innocent'' in their own different ways whereas Kes seemed more the type to willingly hug someone, Seven always seemed a bit ''stand-offish'' at least at first. So I would've liked to have seen how those two got on. Alas, we'll never know now.

As for Chakotay being the one to leave instead, yeah that could've been interesting. Not sure I'm that keen on B'elanna being the ''token Maquis senior officer'' (not that they ever really gave any of the other Maquis Officers a chance to shine which is one of the more disappointing aspects of Voyager for me as I would've liked a bit more of a mix of the two crews, ah well LOL) as Chakotay said early on to Janeway, but it would've been interesting to see her in that role.

Hopefully my post made sense, it was longer than I originally intended

Thanks.

I think Kes would have really helped Seven readjust. Would have been neat. I wonder if that has been addressed in fic?

It would have been neat to see more of the Maquis but there's no chance we would have ever gotten another regular. Maybe a recurring guest star or two?

For that matter, do we ever see Neelix or Kes drawn into the Starfleet/Maquis tension at all? It is a long time since I watched the series.

 

[Jonny]

Thanks.

I think Kes would have really helped Seven readjust. Would have been neat. I wonder if that has been addressed in fic?

It would have been neat to see more of the Maquis but there's no chance we would have ever gotten another regular. Maybe a recurring guest star or two?

For that matter, do we ever see Neelix or Kes drawn into the Starfleet/Maquis tension at all? It is a long time since I watched the series.

As far as whether or not it's been addressed in fic I'll have to look into that. As far as a recurring guest start or two it would've been nice though I do believe we ''Could've'' fitted another regular into the show but it didn't happen obviously LOL.

As far as Neelix or Kes being drawn into the tension I don't really recall them being brought into it to be honest. Nearest I think was that episode where Tuvok had made a programme simulating the possibility of a coup by the Maquis but that's all I can think off.

 

[fireproof78]

STAR TREK can never please the nagging shrews ! there is always something wrong or something that needed more development... Kes was a good character for me,she was innocent teenager like character in Caretaker and by the end of season 1 she was growing,learning,and improving.

during season 4 she reached her full potential and i found it beautiful and sad at the same time, watching her leave but help her friends get 10 years closer to home.

Fixed the bolded part for you
Kes' exit is one of the few story points in VOY that felt like it made sense to me...until she came back

 

[Lynx]

Fixed the bolded part for you
Kes' exit is one of the few story points in VOY that felt like it made sense to me...until she came back

As for "nagging shrews", you don't see me complaining about TNG, do you?
And not about TOS or DS9 either.

As for Voyager, it's still a favorite but there are some aspects of the show I don't like.
As for Kes's "leaving", I don't find it beautiful and sad, only unnecessary.

 

[Tanyanoel]

I think her character was very sweet, but took a few very odd turns ESPECIALLY when she comes back as uber angry Kes. I admit that as a fan it was fun to see her, but that was the real capper on a few very odd turns in her character. It was less of a character arc and more of a free fall into wackiness.

 

[Lynx]

I think her character was very sweet, but took a few very odd turns ESPECIALLY when she comes back as uber angry Kes. I admit that as a fan it was fun to see her, but that was the real capper on a few very odd turns in her character. It was less of a character arc and more of a free fall into wackiness.

That horrible episode doesn't count.

It was the writers and producers way of showing the finger to certain fans.

 

[Tracy Trek]

I think you are right. Were they thinking, "You want her back so much, well here she is, and now you won't want to ever see her again"?

 

[angry apple panda]

I really, really like Kes. I think Jennifer Lien really nailed that sense of wonder and youthfulness of a child-like race. Unfortunately, I have to agree with everyone else: her character was never fully developed.

It's unfortunate, because honestly, I preferred her to Seven, which is probably an unpopular opinion. But I think I just have a general distaste for how I felt the last few seasons of the show ended up with regards to character development. I agree that Seven had some good development, but everything else felt like it was in shambles around her, so it didn't help much. I'm rewatching the show now, though, and my opinion might change after a fresh viewing. It's been a while! I pathologically should appreciate all Trek by default, so we'll see.

Frankly, I would have loved to see something like Kes being assimilated and rescued, and showing how she dealt with it, as opposed to just dumping her character when her arcs all stalled out.

 

[Tracy Trek]

Sometimes it felt like every other episode was about Seven or the Doctor. I'm sure it wasn't, but they did get way more storylines than others.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Frankly, I would have loved to see something like Kes being assimilated and rescued, and showing how she dealt with it, as opposed to just dumping her character when her arcs all stalled out.

They should've dumped Harry Kim instead. That guy never even had an arc or any character development and the actor was beyond useless. Plus there were already more men than women on that cast.

 

[angry apple panda]

Sometimes it felt like every other episode was about Seven or the Doctor. I'm sure it wasn't, but they did get way more storylines than others.

Well, I don't mind the Doctor. He's probably the most compelling character on Voyager, in my humble opinion. I don't think Voyager would have been as good as it managed to be if not for all the Doctor stories, even if that meant a bit of overkill. He saved the show at some points.

Seven was a bit less effective. But I do like her at times. I just felt like her character eventually fell into the same comfortable rut that every other character fell into (except the Doctor), and things just got too cozy by season seven. When they tried to close character arcs at that point, it didn't feel like there was any character building done to deserve it. Seven/Chakotay is such a "wha huh are you even serious" moment.

 

[fireproof78]

I really, really like Kes. I think Jennifer Lien really nailed that sense of wonder and youthfulness of a child-like race. Unfortunately, I have to agree with everyone else: her character was never fully developed.

It's unfortunate, because honestly, I preferred her to Seven, which is probably an unpopular opinion. But I think I just have a general distaste for how I felt the last few seasons of the show ended up with regards to character development. I agree that Seven had some good development, but everything else felt like it was in shambles around her, so it didn't help much. I'm rewatching the show now, though, and my opinion might change after a fresh viewing. It's been a while! I pathologically should appreciate all Trek by default, so we'll see.

Frankly, I would have loved to see something like Kes being assimilated and rescued, and showing how she dealt with it, as opposed to just dumping her character when her arcs all stalled out.

That's an interesting take. First of all, it may be an unpopular opinion, but I share it. Seven never intrigued me in the way that Kes did. This is nothing against Jeri Ryan, who, in my opinion, is a stellar actress. But, the character, was sex appeal, pure and simple. Sorry, that doesn't impress me nor does the conclusion of her character arc. I had a more satisfying conclusion with "Gilmore Girls."

I think it would have been interesting if the Borg attempted to assimilate her but something went wrong. Or, maybe she was assimilated and gone for a time, and then ended up coming back with Voyager rescuing her from the Borg.

I don't know. The whole being rescued from the Collective storyline has been done before, but Kes offers some unique opportunities. In any case, I would have appreciated Kes staying, even if it meant no Seven.

 

[angry apple panda]

Yeah, I adore Jeri Ryan, but she had to inhabit a character that just didn't fully work for me. She did the best she could though, and I do like many episodes with her, especially the ones that explore her past.

 

[Thomas Eugene]

My opinion might be even less popular because I like both characters to the same extent. I always keep saying that Voyager for me is high quality from CARETAKER to ENDGAME - I see no difference there with the axing of Kes or the introduction of Seven of Yours (I'm gay, so she isn't mine, LOL! ). I do feel that there's a change in the tone when she arrives but I don't think the quality of the show changes because of that. I like all episodes of Voyager (with the exception of FURY) so whenever I sit down to watch an episode, the question of "should this be a season 1-3 or a season 4-7 episode?" never even arises.
Having said that, I'm glad to see that a lot of people share what I've often thought: if they wanted to introduce the borg then why not assimilate Kes into the Collective, not show her for a few episodes, after which our indomitable Captain and her crew rescue her. She needs reintegration into her former life, just like Seven did - and then the whole "Voyager needs to be vamped up so let's introduce the borg" problem is sorted out.
However, what I would have preferred even more was keeping all of them together. A show with ten main characters would have been fascinating and I'm sure we all would have enjoyed the interaction between Kes and Seven.

 

[fireproof78]

However, what I would have preferred even more was keeping all of them together. A show with ten main characters would have been fascinating and I'm sure we all would have enjoyed the interaction between Kes and Seven.

Also a fair point. Honestly, I would not have minded seeing Harry go if it meant keeping Kes and having Seven of Nine come on. But, I don't like the focus that often gets directed on to Seven of Nine.