Tom Paris was given his original rank back in the first or second episode. He was temporarily demoted in season 5, then later, his rank was restored.
Harry Kim wasn't the whipping boy, he just held a position that called for an ensign, and he had no way to move up without switching jobs, which he apparently didn't want to do. He told his mom there was no opportunity for advancement until he got home.
Even as an ensign, he was still at the top of the food chain of the ship. Not sure what this has to do with bad writing. However, Robbie Duncan McNiell was a team player, was always on time, got involved in production, editing, and directing, and from what I've heard, Garrett Wang, while a nice guy, was sort of a slacker on set.
Just a little comment about the case "Harry Kim", please let's stop to want to see this character a more important figure than he was. I mean; Harry Kim just came out fresh from the academy when he arrived on board. Yes he was valedictorian of his class, what gave him the opportunity to choose his assignment (the USS Voyager) and position (Operations Officer) but his shyness and the fact that he was easily impressionable, should instead have been prejudicial for his progress (cf to Lt Reginald Barclay) but nope, after the Kazon attack, Janeway offered him a position where he almost self-manages himself and a seat in the senior crew meeting, what were already 2 great rewards, which surely gave him wings as seeing as he gave orders to more ranking officers than him, while he was still a young blue Enseign. And instead of being satisfied with what he already had at a young age and with so little experience, he was annoyed for 7 years no to have been promoted Lieutenant! Maybe this guy was gifted but he seriously lacked a certain form of intelligence!
As for Garrett Wang, even if he was young when he was hired, afterwards, his attitude towards producers/actors and general behaviour during the shooting afterwards, were unforgivable. It's completly unconscious and even crazy to spend the time to crying out for bad ideas/scenarios and next to that, to expect being offered the opportunity to direct episodes, even as the person refused to lend to a minimum: undergo training, as others actors experiencing directing did before him, in being seriously involved in the new task..
Since the end of Voyager in 2001, Wang did not initiate any excuse against producers (including his accusations of racism) and former colleagues (when an actor/actress arrives on set, very late and without knowing his/her text, he/she shows a certain disrespect towards those with whom he/she will share the stage/set -> it's the same with ordinary people who have to attend a meeting but arrive late and didn't prepare/work!).
My questions :
- as an actor bubbling with ideas as he liked to introduce himself, why not have thrown himself in the development of the sci-fi screenplay for TV or Internet or books/fan fiction, since the end of Voyager, as others did ? About ST: Renegades became Renegades, I read that he agreed to reprise his role of Harry Kim IF the adventure had led to a TV series. I remind that Wang played in any of the episodes of this fiction. It's easy to let others taking all the risks (including to make a fool of the character/acting) and to criticse performance, scenarios, etc... but when it comes to taking risks, to embark on the adventure, he doesn't show any sign of life!
- he didn't stop reproaching to producers not to have give him the opportunity to direct an episode of Voyager but did he arrange for taking directing course and accumulating experience, afterwards?! NO. Hey, even Robert Beltran learnt to direct productions (even if it was for plays)
He likes to make fun of his former colleagues willingly, especially Mulgrew, Phillips or Picardo but, maybe if he had their experience and reputation, what he says could make an impression but alas, this is far from the case.
