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What if Genevieve Bujold had lasted a bit longer?

2takesfrakes said:
Once 7 took over the show, there was little point in pretending Janeway was some focalpoint of femininity. The Captain was resigned to being a mother figure ... the matriarch. She was running on the last vapors of her remaining estrogen, at that point ... so its not surprising that she seemed so Mannish in the later going ...
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This is true* (and apparent on viewing the series through from start to finish). Maybe just my perception, but I also think that Mulgrew played the character a bit differently with regards to vocal tones, etc. Janeway's voice is almost higher-pitched and more "girl-like" in the earlier eps. I noticed this straight away in season 1 when I began a rewatch of the series a few weeks ago.

*with the possible exception of 7 "taking over" anyway...
 
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I think it was always her first, but it was never explicitly mentioned until seasons later. Would have been more interesting if they played that up in the earlier episodes but I think the network didn't like the idea of the first female Trek lead having her credentials questioned, so it was never brought up. There's a lot of that whole "Janeway is always right" kind of mentality in early seasons, like in "Alliances" when some of the Maquis are skeptical of her command decisions Torres gets really pissy "WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION CAPTAIN JANEWAY???" and the episode literally ends with Janeway essentially saying "I hope you all learned that I'm always right".
 
2takesfrakes said:
Genevieve Bujold was too old for the part. Kate Mulgrew's a fine actress and made a memorable turn as Captain Janeway, but I've always felt that even she was too old for the role. It should've gone to an actress in her late 20's/early 30's. Sir Patrick Stewart was the best thing that ever happened to STAR TREK, he's the finest actor the franchise has ever had -- however, one old Captain was more than enough. I'm very disappointed that Rick Berman continued to push for older Captains, it was inappropriate. Gene Roddenberry had the right idea, in the original STAR TREK, by having the Doctor as the Elder Statesman ...
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It was TNG and having a mature CO was the thing back then. Bujold looked fine by me, no problem in having maturity for a crew of young starts. Maybe I would've had the first officer younger, but I liked Beltran. I don't mind a character being a "Know it all" if they looked the part. Bujold with her performance would've be acceptable because she appeared to have been through it all.

Whoever don't like the footage seen from Bujold; it's possible the producers didn't present the best take of her scenes. I'm not sure if it would good to release Bujold's best take while they've moved on for woman who was "Born with Teeth."
 
STEPhon IT said:
It was TNG and having a mature CO was the thing back then. Bujold looked fine by me, no problem in having maturity for a crew of young starts. Maybe I would've had the first officer younger, but I liked Beltran. I don't mind a character being a "Know it all" if they looked the part. Bujold with her performance would've be acceptable because she appeared to have been through it all.

Whoever don't like the footage seen from Bujold; it's possible the producers didn't present the best take of her scenes. I'm not sure if it would good to release Bujold's best take while they've moved on for woman who was "Born with Teeth."
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I think of all the footage released her best was with Tuvok in the ready room. The weakest clip is the one that gets the most circulated: Voyager getting caught in the wave. She's not very good in that clip because it's immediately apparent how uncomfortable she is trying to deliver technobabble jargon. Contrast that with the scene with Tuvok where it's just her talking about wanting to get to know her crew and promising Tuvok she'll bring him home.
 
cosmic mouse said:
This is true* (and apparent on viewing the series through from start to finish). Maybe just my perception, but I also think that Mulgrew played the character a bit differently with regards to vocal tones, etc. Janeway's voice is almost higher-pitched and more "girl-like" in the earlier eps. I noticed this straight away in season 1 when I began a rewatch of the series a few weeks ago.

*with the possible exception of 7 "taking over" anyway...
Click to expand...

I agree. Rewatching earlier scenes and then skipping to later ones the change is noticeable. I actually prefer earlier seasons but then I love a diverse cast. By seasons 6 and 7 most of the cast had faded away. I still loved it but missed the mixture.
 
First, I'm grateful that Ms Bujold realized quickly that this job wasn't for her.

2nd, I'm grateful that Ms Mulgrew inherited the role.

3rd, I just saw this clip and while I love Mulgrew's Janeway... it would hve been intriguing if this lady had her wish granted.


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Simply recast. ;)

Some fans seem to buckle at the idea of characters being recast, rather than replaced, because we all come to associate certain characters with their actors, but realistically there's no reason why if Bujold had've lasted a season then left they wouldn't simply parachute a new actress into the part. That actress may not have been Mulgrew though as they'd evidently have to find a 'like' to Bujold.
 
I wonder how fans would have handled her accent. Seems kind of trivial but for some peoplle accents can prevent them from hearing certain words.
 
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