How Do You Feel About Chakotay?

[2takesfrakes]

Now see, this woman I felt sad she died. The rest of the characters? Unlikable. Good riddance. If you think it's a good idea to jump to your seat** like it's a Chucky Cheese ball pit, you deserve to die. Grab a rail, man! It's right there! **yes, I know he was 'flung' but it was bad jumping

Survival's the name of the game, when you're on a starship. You're surrounded by walls and have all the creature comforts, but there's only like so much titanium between you and complete obliteration ...

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Now see, this woman I felt sad she died. The rest of the characters? Unlikable. Good riddance. If you think it's a good idea to jump to your seat** like it's a Chucky Cheese ball pit, you deserve to die. Grab a rail, man! It's right there! **yes, I know he was 'flung' but it was bad jumping

Totally agree! Even given her few lines, Stadi came across as a great character. Shame Kim hadn't been killed off in transit, Paris could've taken Ops and left her at the Conn.

 

[cosmic mouse]

Speaking of life after Voyager, does anyone believe Chakotay would get his commission back and re-up Voyager and go back to the stars on Starfleet missions?

...not sure about re-upping Voyager exactly, but I do think he'd be more (rather than less) likely to be reinstated and rejoin Starfleet in some capacity. The way the character was presented during the series, plus the likely effect of having gone through to the DQ and back I think would have given Chak a better appreciation and maybe change his stance a bit, as well as possibly causing Starfleet to view him in a positive light rather than being seen as a vigilante.

 

[Riker'sMailbox]

I think Both Chakotay and Beltran were underserved in VOY. I think that the writers made a huge mistake in trying to make the focal point of his identity his Native American heritage. There were only a few palces they could take that and they did not seem interested in expanding him past the 'wise Native American' stereotype.

I think he was a good #2, he was loyal, able bodied, willing to stand up to Janeway. I also think he was a good captain for the Maquis as he valued the lives of his crew above his dislike and distrust of the Federation.

As for Beltran, I think he did fine with what was written for him. I like that he chose to use a soft voice for Chakotay and show that good leadership doesn't have to be loud.

 

[Kytee]

I think Chakotay would be so bold, along with B'Elanna to search for their fallen comrades and what remained of their people. There were episodes of Voyager where the two of them expressed frustration they were not home to defend their territory in the Bad Lands. Whether Paris Riker tags along with them is up in the air, but Chakotay and Torres' bond were tight enough they would be compelled to find them, it would be like their personal quest of finding home. Voyager missed the boat on exploring the main crew's definition of home because as individuals it should be different or at least slightly altered.

That would make for a good story ; I liked Chakotay and B'Elanna together, they had a caring , respectful relationship that didn't need or bother with any sexual tension.
This idea makes me think of the episode with Chakotay and Kim in the future, changing the past. He makes a good leader of a small team.
I wonder how Tom would fit in, his relationship with B'Elanna and Chakotay would certainly ensure his willingness to help, but his past with the Maquis might make him a pariah if they did find survivors.

 

[Nyotarules]

I don't dislike the Prime character but I find the treatment of the Mirror version in the novels funny, he still gets duped and the writer does not think much of him (well that's my impression).
Also the chemistry between Chuckles and Janeway? Nonexistent IMO

 

[2takesfrakes]

I like that he chose to use a soft voice for Chakotay and show that good leadership doesn't have to be loud.

That's a very excellent point!

 

[Lynx]

I don't dislike the Prime character but I find the treatment of the Mirror version in the novels funny, he still gets duped and the writer does not think much of him (well that's my impression).
Also the chemistry between Chuckles and Janeway? Nonexistent IMO

I think there wasa lot of chemistry between Chakotay and Janeway.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Again, I'm deeply convinced that EVEN IF Chakotay was pardonned*, Starfleet would never reintegrate Chakotay into its ranks again and still less, entrust him the reins of a vessel. The reason? Regardless his ‎invaluable experience, first as a Starfleet senior officer then as a Maquis leader, this guy is simply unmanageable, especially when he takes seriously the cause of a person or a small group. Plus, no matter my unliking of him, I must admit that as Janeway, even if people wouldn't appear necessarely to be too much intimidated by him, yet radiated an obvious though unspoken respect for him, which could lead some "weak" officers to follow him easily.
In short, all that (his experience, his personality, his natural leadership) would still represent a huge potential danger for Starfleet and incidentally, the Federation. And neither of both organization has interest to put the fox (or the wolf as seeing as it is his spirit animal) in charge of the henhouse, right?!

That being said, as I have said once, ‎nothing prevents Starfleet to use Chakotay's invaluable experience in specific (and why not secret) missions, in exchange for a certain freedom of action and legal protection while keeping an eye on him, as Starfleet is not engaged officially.... .

* Usually, the penalty is reduced, thanks to the huge support of a commanding officer, but never completely extinguished, situation which forces the culprit to stay on the straight and narrow.
-> what is valid in civil life, also in the army but with more discipline & organisation.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

I think there wasa lot of chemistry between Chakotay and Janeway.

The question is not to know if there was some chemistry between Janeway & Chakotay because there was clearly BUT it seems to me that Mulgrew through her character had a good chemistry with most of male performers crossed during the 7 years of the series (Beltran/Chakotay, McNeill/Paris, Picardo/the EMH, Philips/Neelix and Tuvok/Russ. As for love interestest, sorry but for me, the chemistry was superior with Krashyyk/Mark Harelik; Jaffen/James Read. Even with Michael Sullivan/Fintan McKeown, there was sparks even we knew that this romance would go nowhere unless making Michael human.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

That would make for a good story ; I liked Chakotay and B'Elanna together, they had a caring , respectful relationship that didn't need or bother with any sexual tension.
This idea makes me think of the episode with Chakotay and Kim in the future, changing the past. He makes a good leader of a small team.
I wonder how Tom would fit in, his relationship with B'Elanna and Chakotay would certainly ensure his willingness to help, but his past with the Maquis might make him a pariah if they did find survivors.

Ah I finally met someone who also think that Chakotay and B'Elena Torres would have made a perfectly matched couple, ‎despite the age difference (I never thought that the age difference between 2 people can be a problem as it was reasonable and feelings were sincere).
At least, they had some things in common (a past in the Maquis, a ‎rebellious character, except that B'Elena ‎tended to demonstrate strongly & more oftenly than Chakotay, a spirit and a higher average intelligence AND numerous exchanges during the 7 years spent on board of Voyager -> in short, all Chakotay and Seven didn't have!).

 

[Catarina]

Ah I finally met someone who also think that Chakotay and B'Elena Torres would have made a perfectly matched couple, ‎despite the age difference (I never thought that the age difference between 2 people can be a problem as it was reasonable and feelings were sincere).
At least, they had some things in common (a past in the Maquis, a ‎rebellious character, except that B'Elena ‎tended to demonstrate strongly & more oftenly than Chakotay, a spirit and a higher average intelligence AND numerous exchanges during the 7 years spent on board of Voyager -> in short, all Chakotay and Seven didn't have!).

Beltran would have agreed with you in 1995.

 

[Lynx]

Ah I finally met someone who also think that Chakotay and B'Elena Torres would have made a perfectly matched couple, ‎despite the age difference (I never thought that the age difference between 2 people can be a problem as it was reasonable and feelings were sincere).
At least, they had some things in common (a past in the Maquis, a ‎rebellious character, except that B'Elena ‎tended to demonstrate strongly & more oftenly than Chakotay, a spirit and a higher average intelligence AND numerous exchanges during the 7 years spent on board of Voyager -> in short, all Chakotay and Seven didn't have!).

In that case we could have had:
Chakotay/B'Elanna
Tom/Kes
and still my favorite
Neelix/Samantha Wildman

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

In that case we could have had:
Chakotay/B'Elanna
Tom/Kes
and still my favorite
Neelix/Samantha Wildman

Neelix/Samantha Wildman*? Well, why not although I think she always saw Neelix as a very good friend - and nothing more - and a potential good tutor for Naomie. She never forgot her loyalty to her Ktarien companion and father of her daughter, what I appreciated to see. Like I like to see Janeway never falling in Chakotay's arms (although answering openly to his flirt) during the first 3 seasons, because of her relationship with her fiancé, Mark .

*(at least, Samantha is 30-35 year old and ‎fully aware of what implies being in a relationship with someone, regardless his species) .

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Oh and yes, I prefered Tom/Kes to Tom/B'Elena. There were evident sparks between them! :-D

 

[Kytee]

In that case we could have had:
Chakotay/B'Elanna
Tom/Kes
and still my favorite
Neelix/Samantha Wildman

I never considered Neelix and Samantha but it would have been a better arc then Neelix and Kes.
Tom / Kes would have been a great one and of course I think Chakotay and B'Elanna could have been taken in this direction.

 

[catshadowsi8]

I can definitely see a Chakotay/B'Elanna romance. They had a special bond we see displayed throughout the 7 years.

As for commanding a Starship that was not Chakotay's dream job. He wanted to be an archeologist working for Starfleet. The pitcher plant showed us that.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I only ever saw Chakotay & Torres as really good friends and I'm glad nothing ever happened between them. Tom & Kes would've been great for me, because they look good together and compliment eachother and all that good stuff. But her aging early ruins it for me. I mean ... how can Tom risk having a kid with Kes, knowing his daughter has a pretty good chance of just living for 12 years, or so. You know what? No. I just can't see him -- knowingly -- imposing that on his own. What Man would? Better to put a condom on with Kes, or just not get with her at all. And it's such a shame. Kes is so beautiful. So sweet. But you know what?

It would've been really great for Chakotay to have ended up with beautiful Kellin, but she's got this thing with living and forgetting the same day over and over. What is it about beautiful "K"-alike named blondes on VOYAGER getting the shitty end of the stick all the time? Anyway, yeah ... Seven was never my first choice for Chakotay, but now, when I watch her with Chakotay ... he means everything to her. Everything. That really speaks to me. In the end, everybody ended up with whom they should've, probably. Kim still has the holodeck. Tuvok's got a wife & kids and Janeway's married to her vessel.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

I mostly like the character, but I am painfully aware of all the problems surrounding him (stereotypes, bad writing, horrible acting...) I guess I prefer Fanon Chakotay over Canon Chakotay, as fanfiction tends to fix most of the problems with his character.

 

[2takesfrakes]

"Horrible Acting"??? Let's not get too carried away! He's certainly a better actor than Shatner ever was -- even in STAR TREK II -- and that's for certain.