I know that Voyager is often derided as "TNG-lite" and as having "wasted its potential" but I'm pretty sure it's my favorite Trek series -- love the crew and the setting. Is Voyager anybody else's favorite Trek?
If I had to pick the series with the best writing overall, I think I'd have to say DS9. But if I had to say which was my favorite, it would probably be Voyager. I know there are many things wrong with it, but something about it just appeals to me more than any other Star Trek. It's the one I grew up with that got me into Trek, it has the best captain, and the best theme music.
VOY is most certainly my favorite, hence the mouse's location... Easily best actually... no other series is close, though I have yet to see DS9.
I will watch DS9 eventually since I have heard really nothing but good things about it. I was supposed to watch it with a friend last winter but our plans got derailed... both of us go too busy. Some day, esp if this current situation we are in continues for several more months.
I love this series: 100% Trek. Despite some minor course corrections, the science in every one of this stories was not presented or represented in a heavy way ... its just enjoyable science fiction stories. Then, in my top of Trek series comes ENT, DS9, TOS, TNG, DSC and PIC.
When I am not working remotely I am currently embroiled in a 1950s film challenge, so perhaps after that concludes.
I still love Voyager's seasons 1, 2 and 3 and I still love the character. But in recent years I've appreciated DS9 more and more, mainly because of how the characters developed. I wish that Voyager would have had the same sort of writers.
Voyager as my favorite series? I must say yes, but I must preface by saying that I am a) biased because VOY was the first New Trek series I watched regularly, and 2) my tastes have changed as I have grown older. So as I have stated in many other posts, I first got into Trek during Voyager's fifth season. HBO had also been showing First Contact and Generations at the time, and DS9 was ending, TNG was in repeats and on the silver screen. At the time, I didn't like TOS. I was a teenager and was turned off by the 60's aesthetic. (which I have grown a found appreciation for over the years since watching on Netflix and on the 50th anniversary bluray box set.) Despite the fact that I claim Voyager is my favorite, I must say that I can also recognize and say that it may not be the best written and executed trek, compared to TNG and DS9, and TOS in some aspects. I still have the fondest of appreciations for it. The characterization of our heroes was inconsistent at times from episode to episode and their development was stifled to serve the "syndicated TV can't be serialized" model that was so generally accepted at the time. The fact that there were no real consequences (and an endless supply of shuttles, photon torpedoes, and other resources that were initially presented to the audience as being finite in supply and unable to be replenished so far from home.) only served to alienate some viewers who were getting bored tuning in week after week to see the same old trick with no new spin. (SG-1 would have served as a good model for how Trek could have proceeded with it's narratives to keep things fresh) I would say that internal continuity and franchise fatigue wasn't so much in issue in the earlier seasons and it shows there was some attempt to serialize certain aspects of the show. This was literally photon torpedo'd for the most part in the show's later years. I am in no way ripping on ENT, DISCO, Picard, or any of the other entries(Havent watched much of TAS but I am getting there.) . I'm able to appreciate the different kinds of trek for what they can bring to the table rather than the me vs you mentality of some fans.
Well, DUH! Just check out my name. I fell for Voyager and it's characters in season 1 and never regretted it.
There are problems such as the Maquis plot being largely forgotten after season 2, the overuse of the Borg, not quite as much conflict among the crew as you'd expect, a few other things like that. I love it, but I can't pretend it's perfect.
You make some interesting points! With regards to the Maquis, it always seemed to be a case of integration to the crew which was forced upon so it seemed like they just got on with it. I think it was revisited in season 7 Repression slightly so it shows their nature never really wore out. Also honourable mentions in Extreme Risk and Hunters. I thought the Borg story arcs were implemented fantastically, given that the Delta Quadrant is the home of the Borg; they were always going to run into them somewhere down the line! Just my opinion
The issue with those episodes was their placement in the series. Hunters was fine, but Extreme Risk should have been shortly afterward. And Repression would also make more sense earlier on in the series.