Why does everyone agree that Season 3 is the worst season of VOY?

[ILoveVoyager]

I mean it's definitely not my favorite season but I don't understand the hate.
Favorite Son was a pretty good episode, Blood Fever is one of my favorites, Rise is a good episode for both Tuvok and Neelix. Future's end Part II is a really fun one too. It just seemed like (reading the favorite/least favorite episode thread for season three) that it's universally decided that it's a bad/boring season. what are your thoughts?

 

[ILoveVoyager]

Of course there are episodes I don't like (Before and After, Coda, Microcosm) but I can still think of more episodes I enjoy. (Alter Ego, The Darkling, Rise, Worst Case Scenario, Flashback)

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

If there's one thing I'm absolutely certain of when it comes to Star Trek, it's that there isn't anything that everyone agrees on.

Personally, for me season 3 had the highest number of 'okay to mediocre' stories and it also hit the lowest lows. It's got some great two-parters, but they're balanced out by stories like Sacred Ground, Coda and False Profits.

 

[Oddish]

I liked a lot of Season 3. Though sorry, @ILoveVoyager but Favorite Son earns my everlasting ire because it's the episode where the showrunners made the decision to leave Harry's character to stagnate.

 

[tomalak301]

I loved Season 3. We got Pony Tail Janeway, 2 great Kes episodes, and Scorpion. Yeah there was a lot of bad, but in terms of worst Voyager season, I would argue maybe Season 7.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Everyone doesn't.

 

[Tosk]

what are your thoughts?

What's your source on "everyone says season three is the worst"?

 

[Orac]

I disagree, season three isn't Voyagers worst, but it is its most average.

 

[Oddish]

I disagree, season three isn't Voyagers worst, but it is its most average.

That seems about right. One or two stinkers, a few good ones, one with widely varied opinions, and a lot of basic comfort food fare.

 

[suarezguy]

I think most people think it isn't the worst but it probably has particularly few big fans between a lot of people saying Seven of Nine saved/improved the show and a lot preferring the first two years as closest to what the show should be (and then Season 3 pretty out of steam and so Seven coming in either slight improvement or further decline), Season 3 was obviously transitional between the styles/eras.

 

[DonIago]

I too would like to know the basis for the claim that "everyone" (or even many people) agree that S3 is the worst.

 

[ILoveVoyager]

What's your source on "everyone says season three is the worst"?

I too would like to know the basis for the claim that "everyone" (or even many people) agree that S3 is the worst.

I was just reading the Most liked/disliked VOY episode thread. It just seemed like the majority had to add that Season three was a boring season, That's all. I'm lowkey kinda dumb tbh so think what you think... I obviously like the season so I'm not taking offense to people telling me I'm wrong or whatever. It's reassuring that obviously nobody dislikes the episode as much as I think they do.

 

[ILoveVoyager]

I was just reading the Most liked/disliked VOY episode thread. It just seemed like the majority had to add that Season three was a boring season, That's all. I'm lowkey kinda dumb tbh so think what you think... I obviously like the season so I'm not taking offense to people telling me I'm wrong or whatever. It's reassuring that obviously nobody dislikes the episode as much as I think they do.

I meant "episodes" sorry guys (at least I have proof for my claim that I'm dumb) I don't have message editing yet.

 

[The Wormhole]

People hate season 3? First I've heard, indeed, often times people have included Voyager as part of the myth that show's aren't supposed to get good until the third season.

 

[Oddish]

Here's a link to one fairly well known reviewer.

Star Trek: Voyager | Season 3 | Jammer's Reviews

In-depth critical reviews of Star Trek and some other sci-fi series. Includes all episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds. Also, Star Wars, the new...

www.jammersreviews.com

Season 3's episodes have mostly respectable reviews, with a few they really thought were good. The only bad one was Favorite Son, and it can be argued that that one was wrecked by interference from above.

 

[Kraig]

I liked a lot of Season 3. Though sorry, @ILoveVoyager but Favorite Son earns my everlasting ire because it's the episode where the showrunners made the decision to leave Harry's character to stagnate.

I like Favorite Son because Harry Kim gets smacked around by Babylon 5 telepath, and professional stunt woman, Pat Tallman.

 

[Oddish]

And the Terminatrix, too.

 

[AntonyF]

I don't. It's not.

 

[Kraig]

I don't. It's not.

We finally get rid of the Kazon after the conclusion of the two part episode that carried over from the end of season 2.

 

[Oddish]

One thing that adversely affects it is that it loses its best villain and its most complex and tragic character (I still tear up at Tuvok's last words to Suder). But it managed to put out decent fare for all that.

And in one episode ("Before and After"), it showed the kind of show that VOY could have been. No, not everything in that episode would have worked in macrocosm (the concept, not the episode). Killing off Janeway wouldn't have flown*, and Harry/Linnis would not have worked if we had seen the latter as a small child mere years before. But still, we saw characters develop and take on new responsibilities.

I think if Voyager had a weak season, it was probably the last. In some ways, it was TNG S14, and that's a long time to maintain a concept.


*B'Elanna might have been a manageable sacrificial lamb. She was important enough that the viewers would feel her loss, but her character was kind of on a treadmill.