If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done differently?

[kent]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

I think that partially you're right. But I think they were burnt out in the sense that they were tired of bad plot lines, over explanations, reused material, and a ship that looke like in belonged in the early 24th century and an Akira class, and the fact that they used non canon material like photonic torpedo's and phase cannons when they should've been using nuclear warheads and advanced laser weaponry.

They took the easy way out. And i'm not really comparing it to other different series, i'm comparing it to the legacy before it.
B+B couldn't hack it and it turned the fans off. That's what turned me off. Sadly, I eventually said let it die and I've been a fan since I was seven and I'm going on 26. And I'm not saying who was in charge of the writing staff etc, they should've all worked synergistically, and if they had they wouldn't have had some of the franchise's worse writing and story arcs. Not that Enterprise was all bad, but i had to remove a little the fact in my brain that it was star trek and enjoy it as a "different" series.

And honestly, I think they were homophobic. Imagine the message it sends when there is not ONE gay or lesbian character, or even endrogynous character, when the message of Star Trek was peace, tolerance, acceptance, and equality. As one of Star Trek's gay fans, I always was extremely aware of that fact, of the hypocritic nature of that fact. There was an interview i read way back in the day when I was still in highschool about that with Patrick Stewart, and he said that no matter how hard he tried or lobbied for a more equal view of people, they didn't want it and he said it was more of a boys club. So much for the message of Star Trek.

 

[exodus]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

If straight fans still take issue with a woman wearing a catsuit, do you honestly thing the Trek fan base is ready to handle a gay officer?


I've read many replies here about a gay character and you get: "I'm all for it..............as long as they don't show two men kiss."

B&B aren't homophobic, they're just aware much of the fan base is.

 

[TheGodBen]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

If straight fans still take issue with a woman wearing a catsuit, do you honestly thing the Trek fan base is ready to handle a gay officer?

I don't think you are viewing the catsuit complaints in the way they are intended. I was offended by the Seven and T'Pol catsuits because it was a blatant ploy to appeal to men's baser instincts, and I felt insulted as a viewer that they thought this is what I wanted from a TV show. I have no problem with more sexuality in Trek so long as it's not stupid teenage boy baiting "hur hur look at her boobs!" crap.

I'm fine with gay characters on Trek making out. I am not okay with catsuits or decon chambers.

 

[kent]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

that goes against what the message of star trek is. and if you're not open minded and a bigot in anyway, it insults the very meaning of star trek. In the online TOS series, two men kissed. some people had serious issues with it, and one of the original writers of star trek read the insulting bigoted comments and basically said, "If you can't be open minded and tolerant, then DONT consider yourself fans." I agree with that sentiment.

And yes, I honestly think that considering it's 2009, not 1967, fans will be okay with it. two women kissed on ds9, and nothing really big happened in the long run. Alternate Exri Dax was a lesbian to add. And there was gay diologue between alternate universe Worf and Garek, and the person who played garek purposefully left his sexuality more or less ambiguous. I think it's wholly unfair that you sacrifice a whole minority for the sake of appeasing bigots, and I also think it's completely hypocritical that the message of peaace and tolerance is there EXCEPT for the LGBT community.

A relationship between two gay characters does not have to be sexual. Not right away. They could be in a relationship that shows the normalcy of a relationship, what everyone wants, to be loved and loved back. There would be the normal fights, the normal support, the normal hugs. Eventually yes they would probably kiss, but it's not going to be pornography. And if straight people have an issue I say this, I don't always feel like watching straight people make out either. But, I'm forced to deal.

That's unfair to assume that a gay relationship would jump right away into kissing or what have you like two gay ppl would just simply skip the steps that lead to that, like dating, getting to know one another, meeting for the first time, falling in love etc. It can build up to something more.

And quite frankly, if a Star Trek fan hates or dislikes any minority, then he/she shouldn't consider themselves fans at all because it goes against the very fabric of what Star Trek means.

It's time to include EVERYBODY in the Star Trek universe, not just those that make others not feel uncomfortable. And quite frankly, putting women in a catsut to attain more male viewers is sexist and a blatant hand at belittling women, as much as I liked Seven of Nine's character. So it's okay to appease the base sexuality of men at the cost of a woman's dignity yet to have two gay characters who are in love, one of the univereses greatest gifts to all species, and kiss OUT of that love is wrong?? I'd rather see that, or from my perspective straight people kissing, than Seven of Nine's camel toe and bazooka's shoved in my face every week. Again, that's hypocritical, and if a str8 person argues a camel toe is okay but two in love gay characters, or gay characters in general, kissing isn't then they should stop watching. And the issue isn't that she's wearing a catsuit so much, i mean it was suggested by her and she even chose the heels, but it's the cheap way to get fans. And it has NOTHING to do with being in love or normal human sexuality. It's just cheap.

And to say "i'm all for it as long as they don't kiss" is akin to saying "I don't mind black people so long as the don't date my child." Bigotry is bigotry, no matter which way you slice it.

 

[Mistral]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

And here we are, far from the Delta Quadrant -and the original topic. SOmething that always rubbed me wrong was the nifty return to Earth. Perhaps if it had involved a bit more struggle...like, we're back, but we're on the far side of Cardassian space and there's still a war going on...Now that would have made for an interesting return...

 

[exodus]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

If straight fans still take issue with a woman wearing a catsuit, do you honestly thing the Trek fan base is ready to handle a gay officer?

I don't think you are viewing the catsuit complaints in the way they are intended. I was offended by the Seven and T'Pol catsuits because it was a blatant ploy to appeal to men's baser instincts, and I felt insulted as a viewer that they thought this is what I wanted from a TV show. I have no problem with more sexuality in Trek so long as it's not stupid teenage boy baiting "hur hur look at her boobs!" crap.

I'm fine with gay characters on Trek making out. I am not okay with catsuits or decon chambers.

As I said before, Trek needs to appeal to the younger demographic if it's to survive. I also don't know of many, if any men outside of Trek's fan base that were offended by the catsuit. It caused the character to be well known by men of all ages & types everywhere. The result was Seven of Nine was a very popular iconic figure during that era which is exactly what Paramount was hoping for. They weren't concerned in what you wanted from a TV show because they were looking at the returns long term.

 

[exodus]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

that goes against what the message of star trek is. and if you're not open minded and a bigot in anyway, it insults the very meaning of star trek. In the online TOS series, two men kissed. some people had serious issues with it, and one of the original writers of star trek read the insulting bigoted comments and basically said, "If you can't be open minded and tolerant, then DONT consider yourself fans." I agree with that sentiment.

And yes, I honestly think that considering it's 2009, not 1967, fans will be okay with it. two women kissed on ds9, and nothing really big happened in the long run. Alternate Exri Dax was a lesbian to add. And there was gay diologue between alternate universe Worf and Garek, and the person who played garek purposefully left his sexuality more or less ambiguous. I think it's wholly unfair that you sacrifice a whole minority for the sake of appeasing bigots, and I also think it's completely hypocritical that the message of peaace and tolerance is there EXCEPT for the LGBT community.

A relationship between two gay characters does not have to be sexual. Not right away. They could be in a relationship that shows the normalcy of a relationship, what everyone wants, to be loved and loved back. There would be the normal fights, the normal support, the normal hugs. Eventually yes they would probably kiss, but it's not going to be pornography. And if straight people have an issue I say this, I don't always feel like watching straight people make out either. But, I'm forced to deal.

That's unfair to assume that a gay relationship would jump right away into kissing or what have you like two gay ppl would just simply skip the steps that lead to that, like dating, getting to know one another, meeting for the first time, falling in love etc. It can build up to something more.

And quite frankly, if a Star Trek fan hates or dislikes any minority, then he/she shouldn't consider themselves fans at all because it goes against the very fabric of what Star Trek means.

It's time to include EVERYBODY in the Star Trek universe, not just those that make others not feel uncomfortable. And quite frankly, putting women in a catsut to attain more male viewers is sexist and a blatant hand at belittling women, as much as I liked Seven of Nine's character. So it's okay to appease the base sexuality of men at the cost of a woman's dignity yet to have two gay characters who are in love, one of the univereses greatest gifts to all species, and kiss OUT of that love is wrong?? I'd rather see that, or from my perspective straight people kissing, than Seven of Nine's camel toe and bazooka's shoved in my face every week. Again, that's hypocritical, and if a str8 person argues a camel toe is okay but two in love gay characters, or gay characters in general, kissing isn't then they should stop watching. And the issue isn't that she's wearing a catsuit so much, i mean it was suggested by her and she even chose the heels, but it's the cheap way to get fans. And it has NOTHING to do with being in love or normal human sexuality. It's just cheap.

And to say "i'm all for it as long as they don't kiss" is akin to saying "I don't mind black people so long as the don't date my child." Bigotry is bigotry, no matter which way you slice it.

Two women kissing plays into the male fantasy, two men kissing does not. This is why the statement that Trek is a boy club stands.

Trek is just a TV show to many. If you have to use it to teach someone morals and ethics, then their parents didn't do their job properly. You should already know these thing with or without watching Star TRek. Trek is about tolerance of those like you & unlike you. You can't label or denounce who a Trek fan should or shouldn't be because that goes against what Trek's theme as well. Trek is simply a TV show for all types of people just like most other shows are. Trek should not used as a guide to life, that should come from within.

Besides, saying a catsuit affects a womans dignity is stereotyping the image of what you think a woman should be and act like. It's almost equal to saying because she dressed sexy it gave me the right to sexually harrass her. If a man can be a bodybuilder because he's proud of his body & form, a woman can wear a catsuit for the same reasons.

 

[kent]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

yeah two women kissing does apeal to SOME men's fantasys. I just think it's sad the message is obscured in hypocracy. If it's going to stand for something, and be the martyr star trek is supposed to be, then it should do the job.

and what about all the gay fans out there? This show at least for me taught me that it's okay to be different, and now I'm being told they were worrying about a demographic so thus decided to ignore the issue of LGBT people in life entirely.

I would like to point out that people who watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn't freak out and that show crossed all age ranges and creeds, and when Willow came out as a lesbian it was an honest transition, and it didn't turn people off to the show it only got better.

Star Trek let me down in that regard, and it probably let a lot of it's fans down for the sake of a demographic. You can't explain that away. And you can't know what it's like to feel excluded your entire young adult life. So what if people initially don't like it, think of the doors that COULD have opened. And does such a peaceful show want those kinds of fans?

Star Trek should've practiced what it preached, instead of excluding a minority. That's what I would've changed the most, to tell people that this show is about peace and tolerance for EVERYONE, not just SOME people. And we're not going to back down and put gays in the back of the starship. So what if you don't like it, don't watch it we'll get new fans.

And nothing will change my mind that the catsuit idea was a cheap ploy.

 

[exodus]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

yeah two women kissing does apeal to SOME men's fantasys. I just think it's sad the message is obscured in hypocracy. If it's going to stand for something, and be the martyr star trek is supposed to be, then it should do the job.

and what about all the gay fans out there? This show at least for me taught me that it's okay to be different, and now I'm being told they were worrying about a demographic so thus decided to ignore the issue of LGBT people in life entirely.

I would like to point out that people who watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn't freak out and that show crossed all age ranges and creeds, and when Willow came out as a lesbian it was an honest transition, and it didn't turn people off to the show it only got better.

Star Trek let me down in that regard, and it probably let a lot of it's fans down for the sake of a demographic. You can't explain that away. And you can't know what it's like to feel excluded your entire young adult life. So what if people initially don't like it, think of the doors that COULD have opened. And does such a peaceful show want those kinds of fans?

Star Trek should've practiced what it preached, instead of excluding a minority. That's what I would've changed the most, to tell people that this show is about peace and tolerance for EVERYONE, not just SOME people. And we're not going to back down and put gays in the back of the starship. So what if you don't like it, don't watch it we'll get new fans.

And nothing will change my mind that the catsuit idea was a cheap ploy.

I'm African-American and grew up in White suburbia, so please don't tell me I don't know what's it's like to feel excluded. I also don't look to TV or the media to represent me, my race or my pride, that once again is instilled in you by your family & those you associate with just like peace and tolerance does. Those things shouldn't be discovered by many from a TV show, it should come from social interaction.

If you can't be tolerant of others that think differently than you, how do you expect them in return to be tolerant of you? Life is meant to be give and take, not one-sided.

 

[TheGodBen]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

As I said before, Trek needs to appeal to the younger demographic if it's to survive. I also don't know of many, if any men outside of Trek's fan base that were offended by the catsuit. It caused the character to be well known by men of all ages & types everywhere. The result was Seven of Nine was a very popular iconic figure during that era which is exactly what Paramount was hoping for. They weren't concerned in what you wanted from a TV show because they were looking at the returns long term.

You brought up the catsuit complaints in a way that misrepresented what they were about, I was merely correcting your statement. Secondly, Seven was a good character and would have been anyway if she was in a blue Starfleet uniform and I found her to be far more attractive in "normal" clothing than she was in the catsuit. Frankly, I found it hard to see her as a serious character because of what she was wearing; it may have been flattering to her body but it was not flattering to her character.

 

[exodus]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

As I said before, Trek needs to appeal to the younger demographic if it's to survive. I also don't know of many, if any men outside of Trek's fan base that were offended by the catsuit. It caused the character to be well known by men of all ages & types everywhere. The result was Seven of Nine was a very popular iconic figure during that era which is exactly what Paramount was hoping for. They weren't concerned in what you wanted from a TV show because they were looking at the returns long term.

You brought up the catsuit complaints in a way that misrepresented what they were about, I was merely correcting your statement. Secondly, Seven was a good character and would have been anyway if she was in a blue Starfleet uniform and I found her to be far more attractive in "normal" clothing than she was in the catsuit. Frankly, I found it hard to see her as a serious character because of what she was wearing; it may have been flattering to her body but it was not flattering to her character.

Forgive me and no offence meant but you corrected nothing. You're opinion is yours and yours alone, it doesn't represent everyone.

 

[kimc]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Seven was a good character and would have been anyway if she was in a blue Starfleet uniform and I found her to be far more attractive in "normal" clothing than she was in the catsuit. Frankly, I found it hard to see her as a serious character because of what she was wearing; it may have been flattering to her body but it was not flattering to her character.

There have been others in this very forum both male and female who have expressed similar opinions and it's certainly a valid one.

 

[TheGodBen]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Forgive me and no offence meant but you corrected nothing. You're opinion is yours and yours alone, it doesn't represent everyone.

I know my opinion isn't the same as everyone else's, at least not yet. But once I finish my mind control device. . . Mwaahaha!

*cough*

Anyway, it seemed to me that you were suggesting the the complaints against the catsuit was from prudish people, and that is not the way any of the complaints I have seen in the past have been expressed. I was a teenage boy when Seven first came along, and seeing her in that first silver catsuit did indeed give me yowsers in my trousers. However, I still felt like the show was being condescending by doing this and so did all my friends who watched Star Trek. Looking back now I can see that Seven was a great character, but when I watched it all I could think was that she was the boobs on the show and little else.

This is one of the reasons why I'm planning on rewatching Voyager for the first time.

 

[kent]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

I was actually thinking that on my way down to the RMV, the fact I didn't actually know who you were. I wish I didn't say that sometimes I get passionate about things.

But that said, if you're black then I can't believe you wouldn't agree. Star Trek provided televisions FIRST interracial kiss, and I don't believe Gene Roddenberry ultimately cared about what people think because in Star Trek's universe, equality was equality, and to not have something like that on the show is anti his vision. He still did it, and did it with dignity, and despite the gaffaws of the network and people, changed history. Nichelle Nichols was going to leave the show when MLK JR. talked to her, and told her she can't, that what Star Trek is doing is too important. And he was right. 100% right.

And jump to the 80's. No Gays there. But I can understand that it was a simpler time. But ny the 90's we had shows like "Will and Grace", "My So Called Life", and movies like "Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Jewlie newmar". The country was more aware, and people were more open. So why wasn't there any steady gay characters by Voyager? Where was the vision that taught me all my morals as a kid? Where was the vision that gave us the first interracial kiss? It wasn't like there weren't other gay television shows, or gay characters on television shows. The Star Trek fans would be the type of intelligent people to be open to such a thing.

Instead, we have a show with a "vision" of peace and equality, except for gay people. We have a show that cares more for ratings and popularity than a show that's willing to stand up to bigoted culture. That's why I would change it like that, to tell all the gay Star Trek fans out there that YES, you are included in our world, in our vision of peace and equality. YES you matter. And NO, who cares if people don't like it, you exist and therefore you exist in our universe. I want to send the message to younger gay youth that like Star Trek that they matter too, like I was told by my parents as a kid, like other black youth inluding MLK Jr's kids got to hear when Uhura kissed Kirk.

They deserve it as much as any other minority out there. Especially in a country where the president tries to instill bigoted legislature into the constitution. Especially when kids like Matthew Sheppard are getting beaten to a literal bloody pulp then tied to a fence to die. Especially when gay youth and adults alike are told they don't matter so much, they can't even obtain a marriage liscence in over 90% of the country by the government that is sworn to protect it's people. And Especially, and most importantly, when parents themselves, who's sworn oath as a parent is to love and cherish for as long as life allows no matter what, can't even see past their blindness for their children to accept and love and instill pride in themselves for who they were born as (to answer your statement that parents should do that. there are parents who kick their kids out on the street before they've even graduated middleschool and they end up homeless.) This is bigger than ratings or demographics. This is about the vision of Star Trek: equality.

It's sad, sad sad, when people can't see how important that is. Especially the closer we move towards that reality.

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Changes I would have made:

The show.

1. I would have added more connection and continuity between episodes. I'm not saying completely serialize it, but there should have been consequences from previous episodes. Like having used too many torpedoes the week before or the death of a crew member having to be compensated for or having an effect on the rest of the crew. Show seven years worth of wear and tear on a ship and crew that has been on it's own for seven years.

2. More exploration of the delta quadrant. Take advantage the opportunity at hand to explore unknown space and territory. Explore strange new worlds and seek out new life.

3. Take away the quick reset button feature that many episodes like "Year of Hell" and "Resolution" and "Threshold" had. Turn things like that into an arc that takes time to repair the damage of.

4.Less Borg.

5. More creativity behind the species shown. Show the interesting species more often. Map the cultures of the species out better. It seems like most species shown were just the 'species of the week'.

6. Re-occurring secondary characters. Why show a different crewman every single episode? Show the same 'lower decks' crew members throughout the series, and not just a couple. Have them involved in the main plot. Show them interact with the main crew more often. Not just occasionally and for a few seconds.

Characters.

1. Janeway. The captain should have been less determined to get her crew home than she was to keep them alive. It seems like a lot of good people died just so the rest could get home quicker. Shouldn't her primary goal as captain be to insure the safety of her crew and not their destination?

2. Chakotay. More reference to his culture. Make him a member of an actual Native American Nation. Show the actual beliefs of that culture and Chakotay's reasons for following or going against his core beliefs on different occasions.

3. Tuvok. I would have shown Tuvok slowly falling in love with a female member of the crew. Whether or not she was vulcan would not matter. Eventually he convinces himself to accept the fact that he may never see his wife again. Just because he's vulcan he's supposed to stay faithful to a wife he will probably never see again and who most likely considers him dead? Come on. How is that logical?

4. Paris. I would have used the original storyline from the 'Next Generation' episode "The First Duty". I also would have had Bruce Davison play Admiral paris, because he looks more like he could be Tom Paris' father than the actor they actually hired did. When I watch him in a film, his mannerisms and voice actually remind me of Tom Paris. http://www.geocities.com/hunteronline_2000/davison.jpg

5. Harry Kim. It's okay to have him start out young and green, but why leave him that way? Let Harry grow up and assume some sort of adult personality.

6. Torres. More opportunities for the character to MacGyver the ship out of danger. She always seemed to have all the appropriate materials she needed to make repairs. I thought they were short on supplies and roughing it. She should have had to make due what what was available and Jimmy rig some equipment so that it operated differently from how it was designed so that it could be used for a different function.

7. Kes. She should have been more childish. Why did they try to make her act so mature? She was two years old. Come on. She wasn't a Jem Hadar that was genetically designed to act like a soldier at three weeks old. She was a natural two years old. She should have acted less mature. Not necessarily as immature as a two year old human but not as mature as a thirty year old human either. In fact, it should have been a trait that caused problem for her entire species. Which could have been another reason the Caretaker felt he need to take care of the Ocampans. They were all just a bunch of kids really.

8. Seven of Nine. As beautiful as the actress is, why does she have to be a sex symbol rather than a well sketched out character. The actress was great, the character was weak. In fact the character only slid by because of the actor. If they had picked some one with less talent to play the part, the characters obvious flaws would have shown through completely.

9. Neelix. I actually think they went the right direction with Neelix. Think about it. He was annoying and obnoxious. Why does every character have to be likable? They don't. I'm glad Neelix bugged the hell out of everyone else. To top it all off, the character wasn't a bad ass or a jerk. He was kind, polite and cheerful and wore his heart on his sleeve. He took insults with style, like he was used to having been insulted and disliked all his life. He was a sad and lonely person who was trying to do his best with what he was given, all the while knowing that he was bothersome to others and nothing more than a burden to all those around him. He had no delusions about himself. He would give you the shirt off his back and ask for nothing in return. Perfect character.

10. The doctor. No changes to the character, only the situations given to him. I would have the doctor begin to form regrets about losing patients. I know it was touched upon in one episode (One episode in seven seasons.) but then the reset button was quickly pushed.

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Those are some terrific ideas, Odo's_Bucket, particularly with regard to Tuvok, Harry, Kes, and Neelix.

And hopefully without standing on my soapbox or venturing too far into the Neutral Zone I have to agree with this paragraph kent wrote:

They deserve it as much as any other minority out there. Especially in a country where the president tries to instill bigoted legislature into the constitution. Especially when kids like Matthew Sheppard are getting beaten to a literal bloody pulp then tied to a fence to die. Especially when gay youth and adults alike are told they don't matter so much, they can't even obtain a marriage liscence in over 90% of the country by the government that is sworn to protect it's people. And Especially, and most importantly, when parents themselves, who's sworn oath as a parent is to love and cherish for as long as life allows no matter what, can't even see past their blindness for their children to accept and love and instill pride in themselves for who they were born as (to answer your statement that parents should do that. there are parents who kick their kids out on the street before they've even graduated middleschool and they end up homeless.) This is bigger than ratings or demographics. This is about the vision of Star Trek: equality.

That said, Tom Paris should have been gay. And Bruce Davison should have played his father.

 

[Odo's_Bucket]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Other changes I would have made :

I would have introduced the doctor's Diagnostic Hologram Program sooner. Dennara Pell, the Vidian woman the doctor fell for, would have stayed on the ship and the show as a hologram. She and the doctor would have had an ongoing intimate relationship. Torres, Kim and the doctor would have discovered a way to prolong her survival as a hologram but it would be made clear that it would only last for about a year. Her body would be put into stasis. During that year, the doctor would put most of his focus on attempting to cure the phage, so she could have her body back, and building a relationship with Dennara. They would have crew quarters refit with holo - emitters so they could feel like a couple, and maybe even design holographic children together much like in the episode 'Real Life'. At some point during that year, lets say six months into it, Dennara's body would be damaged or destroyed in an attack or some sort of incident that damages a portion of sickbay where the stasis chamber is. They would realize that Dennara has only six months or so to live, after which her the computer program that is storing her memories and personality will no longer be able to support her. The doctor, Torres, and Kim would then propose the idea of building a positronic brain for Dennara. One much like Data's. Perhaps even an entire android body, so that she could continue her life in some manner at least. She agrees so that she can continue to be with the EMH. The doctor, Torres, and Kim then use all available records of Data's Designs taken from Geordi La Forge's logs containing information obtaining when he made repairs on Data. They would also use Data's logs that he made while he was attempting to build a daughter for himself, and any information available from the man who created Data. They would put this information and any other information they consider helpful, into the Diagnostic Holographic Program and create a sort of android building specialist. He spend several months making several attempts to build an android body for Dennara. All attempts would fail and Dennara would die a slow death, her memories fading away one by one until she no longer recognized the doctor.


Seska would have lived longer. During the Deep Space Nine two parter that shows the death of Enabarin Tain (Garak's) father, after Garak gets Tain to admit that he is his father, Tain would have told Garak about a sister he never knew about. Her name would be Seska. The connection would never be mentioned on Voyager, but only that she is a member of the Obsidean Order. Her mission for the order could have been shown as a flashback episode(s) that takes place several months before 'Caretaker', which is to pose as a Bajoran in order to enter Star Fleet so that she could gather as much information on 'some secret agency that calls itself Section 31'. After doing some Obsidean Order style investigating, she discovers that a Star Fleet officer named Lt. Commander Cavitt may be an agent for Section 31. She reports this to the order and they give her the task of following him to see if he can lead her to someone higher in the orginization, some one of more importance that, if captured and interrogated could provided more useful information to the order. She then falsifies some 'paperwork' and is conveniently assigned to the Lt. Commander's vessel. U.S.S. Voyager. Of course, Cavitt dies during Voyager's maiden voyage, the ship is stranded in the delta quadrant, and Seska has no way to continue her mission for the Obsidean Order. No excuse being an acceptable one for failing in a mission for the order, Seska does not relish the idea of returning to the quadrant, where here life would no doubt be a lot shorter than it would be in the delta quadrant. So she opts to stay, and of course she decides she would like to have an Intrepid class star ship at her disposal.

 

[Candlelight]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

3. Take away the quick reset button feature that many episodes like "Year of Hell" and "Resolution" and "Threshold" had. Turn things like that into an arc that takes time to repair the damage of.

5. More creativity behind the species shown. Show the interesting species more often. Map the cultures of the species out better. It seems like most species shown were just the 'species of the week'.

3. Threshold had to have a reset button cos it was shite.

5. Some had to simply be species of the week due to Voyager's constant traveling. The Kazon and Vidiian's stuck around for way too long.

 

[Akiraprise]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

The Vidiian's could have stuck around a lot longer. They were a good villain. The Kazon on the other hand, they should have been gone after half the first season was over.

 

[Cyke101]

Re: If you were the creator of VOY, what would you have done different

Now that the Kazon's been mentioned enough times, I suppose I should offer my opinion on them:

If I recall correctly, the Kazon were created to be an allegory to inner-city gang violence, what with the territories and tribes going at each other. Dark skin and offensively nappy hair aside, I think that's a pretty creative way of examining a problem in the grand Star Trek tradition. My big problem here is why are we supposed to accept that all the tribes were so different that they fought amongst themselves to stupidity. What's the difference here? What's the REAL socio-political cause for all this animosity? I think that's why it seemed like they dragged, that despite soooo many appearances, they were pooooorly fleshed out.

Also, if Voyager's writers were to maintain the gang allegory, there should've been many, many more aliens, all of whom would be fighting each other and the Kazon, simply because much of inner-city gang violence is racial, ie Asians Vs. Latinos Vs. Blacks Vs. Europeans. Have more races in the conflict, have it a cultural free for all. That way, in the grand Star Trek tradition, you build up good villains while at the same time hitting a social issue from all angles. Yes, yes, it's another "racism is bad" allegory, but it's still prevalent today.