Captain Janeway

[Madea]

Maybe it's my perception, but in the last three novels I've read, Death In Winter, Resistance, and the Shatnerverse novel Captain's Glory the Janeway I loved is gone and now it seems we have her acting out of character. Yeah I know she was promoted but why are the writers making her her act like a Super Bitch. Change the name from Janeway to Necheyev and you get the same character. In the A Time To Books she was her old self. In Glory I wanted Kathryn to knock the shit out of Kirk. Oh no, Kirk can't respect her nor does Picard. But of course Picard and his buddy Kirk get along most of the time in the Shat books but with Kathryn Kirk treats her like shit. And in Glory she's practically blown up. But no, Kirk, just like Picard he's the hero and she's the bitch that gives him his orders.

I know that she was an Admiral in Nemesis, but damn can you please bring the fictional "real" Kathryn Janeway back? Just because she's female her character is being destroyed just to bolster the egos of Picard, Kirk, and Riker. When the hell can we read about her and her missions and less about her just giving others their marching orders. As a woman that kinda ticks me off.

If it wasn't for that I would have loved all three books. I bet in Shat's new Academey novel we'll have her travel back in time just to boss Kirk around.

 

[Smiley]

Before Dishonor is giving her at least one POV scene, so maybe that will be more in line with what you're looking for. I don't remember her being bad in Death in Winter, but I do agree that her Resistance appearance could have used some improvement.

 

[LightningStorm]

Madea said:
Just because she's female her character is being destroyed just to bolster the egos of Picard, Kirk, and Riker.

While I see where you're coming from, as I agree she seems to be a lot more 2-dimensional of late, I very much disagree with it having anything to do with her being a female.

Also, since she is an admiral, she would be giving orders, so I don't feel that's a problem. However, like you, I agree she comes across as far more bitchy than she should.

Note: I'm speaking with regard to her appearances in books that are not the Shattnerverse (I haven't read those, and honestly from what I've read about them they don't interest me in the least.).

 

[Captain Dago]

Janeway has never been one of my all time faves but I agree she seems to be getting the brown end of the stick. Any plans to even things out?

 

[Trent Roman]

I've not actually had a chance to read the books in questions (bloody Amazon holding the order up), but perhaps this out-of-character behaviour is Janeway's character arc for the TNG books? I remember wondering when Shakaar had turned into such a total bastard when reading the DS9R, but what I initially thought was mischaracterization turned out to be a major plot point. Maybe that's what's happening with Janeway (though, hopefully, she won't share the same fate as Shakaar ).

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[KRAD]

FWIW, I think she's completely in character in her brief appearance in Q & A.

 

[William Leisner]

Trent Roman said:
(though, hopefully, she won't share the same fate as Shakaar ).

What, getting her head blasted off?

I could live with that...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yeah, so could I.

 

[Rosalind]

come come now, what would people say when Pocket kills the first and only female Trek captain?

 

[Turtletrekker]

Hooray?

 

[BigKal]

What took them so long.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Rosalind said:
come come now, what would people say when Pocket kills the first and only female Trek captain?

Do you really want to know the answer to that?

 

[Trent Roman]

Wow, lotsa Janeway hate. Maybe this is why Golden is the only one writing the VOY-R...

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

KRAD said:
FWIW, I think she's completely in character in her brief appearance in Q & A.

Absolutely. As I said in my review, she is as inconsistent in the books as she is in the TV series: There are times when I really respected and liked her. At other times she was the complete opposite.

"Equinox" should have be more than enough to get her court martialed. I don`t remember which episode it was (I only watched most of the Voyager episodes once) but punishing a crew member by not only putting him in the brig but also in solitary confinement is also a court martial offence.

These are the worst examples that come to my mind right now but I remember there were numerous occasions when Janeway did or said things I had problems with.

I am very disappointed that the first female captain as the main character of a Star Trek TV series was handled so badly at times. She is not a good role model at all. I certainly don`t want to show my young daughter a captain with the attitude that you can`t have a relationship with a real flesh and blood being when you are a captain and all you are allowed is a so-called sentient hologram. I am sure, if Janeway would have been a man, things would be different.

Well... Enough of that.

Coming back to the books: I am actually glad that they are not trying to gloss over what happened on TV. I hope it stays that way.

 

[Stevil2001]

I don't think it's a deliberate (mis?)characterization. It's just simple logic:

1. Commanding admirals are annoying and wrong
2. Janeway is a commanding admiral

Janeway is annoying and wrong. Q.E.D. It's simply adherence to the Star Trek canon!

 

[Christopher]

Baerbel Haddrell said:
I am very disappointed that the first female captain as the main character of a Star Trek TV series was handled so badly at times. She is not a good role model at all. I certainly don`t want to show my young daughter a captain with the attitude that you can`t have a relationship with a real flesh and blood being when you are a captain and all you are allowed is a so-called sentient hologram. I am sure, if Janeway would have been a man, things would be different.

That had nothing to do with her being female and everything to do with her being in command of a ship that was lost and alone. If the relationship went south, there'd be nowhere for either partner to transfer to; they'd still have to see each other every day, work together in life-and-death situations.

Even aside from that, a leader in a relationship with a subordinate is a tricky situation. The power imbalance could be bad for the relationship, and the possibility or perception of favoritism could undermine the leader's effectiveness. This is why romance between commanders and subordinates is expressly forbidden in the present-day US military (as seen in Stargate with O'Neill and Carter). Starfleet of the 24th century is apparently more lax about it. Some Starfleet captains are willing to take the chance, but others are not, and that certainly doesn't break down along gender lines.

Contrary to certain caricatures and mischaracterizations, James Kirk was quite firm about avoiding romantic entanglements with members of his crew. He was uncomfortable with being assigned an attractive female yeoman ("The Corbomite Maneuver") and never responded to her attempts to attract him ("Miri"). He flirted with Helen Noel at a Christmas party ("Dagger of the Mind"), but it never went beyond that except in the fantasy she placed in his mind with the neural neutralizer, and earlier in the episode when she reminded him of that flirtation, he seemed uneasy and embarrassed about it.

And although Picard considered it acceptable in principle to get romantically involved with a subordinate, his one attempt at same ("Lessons") didn't last long, and he seems to have sworn it off thereafter (at least until Death in Winter).

So I really don't think gender has anything to do with it, or that there's anything seriously wrong with the idea of a captain choosing to avoid romantic entanglements with his or her crew.

(Also, Janeway's Fair Haven holographic boyfriend was never claimed to be sentient. Just a very realistic computer-game character.)

 

[Trent Roman]

Christopher said:
(Also, Janeway's Fair Haven holographic boyfriend was never claimed to be sentient. Just a very realistic computer-game character.)

Yeah, I've never understood why people were upset about the holographic lover (other than the Fair Haven episodes just being exceptionally dull and a waste of air time, that is). He's not sentient, as people have pointed out; he's basically a glorified vibrator, one who can hold conversations and cuddle in addition to more useful functions. I'd not deny anybody in Janeway's isolated position, male or female, their fantasies and sex toys.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Christopher]

Trent Roman said:
He's not sentient, as people have pointed out; he's basically a glorified vibrator, one who can hold conversations and cuddle in addition to more useful functions.

You don't consider conversations and affection to be useful? Boy, are you missing out.

 

[JWolf]

Rosalind said:
come come now, what would people say when Pocket kills the first and only female Trek captain?

Captain Rachel Garret of the U.S.S Enterprise-C.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Well, I think that KRAD's Janeway has been the best so far. I am sure that she will also be more like the old Janeway in Before Dishonor. I have not had a huge problem with her appearances, because she does have a lot more responsibility now and is in the alpha quadrant, so that is bound to change her a bit.