defend Tom Paris!

[stj]

Inspired by the odd thread defending Harry Kim, it occurred to me that the real challenge would be to defend Tom Paris. (Hey, it's my thread!) He started by being a cliche hotshot pilot and bad boy. Yawn. Then he became a nurse. And an author. And slept with most of the female characters, including Janeway. But not one of those roles was convincing. Therefore the character was dull. Is there even a good Paris episode? Everybody hates Kim but most people somehow like Timeless, after all.
What's Paris' Timeless episode?

 

[Harvey]

If "Thirty Days" isn't convincing as a Tom Paris episode, then the character is probably a failure. And your deconstruction of the contradictory facets of his character is predictably indicative of writing by the Voyager staff, especially in the later seasons. I don't mind a few continuity errors--they're bound to crop up after so many years of television--but wanton disregard for even basic continuity that was so often exhibited by the writers on the show is infinitely annoying (says the user with a Voyager-sourced username).

 

[TheGodBen]

I don't mind Harry so much, he just didn't get to do much. Tom Paris got to do quite a few things, and most of them annoyed the crap out of me, there was just something about the character that rubbed me the wrong way. This may sound kinda petty, but I absolutely hated the fact that he put dials and knobs as the controls for the Delta Flyer as I found that whole aspect of his personality to be incredibly unappealing. The odd thing is that I agree with him, I like driving a car that feels like a machine and I hate driving cars which feel like computers.

I completely lost track of my point.

In summation; I don't like Tom Paris because he had the personality of Tom Paris.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

Inspired by the odd thread defending Harry Kim, it occurred to me that the real challenge would be to defend Tom Paris. (Hey, it's my thread!) He started by being a cliche hotshot pilot and bad boy. Yawn. Then he became a nurse. And an author. And slept with most of the female characters, including Janeway. But not one of those roles was convincing. Therefore the character was dull. Is there even a good Paris episode? Everybody hates Kim but most people somehow like Timeless, after all.
What's Paris' Timeless episode?

Odd? How dare you?!
Paris didn't actually sleep with most of the female characters. Of the main characters it was just Torres and Janeway (in lizard form) if I'm not mistaken. He had a thing for Kes, but it never went anywhere.

I liked Tom and I wouldn't call him dull..but I think they could have played up the badboy/rebel thing a bit more. He never came off as much of one.

 

[stj]

Inspired by the odd thread defending Harry Kim, it occurred to me that the real challenge would be to defend Tom Paris. (Hey, it's my thread!) He started by being a cliche hotshot pilot and bad boy. Yawn. Then he became a nurse. And an author. And slept with most of the female characters, including Janeway. But not one of those roles was convincing. Therefore the character was dull. Is there even a good Paris episode? Everybody hates Kim but most people somehow like Timeless, after all.
What's Paris' Timeless episode?

Odd? How dare you?!
Paris didn't actually sleep with most of the female characters. Of the main characters it was just Torres and Janeway (in lizard form) if I'm not mistaken. He had a thing for Kes, but it never went anywhere.

I liked Tom and I wouldn't call him dull..but I think they could have played up the badboy/rebel thing a bit more. He never came off as much of one.

He didn't just have a thing with Kes, he married her! True, the Before and After timeline was altered. But temporal mechanics is like quantum mechanics---the very notion of reality is problematic.

PS for Hirogen Alpha---It was never clear to me exactly what the deal with the father was. So even Thirty Days had that problem, plus it just isn't clear how getting arrested again constitutes a successful rebellion or achievement of manhood. I suppose it was all meant to be vague so people could identify. Actually, I think there was a great deal wrong with Voyager's writing. The character vacuum called Paris is a big part of it, since Paris was a major character, unlike Kim. Another big part of it was Torres. I do want to explicitly disavow any belief that crazy rant by Ron D. Moore about Voyager even accidentally made any valid criticisms.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

I think even many of Voyager's biggest fans will admit that there were some problems with the writing. In fact, I would argue that the show's strongest character wasn't even human. The Doctor had more personality than most of them (and I say that as a fan of the show ).

I think you're being a bit hard on Paris personally. I think the show's most well drawn characters were Janeway, The Doctor, Paris, Torres and Seven. I don't see Paris as a bland character at all, he had hobbies, strong opinions on things, a reputation as a prankster, several love interest, a love of piloting.. Sure they could have done more with him, but that is true of most of the show's characters.

 

[LeadHead]

Defend Tom Paris? Okay.

Hello, I'm the Lawyer defending Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris.

The Prosecution has claimed that Mr. Paris is an annoying character that in some sense brought Voyager down a peg. They have also claimed that Paris did too many things aboard the ship and was intimate with too many of the women aboard Voyager. The evidence will prove otherwise.

Tom Paris was the character aboard Voyager the most successfully mixed action and comedy. Some of the episodes that can confirm that statement are: "Basics Part II," " Distant Origin," and "Prototype."

In addtion to the action and comedy dynamic, his character was useful in many dramatic and touching moments. "Real Life" featured a wonderful scene between him and The Doctor discussing family and the importance of it. "Nothing Human" featured him going against nearly everyone including his girlfriend whom he was trying to help save.

It has ben alleged that Paris never had a "Timeless" episode. As it has been stated, "Thirty Days" was his incarnation of that for this character.

The Prosecution believes that Paris was too much of a womanizer and that he was with too many women aboard Voyager. The fact is his romantic life was just more aimed at Voyager than others. He had a crush on Kes, a relationship and eventual marriage to B'Elanna Torres and then there was "Threshold" which defies explanation. He was mentioned having attempted to court Lieutenant Nicoletti, and had at least one date with one of the Delaney sisters. On television that may seem too active of a social life, given that you have 26 episodes a season, whe in reality, you have 365 days in a year, and if you don't like being lonely or single, then you're going to pursue potential relastionships.

Tom Paris also created one of Voyager's most useful shuttlecraft, the Delta Flyer. Adding not only a new mode of transportation, but a useful weapon to Voyager's arsenal.

At this time I move that the case against Lieutenant Paris be dismissed and formal charges filed against Seven of Nine.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Neelix claimed his first impression of Tom was that he was "Licentious".

Main Entry:li·cen·tious Pronunciation: \lī-ˈsen(t)-shəs\ Function:adjective Etymology:Latin licentiosus, from licentiaDate:1535 1: lacking legal or moral restraints ; especially : disregarding sexual restraints2: marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness
— li·cen·tious·ly adverb
— li·cen·tious·ness noun

I think the Chute is the Ultimate Tom and Harry episode.

 

[Lucy of Nine]

Defend Tom Paris? Okay.

Hello, I'm the Lawyer defending Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris.

The Prosecution has claimed that Mr. Paris is an annoying character that in some sense brought Voyager down a peg. They have also claimed that Paris did too many things aboard the ship and was intimate with too many of the women aboard Voyager. The evidence will prove otherwise.

Tom Paris was the character aboard Voyager the most successfully mixed action and comedy. Some of the episodes that can confirm that statement are: "Basics Part II," " Distant Origin," and "Prototype."

In addtion to the action and comedy dynamic, his character was useful in many dramatic and touching moments. "Real Life" featured a wonderful scene between him and The Doctor discussing family and the importance of it. "Nothing Human" featured him going against nearly everyone including his girlfriend whom he was trying to help save.

It has ben alleged that Paris never had a "Timeless" episode. As it has been stated, "Thirty Days" was his incarnation of that for this character.

The Prosecution believes that Paris was too much of a womanizer and that he was with too many women aboard Voyager. The fact is his romantic life was just more aimed at Voyager than others. He had a crush on Kes, a relationship and eventual marriage to B'Elanna Torres and then there was "Threshold" which defies explanation. He was mentioned having attempted to court Lieutenant Nicoletti, and had at least one date with one of the Delaney sisters. On television that may seem too active of a social life, given that you have 26 episodes a season, whe in reality, you have 365 days in a year, and if you don't like being lonely or single, then you're going to pursue potential relastionships.

Tom Paris also created one of Voyager's most useful shuttlecraft, the Delta Flyer. Adding not only a new mode of transportation, but a useful weapon to Voyager's arsenal.

At this time I move that the case against Lieutenant Paris be dismissed and formal charges filed against Seven of Nine.

Ah I love you!

 

[scottydog]

I believe that Tom Paris makes the show worth watching. He has charisma, personality, and humor. While there's also an "edge" to him that makes him slightly unpredictable, he proves himself repeatedly to be a man of integrity.

 

[stj]

LeadHead---Very amusing post.

 

[2 of 10]

Tom saved Voyager more than once. In Basics pt 2 he alone saved the crew from being stranded on the planet that Seska and Maje Cullah put them on, he did have some very important help from Suder the Doc and the Talaxans. In Year of Hell pts 1 and 2 he gave Voyager the information that Janeway and her assembled fleet of "ships" needed to defeat Annorax. Also cudos to 30 Days, seeing Tom as he really was, ready to do the difficult assignments that others were not up to....

 

[scottydog]

At this time I move that the case against Lieutenant Paris be dismissed and formal charges filed against Seven of Nine.

You may NOT file charges against Seven. Not only did she have a spectacular body, but she was one of the deeper, more complex characters on Voyager. A great addition to show, both visually and in terms of character depth.

So I put her right up there with Tom Paris with regard to "quality of the character". My rank ordering of the main characters is:

1. The doctor -- a 9 on my 1 to 10 scale
2. Janeway -- an 8.5
3. Paris -- an 8.3
4. Seven -- also an 8.3
5. Chicotay -- an 8.2
6. Tuvok -- an 8.1
7. Kim -- a 6
8. Neelix -- a 5

 

[LeadHead]

You may NOT file charges against Seven. Not only did she have a spectacular body, but she was one of the deeper, more complex characters on Voyager. A great addition to show, both visually and in terms of character depth.

Sorry, but it's too late. The Grand Jury Indicted right away. Something about Tsunkatse.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Afterward the sentencing was pretty rough.

They made her find a personality, braid some pigtails and marry the Indian.

 

[Lynx]

I like Tom Paris.

Definitely one of my favorite Star Trek characters. I like his attitude, his funny jokes, the background story (even if it was a bit too similar to the Nick Locarno story of TNG) the whole personality of Tom Paris who I find a very good character.

But he became a bit stale and boring in the later seasons, he was at his best in seasons 1-3.

 

[trekkerguy]

What's there to defend? Tom Paris was cool.

The End.

Anything else is just nitpicking and bitching...

oh yeah this is TBBS.

 

[ALF]

The only character more boring than Paris is Kim.

If I were the captain I would have shot both of them in the sun and replaced them with EMH's. One in gold at ops, one in red at the helm.

 

[TheGodBen]

The only character more boring than Paris is Kim.

If I were the captain I would have shot both of them in the sun and replaced them with EMH's. One in gold at ops, one in red at the helm.

I'd replace the entire cast with Robert Picardo, given the chance.

 

[Jean-Luc Picard]

Inspired by the odd thread defending Harry Kim, it occurred to me that the real challenge would be to defend Tom Paris. (Hey, it's my thread!) He started by being a cliche hotshot pilot and bad boy. Yawn. Then he became a nurse. And an author. And slept with most of the female characters, including Janeway. But not one of those roles was convincing. Therefore the character was dull. Is there even a good Paris episode? Everybody hates Kim but most people somehow like Timeless, after all.
What's Paris' Timeless episode?

Odd? How dare you?!
Paris didn't actually sleep with most of the female characters. Of the main characters it was just Torres and Janeway (in lizard form) if I'm not mistaken. He had a thing for Kes, but it never went anywhere.

I liked Tom and I wouldn't call him dull..but I think they could have played up the badboy/rebel thing a bit more. He never came off as much of one.

Definitely. He went from "zero" to "hero" too quickly.