Did Chakotay and Janeway ever have secret romantic feelings for one another

[at Quark's]

Archer stuck on a ship for 4 years and meant to use .. or Porthos

Ewwww!!!!

<meanwhile, on the bridge>

Mayweather (listening): I thought the Captain told us Trip had finally fixed that squeaking deck plate in his quarters.
Hoshi (listening more closely): I don't think that is a deck plate, Travis ...

What about that Voyager episode where Chakotay and Janeway contracted that disease and had to be left on that planet. it was obvious that Chak was developing feelings for her and I could swear that even Janeway started considering it as well, right before they were rescued/cured.

I was reminded of that episode as well-- Resolutions. In my eyes strongly suggest that they could very well be pursuing a relationship if the circumstances on Voyager wouldn't require them to keep a professional distance, for the good of the crew. (well, and perhaps starfleet regulations as well)

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

If Janeway was the love of his life why should he potentially spend 70 years pining after someone who won't give him the time of day? The crew were ging to be stranded for 70 years in universe, the fact it only took 7 years, well 7 is still a long time.

Maybe because, right the beginning of their journey (no matter that it ran 7 or 70 years), Janeway was very clear on one of her golden rules: she would NEVER pursue a romantic affair with a subordinate of her crew. In accepting to be her First Officer and serve her, Chakotay became de facto, one of her subordinates.
-> hey, if the Doctor understood the point, why Chakotay didn't?!
-> Chakotay who boasted to know Janeway, it is surprising that he doubted that she would keep her position on this point. He would have known to what extent Janeway could be stubborn when she put herself in it!

(It is certainly what I like most in this character, she has principles and she is held in it, even if she has to suffer consequences afterwards).

And then, there was "Resolutions". Even if after almost 3 years spent in the DQ, Chakotay was still interested in her and he clearly was, it seems to me that Janeway didn't share the same interest in him. Indeed, during the supposed 3 months spent on this unknown island, absolutly nothing happened between them and God knows how Chakotay tried to initiate a romance or something. Janeway was stayed stone-faced or almost from the beginning till the end, refusing to answer Chakotay's advances, even after having resolved to be infinitely cornered on this island. Maybe she would have eventually had a change of heart/mind after even several months but nothing is less safe! .

-> Mulgrew uses to say that producers tried to make Janeway/Chakotay happen and I think that she refered to first seasons but, that it didn't work and Resolutions marked this "ended even before having begun" situation. And afterward, neither Mulgrew nor Beltran saw the interest in trying again (I guess that the cordial relationship between both actors already had the lead in the wings! )

 

[Nyotarules]

Well its a good thing E2 Archer tossed that rulebook out the window. Everyone on the ship was under his command and everyone was a potential partner including the alien female who became his wife.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Well its a good thing E2 Archer tossed that rulebook out the window. Everyone on the ship was under his command and everyone was a potential partner including the alien female who became his wife.

It isn't because they are many (all male captains) to be wrong (to sleep with a member of their crew) that they are right (to do it), especially if there is a non-fraternization policy, which rules relationships among the crew..., like it was mentioned in the past by Kirk, Picard, Sisko in an indirect way (when Wolf rushed out to help Dax, while in mission) and Archer !

And in the case where there is no rule, love can be blind but the reason would dictate that people don't mix business with pleasure during a mission, because it could distract them from their work and put in danger the smooth running of the service, if it is not their life.

 

[Lynx]

Kate Mulgrew and the showrunners felt that it would be inappropriate for Janeway to get romantically involved with someone under her command.

That seemed to be the case in all of the Trek captains/commanders. And yet . . . many fans are only willing to question why Janeway didn't get involved with Chakotay - someone who was clearly under her command. Why her?

I can agree that it could have been inappropriate with a relationshipwith someone under her command during the mission.
But afterwards? Wh not!
I think they should have given the fans what they wanted in the last episode.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

I can agree that it could have been inappropriate with a relationshipwith someone under her command during the mission.
But afterwards? Wh not!
I think they should have given the fans what they wanted in the last episode.

Sorry to disappoint you, Lynx, but the whole fandom wasn't behind Janeway/Chakotay, whether it is during the journey or after. Indeed, some fans were for a single Janeway (her only love being Starfleet), some others for Janeway/Seven or even for Janeway/Paris.

And then frankly, after 4 years (s4 to s7) of a relationship, where it was clear that Janeway & Chakotay had put the flirtation of the first years (s1 to s3) behind them, it would have been difficult to persuade the viewers (except J/C shippers, of course) that suddenly, love was reappeared by magic. It would have been as unpersuasive (but not groundless, because there was something but it was a long ago) as Chakotay/Seven!

 

[Refuge]

Not knowing what the whole fandom wanted, I have assumed Janeway and Chakotay were a natural fit. Just look at them, they look cosy to me!

 

[Tracy Trek]

^She's really in his personal space there.

 

[Refuge]

They had a kind of intimacy that didn't cross lines but was undeniable. Just trying to remember the episode when they were covered with these space thingies.. and these thingies were kind of mating with them. Like I always define Tuvok and Janeway as friends and that episode at the end illustrated the difference. When the critter things detached Tuvok remarked .. I think we have lost our sex appeal which is cute, but it's when Janeway says if she needs to know about mating behavior (referring to Chakotay) she knows who to go to. Honestly the look on his face is perfect. To those who think the guy can't act, I disagree. He looked so human and amused, and sexy. YET not lewd.

 

[Farscape One]

That episode was "ELOGIUM".

 

[Tracy Trek]

Janeway says if she needs to know about mating behavior (referring to Chakotay) she knows who to go to. Honestly the look on his face is perfect. To those who think the guy can't act, I disagree. He looked so human and amused, and sexy. YET not lewd.

Or when he told his angry warrior story in Resolutions. And she asks him is that really an ancient legend of his people.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

If their
If their feelings were secret how would we ever know?

EXCELLENT!!!

 

[Tundra Saint]

I originally thought so. Then Seven showed up and the writers forgot about Chakotay except for when they needed vague native american advice.

 

[Lynx]

Sorry to disappoint you, Lynx, but the whole fandom wasn't behind Janeway/Chakotay, whether it is during the journey or after. Indeed, some fans were for a single Janeway (her only love being Starfleet), some others for Janeway/Seven or even for Janeway/Paris.

And then frankly, after 4 years (s4 to s7) of a relationship, where it was clear that Janeway & Chakotay had put the flirtation of the first years (s1 to s3) behind them, it would have been difficult to persuade the viewers (except J/C shippers, of course) that suddenly, love was reappeared by magic. It would have been as unpersuasive (but not groundless, because there was something but it was a long ago) as Chakotay/Seven!

I have a feeling that many fans would have liked such a solution.
And as you have written, it wouldn't have come totally out of the dark.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

I have a feeling that many fans would have liked such a solution.
And as you have written, it wouldn't have come totally out of the dark.

I'm sure that many fans would have liked to see Janeway/Chakotay and yes, it wouldn't have come totally out of the dark but let's be honest, their relationship which had remained in the state of flirting* (so never consummated) was so old that it could surprise people -> they could not have rekindlled a love story, which never existed, right?!), but many others, like me, were grateful to see that producers (and Mulgrew) kept the principle of the "legendary loneliness of a capitain, who has one and only mistress, space/work. No matter the gender of the captain.

*Flirting is a social and sometimes sexual behavior involving verbal or written communication, as well as body language, by one person to another, either to suggest interest in a deeper relationship with the other person (Chakotay), or if done playfully, for amusement (Janeway).

 

[Refuge]

I think it was equally unrequited and equally flirtatious right up to Resolutions. I actually felt that Janeway was played out of character in Resolutions .. just a little. She and Chakotay had never crossed any lines but Janeway was not oblivious to their chemistry yet she gave a more naive body language when they were stranded. I get it though, that she needed to maintain her authority.

 

[SaturnVuk]

Not to put to finer point on it...I think Chakotay was looking pretty desperate on more than one occasion....lol Janeway just didn't look very interested at all ! ! ! ! !

 

[Guy Gardener]

What Happens on the resolutions planet, stays on the resolutions planet.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I never liked either of them, so I thought they deserved each other.

I think what happened to Janeway and LaForge - falling in love / getting into a relationship with what amounts to a part of the ship (in the holodeck) - would have been more appropriate for Kirk and Scotty. But alas, they had no holodecks, no way for Scotty to caress ample nacelles.

 

[suarezguy]

Chakotay seemed to have pretty strong romantic feelings for Janeway and pretty much revealed them in "Resolutions" but eventually gave up on trying to pursue them, Janeway was interested in him but to a much lesser degree and regardless felt intercrew romance was too inconsistent with being captain.