If you could rewrite Voyager

[Trekboy1993]

What would you include and take out

For me more damage, gritty, less campy or in fact no campiness (what are you happy about you are 75 years away from home). make Tom a REAL no care womanizing bad boy, Chakotay tough which he was in the first episode only, Torres sound and act more Klingon rather than jsut a hot head, focus on minor characters also, get out of the uniforms, be at each others throats more often, have season long arcs, less bipedal aliens that we have seen time and time again, form alliances, make Janeway the original first officer and have the Captain die in the pilot or 2nd episode, not apply to federation rules, do whatever is need to survive which include pillaging weaker vessels (The Void), have the alien crewmembers speak in their native tongue to one another from time to time (Bajoran, Vulcan, Betazoid, Bolian, etc) even crewmembers from other countries, move the show to beyond the watershed that way you can get real dity cursing, sex scenes, etc

So how about you?

 

[Tosk]

Take at least one season before the two crews really start to work as one without push-back. Maybe have one or two holdouts that never fully integrate.

Have Neelix turn out to be an "out for himself" type character who either double-crosses them or was a plant from the start.

No holodeck. And have rationing (not just food) actually be an ongoing concern and not just something they mention once in a while where it doesn't really alter anything.

make Janeway the original first officer and have the Captain die in the pilot

That could have been good.

do whatever is need to survive which include pillaging weaker vessels

I wouldn't have liked that so much. I'd be down for one episode where they do it out of desperation, but realize how low they've sunk and don't do it again.

I wouldn't have the ship become too ragged, just some wear and tear. But it could be cool to see some parts of the interior slowly become more personalized.

Have Seven remain more Borg-like for a lot longer.

 

[Brennyren]

Take at least one season before the two crews really start to work as one without push-back.

I would add to that: make it more actual integration, rather than simply having the Maquis assimilate into, or be accepted by, the Starfleet crew. Let the Maquis make some contributions out of their unique experience: for example, they should be more experienced at improvising essentials, or foraging for supplies, because of their catch-as-catch-can lives in the Maquis. Or perhaps some of them would have been from farming colonies, with expertise in producing food. As presented in the series. we saw the Maquis learning from Starfleet (most specifically, in "Learning Curve"), but never that there was anything the Fleeters could learn from the Maquis.

No holodeck.

Or at most limit it to programs that can be used for shared recreation, like Sandrine's, or the beach program, or even (God help us) Fair Haven. And emphasize that it's a luxury, to be used only when the energy can be be spared. It's not an everyday toy.

And have rationing (not just food) actually be an ongoing concern and not just something they mention once in a while where it doesn't really alter anything.

So much this. It's hard to have a sense that these people are in a unique situation when it has no effect at all on their day-to-day lives. And again, actual concern about the food situation could have given the Maquis more of a role.

make Janeway the original first officer and have the Captain die in the pilot or 2nd episode,

That would have been interesting.

get out of the uniforms

Yes! Good lord, these people rarely even get out of uniform when they're just hanging out in their own quarters. It makes them look like what they are, characters, rather than people living their lives.

Speaking of which, I would have liked to see more crewmembers getting on with their lives. It always seemed absurd to me that, with this crew, in this situation, there would be so few couples (really, aside from Neelix/Kes, Paris/Torres and the occasional pairings of core cast members with the Girl/Guy of the week, were there any?) and only one child born -- Naomi doesn't count; she came aboard in utero. I'm not saying turn the show into a soap; I'm just saying have this sort of thing happen in the background, or referenced in dialogue.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The show would be serialised and, at the beginning at least, the need for supplies and resources is a huge concern for the crew, whilst all the ship goes through takes its toll on the ship (so it doesn't look so pristine all the time). There would be far more animosity between the crew, which would linger for a while with the odd flare up now and then if presented with a situation that cuts a little too close to the home. The Kazon would be a recurring enemy for season one before the ship leaves their space, the following year it would be greater focus on the Vidiians. The number of Borg episodes would drop, with the recurring 'big bad' in season six and seven being the Vaadwaur. Q also wouldn't appear. The ship would also reach Earth at the beginning of season seven, with the rest of the season as part of a task force to return to the colony established by the crew of the Hera after their saucer crashed on a planet, to recover the crew and look at establishing a permanent means of traversing between the two quadrants and using the colony as a base of operations for Starfleet.

Elizabeth Shelby is in command from the start. Newly promoted to Captain, she is tough and feisty, with a sharp tactical mind and driven to get the crew back, although she would maintain a more professional distance with her crew and a far less 'maternal' approach. There is no sexual tension with her first officer.

Calvin Hudson is the Maquis leader turned XO. A man who left Starfleet on principle, anguished by what he saw the DMZ colonies going through and determined to take a stand with them, becoming one of their best leaders. He is just as forthright with Shelby. There is no sexual tension between them.

Tuvok remains pretty much as is. Shelby will turn to him more than Hudson in the beginning, trusting his judgement and their years serving together. He will take on a more mentoring role with Torres (something from the original series bible but dropped) to help her deal with her emotions and abusive past.

Aiva Stadi is the ship's Science Officer. She can be warm and sensual, but takes her job seriously but with a streak of sass especially towards those that underestimate Betazoids. She is a hard scientist with no inclination towards psychology, just because she can reads minds doesn't mean she wants to understand what goes on inside them.

Nathan Hawk is the Conn Officer. After his boyfriend was killed by a Cardassian patrol ship he went AWOL and joined the Maquis to exact his revenge, but was caught shortly after. Filled with hatred, anger and resentment, he is still reeling from his loss having never taken time to grieve or accept all he has lost.

B'Elanna Torres pretty much remains as is, though with a more traumatic upbringing to really bring home her hatred of all things Klingon. Her blunt, angry and sarcastic exterior is there to protect herself and keep others from getting too close, though that doesn't stop Tuvok, no matter what she throws at him.

Sam Lavelle is the Ops Officer, straight from the Enterprise. He joins the ship with a confident swagger and an eye for the ladies, but when suddenly lost in the DQ it doesn't matter what ship he came from but what he can contribute to the crew to keep them going for another day.

The EMH will have a different template and will remain restricted to sickbay and the holodecks (holo-emitters will be added to one or two key locations as time progresses), so he may have access to the full medical database and be brilliant at what he does but also has limitations, which keeps him grounded.

Neelix will have a different look and be a more rugged Han Solo-esque rogue. He has seen some horrific things and done a lot for get by since the decimation of his world, but knows how to survive--something he is quick to teach the crew. His numerous skills see him pitching in where he can. He is more Kes' big brother than lover.

Kes pretty much remains as is, though maybe a little more naive (plus her race would have double the lifespan). Her appearance belays her intelligence and exceptional memory, so she may start off as a medic but soon starts training as a doctor. She looks up to Neelix as a big brother, thankful for saving her. She doesn't leave the series.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Serialize it, gradually wreck the ship over the course of the show. Make it Discovery dark but not Battlestar Galactica dark. Maintain Maquis/Federation friction.

I liked Voyager for what it was, but they really didn't care much about their own premise.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Nic Locarno, not Tom Paris. I don't care about the BS that Locarno was irredeemable.

 

[ItIsGreen]

do whatever is need to survive which include pillaging weaker vessels

I wouldn't have liked to have seen this tbh. I think part of the show is how they retain their standards and morals despite the hardships. The Equinox was essentially a dark mirror of the Voyager, showing what they could have become had they abandoned their morals. I'd have been okay with them considering it during a particularly dark time, but ultimately choosing not to. Having them scavenge derelicts that they encounter would have been interesting to see, though. To my knowledge they only did this once or twice throughout the whole series.

make Janeway the original first officer and have the Captain die in the pilot or 2nd episode,

I also would have found this interesting.

Elizabeth Shelby is in command from the start.

Calvin Hudson is the Maquis leader turned XO.

Nathan Hawk is the Conn Officer.

Sam Lavelle is the Ops Officer,

The issue with having previously established characters as series regulars, apart from the blatant fanwank and 'small universe syndrome' of having so many in one place, would be that the creators would have to pay royalties to the writers of the episodes/movies these characters originated in, every time they were used. Another reason why Paris was created instead of using Locarno.

Serialize it, gradually wreck the ship over the course of the show.

I'd have been ok with it being 'semi-serialised' - ie some elements, like the condition of the ship, supply/fuel concerns, consequences of certain decisions or conflicts etc being serialised, but keeping the overall episodic nature of the show. I think in the mid-90s the trend for fully serialised dramas just wasn't there and may have hurt the show overall.

Other than that, as others have said I'd have liked to see more conflict between the Maquis and Starfleet crews, more struggle to integrate - maybe some ex-Starfleet Maquis transition back to their old lives rather quickly and become ostracised by their Maquis friends because of this, causing more tension. Keep Seska aboard, drop the Cardassian spy bit and have her be the ringleader of the disgruntled element of the Maquis and a thorn in the side for Janeway and Chakotay - maybe have her attempt a mutiny (a la Tuvok's holoprogram) somewhere late in the series.

Ration everything - food, water, power, replicators, holodeck time. Let's have people turning up for shifts in tatty uniforms because they can't replicate a new one until next week.

Keep count of how many damn torpedoes they've fired. Have the use of a shuttle be a major consideration due to a) how much it will cost in resources, and b) the cost to the ship if it doesn't come back.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

The issue with having previously established characters as series regulars, apart from the blatant fanwank and 'small universe syndrome' of having so many in one place, would be that the creators would have to pay royalties to the writers of the episodes/movies these characters originated in, every time they were used. Another reason why Paris was created instead of using Locarno.

Hawk wasn't even a twinkle in the creators eye when VOY was made, I went with the name because I like it, but he could be called anything. Lavelle I went with because he was more interesting in one episode than Kim was in seven seasons, plus it eliminates the eternal ensign syndrome and gives the series is resident 'ladies man', but again this character could be called anything and have their background adjusted to have him come from another previously named ship (such as the Excalibur or Lexington)--he could be the ship's Native American character who has the added issues of facing scorn from the Maquis crew because he focused more on his career than his home colony.

As for Shelby and Hudson, well it's two people whose motives we know and understand who would challenge one another, which would allow for a young and ambitious Captain, someone who wouldn't become a surrogate mother and who would make mistakes, and axe the incredibly dull lapdog that was Chakotay. Again either/both of these could be different characters, though I think it would be good to keep at least one of them as previously established (though I prefer Shelby, I think knowing the Maquis commander from a previous show would be more interesting, seeing how he would deal with being forced back into the uniform he destroyed).

Another couple of options I've thought about previously is to remove the EMH entirely and have a rookie intern as the ship's surviving medical officer, and replace Neelix with a Kazon who came to Kes' defence and was shunned from his Sect for the portrayed weakness. Then of course there was the original plan to include Ro on the cast, which would've been great to have seen--but that's getting a little 'fanwanky' again.

 

[Trekboy1993]

And not just them not wear uniforms in their quarters but also not wearing Uniforms on the bridge or perhaps we could be dirty or in their undershirts. they can also grow their hair and facial hair

 

[Brennyren]

And not just them not wear uniforms in their quarters but also not wearing Uniforms on the bridge

I don't think I go along with that. It's one thing to be casual/comfortable on your own time, but their work does require a certain amount of discipline, as symbolized by the uniform. And a uniform is also a unifying signal, a "we're all on the same team" kind of look.

 

[Lynx]

Kes wouldn't be dumped in season 4. I would also do away with the silly 9 year lifespan and give her something similar to a human lifespan. She would have certain mental abilities, like in "Persistence Of Vision" and "Time And Again" but nothing more. Instead I would focus on her personality and her ability to come up with solutions for problems. I would also make ger counselor of the ship.

I would give B'Elanna some more episodes in the first season as hostile and obstructive. Nothing wrong with her becoming Chief Engineer or so but I wouldn't make her tame and Starfleet already in episode 2. I would also have kept Seska along a little longer, maybe she could have been captured in season 3 instead of killed. Having her on board in the brig and then face a situation when they need her could have been interesting.

I would have given Chakotay more authority and action, something like Riker in TNG.

I would have let Carey live and Neelix should have stayed on the ship and got to Earth with the others.

I would also have skipped the whole thing with The Doctor's mobile emitter. It was taking the hologram thing a bit too far. At least it could have stopped working after one season or so.

I would have developed Kim more, something like Tim McGee in NCIS. From "young ensign Kim" to a responsible Starfleet officer.

Season 2 and the Kazon arc should have taken place during a lengthy stay at "The 37's planet". By doing so, we would have seen more of "The 37's planet", the people there and have had more reasons for some crew members to stay there. It would also have got rid of the peculiar situation of Voyager traveling a long corridor between Kazon and Vidiian space and the Nistrim chasing Voyager over half the Delta Quadrant.

Seven would have been a villain in season 4 and 5, like some Borg Queen determined to take the ship. In the end of season 5, she would have been captured and during season 6 she would slowly become a reliable member of the crew.

Neelix, Kes and Seven would have had Starfleet uniforms, at least after season 1 and no special Maquis ranks for the former Maquis. Is it a Starfleet crew, then it is a Starfleet crew.

The break-up between kes and Neelix should have taken place during 3-4 episodes in season 2 and been more realistic.

Neelix should have started to hang out with Samantha Wildman after the break with Kes.

The Doctor would have taken the official name: Lewis Shmullus Schweitzer Zimmerman.

I would have like to see the ship going into the Delta Quadrant in the last season. Maybe encountered the Founders and had some help from them to go home via the wormhole.

Of course we would have had a real homecoming for our heroes in the last two episodes. Maybe a happy ending between Janeway and Chakotay as well.

With Kes as counselor, Flotter could have been The Doctor's new assistant.

 

[Trekboy1993]

I don't think I go along with that. It's one thing to be casual/comfortable on your own time, but their work does require a certain amount of discipline, as symbolized by the uniform. And a uniform is also a unifying signal, a "we're all on the same team" kind of look.

I just wanted them to look dirty maybe a few cuts and bruises I hated how the uniforms were always clean and hair always cut and in place. They could wear their undershirts or no shirts at all.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

As presented in the series. we saw the Maquis learning from Starfleet (most specifically, in "Learning Curve"), but never that there was anything the Fleeters could learn from the Maquis.

CHAKOTAY: B'Elanna. Remember Teluridian Four? The two Starfleet runabouts?
TORRES: I'm with you. Blowing out the dorsal phase emitters. Torres to Engineering.
CREWMAN: Go ahead.
TORRES: Vent a couple of LN2 exhaust conduits along the dorsal emitters. Make it look like we're in serious trouble.
CREWMAN: Understood.
CHAKOTAY: Cut all engines.
TORRES: Engines off-line.
CHAKOTAY: Tuvok, lock phasers on their navigational deflectors.

 

[m.lp.ql.m]

Yes, good point. DEFINITELY less treknobabble.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Actually, that wasn't my point. It's an example of something I came across while perusing Memory Alpha that was an example of Maquis tricks being used on Voyager.

 

[Brennyren]

It's an example of something I came across while perusing Memory Alpha that was an example of Maquis tricks being used on Voyager.

I wasn't really thinking in terms of tactics -- but you make a fair point. OTOH, that was one thing!

 

[Brennyren]

Okay, we could also throw in B'Elanna's ability to improvise replacement parts; that's definitely a skill that would have been honed in the Maquis. I suppose I was hoping more for things that we would see in everyday use (like the food-gathering thing), or maybe things that would affect the "culture" on board ship, if that makes any sense -- things that would make it less a purely "Starfleet" ship. If I want to watch a purely Starfleet ship, I have literally every other iteration of Star Trek except DS9. For Voyager, I was hoping to see them more changed by their situation and experience, and more changed by their interaction; maybe a little less tidy, a little less orderly, a little less fond of meaningless protocols. Somewhere kind of in-between Starfleet and Maquis attitudes. (Minus the revenge-against-the-Cardies thing, which is obviously meaningless in this context.)

But it could be cool to see some parts of the interior slowly become more personalized.

I would have liked that. Maybe an art exhibit of crewmembers' works in the mess hall, or some posters for upcoming events in the corridors, or some footprints on the floor to indicate jogging paths. The ship would look more lived-in, more like peoples' home.

 

[Tracy Trek]

Okay, we could also throw in B'Elanna's ability to improvise replacement parts; that's definitely a skill that would have been honed in the Maquis.

There was a very early episode (season 1) where they are talking about converting an area of the ship into a ore refining center (or something like that) so Torres can use the raw materials they find to keep the ship running.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I guess it's part of the "we're going to get home soon" mentality. Give up and turn the ship into home, you lose the will or the belief you will return to the AQ. Have some creature comforts, but not too comfortable.

Kind of like the way Christians believe this world (as it is now) is not their home, and while they live in it and enjoy the blessings God has given, they're always looking to heaven in a hopeful, Jesus will wipe all my tears away and I will praise Him forever way, not a suicidal what can I do to speed this up way.

 

[Brennyren]

Thing is, it didn't have to be an all-or-nothing mentality: either we make ourselves at home on the ship OR we believe we're going to get back to the Alpha Quadrant soon. If I were to go RVing across the country, I would certainly expect to get back home, but best believe the RV wouldn't be in showroom condition for the entire trip. Voyager pretty much stayed in showroom condition for seven years. And, much like the characters living their whole lives in uniforms, that drew attention to the artificiality of the situation. They looked like characters, not people; the ship looked like a stage set, not a real place.

To extend your own metaphor: if a Christian can believe her home is in heaven, but still paint her terrestrial house in her favorite colors and install a cozy armchair in the TV room, a Voyager crew member could certainly believe the ship was going to get back to the Alpha Quadrant, but still hang a painting in the mess hall and wear her favorite sweats to go for a jog in the corridors.