I'm currently watching ST:TNG episodes having finished Voyager, and I'm already on Season 3 of TNG. Having seen both series back to back, I have to stand up for Janeway and say that she is perhaps THE BEST Captain of all the series, and I say this having LOVED Picard and Archer!
As I'm watching TNG, I'm completely stupefied as to how Picard ever made it to be a Captain when he appears to have little to absolutely no knowledge about all things related to engineering, science, and even basic piloting at times. In fact, at times, he can be hot tempered and have a complete lack of patience. He is also just as stubborn and strong willed as Janeway, yet she always used her knowledge and skills to get out of situations, and in most situations, she directly contributed to finding solutions. Leading by example is what I would call it whereas Picard seems to sit there and wait for everyone to give fix things and give him ideas.
Granted, I'm only on season three of TNG, but so far, I've seen little evidence that leads me to believe that Janeway is as bad of a Captain as some forums, voyager haters and even general opinions make her out to be. So far, she appears to be the one Captain from all the Star Trek series that was most qualified for the job having a wide variety of skills and a broad base of knowledge. No other Captain was nearly as knowledgeable in engineering and science.
I say this having LOVED Picard for the entire series. He and Data are my favorite TNG characters. Now that I've compared Voy and TNG side by side and have also seen Enterprise and some original Trek episodes, I don't understand why people are so harsh in their judgment of Janeway. IMHO, she's the best Captain of them all. Yes, she put herself at risk more by going on many away missions and doing things herself when that was needed, but Picard in First Contact was just as involved.
I think that Janeway was just one who would not ask someone to do what she wouldn't do herself and therefore she did do it herself whenever she could. It probably also was her broader knowledge than other captains that made her get involved because she didn't need others to tell her what was happening. She could figure it out on her own. Also, Archer and Kirk went on many away missions. It was not just Janeway who disregarded the whole Captain must stay on the ship and be safe concept.
One last thought about away missions - when Picard goes on one when the discover the Iconain civilization, he comes back and tells Riker that he can see why Riker wants to keep all the away missions to himself (because they are more interesting than sitting on the bridge), which come across as if Picard NEVER went on an away mission previously. It's as if hee had no experience before being a captain other than being a captain. So how the heck did he get to be a captain? That's a pretty series flaw. Yet people dislike Janeway? At least you never wondered how she got to be a Captain. It's clear she worked her way up and learned quite a bit along the way. Even Riker was more knowledgeable than Picard. Okay, I've shared my 2 cents in defense of Janeway. I really needed to get that out of my system.
As I'm watching TNG, I'm completely stupefied as to how Picard ever made it to be a Captain when he appears to have little to absolutely no knowledge about all things related to engineering, science, and even basic piloting at times. In fact, at times, he can be hot tempered and have a complete lack of patience. He is also just as stubborn and strong willed as Janeway, yet she always used her knowledge and skills to get out of situations, and in most situations, she directly contributed to finding solutions. Leading by example is what I would call it whereas Picard seems to sit there and wait for everyone to give fix things and give him ideas.
Granted, I'm only on season three of TNG, but so far, I've seen little evidence that leads me to believe that Janeway is as bad of a Captain as some forums, voyager haters and even general opinions make her out to be. So far, she appears to be the one Captain from all the Star Trek series that was most qualified for the job having a wide variety of skills and a broad base of knowledge. No other Captain was nearly as knowledgeable in engineering and science.
I say this having LOVED Picard for the entire series. He and Data are my favorite TNG characters. Now that I've compared Voy and TNG side by side and have also seen Enterprise and some original Trek episodes, I don't understand why people are so harsh in their judgment of Janeway. IMHO, she's the best Captain of them all. Yes, she put herself at risk more by going on many away missions and doing things herself when that was needed, but Picard in First Contact was just as involved.
I think that Janeway was just one who would not ask someone to do what she wouldn't do herself and therefore she did do it herself whenever she could. It probably also was her broader knowledge than other captains that made her get involved because she didn't need others to tell her what was happening. She could figure it out on her own. Also, Archer and Kirk went on many away missions. It was not just Janeway who disregarded the whole Captain must stay on the ship and be safe concept.
One last thought about away missions - when Picard goes on one when the discover the Iconain civilization, he comes back and tells Riker that he can see why Riker wants to keep all the away missions to himself (because they are more interesting than sitting on the bridge), which come across as if Picard NEVER went on an away mission previously. It's as if hee had no experience before being a captain other than being a captain. So how the heck did he get to be a captain? That's a pretty series flaw. Yet people dislike Janeway? At least you never wondered how she got to be a Captain. It's clear she worked her way up and learned quite a bit along the way. Even Riker was more knowledgeable than Picard. Okay, I've shared my 2 cents in defense of Janeway. I really needed to get that out of my system.
