Janeway through the seasons, starting with season 1

[david g]

Hi all,

Ive been enjoying rewatching VOY from the beginning. I was wondering if anyone would like to join me! Specifically, I am interested in discussing the evolution of Janeway and Mulgrew's performance.

Something that occurs to me about S1 Janeway--she seems more like an antique character than a futuristic one, and I actually find this really appealing. With her bun and starchy but spirited demeanor, she reminds me more of a Victorian lady of science or a Madame Curie than she does, say, a Ripley figure.

 

[PhoenixIreland]

Hi all,

Ive been enjoying rewatching VOY from the beginning. I was wondering if anyone would like to join me! Specifically, I am interested in discussing the evolution of Janeway and Mulgrew's performance.

Something that occurs to me about S1 Janeway--she seems more like an antique character than a futuristic one, and I actually find this really appealing. With her bun and starchy but spirited demeanor, she reminds me more of a Victorian lady of science or a Madame Curie than she does, say, a Ripley figure.

She did seem to become less...stiff over time

 

[mr.peany]

She seemed more like a captain in the earlier seasons as opposed to the latter ones. I missed the bun. Although I was quite fond of the ponytail. When she lost that, her character seemed to change dramatically, although that could be attributed to being lost in the DQ. It was probably appropriate that she became more relaxed and less stern as time went on in order for her to adjust and relate better to the rest of the crew.

That being said however, I did prefer Mulgrew's performance in the earlier years. From the beginning of season 5, something just seemed 'off'

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I'm always up for chatting about Janeway.

I preferred her in the early seasons, but liked her all the way through the show, except for Endgame, which I have blocked out of my personal canon in order to protect my love of this character.

I think Kate Mulgrew is a great actress, and my lack of enthusiasm for the later seasons is not her fault...but more the fault of the writers for not really giving the Janeway character many compelling storylines of her own after about season 5. During the last couple of seasons, I still loved the character...but my wait for an interesting new direction in which to take the character was pretty much in vein.

Her storyline became almost one-in the same with Seven's storyline, and that never should have happened. They should have kept the Janeway character evolving in new ways aside from that.

My favorite Janeway episode, Deadlock, is also my favorite episode of VOY. But she was very good in a number of episodes...and was even a worthy adversary for Q, I thought. My second-favorite Q episode, in fact, is a VOY epsiode - Death Wish. And Q2 is great too, IMO. In fact, I think I might like Q better with Janeway than with Picard. My favorite Q episode is Deja Q...but the reason for that is really not Picard. Janeway gave Q new life, IMO, and should be given credit for that.

I think I'd have liked to have seen more of the Janeway backstory - if they could have found a way to work that in, it would have been awesome. Flashbacks to some of those times would have been interesting, and could have supported some interesting ongoing storylines as well, in much the same way as B'Elanna's backstory supported many of her storylines.

 

[kimc]

I think I'd have liked to have seen more of the Janeway backstory - if they could have found a way to work that in, it would have been awesome.

The book "Mosaic" was at one time considered to be the canon Janeway backstory - an incident from the book was even mentioned in "Deadlock".

This canon ruling was later rescinded when Jeri Taylor left the show but if you love earlier Janeway it's a great read.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I think I'd have liked to have seen more of the Janeway backstory - if they could have found a way to work that in, it would have been awesome.

The book "Mosaic" was at one time considered to be the canon Janeway backstory - an incident from the book was even mentioned in "Deadlock".

This canon ruling was later rescinded when Jeri Taylor left the show but if you love earlier Janeway it's a great read.

*Prays this response does not end up being posted in a thread about Weyoun in the DS9 forum*

I actually read a large part of Mosaic. I'm not a big Trek Lit person by any means, but I think I read more of that book than any other book related to Trek, save the DS9 Companion.

And that was part of the reason for my comment. There were some interesting incidents in that book which could have been used as springboards for VOY stories. I'd have liked to have seen some of them.

 

[david g]

I remember listening to the audiobook version narrated by KM herself...

Just watched "Emanations," sort of a ho-hum episode that has one of my favorite moments, however, in which Janeway tells Harry to take a couple of days off to paint, write, and feel his way through the experiences (with life and death) he's just had. I think it's one of Janeway's best moments in the series.

 

[kimc]

^ Well if we're going to discuss best Janeway moments here's one I watched last night.

Fear: I'm scared.
Janeway: I know.
Fear: Drat

 

[DanCPA]

Personally, I think Janeway progressed normally. Early Janeway is a Starfleet Captain. Not only does she have a mostly new crew (there are ALOT of crewmen and Ensigns on Voyager), but a good chunk of her crew are still felons wanted for crimes by the Federation! So, she is the "CAPTAIN"... but as time passes, she becomes their friend as well as their Captain. She even goes so far as to become a mother figure to 7of9, furthering her bonding with her crew

 

[david g]

Agreed, more or less, TighsEye...

KimC, I *Love* that moment from THE THAW as well!

Currently, Im on a real Janeway v Kazon kick--Im now in the middle of S2's MANEUVERS (I have to say that I couldnt bear to rewatch Nog in INITIATIONS). It was VOY at its most consistent, and the Kazon became, with the Trabe backstory, complex villains. And Seska rules!

Love B'Elanna's speech on Chak's behalf...

 

[kimc]

KimC, I *Love* that moment from THE THAW as well!

Currently, Im on a real Janeway v Kazon kick--Im now in the middle of S2's MANEUVERS (I have to say that I couldnt bear to rewatch Nog in INITIATIONS). It was VOY at its most consistent, and the Kazon became, with the Trabe backstory, complex villains. And Seska rules!

Love B'Elanna's speech on Chak's behalf...

Those are some more great moments.

I'm re-watching Season 2 and am appreciating once again the Seska/Kazon story arc. There seemed to be more consistency in the characters, events, etc.

 

[freak]

You know, I agree. I think that Janeway was a bit stiff during the first season of the show. But she deepened as a character over time.
I was watching "Concerning Flight" last night fot the first time in a long while and I have to say that Mulgrew was fantastic in this episode! When it first came out, I couldn't stand it, but I watched it last night and was transfixed by her performance.
And season 2 is by far my most favorite season of Voy. That was when all the crap happened. And I LOVED Maneuvers!!!! It's by far, one of my most favorite episodes. That one, and of course Basics Prts 1 and 2. I thought in year two, Janeway started opening up more as a character and in turn deepened. And of course, loved the J/C flirtation/whispering at each other across the consuls.

 

[Captain Proton]

With her bun and starchy but spirited demeanor, she reminds me more of a Victorian lady of science or a Madame Curie than she does, say, a Ripley figure.

Oh yeah Janeway is a Mom for sure, a kick-ass Mom but a Mom none the less. I always thought it was awkward when Janeway had to throwdown with some Starfleet martial arts....Torres is more Ripley.

 

[RaymondJames]

First season she was stranded in the delta quadrant, cut off from all of the Federation. She was in command of her own brand new ship with a new crew, non of which she had really known or served with before (exception of Tuvok). She had the difficult position of making a Starfleet and Maquis crews intigrate into one crew.

So pretty much in Season one she had to be strict, she had to be the Captain every one could trust, respect and count on to bring them home. By the mid season 4/5 She was relaxed but still a great leader. She had controll over her crew by now.

And by season 7 they were not a crew, they were a family, survivors. She learned she could still be the Captain and be a freind.

 

[david g]

Well put, Raymond.

Hey, I love "throw-down" Janeway! "Macrocosm" in particular. Mulgrew looked fantastic in that episode.

Im paying special attention to the Kazon arc as well these days. While the Kazon never rose above being two-dimensional villains, Im never the less amazed at how good several of the Kazon-arc episodes are. "State of Flux" and especially "Alliances" are excellent episodes; indeed, the latter may be the most layered and complex of ALL VOY episodes in its Trabe-backstory and Godfather III-style climax and political negotiations amongst the Kazon factions, not to mention all of the Maquis-Starfleet tensions on the ship.

 

[RaymondJames]

Thank you, may I also add weather you like Janeway or Not, Kate Mulgrew did amazing, thank god. I have seen the first actress they cast to play Janeway in the first attempt of a pilot... Oh my God was that horrible. It was bland, boring and sad. She made the character feel like it was an extera and not the lead. Mulgrew saved this show, if the original actress decided to stay on we would of had apilot and a fallow up episode maybe 3 or 4 more then production would been shut down

 

[spoon]

I really wish I could have seen more of season 1 and 2, I really started watching in season 3. But I do plan on rewatching the entire series soon, from Caretaker to Endgame(yes, even Endgame...I watch it just for the very last moment when Janeway looks up and sees earth. Awesome).


Janeway really became probably one of my top heroes/female role models. How does a gal keeps her wits and cling to her deepest beliefs & morals while dealing with constant crap from inside and out? Just watch Janeway. She may be fictional, but i'd love to have diction like that. :-P

Even Kate Mulgrew is amazing, because she had to raise her kids while doing the show and dealing with a family death and a family member's alzeimers.

I also agree that Janeway's characterization throughout the show seems normal. Yes, there is a definate mood shift, but I think that like in all star trek, it reflects a teeny bit of real life in that things do not stay the same forever and that people can sometimes be suprising or not meet our expectations. Real people do not remain consistant, why should a fictional character not change?


Anyway. Janeway in macrocosm = awesome. Somehow she pulls of the sweaty warrior look without having to be a bodacious blonde.

RaymondJames - ditto about Kate Mulgrew. I've also seen the origional pick, and i was wondering what the heck the producers were thinking.

 

[Captain W Riker]

Janeway is possibly my favourite character from the entire franchise, and easily my favourite captain. The way she changes and evolves throughout the series is, in my opinion, one of the finest character developments in Star Trek. For the first three or so seasons, she's still kind of stiff and uptight - the situation is still trapping her, and she's reacting to it by being the textbook Starfleet officer. This is parallelled by Chakotay's more hands-on approach (such as his assault of Dalby in "Learning Curve").

There are times when she lets down her guard, though - for example, when she goes to see who is planning to stay with Amelia Earhart and her group in "The 37s".

By the beginning of Season Four, the interaction between Janeway and Chakotay begins to change. She seems to adapt to the Delta Quadrant situation and is more willing to take on extreme tactics (for instance, her alliance with the Borg in "Scorpion" and the subsequent humanizing of Seven of Nine), while he is more interested in following standard procedure. I think this is the biggest change in Janeway, and sets the tone for things to come from her - she begins to revel int heir situation more, taking time to explore and get to know the Delta Quadrant while still acknowledging that their overall goal is to get home.

She becomes far more relaxed and intimate with her crew, to the point where she is upset by those that are dropping behind ("Good Shepherd"). She also takes everything more personally than her earlier self, and her emotional reactions become stronger, such as her vendetta against Captain Ransom in "Equinox" and her self-sacrifice against Annorax in "Year of Hell".

By the end of the series, she has forged such a close bond with her crew, she is willing to openly defy the Temporal Prime Directive to get them home. She had obviously come a long way since "Caretaker".

And, of course, all this owes to Kate Mulgrew's excellent acting.

 

[Rex Racer]

I also prefer her in the early seasons for some reason. Better hair or something.