Janeway's Holonovel - What Would You Have Done?

[Piper]

I've just been rewatching some early episodes, and had completely forgotten about Janeway's holonovel. It never really picked up steam, did it? I think the problem was with the plot they chose for it - developments seemed to be signposted from the very start - rather than the idea itself which I would have loved to have seen developed.

Apparently Jeri Taylor originally had in mind a Western, with Janeway leading a wagon train or something, before Kate asked her to think again as she didn't like horses (as well as the expense location shoots would have added.) But had you had a chance to have a continuing holonovel on the show for the Captain, what would you have done?

 

[JustKate]

I think the holodeck episodes that work best are the lighthearted or at least semi-lighthearted ones. Too much heavy-handed romance or philosophy and all that...and it just becomes pedestrian and plodding and...well, stupid, really. I hate to say that, but it does. Well, you can't get much more heavy-handed than a gothic romance, IMO. So if they were going to do it - and I can see some benefits - it should have been something fun. What? Hmmm...

How about an early scifi adventure - "Journey to the Center of the Earth" or "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"? That'd be kind of cool, I think - scifi within scifi...

Or an English village mystery? Or would that be too close to Data's Sherlock Holmes novels?

 

[ALF]

They really detract from a standalone perspective. I'm rewatching Voyager now and watched Cathexis. With the emphasis put on the holonovel at the start (about 4-5 minutes of showtime??!!) I thought for sure at the end of the episode there would be something to reference it. But none at all. The holonovel setup teaser ends with Janeway being warned not to go onto the 4th floor. I thought maybe since they were trying to get into a forbidden nebula during the episode that it might correspond.

Pretty sloppy. The episode was decent, though.

 

[AuntKate]

I liked the DaVinci holodeck program that she used because she was obviously impressed with his genius and could use him to be a sort of soundboard for her thoughts (remember "Scorpion" and the pact with the devil). I thought the romance novel angle was all wrong for many reasons, not the least of which being that I can't see Janeway choosing to relax in such a subserviant role or in such a repressive period for women.

Because of Janeway's admiration for Amelia Earhardt, I would have loved to see her use a holodeck program that tapped into that barnstorming era. I can see her enjoying the stunts and cross-country travel of biplane pilots as a good way to vent some of her frustrations and feelings of being trapped as Voyager's captain. It's a sort of "pioneering" era without horses!

 

[kimc]

^ I also liked the DaVinci program but then I'm a bit of a Renaissance fan.

 

[ALF]

Because of Janeway's admiration for Amelia Earhardt, I would have loved to see her use a holodeck program that tapped into that barnstorming era. I can see her enjoying the stunts and cross-country travel of biplane pilots as a good way to vent some of her frustrations and feelings of being trapped as Voyager's captain. It's a sort of "pioneering" era without horses!

Agreed. Earhart would have made heaps more sense.

 

[Braindeer]

I quite liked the holonovel purely because I like gothic novels! It could have been more tongue in cheek though - I don't think anyone can really take gothic romance seriously any more! They could have had a lot more fun with it. I do like the fact that Janeway has her romantic side though - it makes her a more rounded character. It often seems that in sci fi women are either overly feminine or overly manly, and Janeway fits nicely in between. It makes her more likeable somehow.

The holodeck story that really bugged me was Fair Haven. How many more appalling Irish stereotypes can you fit into one (two?) episodes?! Plus, I'm sure I heard at least three different Irish accents in Fair Haven...unusual for an isolated village in the 19th century...

 

[StarTrekker]

I loved the Gothic holonovel but it was very sloppily handled and seemed to just disappear. Another disappointing thing in Voyager.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

I loved the Gothic holonovel but it was very sloppily handled and seemed to just disappear. Another disappointing thing in Voyager.

Couldn't agree more --- just one more example of Voyager's directionless first few seasons.

 

[eepruls]

I loved the Gothic holonovel but it was very sloppily handled and seemed to just disappear. Another disappointing thing in Voyager.

Couldn't agree more --- just one more example of Voyager's directionless first few seasons.

What do you mean 'first few seasons'? The entire series had no direction or continuity! The holonovel where she can't go to the 4th floor was absolutely ridiculous. We're supposed to believe Janeway spends her free time being the nanny/servant for some spoiled kids? Who came up with that? That is so not Janeway.

I picture the writers sitting at a brainstorming session to decide on what type of holo-program Janeway would be 'playing'. One guy says, "I have the most amazing idea guys! Let's have Janeway making sure some bratty kids go to bed on time and we'll have the little girl secretly play the piano and embarrassed when the news comes out. How awesome would that be!!!" I mean, really guys, that's all you could come up with? The worst part is they never told us why she couldn't go to the fourth floor! Sheesh!

 

[AuntKate]

^^ You obviously haven't read "Jane Eyre," which was the basis for the holodeck program. The first wife, who is insane, is kept locked up in the attic, and the governess is unaware of her existence. The novel is a classic by Charlotte Bronte and was published in 1847. However, I agree that it was a terrible choice for Janeway's "free time."

 

[StarTrekker]

I thought it was a good choice. Its a break from all the technology and sh*t. And don't forget it satisfied her romantic needs.

 

[Piper]

I think the Western theme would have been far better - having Janeway at the head of a wagon train going west would have made for a nice parallel to the main story, and had much more scope for interesting developments than the Jane Eyre thing which was pretty much signposted from its first appearance. It's just a shame it wasn't practical.

 

[eepruls]

^^ You obviously haven't read "Jane Eyre," which was the basis for the holodeck program. The first wife, who is insane, is kept locked up in the attic, and the governess is unaware of her existence. The novel is a classic by Charlotte Bronte and was published in 1847. However, I agree that it was a terrible choice for Janeway's "free time."

I didn't realize that! You're right, I've never read that book and wasn't aware of its existence. Was I in the minority then as to not know what was on the fourth floor? Was that something most people watching the show would've recognized as from the novel? Thanks for filling me in!

I do think that they didn't use the novel to its full extent then. With Janeway being the explorer that she is, it would have been interesting to see her attempt to find out what was on the fourth floor. And maybe expecting the crazy wife, it could have turned out to be the alien. That would have tied things together. But based on the episode itself, I can't see Janeway wanting to spend her free time playing that holonovel. There would be WAY more exciting stories. And don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing the whole Victorian thing. If you're going to have scenes with the captain in the holodeck, make it worthwhile!

 

[kimc]

I do like the fact that Janeway has her romantic side though - it makes her a more rounded character. It often seems that in sci fi women are either overly feminine or overly manly, and Janeway fits nicely in between. It makes her more likeable somehow.

This is one of the reasons I like Janeway as a character - the fact that she's strong and authoritative yet at the same time feminine.