Kazon - Yay or Nay?

[Tachyon]

Kazon - our boy Cullah and the others. Yay or nay?


Neelix: "I didn't realise the Borg were so discriminating."
Seven: "Why assimilate a species that would detract from perfection?"
Neelix: "Good point."


So the Kazon weren't the most vicious or overall the most interesting villain we have seen in the Star Trek, but some Kazon episodes were quite good, such as Maneuvers and Basics. Therefore, I'd say "Yay".

 

[Piper]

I've had to go for "Nay." The ship travels to the other side of the galaxy and the first threat they face are watered down Klingons, it's a bit disappointing. VOY had far better aliens further down the road.

 

[Lynx]

I like the Kazon. They are great villains.

Good villains don't have to have super-powers or be totally invincible. They can just be brutal and arrogant and I do think that the Kazon (and the Cardassians) are good examples of that.

I do see some historical similarities here as well. The Kazon was one of those people who revolted against an opressive and discriminating power which was understandable but everything went wrong from there. Instead of remaining united and create an independent, prospering nation, they started to fight among each other. Still they were strong enough to become a power in that part of the Delta Quadrant. That has happened before in history and I do think that the concept for the Kazon in that aspect is realistic and well-thought.

I always enjoyed the episodes with the Kazon, especially those with Culluh and Seska involved. They were really a beautiful team.

 

[Tachyon]

I have to agree. It was good that they were only part of seasons one and two, but while they were there, I enjoyed having them around. And especially with the Seska thing going on.

 

[Red Ranger]

I did vote "nay," but at times, they could be interesting, esp. the power-mad and despicable Culluh. I also like the ep where Chakotay eventually earns the respect of the young Kazon trying to earn his name, played by Aron Eisenberg (Nog). It also amused me that they called all the Voyager people Federation. Other than that, they were kind of watered-down Klingons -- their hairstyles looked like a cross between a Christmas tree and Rastafarian dreadlocks! -- RR

 

[Tachyon]

Well, if you liked so many things about them, was their hairstyle really that awful that it would ruin the whole species?

Just asking.

 

[JNG]

I wish there were an "in the middle" answer. The entire original concept of the villains was for them to resemble their inspiration, youth gangs, and this got scuttled right away. The misogyny stuff was not especially interesting, and I don't care for simplifying relations between alien species to that level. Their role in the story of Seska turning out to be Cardassian and, of course, evil was also not super compelling.

The Kazon stuff that was interesting: the fact that they were overtly struggling for the resources necessary to survive, something we rarely see in the Federation and nearby territories; the idea that they were former slaves who would earn your pity if they weren't so unpleasant; their total unwillingess to give up, to the point that this emerged as really their most memorable trait. The years in Kazon space were like dragging one foot through mud at a time for Voyager at the beginning of her impossibly long journey.

The line about not assimilating the Kazon because they would detract from perfection struck me as dumb and inconsistent with what had been previously established about the Borg. Why would they be any less interested in the Kazon as raw material than in anyone else? I'm supposed to believe Picard or random Romulan outposts close to the Neutral Zone somehow represent progress toward perfection, but not Kazon ships or people or whatever? I just don't like the whole idea.

 

[kimc]

I thought they were interesting but the storyline should have only gone on for about a year.

 

[jgdst]

I voted yay. They were a little underdeveloped, and with a bit more insight, could've been quite an interesting culture to explore.

The ongoing story arc with Culluh, Seska and Jonas was really well done and is a big reason why I enjoy season 2 so much. It would've been good to see that kind of multi-episode story tried a few more times.

But yeah, I didn't really have that much of a problem with them being used for the first couple of seasons.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Meh. The only good thing about the Kazon was Seska and she isn't Kazon. They could have fit her story into anything.

Unfortunately, they did have a lot of promise and potential. The where uniquely characterized at the start but, as Red Ranger said, ultimately portrayed as Klingons light. I think had more time been invested in their nomadic culture and the clash of the sects, things would have turned out better.

At the start, I figured the reason why the were depicted as nomadic was so it could be implied they were spread across the entire quadrant. That way Voyager could run into them through out the run and they'd become the main baddies instead of fizziling out after season two.

 

[Praetorian]

I must say that the Kazon/Seska storyline was one of the most interesting things in Voyager for me.
Also I tend to see the Kazon as an alegory for Third World Nations, who suffered Colonialism and Slavery, managed to get free but followed a wrong path after that. Like those countries, their military technology isn't that bad but they also have trouble with simple things like finding water/taking care of their basic needs.
Even more, they are desperate for an "hand-out" from more advanced species.

 

[Thor Damar]

Half price Klingons to a man, even the Borg would not Suck their Blood... I mean assimilate them.
A definite nay, they only became halfway decent with help from a solitary Cardassian.

 

[Unicron]

I like the Kazon. They are great villains.

Good villains don't have to have super-powers or be totally invincible. They can just be brutal and arrogant and I do think that the Kazon (and the Cardassians) are good examples of that.

I do see some historical similarities here as well. The Kazon was one of those people who revolted against an opressive and discriminating power which was understandable but everything went wrong from there. Instead of remaining united and create an independent, prospering nation, they started to fight among each other. Still they were strong enough to become a power in that part of the Delta Quadrant. That has happened before in history and I do think that the concept for the Kazon in that aspect is realistic and well-thought.

I always enjoyed the episodes with the Kazon, especially those with Culluh and Seska involved. They were really a beautiful team.

I agree, though I was never a huge fan of Culluh or Seska. I always found Seska to be a mostly one-dimensional character.

* runs *

 

[Bacl]

I always thought they were wanna-be Klingons. Looked way too similar, with similar attitudes, but nothing too memorable. I didn't miss them when they vanished.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

Nay. Like others have said, half-assed Klingons. I wouldn't have minded them for a few episodes, but there was too much focus on them for too long of a period. Meanwhile some of the more interesting races didn't get nearly as much focus. Another missed opportunity.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

Back then I was hoping for some groundbreaking stuff from VOY and the Kazon were NOT it. Weak, uninteresting and far too familiar looking villains. The Vidiians on the other hand were a great enemy.

 

[24thcenstfan]

Nay. I didn't think they were particularly interesting villains and one or two Kazon oriented episodes would have been sufficient for me.

 

[Lookingglassman]

If the Borg want nothing to do with you then you know you are total losers. I voted nay.

 

[tomalak301]

Yay, just because I liked the Calluh/Seska dynamic.

 

[Cyke101]

Could have been a Yay, but very very much a Nay.