Picard On Voyager in Place of KJ
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I have to admit, I really disliked the ending of Caretaker which was a shame because I really enjoyed the rest of the VOY premiere. I kept thinking (unreasonably, of course, given story requirements) that Picard would have found a way to square the circle of both destroying the array and returning to the Alpha Quadrant. A timer on the bomb, or something like that, maybe.
In a way, the question I have is what would have been a way to write the episode so as not to draw unwarranted negative comparisons with TNG's captain (or indeed, another Trek captain).
In a way, the question I have is what would have been a way to write the episode so as not to draw unwarranted negative comparisons with TNG's captain (or indeed, another Trek captain).
Totally agree. Picard would have secured the array for the Ocampa after making a way home.
Win or he could have sent Troi just to irritate the Caretaker
The impression I always got was that Geordi and Data were the crucial missing elements. They would have found a solution, but Voyager didn't have as creative or experienced an engineering team at the time.
There really was no way to go home, it would have taken hours to get the Array up and running and in all that time they'd be under constant Kazon attack.
It was either "Fight, lose and the Kazon get the Array and our ship" or "Blow up the Array and run off". Using the Array to go home wasn't an option.
Of course, if they had a ship like the Ent-D or the Ent-E instead of a Scout ship like Voyager they might've been able to fight them off long enough.
It was either "Fight, lose and the Kazon get the Array and our ship" or "Blow up the Array and run off". Using the Array to go home wasn't an option.
Of course, if they had a ship like the Ent-D or the Ent-E instead of a Scout ship like Voyager they might've been able to fight them off long enough.
Nor did Voyager have a superior science officer, (maybe they were killed by the caretaker).
If Voyager had someone like Mr. Spock, he would have created short cuts to get the array ready to send them back sooner, they would have been back to the alpha quad at the end of the pilot.
If Voyager had someone like Mr. Spock, he would have created short cuts to get the array ready to send them back sooner, they would have been back to the alpha quad at the end of the pilot.
Not in 2371. He was becoming quite fond of his nephew by then. He wanted to see him join Starfleet. Plus I'm assuming Beverly was still in the Alpha Quadrant in this scenario.
There is always that theory that they could have rigged a torpedo to explode after they used the array to get home. It seems like a reasonable plan, but we'll never know because it was never even considered by any of the crew. It's kind of a hindsight thing though, and I don't have a problem with nobody thinking of it in the episode. Perhaps you could fault Janeway on it, but I wouldn't hold it to her for not thinking of it. I doubt if Picard necessarily would have on his own either (although I think that Kirk might of.)
The real problem was lack of advisers. Picard was always one to hold a conference, and like I said, he had the dynamic duo of Geordi, with his experience and cheat visor, and Data, with his android skillz, and I would bet the farm that they would have thought of some alternate plan of action. Heck, I think O'Brien could have come up with the bomb thing too. However, Voyager was down half a crew and the new half was unprofessional Marquis, so I'm not surprised that they didn't come up with the best solution at the time.
I guess you could blame Mr. Vulcan though.
Why not negotiate with the Kazon? Have the Kazon hold off until Voyager has activated the program that will send them home, then double cross the Kazon, set a timer and blow the thing up?
OR
If you're going to follow the Prime Directive - don't interfere, negotiate with the Kazon to use the array and then leave it for them to do whatever with...
OR
If you're going to follow the Prime Directive - don't interfere, negotiate with the Kazon to use the array and then leave it for them to do whatever with...
Where was it said to take hours? After Janeway talked to the Caretaker I thought Tuvok said that he understood how the machine worked and could send them home, hence the decision.
I need to rewatch this now.
I think that pretty much sums it up.
The PD went out the window as soon as the Caretaker brought them there, HE involved THEM in the Ocampa/Array affair. It wasn't an internal affair because they were involved against their wills.
Nor did Voyager have a superior science officer, (maybe they were killed by the caretaker).
If Voyager had someone like Mr. Spock, he would have created short cuts to get the array ready to send them back sooner, they would have been back to the alpha quad at the end of the pilot.
Voyager really didn't need one. Janeway herself was on the science track before switching to command so she kinda fulfilled both roles, though essentially Seven filled most of the role later. TNG didn't really have one either, the closest we got was Beverly.
Agreed. The PD was already out the window because they were already involved. Janeway just took the most humane and technically the less damaging action in terms of loss of life. I honestly think Picard would have handled the situation pretty much the same way.
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Tuvok says that he now knows how to get them home, but it will take several hours to activate. When the Caretaker dies, Tuvok asks Janeway if he should proceed, which is an odd question considering that they don't have hours. The Kazon are pounding Voyager, the Maquis ship is destroyed, and more Kazon ships are on the way.
Much as I take issue with aspects of VOY, the situation they were in really only had two options: Run for it, or destroy the array and then run for it. They did the right thing. The weird part of the writing though, is that from that point on the characters all act like they have a choice. Janeway even refers to using the array as a convenience. (???)
The Kazon are just as bad though. When Voyager effs up the array, instead of finishing them off, the Kazon just say, "You've made an enemy today." Yeah, tough talk.
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