Quite a few points made recently I agree with, especially when it comes the formulaic and dull characters. Some seem to have single line descriptions that are never built upon, expanded or explored fully. For example: Chakotay is a Native American Maquis, Kim is a rookie ensign. Neither of the them did anything more that really broke them away from that, they were just dull through and through. Kim should've been gotten rid of at the beginning of S4 and Chakotay a year or two later, they just didn't work with the series.
In the beginning, I really liked Janeway. I couldn't quite decide who was my favourite Captain, but over time she slipped down to third place, because she was so inconsistent and fell onto the stereotype of the 'motherly woman in charge'.
Tuvok is one of three characters I could go back and watch quite happily. Yes he's a Vulcan and that sets up a number of stories that can be told, but Tim Russ nailed the Vulcan mannerisms and gave a great portrayal of the race--showing that they're not all scientists.
Paris is a character I can take or leave. He's inoffensive and has a bit of a swagger that makes him more endearing than most, but in this cast it's easy to break away from the pack.
Torres is like Tuvok (especially early-Torres), in that I can watch her again and again. Yes another hybrid dealing with their mixed heritage, but one who hates half of herself and all it stands for. I'm not a lover of Klingons (in small doses they're ok) so it was a breath of fresh air to see one not interested in honour and all that twaddle. I dislike how she was all but ignored later on, only made a girlfriend/wife to keep her visible and that she seemed to suddenly become ok with the Klingon stuff (I'm sure I remember a bat'leth hanging up in her quarters).
Neelix was irritating as hell, made far too quirky and cutesy so the time they tried to do anything serious or dark with him it just felt wrong. I always think he'd have been better as a more Han Solo-esque character, a scoundrel with a good heart.
Kes is the third character I loved in the series. Dropping her is part of the reason I lost interest in VOY. She was someone with so much potential, unfortunately she started out in 'girlfriend mode' whose existence was only really justified by Neelix. But she had moments standing on her own when she made you take notice, and after she dumped him she came into becoming a character in her own right. Unfortunately that's where her story comes to a crashing halt.
Seven took over and stopped any other characters potential future stories and development dead in its tracks. It's pretty clear why she was there and it just didn't work for me (a well-endowed guy in skin-tight catsuits and I might've been a more religious viewer), though the concept was an interesting one and could've worked well--when its a part of almost every single episode after her introduction it just becomes tedious.
The EMH. IMHO, simply put, he was the worst character throughout. Smug, condescending, hammy, irritating, arrogant. He became "brilliant" at everything and had no boundaries (Emergency Command Hologram, seriously?). They should've kept him stuck in sickbay, at least then I might've had a little sympathy for him.
In the beginning, I really liked Janeway. I couldn't quite decide who was my favourite Captain, but over time she slipped down to third place, because she was so inconsistent and fell onto the stereotype of the 'motherly woman in charge'.
Tuvok is one of three characters I could go back and watch quite happily. Yes he's a Vulcan and that sets up a number of stories that can be told, but Tim Russ nailed the Vulcan mannerisms and gave a great portrayal of the race--showing that they're not all scientists.
Paris is a character I can take or leave. He's inoffensive and has a bit of a swagger that makes him more endearing than most, but in this cast it's easy to break away from the pack.
Torres is like Tuvok (especially early-Torres), in that I can watch her again and again. Yes another hybrid dealing with their mixed heritage, but one who hates half of herself and all it stands for. I'm not a lover of Klingons (in small doses they're ok) so it was a breath of fresh air to see one not interested in honour and all that twaddle. I dislike how she was all but ignored later on, only made a girlfriend/wife to keep her visible and that she seemed to suddenly become ok with the Klingon stuff (I'm sure I remember a bat'leth hanging up in her quarters).
Neelix was irritating as hell, made far too quirky and cutesy so the time they tried to do anything serious or dark with him it just felt wrong. I always think he'd have been better as a more Han Solo-esque character, a scoundrel with a good heart.
Kes is the third character I loved in the series. Dropping her is part of the reason I lost interest in VOY. She was someone with so much potential, unfortunately she started out in 'girlfriend mode' whose existence was only really justified by Neelix. But she had moments standing on her own when she made you take notice, and after she dumped him she came into becoming a character in her own right. Unfortunately that's where her story comes to a crashing halt.
Seven took over and stopped any other characters potential future stories and development dead in its tracks. It's pretty clear why she was there and it just didn't work for me (a well-endowed guy in skin-tight catsuits and I might've been a more religious viewer), though the concept was an interesting one and could've worked well--when its a part of almost every single episode after her introduction it just becomes tedious.
The EMH. IMHO, simply put, he was the worst character throughout. Smug, condescending, hammy, irritating, arrogant. He became "brilliant" at everything and had no boundaries (Emergency Command Hologram, seriously?). They should've kept him stuck in sickbay, at least then I might've had a little sympathy for him.
