Should Wesley have been kicked out of the Academy?

[Farscape One]

While I still think there is some truth in the reason why Locarno was not Paris for VOY (royalties for creating the character), I do agree that at the core, Tom and Nick are two very different people because of one trait.

Redemption. Nick was irredeemable because he used his squad so he can leave the Academy in a blaze of glory. And he got everyone to lie about it. It's only due to Wesley that he ended up confessing. He didn't feel remorse for what he did. He was only sorry he got caught.

Tom, on the other hand, was redeemable because despite him lying at first, he came forward on his own and confessed to what he did. And as far as we know, he didn't involve others in his coverup. He WAS sorry and felt remorse for what he did, which is why he confessed.

 

[Rahul]

While I still think there is some truth in the reason why Locarno was not Paris for VOY (royalties for creating the character), I do agree that at the core, Tom and Nick are two very different people because of one trait.

Redemption. Nick was irredeemable because he used his squad so he can leave the Academy in a blaze of glory. And he got everyone to lie about it. It's only due to Wesley that he ended up confessing. He didn't feel remorse for what he did. He was only sorry he got caught.

Tom, on the other hand, was redeemable because despite him lying at first, he came forward on his own and confessed to what he did. And as far as we know, he didn't involve others in his coverup. He WAS sorry and felt remorse for what he did, which is why he confessed.

I agree they're slightly different characters. But I think Locarno is the fundamentally more interesting one. He was clearly shook by the results. And he was a clear antagonist, trying to lie and pressure others to get through.

But! He still had his redemption arc. After being caught, in absolute failure - he then stood up & protectes his friend. Taking the fall, so the others could continue to follow their dreams. He didn't need to do that.

Tom Paris is still one of my favourite characters. But he's a kind of white-washed version. The trope-y gruff character with a dark past, that isn't actually that dark , to not scare too many viewers away...

 

[CoveTom]

One of the Voyager people -- maybe Jeri Taylor? -- claimed that the royalty issue had nothing to do with it, but that the real reason they ultimately chose not to go with Locarno was what's being discussed here -- that they thought he was too irredeemable a character. I don't know which reason is actually true, but I can see that argument coming up amongst the creators.