Taylor frustrated with Dawson

[Bad Thoughts]

I was listening to the Inglorious Treksperts podcast dedicated to "Remembering Jeri Taylor." It's actually a really good interview with Bryan Fuller and Brannan Braga. Something that Fuller said really surprised me. He was talking about how protective Taylor could be of the female characters on Voyager. She was concerned about how they came across. However, she was particularly concerned that Roxann Dawson was coming off too aggressively, "too strident." Fuller agrees that Dawson acted with the character's strength far up front, something he thought was appropriate. On the other hand, Taylor thought that the performance would be too easily dismissed, perhaps one not, but also unlikable (as in not appropriate for a woman). Has anyone come across anything referencing this?

 

[Tosk]

While I fully understand her concern (assuming his recounting is accurate) I always liked B'Elanna, especially her more 'aggressive' era. I wish some of the other VOY characters had sharp edges.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

While I fully understand her concern (assuming his recounting is accurate) I always liked B'Elanna, especially her more 'aggressive' era. I wish some of the other VOY characters had sharp edges.

I [STRIKEOUT]had a crush[/STRIKEOUT] liked the character as well, maybe being disappointed that she was less vital in latter seasons. I know some people have described her as a would-be Meg Ryan. I'm surprised that they would not let Dawson do the character as she wanted and write to it.

eta: html hates me.

 

[Tosk]

maybe being disappointed that she was less vital in latter seasons.

That's VOY in a nutshell.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

That's VOY in a nutshell.

I know, though I should try to enjoy it for what it is, not what it should have been. It's not like Voyager is going to change.

 

[Akiraprise]

While I fully understand her concern (assuming his recounting is accurate) I always liked B'Elanna, especially her more 'aggressive' era. I wish some of the other VOY characters had sharp edges.

I liked her edge and unwillingness to just go with the flow at times so I would disagree with Taylor's thoughts on her needing to be more tame. When she and Seven had interactions, especially in the beginning, it was like a mirror for Torres when she first came on board. This little bit with them in Message in a Bottle is a favorite.

TORRES: You may have noticed that some of the crew seem a bit on edge when you're around.
SEVEN: I was Borg. I elicit apprehension.
TORRES: No, that's not what I mean. We're not afraid that you're going to assimilate us. We're just not used to. You just. You're rude.
SEVEN: I am rude?
TORRES: Yes. Yes. You order people around, you do things without permission, and whether you realise it or not you come off as a little insulting. You don't even say please or thank you. Look, I don't expect you to change overnight but, try to remember that we are not just a bunch of drones.

TORRES: He's trying to jam the link again.
JANEWAY: There must be some room for negotiation. Isn't there anything you might accept in exchange for
(They see energy hitting the Hirogen. The transmission ends.)
JANEWAY: What happened?
SEVEN: I generated a feedback surge along our sensor link.
TORRES: You killed him?
SEVEN: It was a mild shock. He will recover.
JANEWAY: And when he does?
SEVEN: He wasn't responding to diplomacy.
JANEWAY: Is the sensor link stable?
SEVEN: Yes, Captain.
JANEWAY: Keep watching for the Doctor. Let me know if our friend gives us any more trouble.
TORRES: Mild shock? Not bad.
SEVEN: Thank you.

 

[Oddish]

While I fully understand her concern (assuming his recounting is accurate) I always liked B'Elanna, especially her more 'aggressive' era. I wish some of the other VOY characters had sharp edges.

I wish they hadn't rounded off most of those edges so early in the series.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I wish they hadn't rounded off most of those edges so early in the series.

They rounded the edges of the entire series.

 

[SatrianiRules]

from a male testosterone fueled perspective....I find it interesting that despite the obviousness of Seven's appeal, most of the (male) Voyager fans I know, if we had our pick of a romantic interlude between the two, would pick B'Lanna

 

[Oddish]

I wager Janeway's got her fans, too.

 

[Lynx]

from a male testosterone fueled perspective....I find it interesting that despite the obviousness of Seven's appeal, most of the (male) Voyager fans I know, if we had our pick of a romantic interlude between the two, would pick B'Lanna

B'Elanna is a better character.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

They rounded the edges of the entire series.

The emotional range in Caretaker was very minimal, which then made Torres' reaction to waking up next to Kim the most memorable part of the pilot.

 

[USS Firefly]

from a male testosterone fueled perspective....I find it interesting that despite the obviousness of Seven's appeal, most of the (male) Voyager fans I know, if we had our pick of a romantic interlude between the two, would pick B'Lanna

Seven was in my opinion the most beautiful in her Starfleet uniform

 

[Oddish]

B'Elanna is a better character.

They're good in different ways. Seven met her potential more, but B'Elanna arguably had more potential.

Seven was in my opinion the most beautiful in her Starfleet uniform

I liked the blue one in "Relativity". And I also liked Neelix's gold in "Before and After".

 

[tomalak301]

from a male testosterone fueled perspective....I find it interesting that despite the obviousness of Seven's appeal, most of the (male) Voyager fans I know, if we had our pick of a romantic interlude between the two, would pick B'Lanna

I personally thought they overdid it with Seven to the point where she lost sex appeal in the early going. I liked the episodes where she had her hair down (Killing Game) or in uniform (Relativity) because it just looked a lot more casual and less forced.

As for Taylor having issues with Dawson, that is surprising. Maybe it was Dawson staying in character? This is the first time I've heard of people having issues with Dawson, but then we haven't really heard that many Dawson stories from the set. It's always been about the Doctor or Janeway and Seven.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I personally thought they overdid it with Seven to the point where she lost sex appeal in the early going. I liked the episodes where she had her hair down (Killing Game) or in uniform (Relativity) because it just looked a lot more casual and less forced.

As for Taylor having issues with Dawson, that is surprising. Maybe it was Dawson staying in character? This is the first time I've heard of people having issues with Dawson, but then we haven't really heard that many Dawson stories from the set. It's always been about the Doctor or Janeway and Seven.

If you read 50 Year Mission, there are stories about cast members, not Mulgrew, who also mistreated Ryan onnset. They are Unnamed, but Braga said he gave that actor dialogue about treating people with respect, directed at Seven of Nine in the episode, but meant for the actor.

By process of elimination: Roxann Dawson.

 

[tomalak301]

By process of elimination: Roxann Dawson.

I wonder if that was pure jealously. Ryan came in and was marketed as the male gaze sex symbol to sex up the show for more viewers. Other actors on the set could take that as someone invaded their show and the cast playing second fiddle.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I wonder if that was pure jealously. Ryan came in and was marketed as the male gaze sex symbol to sex up the show for more viewers. Other actors on the set could take that as someone invaded their show and the cast playing second fiddle.

The book says a lot about how poorly Ryan was received by the cast, but with the exception of Mulgrew, doesn't name anyone. Only Beltran and Wang are described as being on her side. Unfortunately, we only get Mulgrew apologizing publicly.

 

[Oddish]

Sometimes, the new kid on the block has trouble getting accepted, especially at first.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Yes, but it appears that two of the people in the "mean girl" group wanted to be taken seriously as directors and filmmakers.