Turn a guest star into a main character

[Makarov]

Inspired by the Lon Suder thread I'm interested in any ideas about guest stars who might have been cool, funny or interesting if they had become main crew members on Voyager.

Holographic Leonardo da Vinci - invents his own mobile emitter, Janeway is so impressed she makes him first officer

Annorax - after the timeline in Year of Hell resets, he is inexplicably a member of the Voyager crew, and spends a few seasons investigating why that happened

 

[Pondwater]

The Borg Baby from “Collective” to watch her grow up.

 

[Qonundrum]

Beat me to it; John Rhys-Davies takes to heart anything he does. (Still the ultimate win as Professor Arturo, before FOX mangled the show...)

Tuvix was fun as a one-off but we're meant to feel bad for his demise, and two opening credits' actors would have to miss out if they kept Tuvix as a character for several weeks to keep audiences guessing when (or why) they want Neelix and Tuvok back! Granted, I like Tuvok and Neelix and each adds to the show, even if everyone hates Neelix's shiny happy mood - but his personality is not an uncommon one and got to be explored on Trek, which is great (survivor of a massive tragedy and feels happy to be alive and works with those who saved him, if I remember correctly. That and seeing Tuvok get virtually upset whenever Neelix hypers around did always get my attention in a good way, but that's just me.)

 

[Qonundrum]

Having the guy from "Hope and Fear" for a couple more episodes before revealing the trap might have worked even better. An antithesis of Neelix in a way. I love the season finale for several reasons and it does work on its own (the revenge trope didn't not work), but having the guy have a season's worth of episodes would have really added some impact. Not because it'd give him more time to create a new Federation-style ship in the background that would feel convincing. I'd have to see the ep again, it's been a few years...

 

[cosmic mouse]

Make Kashyk a recurring character: he was interesting enough to begin with and it potentially gives Janeway a legit move interest..

okay, never mind, you said main character...not recurring.

 

[Makarov]

Tuvix is a good idea, I suppose they could have kept Tuvix around by figuring out how to beaming a clone of him before separating them, like what happened to Tom Riker. Then we would have all three as characters.

 

[Sophie74656]

The guy Janeway fell in love with in Worforce. It would have been interesting if he stayed. Janeway said they could no longer be in a relationship but the feelings are still there. Could be interesting to see

 

[at Quark's]

Somehow the clown (The Thaw) manages to escape his own environment and gets uploaded into the Voyager computer memory. When the crew discovers this, he has already embedded himself too deep within Voyager's systems to be removed and even though he can't read his victims' minds anymore, gradually he gets better at scaring them ...

 

[Refuge]

Danara Pel was lovely and she was in two episodes.

 

[at Quark's]

^agreed. I also think Annorax (already mentioned) and prof.Gegen would have had potential at least as recurring characters, though I'm not sure how to write credible episodes for the latter- probably make the Voth a more persistent threat with Gegen sympathetic to their cause and trying to help them while not being found out himself - though I suppose that would make him similar to Denara Pel...

 

[Refuge]

Just on a side note. I felt there was unfinished business with Suspiria. Like she was part of their hope when the Caretaker died and even though they encountered her in Cold Fire I felt it was kind of a letdown. Good Kes episode and that creepy melted Tuvok scene... but yeah. I guess they ended up leaving her behind.

 

[Tracy Trek]

As someone else mentioned, Professor Gegen. He was being shunned by his own people for his scientific views unless he recanted (which he was forced to do). And I think he would have liked to go to Earth with them.

I also wish the boy the Dr. was helping in Critical Care could have been cured and come with them. He was interested in learning about medicine and the Dr. could have trained him.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Surviving Equinox crew.

 

[catshadowsi8]

I personally really liked Lori Hallier (Riley) in Unity. She had good chemistry with Chakotay and would have been a great contrast to 7. It would have also been a natural cessation to J/C since Mulgrew put a stop to it. She also had a softness to her that I missed when Kes left. She was vulnerable yet tough. I liked that.

 

[Thomas Eugene]

My number one choice would be the Borg drone from DRONE. Keep Kes on the ship as well and her telepathic powers combined with the knowledge of a 29th century Borg drone could have given us fabulous Borg eps.

Not that I'm complaining, I love all the Borg episodes. But with Kes and the Drone we could have had some really badass Borg eps.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

The guy Janeway fell in love with in Worforce. It would have been interesting if he stayed. Janeway said they could no longer be in a relationship but the feelings are still there. Could be interesting to see

His name was Jaffen and yes, the chemistry between both characters was so strong that it would have been interesting to see them navigate betwwen attraction & duty . Plus, it would have given to Janeway a serious suitor! :-D

 

[Tosk]

Ransom.

 

[cosmic mouse]

prof.Gegen would have had potential at least as recurring characters

Agreed, at Quark's.... although you are right that Gegen might be better suited to recurring rather than main (same as Kashyk, for me) he was one of the best "guest" characters in the series imho.

My number one choice would be the Borg drone from DRONE.

Another excellent choice that I didn't think of... One was great and would have made a great addition to the cast. I loved the ending of Drone though (when Seven experiences his loss), but that could have been explored in a different manner if One had stayed on.

 

[Catarina]

I personally really liked Lori Hallier (Riley) in Unity. She had good chemistry with Chakotay and would have been a great contrast to 7. It would have also been a natural cessation to J/C since Mulgrew put a stop to it. She also had a softness to her that I missed when Kes left. She was vulnerable yet tough. I liked that.

I want to be open minded to your opinion but wasn't she manipulative and in a way violated him to achieve a goal? It's not suiting his track record on women.

 

[Sophie74656]

I think the crew members from the Equinox would be interesting. You could have people giving them a hard time over what they did. Like giving them side eye as they pass in the halls and such.