Vorik and Taurik

[Christopher]

I thought Taurik became Vorik for the exact same reason that Locarno became Paris: for the royalty issue you mentioned.

Both Taurik and Vorik were introduced in episodes whose stories were by Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias, so I believe the same royalties would apply regardless. My understanding (though Memory Alpha doesn't verify this) is that the only reason they changed his name is because someone felt "Taurik" sounded too similar to "Tuvok." (I would've thought it was because it sounded too similar to "Torres," but apparently not.) Ironically, the character was originally named Sorik, but it was changed to Taurik specifically in order to emulate Tuvok's naming pattern.

 

[Karzak]

I read in the TNG Companion it was "Taurik" to prepare viewers for Tuvok's "T" sounding name; "Lower Decks" did air well before Voyager premiered after all.

As for why the change, I suspect it was partly because of royalties -- Alexander Enberg is Jeri Taylor's stepson and clearly became a recurring character. Even if Mathias and Wilkerson wound up getting character payments in the end after all the times Vorik showed up, there was likely no way to know (at the time of his first appearance) that the character Vorik would appear so many times, so the decision was in part made to make him a different character. Or, it's also possible that when Vorik was created, Enberg was not originally slated for the role.

The comparison between "Taurik" and "Torres" also seems like it could be a reasonable answer too.

Everything I've read about the Locarno/Paris swap was simply due to the writers feeling Locarno was not a redeemable character but that they knew either way that they wanted Robbie McNeill for the role.

 

[Kilana2]

I thought Taurik became Vorik for the exact same reason that Locarno became Paris: for the royalty issue you mentioned.

Both Taurik and Vorik were introduced in episodes whose stories were by Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias, so I believe the same royalties would apply regardless. My understanding (though Memory Alpha doesn't verify this) is that the only reason they changed his name is because someone felt "Taurik" sounded too similar to "Tuvok." (I would've thought it was because it sounded too similar to "Torres," but apparently not.) Ironically, the character was originally named Sorik, but it was changed to Taurik specifically in order to emulate Tuvok's naming pattern.

It is nothing compared with the German blunder of making Borak out of Vorik. Sounds like Borat, as I said
Or it sounds rather like a Vorta

The also turned Damar into Dumar, so what!

 

[borgboy]

This thread makes me think how much fun I think Peter David could do with a set of identical twins or triplets in his books, as he does zany comedy pretty well.

I'd be interested in seeing Taurik and Vorik interacting even briefly.