VOY before and during the 7/9 era
- Thread starter Mach5
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I think the show largely improved in the fourth season and beyond, but that's not entirely due to Seven of Nine. Some of it certainly is, but any number of the episodes would have worked well with Kes still on the show.
I acknowledge that she did spice things up, but on the other hand; I do enjoy a lot the "old skool" Voyager (that being the seasons 1-3).
Seven of Nine is a great character, but the downside of her becoming a part of the Voyager saga is the overload of the Borg. I didn't like Dark Frontier or Unimatrix at all. And there is something special about the seasons 1-3 for me that I truly enjoy, but for the different reasons. So therefore, I cannot really say which on of these eras I enjoy more.
Not to mention that Kes has become one of those characters for me that have grown on me. I have watched some "old skool" Voyager recently and I have seen the light - Kes was a good character and even the Kes-centered episodes I have previously more or less ignored, are pretty good ones.
Seven of Nine is a great character, but the downside of her becoming a part of the Voyager saga is the overload of the Borg. I didn't like Dark Frontier or Unimatrix at all. And there is something special about the seasons 1-3 for me that I truly enjoy, but for the different reasons. So therefore, I cannot really say which on of these eras I enjoy more.
Not to mention that Kes has become one of those characters for me that have grown on me. I have watched some "old skool" Voyager recently and I have seen the light - Kes was a good character and even the Kes-centered episodes I have previously more or less ignored, are pretty good ones.
It was better after Seven of nine joined but simply for her character, I dont believe the story lines were any better but I enjoyed the character, she was one of my favourites on voyager and I loved seing her interactions with other characters.
I think 4-7 were much more entertaining.
That really doesn't have much to do with Kes leaving though, I don't feel that she ever hurt the show.
Seven had better storylines to explore and 4-7 are thankfully free of the wretched Kazon who were some of the worst, most boring Trek baddies ever conceived.
That really doesn't have much to do with Kes leaving though, I don't feel that she ever hurt the show.
Seven had better storylines to explore and 4-7 are thankfully free of the wretched Kazon who were some of the worst, most boring Trek baddies ever conceived.
One of my favorite things about VOY early on was the banter between Kes and the Doctor, and between Seven and the Doctor it was even more fun.
I'm torn. Initially, I wasn't that impressed with the first three seasons and for the most part I'm still not that crazy about them especially season three but in hindsight those seasons while far from perfect were probably more in line with what I want out of Trek.
I liked the more ensemble approach and the attempts, even if they failed, to tell more character-driven and thoughtful episodes. Looking back season one is pretty good with just 16 episodes. That first season laid a foundation that I would have liked to seen built upon.
The Braga years were more entertaining in some ways and less entertaining in others. Those seasons still had issues with writing, character development and consistency. Seven certainly helped and the relegation of less interesting characters like Neelix, Chakotay, Paris and Kim certainly was welcomed. The show gravitated more towards action and flash which isn't a bad thing.
I guess if I was pressed I would have to say s4-7 were much better than seasons 1-3 yet I did get nostalgic when the show in later episodes like "Relativity", "Fury" and "Shattered" revisited those earlier years.
I liked the more ensemble approach and the attempts, even if they failed, to tell more character-driven and thoughtful episodes. Looking back season one is pretty good with just 16 episodes. That first season laid a foundation that I would have liked to seen built upon.
The Braga years were more entertaining in some ways and less entertaining in others. Those seasons still had issues with writing, character development and consistency. Seven certainly helped and the relegation of less interesting characters like Neelix, Chakotay, Paris and Kim certainly was welcomed. The show gravitated more towards action and flash which isn't a bad thing.
I guess if I was pressed I would have to say s4-7 were much better than seasons 1-3 yet I did get nostalgic when the show in later episodes like "Relativity", "Fury" and "Shattered" revisited those earlier years.
I didn't like that a great character like Kes was dumped and great characters like Chakotay, Paris, Tuvok, Torres, Neelix and Kim were reduced to noything but moving images in the background while all the focus were on the newcomer, the holographic moving image and the Captain (who they simply couldn't demote).
They had great characters and they wasted them. What a shame!
They had great characters and they wasted them. What a shame!
I prefer seasons 4-6, so I guess the 7 of 9 era.
I would go with improved but it was rather convenient for the show.
She knew everything with her "Borg tech" enhancements for everything.
And let's not forget her nanoprobes which could heal just about any sickness.
I did like her all-in-all though.
She knew everything with her "Borg tech" enhancements for everything.
And let's not forget her nanoprobes which could heal just about any sickness.
I did like her all-in-all though.
It was way better after 7 of 9 appeared. She was a more interesting character than just about any one else on the show. But I do think it was also a case of the writing improving. I thought that the 3rd season was better qualitywise than the first two were and that continued through the 4th, 5th and most of the 6th season.
I have no idea! A few months ago I'd've shouted 'One to Three, Seven is Vile, I hate her! They never should have brought her in' but having actually now watched Season 4 onwards properly she's really grown on me, and some of the storylines are good Season 5 in particular is great.
There are other things that I like more about season 4 onwards too that I'd never seen in any depth - Paris/Torres growing together from brand new lovers to parents, the various jumps towards home rather than still being rather hopelessly 75 years away, letters from home, Janeway's much better hair..... I still miss Kes though.
After much consideration I'm going to vote without looking at other people's choices first, and I'm going to go for preferring 1-3. The thing that tips the balance for me is it was a shame as others have said that once Seven arrived she got so many of the episodes focussing on her. Yes she was great, but I think it was a waste of the potential of some of the others.
There are other things that I like more about season 4 onwards too that I'd never seen in any depth - Paris/Torres growing together from brand new lovers to parents, the various jumps towards home rather than still being rather hopelessly 75 years away, letters from home, Janeway's much better hair..... I still miss Kes though.
After much consideration I'm going to vote without looking at other people's choices first, and I'm going to go for preferring 1-3. The thing that tips the balance for me is it was a shame as others have said that once Seven arrived she got so many of the episodes focussing on her. Yes she was great, but I think it was a waste of the potential of some of the others.
Furtados_Feet
Lieutenant
The problem for me is that Kes going all of a sudden was really jarring and soured me on the series slightly. It bothers me when any main character goes missing from a tv show and this was no exception especially since it was a character I grew to like.
Overall though, despite the absence of a main player tainting season 4-7, I felt the writer became tighter in these seasons and while I didn't feel she was as nice to look at as Kes, Seven of Nine was a more enjoyable character to watch.
So I'll go with season 4-7.
Overall though, despite the absence of a main player tainting season 4-7, I felt the writer became tighter in these seasons and while I didn't feel she was as nice to look at as Kes, Seven of Nine was a more enjoyable character to watch.
So I'll go with season 4-7.
Kes "going all of a sudden" made me stop watching Voyager for two years. When I decided to start watching it again, "Fury" happened and I did quit for good.
As for Seven, there were a lot of things which turned me off that character then. First, she replaced Kes. Second, all of a sudden she became the main character. Third, the catsuit and the obvious attempt to get viewers to use sex and fourth, the silly rantings from those who were in charge of the show what a great move it was to dump the worthless Ocampa and replace her with the "sexy babe" who "saved the show".
Losing a favorite and at the same time being confronted with the way Seven was marketed did actually annoy me at that time.
Today I can see why people liked the character and that there were more there than just looks, not to mention that Jeri Ryan is a very good actress.
As for Seven, there were a lot of things which turned me off that character then. First, she replaced Kes. Second, all of a sudden she became the main character. Third, the catsuit and the obvious attempt to get viewers to use sex and fourth, the silly rantings from those who were in charge of the show what a great move it was to dump the worthless Ocampa and replace her with the "sexy babe" who "saved the show".
Losing a favorite and at the same time being confronted with the way Seven was marketed did actually annoy me at that time.
Today I can see why people liked the character and that there were more there than just looks, not to mention that Jeri Ryan is a very good actress.
I actually prefer the Kes era, even though there were some good highlights during Seasons 4-7, especially after watching them the last half of last year.
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