Voyager season arcs

[somebuddyX]

Hypothetical scenario only, but if you could rewrite the show to have had season arcs or even say half-season or multi-episode arcs, for both the show in general and the characters specifically over the seven year run, what would you have done?
This isn't meant to be a criticism of the show, because I get their situation and also what they wanted to be. I have just genuinely wondered about it for the last couple of months and you guys always seem to have cool ideas.

 

[Akiraprise]

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/how-would-you-change-the-show.305946/

This thread might answer some of your question.

 

[Oddish]

Since this is a specific question instead of a general one, I got a few.
S1. B'Elanna learning to control her temper and work with Carey. Janeway doesn't promote her for assaulting Carey, she confines her to quarters, then she has to prove her worth over the ensuing year. The arc ends when Carey jumps ship at Planet 37's, and a calmer and more disciplined B'Elanna becomes Chief Engineer.
S2. Begins with Chief of Operations Durst being murdered by the Vidiians. His trainee, "lower decker" Ensign Harry Kim, suddenly has to head up the Ops department. He makes a mess of things now and them... but by the time S3 begins, he's worked it out. And Janeway points out how hard a task this was when she honors him with his JG pip early in Season 3.

S7. B'Elanna works out how to build a working quantum slipstream drive. As the season progresses, we watch the progress as the drive gets closer to completion... and a fleet of Borg cubes close in. Finally, in the penultimate episode, as the Borg are attacking and beaming in, the drive is ignited and Voyager flies home. The series finale deals with how the crew deal with being home at last. Meetings, reunions, debriefings, reassignments, farewells, and maybe even a hint of previously illicit romance...

Will do S3-6 later, if I think of something.

 

[gweeps]

Seasons 4-7: Seven of Nine/The Doctor/Janeway/Tom & B'Elanna

 

[Oddish]

It would be nice to have a non-resetting season arc for each character, when they really develop. But not sure who I'd put where.

Tuvok would be a good "static" character, the standard by which the others grow.

Janeway might have a "falls hard" experience in "Equinox", and end the season relieved of command. Season 6 could be her redemption arc.

Season 3 could cover the emergence of Kes's powers, culminating in her departure.

And S4 can spread out Seven's humanity developing. Maybe she still looks Borg-ish for awhile, instead of going full human at end of "The Gift".

And S5... well, that's about the time the replicators start working again. So why not have Neelix's function with the crew change at that point? He could even wind up wearing a uniform.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

Have a split crew for the first 3 seasons, like DS9. Maquis stay in their sexy rebel uniforms, and operate on their own rules. Janeway even takes advantage of the fact that her allies can do things her crew can't, without technically breaking the Prime Directive. Only after getting the news in Season 4 do the Maquis integrate into the Starflert crew. By thus point B'Elanna, Chakotay, and others have earned some provisional promotions. Tuvok and others have to give the Maquis some crash Academy training for a few episodes.

In Season 1, the Doctor has to train a new medical staff, consisting of Maquis with only military first aid training, some Starfleet science officers, Paris and Kes. Kes is the star student and becomes chief medical assistant, but Voyager isn't going to rely on one emergency hologram and one trainee for its entire medical staff. Med school is when Tom and Kes start getting chummy, fueling Neelix's jealousy.

Kes and Seven of Nine share Season 4. Kes gradually becomes less human (Ocampa) while Seven more so. Kes becomes Seven's first friend as they meet in the middle. And ultimately the first friend Seven has to say goodbye to.

Make the Year of Hell last a full Season. But make it Season 5 or 6, so Seven has time to develop first.

And give the Dweeb a promotion for Q's sake.