Voyagers theft

[Milos]

ok so this has been bothering me a lot and I understand stand reusing characters but this is excesinve. Voyage took a bunch of names and actors from other series and I don’t mean exact continuations(like worf or obrian)

In TNG “The First Duty” Robert Duncan McNeill plays a character with the same backstory as Tom Paris but a different name.

In TNG “Starship Mine” Tim Russ plays a maqui named Denver. Again same actor different name.

Then there is Ensign Janeway and commander Torres mentioned in one or to TNG episode but with no real connection after that.

“In The Flesh” has a Valerie Archer but this is before enterprise

 

[Milos]

*excesive
**O’Brian
***two

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

IIRC, Tim Russ auditioned to play La Forge but (obviously) didn't get the part so the character of Tuvok was kind of his consolation prize.

 

[at Quark's]

ok so this has been bothering me a lot and I understand stand reusing characters but this is excesinve. Voyage took a bunch of names and actors from other series and I don’t mean exact continuations(like worf or obrian)

In TNG “The First Duty” Robert Duncan McNeill plays a character with the same backstory as Tom Paris but a different name.

I believe the original idea really was to reuse the Locarno character from TNG, give the him a second chance, but royalties would have been required to TNG writers for every appearance, which would have been for pretty much every VOY episode. At least that's how I understood it, someone more knowledgeable than me please correct me if I'm wrong.

In TNG “Starship Mine” Tim Russ plays a maqui named Denver. Again same actor different name.

Actor recasting isn't that unusual , many actors have appeared in several roles in Trek.

Then there is Ensign Janeway and commander Torres mentioned in one or to TNG episode but with no real connection after that.
“In The Flesh” has a Valerie Archer but this is before enterprise

Not sure about "Janeway" (I don't live in an English speaking country), but "Torres" and "Archer" seem like fairly common family names to me.

I think it's unwarranted to call such instances "theft".

 

[Lynx]

ok so this has been bothering me a lot and I understand stand reusing characters but this is excesinve. Voyage took a bunch of names and actors from other series and I don’t mean exact continuations(like worf or obrian)

In TNG “The First Duty” Robert Duncan McNeill plays a character with the same backstory as Tom Paris but a different name.

In TNG “Starship Mine” Tim Russ plays a maqui named Denver. Again same actor different name.

Then there is Ensign Janeway and commander Torres mentioned in one or to TNG episode but with no real connection after that.

“In The Flesh” has a Valerie Archer but this is before enterprise

Most of these coincidents are explained on the Kes Website (see link below) on the page "Voyager mysteries-and how to solve them".

There you can see that Nick Locarno is the result of a love affair between Tom's father and another woman. Devor is Tuvok's evil brother who has left his home, denied his family and become a criminal. Ensign Lucy Janeway is Kathryn Janeway's cousin and Nicole Janeway is the sister to Kathryn's father Edward Janeway.

Read, enjoy and find the truth!

 

[Kor]

Since it's all part of the same franchise, I don't think any of these are really theft.

Kor

 

[F. King Daniel]

Berman-era Trek reused actors all the time. It never bothered me.

And since I'm no good with names, it was years until I realised Nic Locarno and Tom Paris weren't actually the same person (although they were originally intended to be, and only changed the name to avoid paying royalties)

 

[tomswift2002]

Don’t forget, but Tim Russ was also in “Star Trek Generations” with William Shatner, James Doohan and Walter Koenig.

 

[Finn]

ok so this has been bothering me a lot and I understand stand reusing characters but this is excesinve. Voyage took a bunch of names and actors from other series and I don’t mean exact continuations(like worf or obrian)

In TNG “The First Duty” Robert Duncan McNeill plays a character with the same backstory as Tom Paris but a different name.

In TNG “Starship Mine” Tim Russ plays a maqui named Denver. Again same actor different name.

Then there is Ensign Janeway and commander Torres mentioned in one or to TNG episode but with no real connection after that.

“In The Flesh” has a Valerie Archer but this is before enterprise

And?

Russ' character wasn't a maquis in his TNG appearence.

 

[STEPhon IT]

IIRC, Tim Russ auditioned to play La Forge but (obviously) didn't get the part so the character of Tuvok was kind of his consolation prize.

A good one too, I couldn't imagine Russ as Geordi and Russ was memorable as Tuvok. It was great casting for Russ as a Vulcan.

 

[X24actor]

Like Next Generation?

Picard = Pike
Riker = Decker
Troi = Ilia

Great to utilize unused concepts from the unmade Star Trek series', but those characters were used before. At least Voyager's intention was to continue a character arc established in TNG.

I wouldn't be surprised, if Tom Paris and Wesley appeared together in future Trek, if they just retcon the Nick Locarno thing.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I saw these comparisons in small bits from "Encounter at Farpoint" but Patrick Stewart was such an incredible presence, any remnant of Pike was gone in the first ten minutes of the pilot.

Tom Paris was more Locarno in appearance, the character was a lite-version of Will Riker throughout the series. A ladies man, sort of, and was great at pool, a cheap substitute for poker.

 

[somebuddyX]

I think it's a great idea that producers and directors aren't afraid to use the same actors or ideas and concepts again. Look at all the bit players in Trek that then went on to become main or reoccurring characters. Folks like Admiral Forest, Degra, Weyoun/Shran, Dukat, Vorik, Rom, Quark, Pulaski, Sarek, Tom Paris, Ro Laren etc.
We should find ways to use old ideas in different ways. The Barzans had a wormhole but that one sucked. Hey what if we found one that actually worked? And what it we found it near the planet Ro Laren comes from? Those pesky Cardassians would probably have something to say about it. But wait, we've used these ideas before! Okay, bin it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Discovery "steals" more than Voyager. The ship is from an unmade 1970's Trek movie, the Klingons were alternate concepts from Into Darkness and their costumes based on Motion Picture concept art. The season 2 captain is from the unaired Star Trek pilot.

Just sayin'

 

[MacLeod]

Sometimes an actor impresses enough in a guest role to considered for a more substantial part or even regular. It's easier to overlook that said actor played a part if they were henchperson number 2 than playing the same character over multiple episodes or seasons only to turn up playing a brand new character. Though this is more of an issue for human characters than alien characters. For example Jeffery Combs played multiple characters over several Trek shows his main ones being Weyoun, Shran and Brunt.

There are only so many character archetypes so some re-usage of those types is likely to occur at some point.

Some surnames are more common than others so again some re-usage is forgivable.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

Even more confusing, Tim Russ played a human crewmember aboard an "Excelsior"-era ship in "Generations." Of course this was all before he was cast as Tuvok for "voyager." but it's a damn shame, because both of those could've been great pre-Voyager appearances for Tuvok!

 

[Relayer1]

Not sure about "Janeway" (I don't live in an English speaking country), but "Torres" and "Archer" seem like fairly common family names to me.

I live in England. I'd never heard the surname Janeway before Voyager.

Must have missed Ensign Janeway

 

[F. King Daniel]

Even more confusing, Tim Russ played a human crewmember aboard an "Excelsior"-era ship in "Generations." Of course this was all before he was cast as Tuvok for "voyager." but it's a damn shame, because both of those could've been great pre-Voyager appearances for Tuvok!

It gets extra confusing, since Russ played Tuvok in "Flashback", which crossed over to STVI which used the same model and sets as the Enterprise-B in GENS.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

It gets extra confusing, since Russ played Tuvok in "Flashback", which crossed over to STVI which used the same model and sets as the Enterprise-B in GENS.

My point exactly! (Actually, I just got finished re-watching "Flashback a few minutes ago!)

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I like to joke that Vaurik is really Taurik and it’s a Jerry/Gary/Larry situation.

What’s the real situation there? Legal issue? Changing one letter enough to avoid paying someone?