Would Shebly have worked as Captain?

[Red Ranger]

Kegek said:
^
Yes, Q does say he expected Riker to get the command.

You know what would have been really, really cool?

William Riker as the Captain.

Tom Riker as the Maquis X-O.

Ah, a dual role! Would've saved on salary but how 'bout the FX? Or Shelby as captain and Tom Riker as the Maquis x.o.! How 'bout that? -- RR

 

[DarKush]

Yes, I think Shelby should've been the captain. For one, it would've given VOY's encounters with the Borg more weight, even without the creation/injection of Seven of Nine into them.

Shelby was already a known, somewhat established character that played a prominent role in one of the best, and most well regarded TNG, and Trek, episodes of all time. She was strong, competent, fiesty, and sexy. I would've liked to seen her bump heads with Chakotay and Torres, Seska, and the other Maquis.

Regarding the desire for a mother figure, hell that could've been Shelby's character arc. She starts out as ambitious, hellbent, but over time comes to see the VOY crew as her family. A similar type of deal with Riker's arc. And it would've been ironic since she critized him for letting his career 'stagnate'.

Shelby also might've brought a more loyal TNG fanbase with her to VOY that might've stayed. I know I would've given VOY more of a chance simply because Shelby's character made such an impact on me and I will always associate her with BOBW, my favorite hour of TV Trek period.

Not casting Shelby was another missing opportunity for VOY IMO.

 

[Praetor]

I think Shelby would have worked...though I am fond of Janeway (though not her sometimes sporadic characterization.) I think the idea of a FEMALE hotshot becoming a motherly figure is quite compelling.

I have two questions about it though. One, was Shelby created by the writing staff of TNG rather than a specific writer, so could they have used her royalty-free or would it have been a Locarno/Paris situation, which might have left us with a Janeway characterized the same as Shelby had been?

Second, would Elizabeth Dennehy have been willing to do it? If they could still use the Shelby character, but Dennehy was unwilling or unable, would Mulgrew have worked as the same character? And if not who would you have preferred?

 

[Saxman1]

The Mule said:
actually, i always wondered how Susan Gibney, who had played Dr. Leah Brahms on TNG and later would be Capt. Erika Benteen on DS9, would have been if she had gotten the role of Janeway, which she was up for.

I always thought Gibney was hot and a good actress. However, I enjoyed Kate as Janeway, so no regrets.

 

[Katatak47]

I just can't picture ANYone else playing the role of Janeway with quite the same authority that comes to Mulgrew naturally. She always seemed to be able to balance that with a touch of underlying vulnerability that I always found compelling to watch.