@Purlturtle

I do love VOY as a show, and most of the characters aboard. The premise was amazing, and a lot of it was executed well – I just think it can be done even better, if the initial conflict of Starfleet vs. Maquis hadn’t been resolved in the space of like three episodes, but had been given more time to breathe. Would have been more realistic too! Also, can the hallowed Starfleet principles REALLY withstand everything the crew encounters, or does it maybe make more sense to adapt them and not cling to them so rigidly? (this would be part of the Kathryn Janeway character arc, too).

Give the story phases, give those phases themes, choose plots/”episodes” and character beats and interactions that play into these themes, make it more cohesive (I understand why the show didn’t fully commit to that, but I’m not beholden to that, after all 🙂 )

(part of me also wants to bring in both Jadzia Dax and Lenara Kahn, because that way they’d have the chance to be together!)

I made notes on a half-Voyager ‘fix-it’ (kinda I mean like you said exploring some things) and half Raffi on Voyager because Seven and Raffi ☺️

I wanted Amelia Earhart to join the crew because c’mon you really telling me she turned down learning to fly a SPACESHIP??? Like no. I don’t believe that.

Also why there wasn’t more dissent among the crew about stopping to explore the delta quadrant vs. going full pedal home with no side trips?

You already covered the wish that there had been more conflict with the Marquis vs StarFleet.

But people signed up for StarFleet knowing they could die in space/never see home. But at the same people never think it’s the end. The old “young people think they will never die” kind of cliche. And being stranded and knowing that bar a miracle you will be very old/dead before you make it back – I would have thought living with that as reality rather than just a ‘possibility’ would have caused more issues. Why did nobody wrestle with giving up?

I guess a lot is because they were totally episodic. Very few episodes actually changed anything. And exploring any of these would have probably been arcs/had consequences.

I mean depression, addition issues, nihilism. Maybe that was too dark idk? But wrestling with the “what’s the point? We are never making it back” and then coming out the other side with why each day is worth living would just be super powerful.

Not everyone would react that way either, and that would cause friction. Between those who are maybe “Pollyanna” about it so to speak, and those who are cynical.

Also do you think they would all have continued following orders as a disciplined crew? The Marquis didn’t all have StarFleet training or had rejected it. But even those who were Janeway’s crew. Out there without anyone above Janeway, would there really just be “ok I will take orders for the rest of my life”.

I think this is part of why I pushback about “only the bridge crew matters” as we see them arguing in the ready room (so they get input) but what about the ‘lower decks’ crowd? No power over anything for 70 years?

@Purlturtle

Yep, that would definitely be another arc – I can see Janeway clinging to it at first, because this is what she knows/is deeply familiar with (she’s not just a captain, after all, she’s a ‘Fleet brat; her father was Starfleet too). For her, sticking with it is self-evident, but she needs to realize that (a) that is not the case for everyone and (b) it’s not the most effective way to lead this community (because it’s no longer just about running a ship)

And while she’s a good captain, she’s not so much of a community leader – and this community needs that, too. There’s a fantastic series of stories on AO3 about that, told by a group of authors, at least one of whom has Native American background and goes deeply into Chakotay’s character and all that he can actually bring to this community.

Idk if you ever saw Stargate Atlantis? That was a bit of question a few times in season 1 when they were completely cutoff from Earth and Weir said that she was a bit like the governor of a colony rather than just an expedition leader.

I always found it a bit unrealistic that there were only 2 babies. I don’t mean that 24th century birth control sucks (Crusher and Picard side eye) but just that why didn’t more people hook up? Plus did they really think at 100+ for most of the crew they were really flying Voyager home? Didn’t they need a ‘second generation’?

I think they tried to push Neelix as the “community morale” but that wasn’t a leader, that was like a secretary. Neelix could hear complaints so the captain didn’t have to but there’s a difference between throwing a party to make people happy vs inspirational leader people will follow.

I also wish they had done the “year from hell” as much longer than a 2 parter. I get why they didn’t as they erased it from ever happening but…

Idk. I mean on one hand all that tragedy it’s nice to know our characters didn’t have to live with the consequences because I do like them to be happy BUT on the other hand the year from hell was so compelling due to everything, and then it was erased which is perhaps why I wish the arc had been longer. Idk if that makes sense.

There are individual episodes that if I referenced I would rewrite or at least make it right somehow in reactions if not ultimate actions. I am still mad on Seven’s behalf about the ‘Retrospect’ episode.

@Charlie

There was a line in DS9 about how they just need an injection a month or something for birth control

Yup I am sure (or I certainly hope!) that birth control in Trek future is effective and without nasty side effects. Just like the off button we should have invented by now 😂

What I meant was I am surprised that more people didn’t either decide to just have kids, or to form a committed relationship of some kind, or whatever family type unit they wanted (as I also certainly hope in Trek future that prejudice against ‘non-trad’ families would be gone and people would be cool with whatever so long as everyone was consenting adults).

I get that it was TV land and they didn’t want the hassle of child actors most of the time. Plus the focus of the show wasn’t on family/relationships it was “alien weirdness of the week” but I just meant idk, if they thought it would take 2 generations to make the trip home then logically I would have thought they would have started on that second generation.

Not sure I have been any clearer now or if I actually even needed to elaborate. I am sorry if I am rambling for no reason.

@Charlie

Oh, I got you! Sorry for misunderstanding!

It might just be my aro/ace-ness, but it’s only a 7 year show. I can easily imagine it taking longer than that to 

a. Accept the idea of being trapped forever 

And then b. Find someone you want a relationship with and do something about it.

And also, I guess voyager wouldn’t seem like the most enticing place to raise a family?

Oh totally I mean I could be on Voyager for 100 years and I would never hook up or have a kid due to being ace/aro and not wanting kids.

I guess perhaps it is my lack of understanding as I only know of relationships through observations of people I know (limited) and watching TV/movies which is ofc often full of intense whirlwinds.

The danger could be an enticement or it could be a deterrent. “We could die” sort of goes both ways depending on how someone responds.

Anyway I am not trying to say Voyager was wrong in that they hadn’t hooked up/had more kids in the 7 years. I guess I was just musing about ‘reality’ as the show was very episodic and continuity was limited, and consequences not often explored. And it just makes me wonder. Idk if that makes sense.

@Charlie

Same 😆 

That is true! It’s also an interesting question with the fact that they all work and live together so if something goes wrong, there’s no avoiding it.

@Purlturtle

The situation on Voyager could be a powerful incentive towards relationship and family for some (“let’s face this together”/”this is our new normal now, and for me, kids are part of normal”), and a powerful disincentive for others (“who know if we’ll be dead tomorrow, i don’t wanna commit to anything under the circumstances!”)

Yup that’s what I was kinda getting at ^^ you phrased it much better.