The character of Kes (Jennifer Lien) on “Star Trek: Voyager” was controversial from the beginning. She belonged to a species referred to as the Ocampa, which solely had a lifespan of 9 years. Kes was merely two years outdated within the “Voyager” pilot (Lien was 19) and was courting the character Neelix (Ethan Phillips). Many viewers members discovered it icky that an grownup man was courting a literal two-year-old.
The idea of a short-lived character, nevertheless, was intriguing. “Star Trek: The Subsequent Era” ended after seven seasons, and there was each cause to imagine that the concurrent “Deep House 9” would do the identical, so “Voyager” was seemingly set as much as run a full seven years. Over that point, audiences would have seen Kes develop from a being who seems to be 20 to at least one that appears 90. Trekkies would watch Kes mature, develop outdated, and die in seven years, a complete life in microcosm. And sure, expensive readers, she did finally dump Neelix.
Kes, nevertheless, was written out of “Voyager” on the finish of its third season. In contrast to “Subsequent Era” earlier than it, “Voyager” struggled to attain excessive scores, so its showrunners had been continuously making an attempt to spice up their numbers with low-cost gimmicks. There was a holographic bikini seaside the solid would frequently go to, clumsily including half-naked our bodies into the present. Then, in a last-ditch effort, Kes was removed from the show and changed with the catsuit-clad Seven of 9 (Jeri Ryan), a “Borg babe,” within the phrases of one of many producers.
Sadly, it labored. The “Voyager” writers favored Seven of 9 higher than Kes, and Seven grew to become, basically, the brand new star of the present. Ryan had journal mannequin seems to be and wore a good corset all through her tenure on the present. Seven was an fascinating character, nevertheless it was clear that the “Voyager” showrunners added her for causes of intercourse attraction. And, lo, rapidly, the conscience of “Voyager” was gone. Kes was out of the present and its whole dynamic modified.
Kes was the conscience of Star Trek: Voyager
Kes, I’d argue, was very important to “Star Trek: Voyager” in methods its showrunners by no means totally exploited. She was, in distinction to the Starfleet characters, harmless, possessing a pure pacifism and a way of youthful curiosity. She was the keeper of compassion. Neelix often grew to become jealous when she talked to different males, however Kes was clearly forming wholesome social relationships. She was additionally the primary character to theorize that the ship’s holographic doctor (Robert Picardo) was alive and inspired Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) to take peaceable programs of motion each time Janeway’s first plan of action appeared unnecessarily harsh. Janeway would typically suggest the usS. Voyager thunder by a tricky situation. Kes would then step in and remind her of a gentler course.
Kes basically reined in Janeway’s darker impulses. She was the present’s conscience — one thing that’s very important to “Star Trek.” The characters, for probably the most half, endeavor to take probably the most moral plan of action and attempt to do as little hurt as doable. Janeway, whereas resolute, did tend towards brusque authoritarianism, and regularly took dangers she did not have to. Kes, if left on the collection, might have continued to stability Janeway, reminding her to be variety.
Kes additionally served as an important trainer for the Physician. The hologram was even youthful than Kes, having solely been not too long ago activated. The 2 noticed humanity with an outsider’s eye, making an attempt to suss out what human habits must appear like and what the 2 of them might ideally attain for. Like Information (Brent Spiner) on “Subsequent Era,” Kes checked out humanity along with her personal distinctive perspective. A hologram and a younger alien elevating one another. That would have made for some good tales.
The Voyager writers failed Kes
The writers of “Voyager,” nevertheless, by no means totally keyed into Kes’ potential. There have been too few scenes whereby Kes and Janeway might ethically butt heads. She had the potential to be an ongoing counterpart to Janeway and might need even change into the second most vital character on the present, had the writers tapped into her myriad potentialities. On the very least, the dynamic between Kes and the Physician did emerge as a superb emotional hook. One might see their mutual familial affection for each other.
As an alternative, the writers fell again on cleaning soap opera dynamics, inventing a tiresome love triangle between Kes, Neelix, and Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill). Nobody, not even the actors, favored that story arc.
When “Voyager” started flagging within the scores, the choice was made to axe one of many characters and change them with a Borg character. Rumors have unfold that Paramount was choosing between Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) and Kes, however that Wang was spared when he was featured in a notable problem of TV Information. Kes was out. Within the mythology of the present, Kes’ rising psychic powers had been changing into too sturdy and she or he wanted to maneuver off the usS. Voyager to learn to management them. In stepped Seven of 9, the aforementioned “Borg babe.”
The dynamic between Janeway and Seven was spikier and extra antagonistic. Seven was a extra energetic, resolute character, difficult Janeway’s authority. Writers cherished that battle and milked it for all it was price. The writers additionally gave Seven each doable job they may. She served as a science officer, Borg professional, and the overseer of a brand new astrometrics lab. The Physician took Kes’ classes and have become the trainer, telling Seven every little thing he knew. Rankings went up.
It is a pity the ploy labored, although, as a result of “Voyager” misplaced its philosophical core. For a franchise all about pacifism, it was unlucky to see probably the most pacifistic character on “Voyager” be lower. Seven was high quality, however Kes ought to have stayed.
