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Star Trek: Voyager had a cast that worked well together from the beginning. There didn't seem to be a hint of an issue between them all, and for three seasons, they created some incredible episodes. Of course, some weren't as good as others, but that's the way it goes in show business. The actors really played well off one another, and it seemed to be smooth sailing. However, at the end of season three that changed.

Jennifer Lien's contract was not renewed for the fourth season, and Jeri Ryan stepped in to portray ex-Borg drone, Seven of Nine. Lien played Kes for two more episodes on season four before returning in season six to supposedly finish out her character. In all honesty, though, that episode, "Fury," did more disservice to her character, and Lien agreed, telling Startrek.com in 2010 that "there were a lot of poor acting choices on my part,...

Star Trek as a series usually sticks to its core cast. Throughout most of the shows and their seasons, we get the same handful of characters for the majority of the show. We'll get different recurring characters, sure, but for the most part, the main cast is who the main cast is. With a few exceptions.

When there are changes, they are almost always Starfleet officers from other parts of the Federation who come in as relief. Very rarely did we ever get to see non-Federation crew members be brought in as emergency members of the ship, and for good reason. It just wasn't needed. Why would you need to when another ship, space station, or base was always so close?

Yet, Star Trek: Voyager's entire premise revolved around this idea. Non-Starfleet members came together with Starfleet members to build a unified ship. Some will note that one of...

We've already touched on how Kathryn Janeway, and by proxy her actress Kate Mulgrew, appeared in over 200 episodes across Star Trek. For 30 years, and across two series, Mulgrew has built up a huge resume in Star Trek alone. She surpasses all of her Voyager and Prodigy castmates in appearances, and only bows out to three people; Colm Meaney, Michael Dorn, and Majel Barrett.

When we look at her fellow Voyager castmates, she nearly doubles some of her colleagues, like Jeri Ryan. The actress, who played Seven of Nine across two series (Voyager and Picard), has appeared in 125 episodes. 100 of them just with Voyager. While that's an impressive number, more than anyone on Star Trek: Enterprise ever got, it's actually not that impressive against her Voyager colleagues.

Every core cast member of Voyager, save for Ryan and Jennifer Lien (Kes), has been credited for 168 episodes. Ryan was credited with 100 (101 via IMDb...

Star Trek has had many great stories that cover the emotional spectrum. Episodes that covered fear, hurt, pain, post-traumatic stress, and more have been hallmarks of Star Trek for decades. They've had bitter feuds like that between Khan Noonien Singh and James Kirk, epic friendships like between Jean-Luc Picard and Will Riker, and even great teacher-student dynamics like with Kathryn Janeway and Seven of Nine.

What they haven't had, not truly, is an epic romance. Yes, we've had good romances before. Cassidy and Benjamin Sisko, Tom Paris and B'Elanna, and of course Riker and Deanna Troi. Yet, a truly epic love story? We haven't had that yet.

We've had some truly awful ones. Really anything involving Kes and Neelix comes to mind. Of course, we have The Doctor, Julian Bashir, and Harry Kim's constant swings and misses. We even have whatever that was between Beverly Crusher and that ghost.

Star Trek: Voyager delivered a disappointing season 4 ending in comparison to its other finale episodes. Before the finale, season 4 delivered a well-rounded episode set and some shake-ups that made Voyager's cast of characters work better together. The season began with the departure of Kes (Jennifer Lein) and the introduction of Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), which helped cement the characters' dynamics more cohesively. Likewise, Voyager season 4 had some of the series' best episodes, including the two-part "Year of Hell" which is often considered the show's pinnacle.

After a season of highs, Voyager should have delivered an explosive season 4 finale to close things out. However, the actual finale, "Hope and Fear," ended up being a disappointment. The episode had a great guest start in the form of Ray Wise as Arturis, an alien with the power to seemingly get Voyager's crew home using quantum slipstream technology. "Hope and Fear" also brought...

Star Trek is a wonderful franchise, filled with beautifully written characters, compelling storylines, and incredible concepts that get brought to life. Across weeks, months, years, and decades, Star Trek has delivered some of the best writing that not only science fiction has ever seen but entertainment has ever seen. Some of the best stories that you can find in this world happen in the run time of a Star Trek property.

That's made possible thanks in part to the dynamic and enthralling characters that make up this wonderful little universe of ours. Yet, they don't always get it right from the jump. Sometimes plots fall apart, characters don't get over and entire concepts fall asunder.

The issue with that, usually, is a poor starting point. Getting it right from the beginning matters. Trying to create a dynamic character, while making them unique and still familiar is hard. It's so hard...

When Star Trek: Voyager began, Kes, the Ocampan played by Jennifer Lien, was already in a relationship with Neelix, the Talaxian played by Ethan Phillips. It was an odd sort of relationship given their age differences and personalities, but it wasn't as weird as when the team behind Voyager decided Robert Duncan McNeill's Lt. Tom Paris would fall in love with Kes, and jealousy between him and Neelix would ensue.

For whatever reason, the writers decided to create a semi-relationship that wasn't there since Paris and Kes had no chemistry. Even Duncan McNeill wasn't happy abou the pairing as he told The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine in issue 11 that he "never thought the Kes thing was right." He didn't like how it made Paris look, flirting with someone who was already involved in a relationship.

I never thought the Kes thing was right. It made Paris look really bad,...

At the end of the third season of "Star Trek: Voyager," ratings were flagging and Paramount was concerned. The show was competent enough, but it simply wasn't drawing the numbers that "Star Trek: The Next Generation" did before it. To shake up the series, the writers ejected the gentle character of Kes (Jennifer Lien) and replaced her with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a Borg babe in a skintight catsuit. The show's writers loved Seven of Nine, and the series was restructured to be almost entirely about her. It also didn't hurt that Ryan looked like a magazine cover model and was cinched up in a bust-enhancing corset. Ratings, needless to say, went up.

It's reported in the oral history book "The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years: From The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams," edited by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, that the cast of "Voyager" initially resented Ryan,...

Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) certainly never intended to make any enemies in Star Trek: Voyager, but being the captain of a Federation starship in the uncharted Delta Quadrant inevitably creates new foes for Captain Janeway. Brand-new Delta Quadrant aliens in Star Trek were created as antagonists and enemies for Captain Janeway and the crew of the USS Voyager, from the Kazon and Vidiians in earlier seasons of Star Trek: Voyager to Species 8472 and the Hirogen in Voyager's second half. Despite Janeway's attempted alliance with them, the Borg are also an ongoing threat from Star Trek: Voyager season 4 until the series' end.

It's not just Star Trek's new Delta Quadrant alien species in general that became Captain Janeway's enemies. Individual people in the Delta Quadrant also clashed with Janeway during the long journey back to the Alpha Quadrant, as Voyager entered their space or Captain Janeway's crew committed unknown offenses against them.

Neelix's break up with Kes on Star Trek: Voyager may have contributed to his dislike of telepathy in season 4. Neelix made his opinion on telepaths known in the season 4 episode "Random Thoughts," seemingly referencing Kes and the former relationship in the process. Voyager failed to explain Neelix and Kes's breakup officially, leaving it unfortunately ambiguous.

A line from a Star Trek: Voyager season 4 episode may have explained Neelix's (Ethan Phillips) and Kes's (Jennifer Lien) breakup better than the show officially did. Neelix and Kes were both series regulars on Voyager's cast of characters, although Kes departed the show at the beginning of season 4 after Jennifer Lien was written off to make room for another character. For most of Voyager seasons 1 and 2, Kes and Neelix were in a romantic relationship, but the two broke up off-screen during season 3 under slightly mysterious circumstances.

It's generally accepted that Voyager never fully explained Neelix and Kes's breakup.

Jennifer Lien's departure from Star Trek: Voyager as Kes was influenced by creative dead ends and mental health issues. Kes's exit paved the way for Seven of Nine's introduction, which reshaped the dynamics of the show's cast. Despite mixed reviews, Jennifer Lien and Kes are fondly remembered within the Star Trek fandom for their impact on the series.

Jennifer Lien left Star Trek: Voyager after playing Kes for three seasons, even though Kes was a central and interesting character. Premiering in 1995, Star Trek: Voyager ushered in a new generation of fans after Star Trek: The Next Generation came to an end. In a unique twist, Captain Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) starship USS Voyager was lost in the Delta Quadrant and embarked on a 7-year voyage home. Jennifer Lien was a Star Trek: Voyager series regular as Kes. A member of the Ocampa species, Kes possessed telepathic abilities and was romantically...

Alex Garland was heavily inspired by Kes when writing 28 Years Later. Kes has one of cinema's most devastating endings, suggesting 28 Years Later will follow suit. The potential tear-jerking finale of 28 Years Later hints at a departure from the more hopeful ending of 28 Days Later.

Any lingering hopes that 28 Years Later might have a happy ending can probably be laid to rest, all thanks to the movie Alex Garland admits heavily inspired his forthcoming zombie sequel. With such a large narrative gap since the last movie, 28 Years Later's story is devilishly hard to predict. Cillian Murphy's return is confirmed, but adding the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes signals that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's movie will not directly continue on from previous entries.

With concrete information at a premium, 28 Years Later plot clues must instead be gleaned in other ways, including from the movie Alex...

Jeri Ryan jokingly treated Robert Picardo as a "sex object" due to his having to wear tights in Star Trek: Voyager's "Scientific Method." Ryan's teasing of Picardo shows that the relationship between Seven and the Doctor off-screen mirrored their on-screen dynamic. Picardo's story reveals the costume dichotomy in Voyager, with Seven's catsuits setting her apart from the rest of the cast.

Robert Picardo's story about Jeri Ryan's behavior towards him on the set of Star Trek: Voyager season 4 is funny, but also highlights some real disparities in the series. Jeri Ryan joined the cast of Voyager season 4 as Seven of Nine when Jennifer Lein departed the show after playing Kes for the first three seasons. Ryan quickly rose to become a wildly popular member of Voyager's cast of characters and began to establish the dynamics of Seven's relationships with the USS Voyager's other crew early on.

One of these...

Jeri Ryan almost turned down her Star Trek: Voyager role due to a problematic scene in which Seven of Nine was overly sexualized. Ryan felt that one scene with Harry Kim was predictable and cheesy, reinforcing sexual stereotypes. The scene was uncomfortable and demeaning for Seven, not reflecting well on her character or maturity level.

Star Trek: Voyager almost lost out on the acting talents of Jeri Ryan because of one controversial scene. Ryan played Seven of Nine on Voyager from season 4 onward, having been brought on at the beginning of the season to replace Kes (Jennifer Lien) who was leaving the series due to diminishing popularity. Although Seven could have had a rocky start to her time on Voyager, her storyline combined with Ryan's incredible skills caused her to become an almost immediate favorite with audiences.

As a former Borg drone who was rescued from the Collective by Voyager's cast of characters,...

Kes and Seven of Nine's swap in Star Trek: Voyager was unique due to the franchise's consistent casts. Other character swaps in previous Star Trek shows didn't accomplish their switch in the same way, usually leaving it off-screen. Modern Star Trek series, like Discovery and Picard, have a different approach to swapping characters, focusing on serialized narratives.

Although it wasn't the franchise's first character swap, Star Trek: Voyager's Kes (Jennifer Lien) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) switch was more unique than character changes in other Star Trek projects. Voyager's cast of characters stayed mostly the same throughout the show's run, except for the departure of Kes and the introduction of Seven at the start of season 4. The swap happened over season 4's first two episodes, "Scorpion, Part II" and "The Gift," and was accomplished well, all things considered.

During "The Gift," Kes's latent mental abilities began to evolve...

Kes' return in Star Trek: Voyager season 6 was unnecessary and negatively impacted her character's reputation. "Fury's" convoluted storyline and lackluster climax further tarnished Kes's image. Kes never reached a desirable level of popularity due to vague powers and a poorly conceived romantic relationship.

I love Star Trek: Voyager, but I've always hated that the show brought Kes (Jennifer Lien) back in season 6 after her departure. Kes was a series regular on Voyager for the show's first three seasons, but to me, it always felt like Voyager didn't quite know what to do with her. Perhaps because of this, and her diminishing popularity, Kes left Voyager at the beginning of season 4 to make way for Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a character that the show overall had more success with.

However, Kes made one final appearance after her official departure, this time as the villain in Voyager season 6, episode 23, "Fury.

A hypothetical Star Trek: Voyager movie reboot could go deeper into some of the TV show's less developed characters, like Ensign Harry Kim and Kes. Glen Powell and Jennifer Lawrence would be ideal for portraying the spiky relationship between Lieutenants Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres. Cate Blanchett is perfect casting for the role of Captain Janeway, exploring the weight of the Voyager captain's responsibilities in the Delta Quadrant.

If Paramount Pictures one day decided to give Star Trek: Voyager the Kelvin Timeline treatment, which Hollywood stars would play Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew? The core premise of Voyager was two ideologically opposed groups - Starfleet and the Maquis - being forced to work together after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant. The conflict among Voyager's cast of characters was rarely explored in a meaningful way on television. A series of Star Trek: Voyager movies could put that...

Seven of Nine's late introduction to Star Trek: Voyager and initial disadvantages led to her becoming a complex, popular character. Seven's portrayal of trauma and journey back to humanity set her apart as one of the most interesting characters in Star Trek. Picard season 3 provided new opportunities for Seven, including promotion to Captain, setting up her bright future in the franchise.

I love a lot of Star Trek characters, but to me, Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) is the most impressive character in the franchise. My obsession with Star Trek: Voyager began at an early age after I had already watched Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. While I loved previous installments, Voyager's cast of characters captivated me like no other, particularly the show's strong female representation in Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), and later, Seven of Nine.

Although she became...

Seven of Nine's development on Star Trek: Voyager was inspired by Picard and the Borg Queen. Seven's Borg origins were central to her Voyager storyline, expanding Borg lore. Picard and the Borg Queen remained important to Seven's character even in Star Trek: Picard.

Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) conception on Star Trek: Voyager was originally inspired by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the Borg Queen (Alice Krige). Although Voyager seasons 1-3 didn't include Seven of Nine, the show brought her on as part of Voyager's cast of characters in season 4 after Kes (Jennifer Lien) left the series. Seven rose to become one of Voyager's most popular characters, but started out under very different circumstances, as a former Borg drone that Voyager's crew unwittingly rescued from the Collective.

Throughout her time on Voyager, Seven's Borg origins and time in the Collective were the central focus of her storyline. Through her,...

Star Trek: Voyager almost ended season 3 with "Year of Hell," delaying Seven of Nine's debut. The creative team also considered a doppelgnger storyline for the season 3 finale, which later became the episodes "Demon" and "Course: Oblivion." Seven of Nine's introduction in "Scorpion" was crucial, so delaying "Year of Hell" and the doppelgngers made more sense.

The original plan for Star Trek: Voyager's season 3 ending would have delayed Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) introduction. Voyager's season 3 finale/season 4 premiere, "Scorpion, Parts 1 and 2," was a huge episode for the show. Although they had been introduced earlier in season 3, "Scorpion" officially cemented the Borg as the main villain for Voyager's cast of characters, and kicked off a Borg storyline that would continue for the next four seasons. The Borg became extremely important on Voyager starting in "Scorpion" thanks to the debut of one of the show's more beloved characters: Seven of Nine.

Art print by Aleksander Walijewski for Poor Things.In the last roundup, from October, three out of the four most popular posters on my Movie Poster of the Day Instagram over the previous six months were posters for Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things (2023)—two teasers and an official-release poster, all by the great Vasilis Marmatakis—which at that time was still almost two months away from its US theatrical run. So it's no surprise that the most "liked" poster since then is also a poster for Poor Things, an art print by the young, prodigiously talented Polish artist-designer Aleksander Walijewski. What was a surprise, however, is that this poster has racked up more than 10,000 likes since early February, making it by far the most popular poster ever on my Instagram, doubling its nearest competitor (Marmatakis’s original Poor Things teaser). And, making it feel as if Movie Poster of the...

This author recalls reading an issue of TV Guide in 1994 about the then-upcoming TV series "Star Trek: Voyager," set to debut in January of 1995. The TV Guide noted that Robert Picardo, a Joe Dante repertory player, would play a character named Doc Zimmerman, the holographic doctor on board the U.S.S. Voyager. This name was culled from pre-production notes on the series, and the showrunner fully intended for Zimmerman to be the character's name.

The premise of the show, however, dictated that the Doctor have no name. The Doctor was an Emergency Medical Hologram, only meant to be activated in times of extreme crisis when a chief medical officer is not available. Once the crisis was over, the hologram was meant to be shut off. Thanks to the stranded state of the U.S.S. Voyager, however — it was stranded across the galaxy, 70 years from home — the Doctor was never shut off.

In the pilot episode of "Star Trek: Voyager" -- called "Caretaker" -- the chief medical officer on board the U.S.S. Voyager was killed in an alien-inflicted cataclysm that swept the clear across the galaxy in a matter of moments. With the ship damaged and the medical staff wiped out, the Voyager crew had to rely on a temporary Emergency Medical Hologram to serve as the ship's main doctor. 

For the first few seasons, the Emh (Robert Picardo) was snippy and impatient, having been programmed to respond only to emergencies. Using the Emh so frequently, however, caused it to develop a consciousness and a personality. Before long, the unnamed Doctor was seen as an official member of the crew. 

Because he was a hologram, the Doctor was typically confined to the sickbay, where his holographic emitters were equipped. He could also be transferred directly to the ship's holodeck occasionally,...

Switching two Neelix episodes in Voyager's seasons 1 and 3 would have improved his character development. "Jetrel" and "Fair Trade" revealed Neelix's tragic past, but should have been aired in reverse order. Airing "Jetrel" in season 3 would have made Neelix more likable and even improved his story arcs in later seasons.

Star Trek: Voyager made a mistake by not switching two important Neelix (Ethan Phillip) episodes in seasons 1 and 3. Neelix was Voyager's Talaxian cook, morale officer, and unofficial ambassador to the Delta Quadrant throughout the show's seven seasons. Introduced in season 1 alongside his then-girlfriend, Kes (Jennifer Lien), Neelix became a more permanent fixture in Voyager's cast of characters, and his storylines improved exponentially after he and Kes broke up and Lien left the show.

Although Neelix was often Voyager's comic relief, he also had a tragic backstory that was revealed throughout the show's early seasons. Two episodes in particular, "Jetrel" in season...

Jennifer Lien's departure from Star Trek: Voyager had a significant impact on the show, and her character Kes was missed by the cast. Despite personal struggles, Lien's acting talent was highly praised by her fellow cast member Roxann Dawson. Kes was a valued member of Voyager's crew, known for her telepathic abilities and caring nature, and her absence left a void in the show's dynamic.

Jennifer Lien left Star Trek: Voyager in season 4, and fellow cast member Roxann Dawson reflects on the impact Lien's character, Kes, made on the show. Voyager followed Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) as she led the USS Voyager through the unexplored Delta Quadrant on the long journey back to Earth. A member of the Ocampa species, Kes joined Voyager's crew soon after the ship arrived in the Delta Quadrant, along with her boyfriend at the time, Neelix (Ethan Phillips). With her telepathic abilities and caring nature,...

Ethan Phillips revealed that Star Trek: Voyager cut a scene that provided closure for Neelix and Kes's relationship. The scene, which took place in the science lab, acknowledged their breakup and allowed them to move on as friends. Neelix and Kes's relationship was plagued with issues, but while their breakup was justified, not officially showing it on-screen was a mistake.

Ethan Phillips revealed that Star Trek: Voyager cut a scene that would have provided more closure for his character Neelix's relationship with Kes (Jennifer Lein). Neelix and Kes were first introduced in Voyager's pilot episode, "Caretaker," and joined Star Trek: Voyager's cast for their journey through the Delta Quadrant after offering aid when they became stranded. Although Neelix and Kes started the show as a couple, circumstances broke them up partway through Voyager season 3, and Kes ended up being written off the show at the start of season...

Tom Wright praises the scenes with Jennifer Lien in which their characters share a deep emotional connection. The Kes and Tuvix relationship is crucial in helping the audience understand that Tuvix is not the same as the original characters. Kes' negative reaction to Tuvix's romantic advances highlights the loss of both Neelix and Tuvok, influencing Janeway's decision to separate Tuvix.

Tom Wright, who played Tuvix in Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 24, "Tuvix", has high praise for the scenes that he shared with Kes actress Jennifer Lien. In "Tuvix", a transporter accident merges Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ) and Talaxian chef Neelix (Ethan Phillips) into a single being named Tuvix, who shares characteristics of both Tuvok and Neelix. Most members of the USS Voyager's crew grow accustomed to Tuvix over the months that the hybrid being is with them, but Kes (Jennifer Lien) becomes uncertain when Tuvix wishes to resume Neelix's relationship with Kes.

Garrett Wang expresses regret and frustration for missing Jennifer Lien's farewell dinner organized by Kate Mulgrew. Wang admits that his absence from the event was completely unintentional and due to forgetting about it while at Ikea. Wang's honesty and remorse demonstrate his desire to be there with the rest of the cast to bid farewell to Jennifer Lien and support her during her departure from Star Trek: Voyager.

Star Trek: Voyager actor Garrett Wang says he's "still mad" that he missed out on a farewell dinner for Jennifer Lien, who played Kes in the first 3 seasons of Voyager. The telepathic Ocampan Kes' compassion and optimism brought heart to Voyager, but the lack of solid storylines for Kes and Lien's ongoing struggles with mental health meant that writing Kes out of Voyager was the best call at the time. Lien's last episode was an emotional experience for Jennifer's Voyager costars,...

Scheduling issues in the early seasons of Star Trek: Voyager saved Neelix from becoming completely unlikable. Neelix's jealousy over Kes's interactions was one of his least appealing qualities and would have been worsened if episodes were aired in their original order. As the show progressed, Voyager rehabilitated Neelix's character by ending his relationship with Kes and giving him better storylines and character development.

Star Trek: Voyager's season 2 scheduling issues saved one polarizing character from going any further downhill. The end of Voyager season 1 and the beginning of season 2 suffered from several bizarre scheduling choices, with four episodes that were supposed to be broadcast with season 1 moved to the beginning of season 2 instead. This shortened Voyager season 1 to just 16 episodes, well shy of the show's usual 26, and meant that the end of the season was decidedly anticlimactic, capping things off with a fairly mundane episode instead of taking everything out with a bang.

"The Gift" was a challenging episode for the cast, as it marked Jennifer Lien's departure from Star Trek: Voyager. Scenes between Lien and her co-stars reflected the emotional reality of her last episode. The most emotional scene was the farewell between Lien's character Kes and Captain Janeway, with real emotions of saying goodbye to Lien shining through.

Star Trek: Voyager actors Robert Duncan McNeill (Lt. Tom Paris) and Garrett Wang (Ensign Harry Kim) remember filming Jennifer Lien's final episode as Kes. Voyager season 4, episode 2, "The Gift" was an especially difficult episode for cast members who had grown close to Lien during her time on the show. McNeill suggests that scenes between Lien and her co-stars seem to reflect "the reality of Jennifer Lien's last episode", with Wang agreeing that fellow Voyager actors were affected by the impending departure of both Lien and Kes, particularly those who often shared screen time with Lien.

After being lost for so long, Star Trek: Prodigy has finally made it home, and it’s bringing along an old friend. After Prodigy‘s well-regarded first season, Paramount+, the streaming service that touted itself “the home of Star Trek,” removed the shelved the completed second season before it had a chance to air.

Fortunately, Prodigy will return on Netflix on Dec. 25, starting with all of season one, with season two slated to release in 2024. Even better, Robert Picardo has confirmed via Twitter that he will appear in the second season as the Emergency Medical Hologram, better known as the Doctor.

“Now that our strike has ended, I am pleased to confirm that I will be on season 2 of #StarTrekProdigy,” wrote Picardo.

Now that our strike has ended, I am pleased to confirm that I will be on season 2 of #StarTrekProdigy , which has found a new home on ⁦@netflix⁩ . https://t.

Kes's telepathic powers grew and evolved throughout her time on Star Trek: Voyager, from communicating telepathically to sensing minds and emotions and even manipulating matter with her mind. The true scope of Kes's powers was never defined, leading to confusion and inconsistencies in the show. This was likely due to the creative team not knowing how to handle the character and Jennifer Lien's departure from the show. Kes's return in season 7 showcased her most advanced powers yet, but only in one episode, leaving viewers with more questions than answers about her abilities.

Throughout her run on Star Trek: Voyager, one of Kes's (Jennifer Lien) biggest storylines was the development of her telepathic powers. Kes came from a race called the Ocampa, a reclusive species who the crew of the USS Voyager met in the show's pilot episode, "Caretaker." Once powerful telepaths, the Ocampa had become complacent and lost...

Jennifer Lien's departure from Star Trek: Voyager was due to unknown mental health concerns that affected her performance both on and off set. She struggled to communicate about her issues and did not seek help. Executive producer Jeri Taylor and others tried to reach out and offer assistance, but Lien would not open up or consider getting help. Her emotional struggles ultimately became more powerful than her and she was unable to continue. The original explanation for Lien's departure as a result of limited potential and underdeveloped characterization was a cover story crafted to protect the vulnerable actress. Kes' replacement with the more exciting character Seven of Nine seemed to support this explanation, but the real reason remains a mystery.

Star Trek: Voyager executive producer Jeri Taylor explains what she knows about the "mystery" departure of Kes actress Jennifer Lien. As the young, short-lived Ocampa, Kes was a series...

Two main characters in Star Trek: Voyager undergo personality swaps in later seasons, allowing them to realize their true potential. Voyager excels at establishing its main cast but characters evolve and change dramatically over time. The premise of Voyager, with the crew thrown into challenging circumstances, fosters character growth and long arcs, leading to significant personality shifts.

Two of Star Trek: Voyager's main characters ended up swapping personality traits in later seasons, something that helped both realize their true potential. While Voyager did a good job of establishing its main cast from as early as the pilot episode, all characters go through growing pains on a new show. This is especially true in the Star Trek franchise, which often takes time to establish recognizable traits and personality quirks in characters. Voyager did better at this than some series at the start, but many of the show's characters changed dramatically in later seasons.

Star Trek: Voyager repeated the mistake made in Tng with Deanna Troi, mishandling Kes' character and powers throughout the show. Kes' telepathic abilities were introduced in a similar way to how Troi's powers were initially portrayed, leading to confusion and unanswered questions. Despite initial similarities, Troi became more popular than Kes because she had a defined role and was given more to do in Tng, while Kes struggled to fit in with Voyager's main characters and her powers remained undefined.

Star Trek: Voyager repeated a mistake with Kes (Jennifer Lien) that Star Trek: The Next Generation made with Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Kes was first introduced in Voyager's pilot episode when Neelix (Ethan Phillips) enlisted the USS Voyager's help to save her from the Kazon-Ogla. When Voyager set out on its journey home after becoming permanently stranded in the Delta Quadrant, Kes and Neelix requested to stay on the...

Voyager's unique circumstances forced the crew to become comfortable with each other quickly, leading to one of the closest-knit crews in Star Trek. "Parallax" established the dynamics of important relationships, such as Harry and Tuvok's contrasting personalities and Kes' treatment of the Doctor. The episode also set up the love triangle between Tom, Kes, and Neelix, as well as the complex relationships between Chakotay and B'Elanna and Janeway and her crew.

Star Trek: Voyager set up a number of important crew relationships as early as its second episode. Although the Star Trek franchise is known for its sci-fi concepts and utopian vision of the future, one of the things that makes each project work so well is the relationship dynamics between the main cast of characters. This is true for every series but seemed to be especially true for Voyager, mainly because of its initial premise and setting.

Voyager revolved...

The Doctor's relationship with Seven of Nine improved upon his friendship with Kes as Seven helped him discover his own humanity. Seven's aloof and cold demeanor initially put her at odds with the crew, but the Doctor recognized a kindred spirit in her and their friendship blossomed. Through their cooperation and understanding, Seven and the Doctor brought out the best in each other, facing both tragedy and comedy together, and their friendship endured despite challenges.

The relationship between the Doctor (Robert Picardo) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in Star Trek: Voyager, beginning in season 4, was an improvement on the Doctor's friendship with Kes (Jennifer Lien) in earlier seasons. Because Kes's true friendship with the Doctor helped him discover his own humanity, he found ways to parlay that into a similar, but far more interesting and ultimately better relationship with Seven of Nine.

Kes's departure early in Star Trek: Voyager...

The early seasons of Star Trek: Voyager showcased a gem of a friendship between the holographic Doctor and Kes that is among the best in the series. Kes' inherent compassion and natural empathy make her an excellent foil for the Doctor, allowing them both to develop independently of stereotypes others have about them. The decline of Kes' character in later seasons of Voyager can be attributed to the neglect of her friendship with the Doctor, leading to weak storylines and mischaracterization.

Star Trek: Voyager's early seasons forgot about a gem of a friendship between the holographic Doctor (Robert Picardo) and Kes (Jennifer Lien) that is among the best Star Trek has to offer. The Doctor, recently featured in a clip from Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, is undoubtedly one of Voyager's breakout characters, and his journey from sickbay mainstay to fan-favorite singing hologram and guide of the Voyager-a wouldn't be...

Captain Janeway's decision to kill Tuvix is a controversial moment in Star Trek: Voyager, as she ends the life of a sentient being for her own benefit. This goes against Starfleet's ideals of respecting all new life and finding peaceful solutions. The use of a radioactive isotope to separate Tuvok and Neelix's personas was a quick fix suggested by the Doctor, but it didn't give him enough time to find an alternative solution that could have saved Tuvix's life. Janeway appears wracked with guilt after making the decision to kill Tuvix, highlighting the moral complexity of the situation and adding to the controversy surrounding her actions.

The decision by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) on how to solve a problem like Tuvix (Tom Wright) is one of the biggest controversies in Star Trek: Voyager, if not the entire franchise. The Voyager episode "Tuvix" is an episode in the transporter malfunction subgenre.

Star Trek: Voyager introduced countless new alien species in the Delta Quadrant, some friendly and some enemies, expanding the Star Trek canon. The Kazon, Hirogen, Vidiians, and Species 8472 were some of the unique challenges Captain Janeway and her crew faced in their seven years in the Delta Quadrant. The Talaxians, Ocampans, Kobali, Voth, Nacene, Krenim, and Vidiians each had their own fascinating cultures and backstories, adding depth to the Star Trek: Voyager universe.

Star Trek: Voyager's exploration of the Delta Quadrant vastly expanded the Star Trek canon by introducing countless new aliens. Due to their unique circumstances, the USS Voyager and Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) conducted nearly as many First Contact missions as Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) of the USS Enterprise. Many of the alien races that Voyager encountered were friendly species who wanted to help the travelers on their treacherous journey through the Delta Quadrant.

Poe Dameron's parents, Kes and Shara, played a vital role in saving Rebel leader Mon Mothma from an assassination attempt. Without Kes and Shara's actions, the Rebellion may have collapsed and the Battle of Endor may have turned out differently. The actions of Kes and Shara, along with their son Poe, ensured their influence carried on through future generations of heroes in the Star Wars galaxy.

Spoilers for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - The Rebellion #1!

Star Wars has revealed the vital role Poe Dameron's parents played in the fate of the Rebellion, and its eventual successor the New Republic, with Marvel's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi –The Rebellion #1 depicting the moment they saved indispensable Rebel leader Mon Mothma from an assassination attempt.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – The Rebellion #1, written by Alex Segurra, with art by Matt Horak, Brent Peeples, and Rafael Pimental, features an attempt...

While Star Trek: Voyager remains a beloved addition to the Star Trek franchise, not all of it holds up 28 years later. Voyager was the fourth series in the franchise and part of the 1990s-era lineup that included Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Focusing on Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the crew of the USS Voyager, the show chronicled the adventures of the crew as they worked to return home after accidentally getting flung 70,000 lightyears from Earth into a region of space known as the Delta Quadrant, uncharted territory for any Starfleet ship.

Many aspects of Star Trek: Voyager are still rightly celebrated. The show was the first Star Trek series to feature a female lead as the Captain and the diversity of the main cast was unmatched by any previous series, including the greatest number of women and people of color. Voyager also...

The latest all-singing version of Matilda, now on Netflix, joins an impressive library of thoughtful film versions of seminal kids’ books, from Paddington to Kes

The common wisdom that “the book is usually better than the film” is as true of children’s literature as of its adult counterpart: cinema is stacked with adaptations of children’s classics that may be perfectly proficient, but haven’t the inspired individuality of the works at their source.

Devotees of Roald Dahl have learned this a lot over the years. His offbeat humour and offhand storytelling style, so irresistible to kids, rarely translates all the way to screen — it’s thwarted such titans as Steven Spielberg, who whiffed with The Bfg (Netflix), though Wes Anderson’s droll Fantastic Mr Fox succeeded by inventing eccentricities of its own. Best of all, Nicolas Roeg’s very adult sense of the macabre proved a delicious fit...

Ken Loach has said that The Old Oak, his latest feature, will be his last. Probably.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of what will mark his 15th film premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the veteran filmmaker, who turns 87 in June, acknowledged that “realistically, it would be hard to do a feature film again.

“Films take a couple of years and I’ll be nearly 90,” he said. “And your facilities do decline. Your short-term memory goes and my eyesight is pretty rubbish now, so it’s quite tricky.”

Loach said that while he had little issue on The Old Oak dealing with the physical demands of long working days required during production, it has become harder to sustain, “with good humor,” the “nervous emotional energy” he needs to set the tempo during a shoot and to keep that momentum going.

Loach, of course, has “retired” before. When he brought...