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 previous 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, nonetheless, was intriguing. “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” ended after seven seasons, and there was each cause to imagine that the concurrent “Deep Area 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 appears to be like 20 to 1 that appears 90. Trekkies would watch Kes mature, develop previous, and die in seven years, an entire life in microcosm. And sure, expensive readers, she did finally dump Neelix.
Kes, nonetheless, was written out of “Voyager” on the finish of its third season. Not like “Subsequent Technology” earlier than it, “Voyager” struggled to realize excessive scores, so its showrunners had been continually attempting to spice up their numbers with low cost gimmicks. There was a holographic bikini seashore the solid would recurrently go to, clumsily including half-naked our bodies into the present. Then, in a last-ditch effort, Kes was faraway from the present 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 preferred Seven of 9 higher than Kes, and Seven grew to become, primarily, the brand new star of the present. Ryan had journal mannequin appears to be like and wore a decent corset all through her tenure on the present. Seven was an attention-grabbing character, however it was clear that the “Voyager” showrunners added her for causes of intercourse attraction. And, lo, impulsively, the conscience of “Voyager” was gone. Kes was out of the present and its complete dynamic modified.
Kes was the conscience of Star Trek: Voyager
Kes, I might argue, was very important to “Star Trek: Voyager” in methods its showrunners by no means absolutely 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 sometimes 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 physician (Robert Picardo) was alive and inspired Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) to take peaceable programs of motion every time Janeway’s first plan of action appeared unnecessarily harsh. Janeway would typically suggest the united statesS. Voyager thunder by way of a troublesome situation. Kes would then step in and remind her of a gentler course.
Kes primarily reined in Janeway’s darker impulses. She was the present’s conscience — one thing that’s very important to “Star Trek.” The characters, for essentially the most half, endeavor to take essentially the most moral plan of action and try to do as little hurt as potential. Janeway, whereas resolute, did tend towards brusque authoritarianism, and often took dangers she did not must. Kes, if left on the collection, may have continued to stability Janeway, reminding her to be sort.
Kes additionally served as a significant instructor for the Physician. The hologram was even youthful than Kes, having solely been just lately activated. The 2 noticed humanity with an outsider’s eye, attempting to suss out what human conduct must appear to be and what the 2 of them may ideally attain for. Like Information (Brent Spiner) on “Subsequent Technology,” Kes checked out humanity together 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,” nonetheless, by no means absolutely keyed into Kes’ potential. There have been too few scenes whereby Kes and Janeway may ethically butt heads. She had the potential to be an ongoing counterpart to Janeway and may need even develop into the second most essential character on the present, had the writers tapped into her myriad prospects. On the very least, the dynamic between Kes and the Physician did emerge as emotional hook. One may see their mutual familial affection for each other.
As a substitute, 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, preferred that story arc.
When “Voyager” started flagging within the scores, the choice was made to axe one of many characters and exchange them with a Borg character. Rumors have unfold that Paramount was selecting between Harry Kim (Garrett Wang)Â and Kes, however that Wang was spared when he was featured in a notable challenge 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 united statesS. 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 beloved that battle and milked it for all it was value. The writers additionally gave Seven each potential job they might. 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 instructor, telling Seven the whole lot 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 essentially the most pacifistic character on “Voyager” be lower. Seven was effective, however Kes ought to have stayed.
