#would have liked that five episode arc
Random season seven thoughts
I was pretty disappointed with season 7, but that’s probably at least in part because I was hoping for more. Like seeing the crew actually reunited with their loved ones.
“Natural Law” was a weird choice. Viewers were anticipating the long-awaited arrival home (the ratings, in decline for years, were actually rising)…and we get Seven and Chakotay going to a conference? What is this, Dilbert?
I think the reason for this was that they kept changing their minds about how Voyager was going to end. The summer before season 7, the writers promised that it was all planned out, and there would be a 5-episode arc that would wrap up the series. (Among other things, Chakotay was supposed to take the rap for Voyager’s Maquis, getting a short prison term in exchange for the rest of them getting probation.)
But somewhere along the line, they decided Voyager would remain in the Delta Quadrant. I suspect what was supposed to happen was that a regular was going to sacrifice their life trying to get the ship home. (I think it was Tom Paris. Kate Mulgrew wanted it to be Janeway, and Braga thought it should be Seven.) That would make the rest decide to stop taking risks trying to get home. The Delta Quadrant was home. (This is probably the seed of Harry’s “To the journey” speech.)
That meant there was no need for a multi-episode arc. So they needed filler episodes like “Natural Law.”
Then, three weeks before production on “Endgame” started, they changed their minds again, and decided Voyager had to get home. (Berman may have stepped in.) By then, it was too late to do a 5-episode arc. They had just two episodes to wrap up the series.
Before season 7 started, Ken Biller promised that Tuvok and B’Elanna would get a lot of attention. (Fans had long complained about how neglected those characters were.) B’Elanna did get more screen time, but Tuvok didn’t. There were several episodes planned for him, but none came to fruition, except for “Repression.” Tuvok also had a much bigger role in the original version of “Endgame.” (He was the one who traveled back in time, not Admiral Janeway.)
What?!?! Tuvok was the one who went back in time? I have never heard this! Now I want this Endgame!!!! I want the whole script of the original Endgame!
