Star Trek: VoyagerKes could return, even if Jennifer Lien doesn't return to reprise the role. As an Ocampa with a projected lifespan of just nine years, Kes' days were necessarily numbered. Kes was two years old when she and Neelix (Ethan Phillips) joined the crew of the USS Voyager in 2371, so Even if Kes had made it through Voyager's seven-year journey, she would have been near the end of her life for Voyager's arrival in 2378 in the Alpha Quadrant.. New Star Trek post-showTraveler will take place in the 2380s or later, so Kes shouldn't be alive… right?
In Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 10, “Cold Fire”, Kes meets colonists from Ocampa who have harnessed their natural telepathic gifts, allowing them to extend their lives to 14 years or more.. After Kes begins training with Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ), Kes' powers in Ocampa grow at an astonishing rate. Star Trek: Voyager Season 3, Episode 21, “Before and After” shows an alternate timeline where Kes lived until she was 10 years old. Star Trek: Voyager The Season 4 episode “The Gift” saw the overload of Kes's telepathic powers, as Kes became a being of pure energy.
How Star Trek: Voyager's Kes Could Make a Star Trek Return
Kes doesn't need a body to return to Star Trek
Star Trek: VoyagerKes could still make one Star Trek return despite Ocampan's normal life expectancy of nine years. As an energetic being, Kes would not be limited by Ocampa's short-lived physiology and could return in a new form. Kes' essence could be contained in an artificial golem body, as in Star Trek: Picard, or a separate vessel, such as Star Trek: ProdigyIt's Medusan, Zero. Kes could be given a holographic body, which would be a poetic twist on Kes and the Doctor's (Robert Picardo) friendship, as Kes was the first to consider the Doctor a person.
Opportunities to revisit Star Trekof the 24th century are diminishing, but have not entirely disappeared. If a third season of Star Trek: Prodigy If this happens, the former crew of the USS Protostar would revisit the Delta Quadrant, where they could find Kes. Since Star Trek: Prodigy and TravelerThe spiritual sequel to, seeing Kes return in Prodigy would be a good bet. In a live action show, Kes could join Robert Picardo as TravelerDoctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Star TrekThe 29th century is full of the types of technology that could reincarnate Kes in some form, from advanced holography to the aforementioned golems.
Star Trek May Recast Kes If Voyager's Ocampa Returns
Actress Jennifer Lien is unlikely to return to Star Trek
Actress Jennifer Lien is unlikely to return to Star Trek. Pledge came out Star Trek: Voyager after three seasons; at the time, the official explanation was that Kes' lack of direction as a short-lived character painted Travelerthe writers in a corner. Since then, Star Trek: Voyager The cast and crew revealed that Lien was also dealing with mental health issues. At the end, Lien's departure from Star Trek: Voyager it was the best choice for the young actress and also for the show itself. After retiring from acting, Lien continued to struggle with legal and mental health issues.
Without Jennifer Lien, Kes would have to be reworked to return to any new Star Trek stories. In a live-action show, a new body for the otherwise incorporeal Kes could explain why Kes would be played by a different actor. As the characters return to Star Trek via animation are often played by their original actors, a talented voice actor could imitate Lien's mannerisms as Kes. Since Lien's likeness could also be approximated relatively easily, an animated program like Star Trek: ProdigyA potential 3rd season would be the best way to bring Star Trek: Voyager's Kes back to Star Trek.