A Star Trek: Voyager The character was originally meant to be Captain Kathryn Janeway’s (Kate Mulgrew) version of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). On Star Trek: The Original Series, The half-Vulcan/half-human Spock represented the outsider and many fans related to him because of that. Spock was caught between two worlds and sometimes felt like he didn’t really fit into either. Spock also acted as a foil to Captain Kirk, as the Vulcan’s logical stoicism balanced Kirk’s more impulsive tendencies.
Almost everyone Star Trek show since TOS had a similar external character, whose presence Allow the show to dive deeper into what it means to be human. Star Trek: The Next Generation Had the Android Lt. Commander Doth (Brent Spiner), who wanted nothing more than to be human. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Has Constable Odo (René Auberjonois), a changeling struggling to find his identity. And Star Trek: Voyager Has Seven of Nine (Jerry Ryan), the first Borg drone who has to relearn how to be human.
Star Trek: Voyager wanted seven out of nine to be Janeway’s Spock – did it work?
Janeway & Seven have a much different dynamic than Kirk & Spock
With a character as popular as Spock, it’s no surprise that later Star Trek Show would try to recreate the phenomenon. Not only was Spock a great character on his own, but he also helped create the perfect dynamic with Captain Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelly). Star Trek: Voyager’s Seven of Nine was originally meant to serve a similar purpose as Spock. In her new book, Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, Nana guest talked with Voyager Executive producer Brannon Braga about Seven of Nine’s original purpose. Read her quote below:
Brannon told me that Seven was designed to make Janeway a stronger character—to give her a Spock—and that, to this day, he regrets not spending more time discussing this with Kate. Spock, Data, Odo, and Seven of Nine are all characters who struggle with their humanity, and they are all characters who activate others in storylines and relationships.
Like Spock, Seven became one of Star Trek Most popular characters and Star Trek: Voyager’s Ratings improved after she joined the cast. Seven also added conflict to the show, viz It took Voyager’s crew time to get used to a former Borg drone on board. Jeri Ryan often delivered Seven’s line in the same emotional monotone that Spock regularly used, further cementing her role as an outsider. Still, Seven and Janeway didn’t have the same type of friendship that Spock had with Kirk. Janeway took on a mentor role for Seven, but they also had their fair share of trouble.
Why Kate Mulgrew has problems with Jerry Ryan’s seven out of nine on Star Trek: Voyager
Kate Mulgrew spoke about her initial misgivings about Seven of Nine
Kate Mulgrew initially felt trepidation when Jeri Ryan joined the cast of Star Trek: Voyager In season 4. Mulgrew established Janeway as an intelligent and hard-working captain, Whose looks were irrelevant when it came to doing her job. Mulgrew felt that Seven of Nine, with her skin-tight body suits and obvious attractiveness, would undermine the type of lead Mulgrew was trying to build. Mulgrew has since taken responsibility for her treatment of Jeri Ryan on Voyager’s Sure, but her initial misgivings are understandable.
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While seven out of nine’s sex appeal was part of the reason why Voyager’s Ratings increased after she joined the cast, Seven developed into a complex character in her own right. And seven times contentious relationship with Captain Janeway ultimately benefited both characters. Fans related to Seven of Nine for many of the same reasons they related to Spock, and Jeri Ryan made the character so much more than her impractical catsuits. It’s hard to imagine the show Star Trek: Voyager Would have been seven out of nine, and the former Borg drone remains a fan favorite even today.
Source: Star Trek: Open A Channel: A Woman’s Trek By Nana Visitor