Upon learning about the introduction of Seven of Nine to “Star Trek: Voyager,” actor Robert Picardo, who played the Doctor, voiced concerns over the potential overlap between his character’s development and the new Borg character’s storylines. The Doctor, an AI learning to be more human, feared similarity in narrative due to Seven’s half-Borg, half-human nature. Expressing his worries to co-creator Brannon Braga, Picardo was apprehensive about losing unique storylines and feared his character’s growth would be negatively impacted with Kes’s departure from the show.
“[W]hat happened is that Seven’s character was suddenly assigned storylines that would have been The Doctor’s in the first three seasons. Had I realized they were going to do that, I might’ve been trepidatious. When I heard that Kes wasn’t coming back, I did go in to Brannon’s office and say, ‘I’m concerned again.’”
Picardo respected Kes as a character that helped the Doctor grow emotionally, offering a mentorship that was critical for the Doctor’s development. He foresaw that without Kes, his character might regress to a less nuanced role.
“I explained that Kes had really been The Doctor’s mentor. Officially, he’s mentoring her as a medical assistant, but she has been mentoring him and developing his humanity. My concern was that she’s been his emotional sounding board, his confessor. The moment she’s gone, The Doctor is just going to go back to being a buffoon and a windbag. He’d never open himself up to another crew member at this point.”
Braga’s response encouraged Picardo to pivot and view the change as an opportunity to tackle the situation as an acting challenge.
FAQs About Seven of Nine’s Impact on Star Trek: Voyager
- Why was Robert Picardo concerned about Seven of Nine joining the cast?
- What was the Doctor’s relationship with Kes, and why was it important?
- How did Brannon Braga address Picardo’s concerns?
Picardo was concerned that Seven of Nine’s character development would overlap with storylines previously written for the Doctor, resulting in fewer unique character moments for him.
The Doctor and Kes had a mentor-protégé relationship, which helped the Doctor’s emotional growth. Kes’s departure threatened this dynamic.
Braga addressed Picardo’s concerns by challenging him to see the introduction of Seven of Nine as an acting opportunity rather than a setback.
Conclusion
The introduction of Seven of Nine into the “Star Trek: Voyager” series presented not only a significant shift in the character dynamic but also raised concerns for actor Robert Picardo. His fears about the Doctor’s character development being sidelined in favor of Seven’s journey highlight the intricate balance writers and actors must maintain when evolving a show’s cast and narrative. Despite initial trepidation, the challenge was met with creativity, and both characters continued to contribute to the rich tapestry of “Voyager’s” storytelling. As with any series, particularly in the realm of science fiction, changes can bring about uncertainty, but they can also catalyze new depths of character exploration and plot intrigue.