Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is returning to the 2026 TV schedule this summer, and it's looking like a wild Voyager connection could be coming up in Season 4. While we wait to stream new episodes with a Paramount+ subscription on July 24th, I need to talk about the dinosaur in the latest look at the season and if it is tied to the Voth.

A new trailer for Strange New Worlds Season 4 popped up over the weekend, and while there were no new scenes of the upcoming puppet adventure, we did see what looks to be a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex. Unfortunately, we didn't get anything beyond that, so let's talk about what this scene could mean in detail, and how it could tie into a famous Voyager episode.

Is Strange New Worlds Going To Visit Prehistoric Earth?

I never want to assume anything when I see a clip of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, because there are just so many reasons we could be seeing this clip of a T. Rex. For example, maybe they went to a prehistoric planet that also has dinosaurs, or this is a dream Pike had. Let's also remember that last season featured a prototype Holodeck, so this could be a scene from a simulation.

Of course, another possibility is that the Enterprise crew somehow time-traveled back to Prehistoric Earth, and judging by the burning trees around the dinosaur, it may have shown up in the midst of an extinction event. I'd hate to see what the special effects bill was for this episode if so, but excited all the same to see dinosaurs in Star Trek if it ends up bringing the Voth back into the franchise.

Did The Enterprise Play A Role In The Voth's Existence In Voyager?

For Star Trek fans who don't remember or didn't watch Voyager, dinosaurs played a big role in the episode "Distant Origin." In the episode, the ship encounters a planet whose advanced species, the Voth, are a distant genetic relative of an extinct dinosaur species from prehistoric Earth. A Voth scientist wishes to use the Enterprise and its Voyager crew as evidence of the existence that Voth life first started on a distant planet (Earth), but he's deemed a heretic and coerced to recant his views.

While the Voyager episode confirmed the Voth evolved from dinosaurs that lived on Earth millions of years ago, it was never explained how the species escaped the planet before the extinction event that wiped out all the dinosaurs. Star Trek fans have theorized there was an advanced dinosaur species that developed space travel, or it's possible another advanced species transported them elsewhere.

We may finally get an answer thanks to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and I'm wondering if Pike's Enterprise may inadvertently be the ones who set the Voth on their eventual path of evolution. No guarantees the episode will even reference the episode, but given the nods we've seen over the years, I'm hoping they wrote this episode with that wtf Voyager episode in mind.

I'm hype for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to return, even with Season 4's arrival meaning that there's only one more season left if one of the best Trek shows of the modern era.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is effectively over following its debut on the 2026 TV schedule, and with its ending, the cast's thoughts and opinions are now free to come out. With no secrets to hold close to the chest, even Robert Picardo shared a Season 3 story that referenced Voyager in a way I would've loved to see.

As questions continue to mount about what's next for Star Trek and when we'll see future shows available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, Picardo just revealed what we missed out on with Season 3 not happening. Unfortunately, we'll likely never see this episode, which is a shame because it touches on one of The Doctor's best stories from Voyager.

Robert Picardo Wanted To Do A Sequel To Voyager's "Living Witness"

During an appearance on The D-Con Chamber, Robert Picardo revealed he did a video test to see what it'd be like for him to be digitally de-aged to look like himself back when he was on Voyager. It was done, in part, because Picardo pitched and received soft approval from showrunner Noga Landau for Season 3 of Starfleet Academy to cover a follow-up to the beloved episode "Living Witness."

As Star Trek fans may remember, there are two versions of The Doctor kicking around in the 32nd century. There's the one we followed on Starfleet Academy, and a backup copy of him featured in "Living Witness." While he didn't have the full idea fleshed out, he said he felt the episode would thrive on seeing how two formerly identical versions of the character evolved over time:

One example Picardo offered up of how this would be entertaining was the "Living Witness" version of the EMH being unable to understand why Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Doctor would alter his programming to appear older amongst organics. I love the idea, and think it would've been another example of why Picardo's Doctor remains one of Star Trek's best characters.

Robert Picardo's Reveal Shows Just How Unlikely Paramount Is To Reverse Course On Starfleet Academy's Cancellation

Unfortunately, I think the fact that Robert Picardo is being so open about this idea shows just how sure he feels that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy won't be saved from cancellation. I know there's a petition with 36,000+ names and counting, hoping fans can reverse it as they've done before, but there are different circumstances this time around.

With Paramount Skydance hoping to make its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery official, all signs indicate that executives are content to start fresh with Star Trek television once Alex Kurtzman's contract expires at the end of 2026. There are two final seasons of Strange New Worlds filmed, as well as one final season of Starfleet Academy. This sets up content to release until at least the end of 2027, by which a new show could be announced and in development.

This is all speculation, of course, as there are no guarantees Star Trek television will return at this time. For now, Paramount Skydance seems most concerned about bringing the franchise back to theaters, and even hired Spider-Man: Homecoming's writers to make it happen. There's a lot of uncertainty right now, and I look forward to the time we have more clarity on the future of Trek when it comes to television.

Until then, almost all Star Trek shows are available to stream right now on Paramount+. Fingers crossed we'll have a release date for Strange New Worlds Season here soon, along with some answers about where the franchise will "boldly go" next.

Warning! The following contains SPOILERS for the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode "The Life of the Stars." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

The Doctor's presence in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been a major topic ever since his casting was first announced. While the series is primarily focused on highlighting the stories of the new cadets of the Academy in the 32nd century, it was only a matter of time before the EMH received a significant role in the story. I'm thrilled that it was not only a great storyline, but also a big callback to Voyager.

Star Trek: Voyager gave fans plenty of WTF episodes to look back on, but also some that helped make The Doctor one of the best Trek characters of all time. No doubt the one referenced in this latest episode of Starfleet Academy is a good example, and I'm glad the series finally found a way for him to heal from this trauma.

The Doctor Mentioned His Longstanding Trauma From Voyager's "Real Life"

SAM has desperately wanted The Doctor to be her mentor all throughout Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, but he's brushed her off a lot thus far. It wasn't until she malfunctioned and required an emergency trip to Kasq, however, that we learned the reason why.

When the Makers were unable to "fix" SAM, they decided she must be deactivated. The Doctor, feeling guilty about not previously offering his hand to her when she was scared, decided to tell the deactivated version why he pulled away. He recalled the events of Voyager's "Real Life," in which The Doctor created a holo-simulation of a family to try to gain insight into that human experience.

For those who haven't seen the episode, the crew informs The Doctor that he can't fully understand the meaning of family because he only programmed the idealistic parts of having a family. After altering the program to allow for loss and downsides, the Doctor is struck when he ends up losing his teenage daughter to tragedy.

The Doctor understood what it was like to have a family, but the loss of his daughter stuck with him for all these centuries afterward. He felt as though it happened yesterday, and given his programmed perfect memory, it might as well have. For that reason, he couldn't be SAM's mentor because it reminded him too much of the loss that haunted him all these years later.

The Doctor Takes Another Chance At Parenthood With SAM

Throughout their conversations with The Makers, The Doctor realized the issue behind why SAM malfunctioned. Her new emotions overloaded her system because she had no past experiences of being human to draw back on.

The Doctor theorized that if SAM were able to have a childhood and upbringing, she'd be better equipped to handle the stress and trials of Starfleet Academy without feeling so overloaded. For it to work, however, she'd need a parent to raise her. Rather than have The Makers create her parents, the EMH volunteered himself to parent SAM, as 17 years on Kasq only equated to two weeks outside of their photonic planet.

It's one of my favorite reveals of the 2026 TV schedule, and I'm guessing SAM and The Doctor will be a lot closer going forward. It's a change for the better, because I know I was growing a bit tired of him pushing away from her. It'll be far more interesting to see the two interact and for him to continue to mentor her as she continues to grow in the Academy.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streams new episodes on Paramount+ on Thursdays. There are only a couple more episodes left until the wait for Season 2 begins. Based on what little we know so far, I'm hype to see where it heads!

The Rock is one of the biggest actors on the planet, but like many others, it wasn't always that way. While Dwayne Johnson has never fully shed his past as a WWE superstar, there was once a point where his pro wrestling career took precedence, and he was only able to book small roles.

Star Trek: Voyager fans likely know this all too well, as he notably guest-starred on the series as the "Pendari Champion" in the episode "Tsunkatse." The role didn't require Johnson to do much more than what he was doing as The Rock in WWE at the time, but as the actor told Moovy TV, the experience stood out to him thanks to the cast. He specifically highlighted the "warmth" of co-star and Seven of Nine actress, Jeri Ryan:

That's great to hear, but especially impressive for those familiar with Star Trek: Voyager. Jeri Ryan is very candid that her time on the series was not great, due to a feud with lead actress Kate Mulgrew. While it seems the two have remained cordial in recent years, it speaks volumes that Ryan went out of her way to show kindness to Dwayne Johnson, when she herself was admittedly having a bad time on the show.

In the episode, Seven was tasked with taking on the Pendari Champion in "tsunkatse," a game very similar to pro wrestling or gladiator combat. Seven of Nine falls to Dwayne Johnson's character in battle after showing mercy to him previously. Johnson, who was credited as "The Rock" in the episode's credits, continued to sing praises of how Jeri Ryan treated him, despite still being relatively green when it came to traditional Hollywood acting:

It's cool to see how that moment went on to influence The Rock later in his acting career, and it's a great reminder to fans that Star Trek can be a great place for professional wrestlers to work on their acting chops. Currently, WWE superstar Becky Lynch is working on Starfleet Academy, and who knows, maybe Big Time Becks will one day be as prolific as Dwayne Johnson is in Hollywood.

The Rock's story makes me wish Jeri Ryan were back in Star Trek, but unfortunately, it may take a while before we see that again. After her acclaimed performance in Picard, Paramount offered her a chance to do a follow-up show and further Seven of Nine's adventures. Ryan explained she turned down the offer, knowing it wasn't something the fandom wanted when compared to a proper follow-up to Picard.

As for Dwayne Johnson, I'd love to see him return to Star Trek in the future, even if it were a different character than his Pendari Champion. I think it'd be great to compare the two performances, especially if it were for a project where he could reunite with Jeri Ryan once again. Fingers crossed it can one day happen!

See The Rock's episode and more of Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine by streaming Star Trek: Voyager over on Paramount+. As she's the actress behind one of Star Trek's best characters, it only makes sense for Ryan to be just as enjoyable off-camera as she is as Seven.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is getting a lot of praise from critics, and one standout part of the series is the Academy itself. The franchise is known for constructing intricate sets that give the actors a true sense of space and objects to interact with. From the atrium to the classrooms, it looks amazing on screen, and listening to actors Oded Fehr and Robert Picardo praise the sets compared to their previous shows really drove home how impressive it is.

I had a chance to speak to Fehr and Picardo recently, both of whom reprise their respective roles of Admiral Vance and The Doctor, having appeared on previous Trek shows. Given that, I had to know how the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy set measured up to Discovery and Voyager, and both men had a lot to say on the matter.

Oded Fehr Had Nothing But Positive Praise For Starfleet Academy's Set

Oded Fehr made his debut on the 2026 TV schedule to return to the role of Vance following his time on Discovery, where the admiral worked heavily with Michael Burnham and others in Starfleet. Now, he's in and out of the series, checking up on the Academy as it gets back up and running, and Fehr couldn't believe the set when he showed up to filming:

I'd heard before it premiered that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy built a school to serve as its set, and it appears that was not a complete exaggeration. While it may not be a full-blown facility, a three-story set for the Academy is pretty damn impressive, and something I'd love to see brought to a convention, or even one of the Universal Parks Fan Nights. I doubt it'll happen, but I'd love to walk through it!

The Admiral Vance actor added that he also enjoyed seeing the Athena bridge, where Captain Ake holds dominion, and compared it to the Discovery bridge. Even as a Trekkie, I never thought to compare the two, so I was fascinated by the ways he spoke about how they differed:

It's nice to hear someone point out the differences in a constructive way, rather than the current discourse surrounding Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which even encouraged Whoopi Goldberg to speak out. Those who want more of the same can always revisit old shows with a Paramount+ subscription. We should embrace the differences the new shows give us.

Robert Picardo Believes The Entire Voyager Set Could Fit In The College Set

Of course, I had to ask the most-veteran Star Trek actor on the cast about Starfleet Academy, and how it measured up to the sets he worked on during Voyager. Robert Picardo had previously spoken about some of the changes he made for this series in his return, but he seemed pleased overall with what he saw of the set. So much so that he had a suggestion for fans who watch, if they truly want to embrace just how great the school looks:

It's a lot to take in, and there are certainly points where I forgot these students aren't in an actual building, but a massive set on one of the biggest soundstages. Creating a ship like Voyager, or Discovery, or even the Enterprise, is a big deal, butI think making an academy is an entirely different feat we should all appreciate.

Catch new episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Thursdays on Paramount+. As someone who saw the first six episodes in advance, I can promise that there are some pretty big stories on the way that fans won't want to miss!

It's been an up-and-down year for Star Trek, but despite Section 31 being panned and the mixed opinions about Strange New Worlds Season 3, I'm still as hyped as ever for what the new year holds. The 2026 TV schedule has the new series Starfleet Academy coming to those with a Paramount+ subscription. In fact, the streaming service is a good idea to have in general heading into the new year, as it has a Star Trek episode in its library that's perfect to watch on New Year's Eve.

I totally get that not every Star Trek fan has seen every episode of every show. As such, some may not be aware of one of the great Voyager episodes in the latter run, which tells the perfect story for Trekkies looking for something to watch on New Year's Eve. Don't worry, no spoilers ahead, as I'll just hit on the broad strokes as to why "11:59" is a great episode to watch ahead of 2026.

Star Trek: Voyager Has The Perfect Episode For New Year's Eve

One could argue that "11:59" is one of the WTF episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, but in a good way. This is a rare instance in which the story takes place primarily in the past, specifically in Indiana in the year 1999. The story centers on Neelix and Seven of Nine investigating the life of Captain Janeway's ancestor, Shannon O'Donnell, who was a great inspiration to her descendant.

I've seen the criticism that this episode feels a lot like a Hallmark movie, but as someone currently pitching that Star Trek collaborate with the network for precisely that, I don't see that as a bad thing. Plus, the climax of the adventure hits at New Year's Eve at 11:59 before the year 2000, so one can try to sync it up with the actual countdown on the big night.

Where To Watch "11:59"

If you're living in the United States, watching "11:59" is just as simple as signing up for a Paramount+ subscription. I would especially recommend those who haven't seen Star Trek: Voyager to check this episode out, and then see if they want to watch the rest of the series.

While I would say The Next Generation is the more consistently good series of that era of Star Trek, Voyager is also great. It has a few of the best characters ever created in franchise history, as well as some of the absolute best episodes (along with the worst) that Trek has to offer.

For those who don't spend their New Year's Eve going out on the town, I couldn't think of many better things to do than binge Star Trek: Voyager Season 5 while waiting for 2026 to arrive. I would argue that's the season when the series really figured out what it was, and as a result, the writers created some of the best stories.

So if you like what I've had to say here, watch this Star Trek: Voyager episode on Paramount+ and get hyped for exciting new shows and maybe even a movie. I'm not holding my breath for the latter, but perhaps the new year will bring what the past decade hasn't.

Star Trek: Voyager is one of my favorite series, mainly because it contains some of the absolute best and most WTF moments of Trek. Bryan Fuller was responsible for 20 of those episodes, some of which are considered the best in the series. Given that, CinemaBlend had to ask him about his favorite memories from working on the show, and after hearing his response, I wish the newer projects had more of this.

CinemaBlend's Nick Venable spoke with Fuller ahead of the release of his project on the 2025 movie schedule, Dust Bunny, and he discussed Trek with the famed writer. When asked about his favorite experiences with the franchise, the creative couldn't say enough, especially regarding how the show did two-parter episodes:

Shots fired at Star Trek: The Next Generation, but given that it already receives so much praise and admiration for having some of the best Star Trek characters, I'm going to allow it. I can't remember many two-part episodes of TNG, except for the finale, which Fuller mentioned was initially made as a single episode and later split into two parts. Also, shoutout to Fuller for randomly throwing "Bride of Chaotica" into the conversation, though it's not a traditional two-parter in Star Trek.

I can remember many of Star Trek: Voyager's two-parters, some of which Bryan Fuller wrote. He talked about the difference in how they executed those episodes, and in the process, created some of the best Trek episodes of all time:

Annorax is near the top of my list for the best Voyager villains, and "Year Of Hell" is probably one of the most memorable two-parter episodes for me. It's good to know Bryan Fuller has as much appreciation for those episodes as fans do, though that's not surprising, since many of the show's writers and creatives are fans themselves.

I'd love for Star Trek to get back to doing two-parter episodes when new shows and seasons arrive during the 2026 TV schedule. However, I'm also aware that's a feat easier said than done.

Strange New Worlds managed to do a two-parter to bridge the gap between Seasons 2 and 3, but the impact of it was somewhat ruined thanks to the writer's strike delaying the season by a couple of years. As such, it's hard to judge that effort, as even the showrunners admitted Season 3 suffered from the constant start-and-stop nature of writing during that time.

Even so, doing a two-parter episode in the current climate, when new Star Trek episodes are longer, budgets are higher, and episode counts for seasons are much shorter, is a big ask. Change is the only constant when it comes to television, and it feels like things have changed rapidly since Voyager ended and the new generation of Trek began with Discovery.

That said, I still want to see it happen. A two-parter episode by today's Star Trek standards would practically be a movie, and as Paramount Skydance can attest to, we need those back. Plus, I just love the anticipation of being left on a cliffhanger, and I miss that feeling so badly. So, hopefully, the latest generation of Trek writers can figure out how to "Make it so," as Picard would say.

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream on Paramount+, and with Robert Picardo returning as the EMH in the upcoming series Starfleet Academy, now is the perfect time to revisit the original series he starred in. I'm eager to see The Doctor return and teach a new generation of cadets, and would love to see how he'll adapt to a new generation and era of the Federation. I'd also love to see some more two-part episodes, too.

Star Trek's Starfleet Academy is kicking off the 2026 TV schedule for the franchise, and as we get closer to the premiere date, we're learning more details about what to expect. Now, after seeing a new clip that confirms it may not be the teen drama a previous poster hinted at, we're getting some answers from Robert Picardo on which version of his EMH will be showing up from Voyager.

In what's been a topic I've heard a lot leading up to this new series, people have wondered if Picardo's EMH Doctor would be the original one from Voyager, or a backup of the character from the iconic episode "Living Witness." Well, wonder no longer because the actor cleared it up on Threads after a fan asked:

I wasn't entirely sure if this would be the case, though I leaned more on this being the answer rather than Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. As beloved as "Living Witness" is, having the EMH be a backup that was found 700 years after could create some unnecessary discourse about things he may or may not remember. Would it be a cool callback to Voyager? Sure, but not the easiest thing to account for in the writers' room.

I would much sooner have the EMH that knows of all the wtf moments Voyager encountered, as well as any of his adventures that occurred on Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2. Then again, I guess the EMH backup could have the same memories, which would then make the argument of why it would have to occur in the first place.

One thing that is almost assuredly different is that the EMH could have more autonomy in Discovery, given the advances in technology in the 32nd century. We saw that crew members could perform the same functions of a transporter via their comm badges, so I think it's safe to say Holo beings can do a lot more in this era as well.

That's my assumption, anyway, considering that actress Kerrice Brooks will play Sam, a holo-being attending Starfleet Academy as a cadet. It's wild to imagine, considering that one might assume it'd be easier to make a holo program that is already equipped with all the knowledge to join Starfleet. I can't wait to see why that decision was made, and how The Doctor might've changed in his nearly 1000 years of operation.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres on Paramount+ on January 15th. I've been itching to watch new episodes of Trek throughout this long stretch with no new episodes, so I cannot wait to finally dive in when it arrives.

The year is winding down, and with Star Trek not starting back up until the 2026 TV schedule has started, now is as good of a time as any to check up on actors from past shows and get their takes on them. Many were doing just that at the recent ST: CHI Trek To Chicago event, where Jeri Ryan talked about her iconic catsuit on Voyager.

Star Trek: Voyager had tons of WTF moments fans called out back in the day, but Seven of Nine's catsuit being controversial feels like a take that's gotten more spotlight in the modern day. Ryan was recently asked about her reaction at the time to being asked to play a character that was presented sexually, and the actress told attendees why she was ok with it (via TrekMovie.com):

As the actress mentioned, Seven of Nine's personality was the opposite of what might come to expect in television at the time when a woman walked in wearing a catsuit. Her stories didn't deal with romance, but rather the traumatic story of her being taken by the Borg at a young age, and how reconciling that with her new identity after being freed from its hive mind influence.

Ryan continued, saying:

In the end, Star Trek: Voyager created one of the best Trek characters of all time, who went on to return in Picard, without the catsuit. The character has aged so well that Paramount even approached Ryan to star in a Picard follow-up after the series ended, but she turned it down, citing that the project wasn't something that fans wanted.

Given how she was receptive to the original pitch for Seven of Nine, I'll trust Jeri Ryan's judgement on what Star Trek fans want. Unfortunately, it feels as though it'll be a long time before we get another chance at what's been dubbed "Star Trek: Legacy," As Paramount Skydance has other goals in mind for the overall future of the franchise.

Those plans, at present, seem not to include Jeri Ryan, with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy set in the 32nd century, and plans in motion for a movie that will be separate from any previously existing show or movie. That said, with Seven's former crewmate, the Doctor, serving as one of the instructors in Starfleet Academy, I'd love to see if we somehow get a Seven hologram for an episode. Somehow, someway, we need more of Ryan's beloved Borg.

Watch Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager and Picard over on Paramount+ right now, and get a reminder of why she's one of the best characters in science fiction. I'm a sucker for her episodes with Naomi Wildman, if only because of how she always says her name with the same cadence.

Star Trek: Voyager remains one of my favorite shows in the sci-fi franchise, as it contains the best, worst, and most WTF moments that Trek has to offer. As such, I was already excited to hear the upcoming video game Across The Unknown would allow fans to relive some of Captain Janeway's most trying moments, but I'm shocked by the news that players will seemingly be able to rewrite series history.

This includes a chance to revisit the debate that has plagued the Voyager fandom from the time it first aired to the present where it's available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Once again, "Tuvix" is back in the conversation, as the video game will seemingly allow players to approach the situation a different way than Janeway did.

Star Trek: Voyager - Across The Unknown Will Let You Change The Tuvix Decision

Star Trek: Voyager fans were quick to spot Tuvix in the latest trailer, along with an option to make Captain Janeway decide against splitting the character back into his original form of Tuvok and Neelix. Check out the latest trailer for the game below, and see for yourself:

Star Trek: Voyager - Across The Unknown does not have a release date yet, but I'm absolutely dying to play it based on the Tuvix situation alone. Of course, there are other moments worth exploring, but I'd love to see how the game handles you deciding to spare him, and how the game moves forward from there.

I'm Curious How Such A Big Decision Will Impact The Rest Of The Game

Reversing the Tuvix decision would have some pretty wild consequences and have a big impact on the rest of the storytelling of Star Trek: Voyager. As Tim Russ told CinemaBlend during our 2023 interview, he ultimately felt that Janeway made the right decision to restore Tuvok and Neelix to their original forms. Tuvok was a father with a wife back home, so it only makes sense that he lived over Tuvix.

While I'd love to see some big sweeping change to the Star Trek: Voyager story with Tuvix a part of the Bridge crew, I'd have to imagine Across The Unknown has a contingency in place that doesn't make the change permanent. It's just too big a change to leave Tuvok and Neelix out of the rest of the story, so maybe this will be like the Lower Decks episode where all the "Tuvixd" characters try to take over the ship, and the plot will ultimately result in his separation happening anyway.

It makes me wonder what other decisions can be changed in the game, which is coming to Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox systems when it does release. Could this be how the Chakotay and Janeway shippers finally get to see their long-awaited romance between the two captains? Kate Mulgrew was never a fan of that happening, so I'm reluctant to believe the game would be allowed such a lengthy runway for storytelling, but stranger things have happened!

Keep a lookout for updates on Star Trek: Voyager - Across The Unknown, and continue to stream the classic Trek series over on Paramount+. I'm hoping it ends up being as good as I'm hoping it'll be, and I can relive my love of the series all over again.

While Khan Noonien Singh and Marla McGivers are the stars of the new scripted podcast Star Trek: Khan, their main narrative is accompanied by a framing story that takes place years later. That story is anchored by new character Rosalind Lear, played by Sonya Cassidy, and along for the ride are George Takei’s Hikaru Sulu and Tim Russ’ Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager. Kirsten Beyer, who worked with fellow writer David Mack to turn Star Trek: Khan from a TV miniseries into a podcast, went over CinemaBlend why it was the “most obvious” to loop in these two popular characters rather than go in a different direction.

Star Trek: Khan’s framing story takes place several years after the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Hikaru Sulu is captaining the USS Excelsior and Tuvok is an ensign aboard the ship. It’s also three months after the beginning of Star Trek: Generations, when James T. Kirk is thought to have died during the maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise-B. Beyer explained to me why it made more sense to go with Sulu rather than pick Kirk and place the podcast earlier in the timeline as follows:

The audience does indeed know the truth, as Kirk was actually trapped in the Nexus for nearly 80 years, and then died for real helping Jean-Luc Picard stop Soren (although a new comic book series has brought him back to life). So with Kirk gone, Sulu, who met Khan in The Original Series episode “Space Seed,” is among the people who are determined to keep his spirit alive. That includes agreeing to take Rosalind Lear, a Starfleet doctor, to Ceti Alpha V and analyze the recently-discovered logs covering Khan and Marla’s nearly 20 years spent on that planet.

As for Tuvok, Star Trek fans learned about his past with Sulu in the Voyager Season 3 episode “Flashback,” with that chapter of his past taking place concurrently with the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. So from there, it was only logical, as a Vulcan would say, to include Tuvok as well, with Beyer telling me:

Khan, Marla McGivers and the rest of the surviving augments that had been put in stasis alongside Khan in the late 20th century were exiled to Ceti Alpha V at the end of “Space Seed.” They waste no time in starting to build a new civilization, though as Star Trek: Khan explores, the planet wasn’t without its dangers. Ultimately, it was revealed The Wrath of Khan that Ceti Alpha VI exploded six months after their arrival, which shifted V’s orbit and turned the world into a wasteland. Sadly, we also learned that Marla died before Khan and his remaining followers were able to escape Ceti Alpha V.

New episodes of Star Trek: Khan drop Mondays wherever you get your podcasts. Sign up for a Paramount+ subscription so you can get your fill of Star Trek movies and TV shows, including the recently-concluded Strange New Worlds Season 3.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy may take place centuries after the events of Star Trek: Voyager, but that’s not stopping one of the characters from the latter show from appearing in the former. Robert Picardo will reprise The Doctor in the upcoming Star Trek TV show, with the hologram now teaching at the title institution. Needless to say that living through nearly a millennia would change someone, even an EMH. After having spoke with Starfleet Academy writer Kirsten Beyer, I’m excited to hear about the “very different place” The Doctor’s in when we reunite with him in the new series.

Although Beyer never wrote for Star Trek: Voyager during its seven-season run, she has written 11 Voyager tie-in novels stretching back to 2005. So because she’s goes way back with this corner of the Star Trek franchise, I inquired with Beyer during my interview with her about the new narrative podcast series Star Trek: Khan (which she co-wrote and executive produced) about getting to write for The Doctor on a TV show. She started off by sharing with me:

That’s a lot indeed! The Doctor’s time with the Voyager crew is now a blip on his long lifespan, with him now having met and lost so many other people since then. That’s a lot to handle, so of course The Doctor will have significantly evolved by the time we reunite with him in Starfleet Academy, including changing the way he speaks in the 32nd century. He made notable progress “being” human on Voyager, and I look forward to seeing how far he’s come since then.

It remains to be seen how much Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will delve into what’s happened to The Doctor post-Voyager, both in this first season and the already-greenlit Season 2. However, Kirsten Beyer also said this about how she reacted when she learned The Doctor would be included in the series:

While Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will mark Robert Picardo’s first time playing The Doctor onscreen since Star Trek: Voyager went off the air in 2001, he did voice the character in Star Trek: Prodigy (which unfortunately can’t be streamed with a Netflix subscription anymore). That animated series saw him acting as a mentor of sorts to those main characters while they were aboard the USS Dauntless. Now we’ll see how he does as an instructor to members of the first new class of Starfleet cadets in over a century following the events of Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is expected to premiere on Paramount+ sometime in early 2026. In addition to Robert Picardo, Discovery alums Tig Notaro and Oded Fehr will respectively reprise Jett Reno and Admiral Charles Vance as series regulars, and Mary Wiseman is reprising Sylvia Tilly as a guest star.

San Diego Comic-Con gave us our first good look at Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and the return of Voyager star Robert Picardo as the EMH. While the series is centered on the first batch of new recruits to Starfleet in the 32nd century, I think there are more than a few longtime fans who are also highly anticipating seeing one of the best Star Trek characters back in action. I'm one of those people, and I was thrilled when the actor told me one way the show will mirror Voyager.

The EMH, or Doctor, will serve as an instructor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but that doesn't mean he's stuck in the classroom. I had a chance to speak with Picardo at Comic-Con, and I asked if there was room for any of those iconic standalone episodes the character received in Voyager. They're arguably the best episodes of the series, and I received confirmation from him that there's a good chance Doctor will be getting a standalone adventure or two in this new series:

If you're a Voyager fan like me, you're probably as psyched as I was in the moment to hear that. If you're not sure how to feel about that, let me just drop a quick reminder that some of the best EMH episodes are just a few clicks away if you have a Paramount+ subscription. Here are some of my favorites:

• "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy" Season 6 Episode 4
• "Latent Image" Season 5 Episode 11
• "Living Witness" Season 4 Episode 23
• "Virtuoso" Season 6 Episode 13
• "Real Life" Season 3 Episode 22

Each of those episodes involved The EMH in a position where he was forced to reconcile with humanity in ways that a program struggled to understand. Now, with 800 years of service to Starfleet under his belt, I would think he's more seasoned and has plenty of things he understands about humanity, as well as the other species puttering around the galaxy.

Robert Picardo even hinted that he'll have one major interaction with a key character in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and thanks to the panel at San Diego Comic-Con, I think I have a read on who. Starfleet Academy cast member Kerrice Brooks will play Sam, a Kasqian, which was confirmed to be a "photonic" species by Alex Kurtzman. She's a hologram, and one has to think she'll be consulting the EMH a lot as she seeks out advice on how to interact and mingle with her carbon-based peers.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will also feature many returning actors, namely from Discovery, which also took place in the 32nd century in its latter seasons. While the trailer showed us Tig Notaro's Jett Reno, a few pointed out that Mary Wiseman's Tilly was absent from the trailer. It seems strange, given that Tilly joining the Academy was a big part of her storyline in Discovery, so that'll be something to think about as we wait for more trailers.

However, for now, I'm just delighted with the news Picardo provided us.

Now, we'll have to get through the rest of the 2025 TV schedule first, but then it's time for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in early 2026. Of course, Strange New Worlds Season 3 is airing right now on Paramount+, so check that out and other past Trek shows as well.

If you look up headlines for Elio here lately, there's a lot tied to how it's struggled at the box office. While I get that there are a multitude of reasons people may not be going to the movies as of late, as a Star Trek fan, I'm imploring for others in that fandom to "boldly go" and get a ticket. at least after the great cameo by a franchise actor. (Note that there are mild spoilers from the movie below.)

Elio isn't jam-packed with nods to other iconic sci-fi franchises as far as I can tell, which is what made its subtle but powerful nod to Star Trek so effective for me. It played a small part in this movie being a new favorite of mine from the talents at Pixar, though I might have gone and seen it even sooner had I known the great Kate Mulgrew was in it.

Kate Mulgrew's Voice Cameo Comes In At The Beginning Of Elio

Elio is with his aunt inside of a space center near the movie's beginning, and he sneaks away to a room housing a replica of one of the interstellar probes from NASA's Voyager mission. When he triggers a recording explaining the relevance of the Voyager mission, it's none other than Star Trek actress Kate Mulgrew dishing out the info.

Mulgrew isn't a fully-formed character within Elio, unfortunately,, and for all intents and purposes, she's just a disembodied voice in the exhibit room. That said, those with an exhaustive knowlege of the best sci-fi movies, or any Trek fans with a Paramount+ subscription, likely clocked that it was her the same as I did, and I can only assume were grinning ear to ear over how perfect it was.

Why Star Trek Fans Will Lose Their Minds Over This Scene

For Elio fans who aren't as dialed into the world of Star Trek, there's an added layer of fun to Kate Mulgrew's scene in the movie, as the actress portrayed Cpt. Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. That show didn't air until decades after the start of NASA's mission, of course, but I don't think it was any mere coincidence that led to her being cast for a scene that could easily have been handled by literally anyone without genre references in play.

Mulgrew's latest stint in animation comes on the heels of Netflix losing Star Trek: Prodigy, the animated Trek series that featuring an A.I. iteration of her Janeway. The actress is staying active in Hollywood while apparently waiting for an offer to return, as she told fans she "hasn't closed the door" on the idea of bringing the character back to live-action.

While we don't know if or when she'll return to Trek, it's so cool to see her have a standout voice role in Elio. The latest Disney movie has struggled at the box office despite solid reviews from viewers who have gone and seen it. I hope now that some Trekkies are aware one of their favorite captains has a part to play in the film, they'll check it out and see the movie so many are missing out on.

Elio is still in theaters, so make a point to get out there and see one of my favorite Disney/Pixar collaborations I've seen in quite a long time. Unfortunately, I think this is going to be yet another entry in the sci-fi genre that gains popularity far too late, but I'm still crossing my fingers that it can rally and find the right audience.

There are fewer upcoming Star Trek shows on the board than there were around this time a few years ago, but I'm still excited for the future all the same. Strange New Worlds' latest trailer was a joy, and Robert Picardo's latest comments about The EMH's live-action return have me optimistic for more classic episodes similar to Voyager's best uses of his character.

I consider The EMH/Doctor one of the best Star Trek characters of all time, so when news first circulated that his return in Starfleet Academy would be as the same iteration who served on the Voyager with Janeway & Co., I wasn't too surprised. That said, after watching his panel with Kate Mulgrew for Trek Talks 4, where he addressed what fans can expect, I was thrilled to hear just how much thought is being put into this new chapter. In his words:

How does living for 800+ years impact a hologram? How is his memory sustained of the past? Does he have full knowledge of past events, or is it fragmented and corrupted? What does living for that amount of time do to a sentient being? These are just some of the questions zooming through my head, and I love that Starfleet Academy will get a chance to answer some of them.

Of course, the series is likely more about the young cadets joining Starfleet Academy, played by a young cast headed up by past Star Trek actors and stars like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. While Voyager had plenty of Doctor-centric episodes, him being an instructor and the lack of filler episodes in modern Trek may prevent us from getting a ton of standalone episodes with him.

At the same time, I think a lot of Star Trek: Voyager fans, myself included, would say The Doctor earned a bigger spotlight than many others because of how enjoyable the character was. As such, I could see Robert Picardo getting a fair bit of screentime on Starfleet Academy, especially if his scenes are as entertaining as they were when he reprised the role of his character for Prodigy Season 2.

Whatever the case may be, I like hearing how much Robert Picardo put into thinking about The Doctor/EMH, and I am eager to see how he puts that into play when this series finally premieres. Hopefully, a firm release date will be announced here before summer starts, though I think it'll likely be 2026 before we see any of these characters in action in the 32nd century.

Until then, we know that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 is coming to Paramount+ this summer. After a year that has felt light on sci-fi adventures so far, I'm excited for both this and Starfleet Academy, and I'm watching whatever else I can in the genre in the meantime to help pass the time!

If it wasn’t for Star Trek: Voyager, I wouldn’t be a Star Trek fan. While I’d seen snippets of The Original Series and The Next Generation growing up, it wasn’t until I stumbled upon a Voyager episode on Spike TV (now the Paramount Network) in the mid-2000s that I became hooked on this sci-fi franchise, most of which can be accessed with a Paramount+ subscription. As such, this Trek series will always hold a special place in my heart, which makes me all the more excited that Kathryn Janeway and her crew are being brought back for a new story coming out in September.

IDW Publishing has announced it’s releasing a five-issue limited series this year called Star Trek: Voyager - Homecoming, which is being penned by writers Tilly and Susan Bridges, and illustrated by artist Angel Hernandez. Rather than taking place in the seven years that the USS Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, it will begin right after the events of the series finale, “Endgame.” And by after, I mean immediately after.

The final seconds of Star Trek: Voyager saw the crew of the title ship approaching Earth, a welcome relief for these characters who once thought it’d take roughly 75 years to return home. However, before they can set foot on our blue orb after over half a decade away, the Voyager characters will have to deal with “one last emergency” in Homecoming.Unfortunately, no specific details about said emergency were provided, though we at least know from later Trek shows that all the main protagonists will make it out intact.

Airing on May 23, 2001, the two-part “Endgame” was met with positive critical reception at the time and is cited on numerous lists not just as one of Star Trek: Voyager’s best episodes, but also a standout for the entire franchise. Admittedly, I would have been content just imagining the Voyager crew heading straight to Earth and receiving a lively welcome home from Starfleet. It’s pretty unfortunate that the characters will have deal with yet another problem before finally making their official return, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Star Trek: Voyager - Homecoming dishes out at Janeway and the gang that requires such a significant delay.

In addition to Star Trek: Voyager - Homecoming, IDW will also publish fellow limited series Star Trek: Red Shirts and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Seeds of Destruction. The former takes place in The Original Series era and follows the crew of the USS Warren going to the snow-ridden Arkonia to “pin down spies seeking to steal classified secrets and keep Starfleet data out of their nefarious hands.” The latter, which comes ahead of Strange New Worlds Season 3’s premiere on the 2025 TV schedule, sees Christopher Pike and his USS Enterprise crew (as well as a new robot sidekick named D6) “explore an ice-covered planet and the scary secrets that are lurking deep beneath the surface.”

These three limited series come as IDW’s main Star Trek title and the spinoff Star Trek: Defiant will conclude their connected stories with the one-shot issue Star Trek: Omega this May. Meanwhile, along with Strange New Worlds having at least two more seasons ahead of it, Starfleet Academy is slated on the list of upcoming Star Trek TV shows for a release either late this year or sometime in 2026.

Although Star Trek fans haven’t seen Kate Mulgrew playing Kathryn Janeway onscreen since her cameo in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis, they have gotten to hear her vocally reprise her character thanks to Star Trek: Prodigy. The animated series, which started out on Paramount+ and is now exclusively streaming with a Netflix subscription, saw her playing both the original Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager and a hologram version of her. While there’s still no word about if Prodigy Season 3 will happen, Mulgrew has shared an update that has me excited about the prospect of her returning to this role in front of cameras again..

While taking part in ‘An Evening With…’ on Star Trek: The Cruise VIII, Mulgrew was asked by an audience member (via WhatCulture) about if her reprising Janeway in live action was in the cards, and she answered:

Last December, Kate Mulgrew said that she had been approached about playing Kathryn Janeway in a show similar to Star Trek: Picard (which can still be accessed with a Paramount+ subscription). While she hadn’t “closed the door” on reprising the role in live action, there was “other stuff” occupying her attention. Additionally, she said at the time that revisiting the role would “have to be so good, and I’m not sure it has all of the elements that I would need to have.”

But now, just a few months later, it sounds like something more concrete is being talked out, though is by no means anywhere near a done deal. Still, a glimmer of hope is there, and ideally this will lead to Mulgrew fully inhabiting the Kathryn Janeway role like she did on Voyager from 1995 to 2001. This revelation also comes just a week after William Shatner said that he would be hearing a pitch from a writer about how he could finally reprise James T. Kirk.

As for where Kate Mulgrew could play Janeway again if a deal is worked out, two options for upcoming Star Trek TV shows come to mind. First, although nothing’s been announced yet, it’s possible that a post-Picard series, whether it’s the speculated Star Trek: Legacy or something else, is in the works. That would allow Mulgrew to revisit the character at a point in the Star Trek timeline that’s roughly the same amount of time since Voyager left the airwaves.

However, I think a likelier option is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which finished filming its first season last month and has already been greenlit for Season 2. Now some of you might be raising an eyebrow at me because Starfleet Academy is set after the events of Discovery, i..e. in the 32nd century. Well, that show is going to see Robert Ricardo, another Voyager alum, reprising The Doctor, who’s still around during this time period because he’s a hologram. Maybe we could also see a holographic representation of Janeway from a few decades after Voyager.

For now, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that this conversation Kate Mulgrew is happening leads to something concrete happening. Meanwhile, next up on the Star Trek front is Strange New Worlds Season 3, which will premiere sometime on the 2025 TV schedule.

As it's aired through the decades, Star Trek has worked diligently to present an idealized and progressive look at our future. It's often ahead of its time in the portrayal of societal, ethical, and other issues and has championed the use of technology in advance as well.

As upcoming Trek shows are always being developed, now is the perfect time to remind readers of when the franchise was ahead of the curve and very progressive. Here are some of the more notable moments, though I think it's fair to say there is a good deal of moments beyond just these entries.

Kirk And Uhura's Interracial Kiss

While the Civil Rights movement was near its tail end when "Plato's Stepchildren" aired, there was much discussion surrounding William Shatner's Kirk sharing an interracial kiss with Nichelle Nichols' Uhura. The moment preached equality at a time when many were still apprehensive of change, and will remain one of the key moments of the late actress' legacy.

Data Pads Were The Original Smart Tablet

Many fans may overlook this because of how commonplace it is now, but Star Trek: The Next Generation accurately depicted smartphone and tablet technology decades before that tech was commercially viable. While I'm sure pocket computers were long a dream of tech makers, it's cool to see how well the series got it right.

Barclay Becomes Addicted To A Fictional Reality

In a world in which social media can entice people to fall in love with the idea of a person, Barclay did that with holodeck simulations in Star Trek: Voyager's "Pathfinder." While his efforts to learn about the crew via simulations ended up being helpful, it's a cautionary tale in that having all available information on a person does not make them your friend.

Geordi Was Seeing With Vision Tech Before Laser Eye Surgery

Before we were improving people's vision in the real world, Star Trek: The Next Generation was ideating technology to help Geordi La Forge see. While his visor and eventual bionic eyes are a far cry from laser eye surgery and the advancements in seeing that have developed over the years, it's cool to see how the series imagined it shortly before real people were getting vision enhancements.

Star Trek Had AI Control People's Lives In A Twisted Way

In a world where A.I. ads run where people ask their computer for dream interpretations and advice for job interviews, Star Trek featured a truly twisted use for the technology way back in the day. A Taste Of War highlighted a planet in which computers simulated battles between two people, and once the results were determined, the "casualties" would be reflected in real people willingly sending themselves into incineration machines. It's a future I hope we never experience, and a wild one at that.

Star Trek Tackled Gender Identity In The 90s

In the modern era where gender norms and pronouns are being called into question, Star Trek: The Next Generation tackled this issue head-on in 1992. "The Outcast" featured a species where gender specificity was forbidden and even had Riker enter a romance with a member of the species. Pretty progressive, especially since the franchise wouldn't cast its first nonbinary actor until decades later in Discovery.

Star Trek Used Voice Activated Computers Long Before We Did

Star Trek has long championed voice-activated computer actions, and used Gene Roddenberry's late-wife Majel Barrett as that voice. In fact, Rod Roddenberry told CinemaBlend that Apple and Google both reached out to Barrett before her death and approached her to be the voice of their own virtual assistants.

B’Elanna Addressed Problems With Her Mental Health

B'Elanna Torres went through a lot of emotions after finding out her former comrades in the Maquis were killed in a conflict. Star Trek: Voyager tackled PTSD at a time when those types of issues weren't touched on as heavily as they are now.

Star Trek's Pilot Put A Woman On The Bridge

It isn't progressive now, but "The Cage" putting a woman in a position of command was so radical that Captain Pike had to mention it even though it was the distant future. Credit to Gene Roddenberry for pushing the envelope, even if he later scratched the role in order to keep Spock in Star Trek.

Facetime Was On Star Trek Way Before iPhones

While video phones existed in some form during Star Trek: The Next Generation, the series portrayed a much more modern vision for the technology closer to what we now use in FaceTime or Zoom. Unfortunately, we can't use our tech to Facetime Klingons, as hilarious as that could be.

Voyager Pondered The Ethical Quandary Of Using Knowledge Gained From Terrible Events

Star Trek: Voyager's "Nothing Human" tackled knowledge gained from immoral methods. A Cardassian hologram whose real-life counterpart was responsible for experimenting on Bajorans against their will is used to save Torres' life. The Doctor ultimately deletes the program, deciding that using it further would be morally wrong given how his skills were obtained.

Strange New Worlds Proved Ideals Can Also Prevent Interfering In Wrongdoing

Captain Pike is put in an impossible position when a non-Federation planet uses Starfleet aid to track down a child. It's only after finding the child it's discovered they're intended to be used for ritualistic sacrifice, as the people of the planet believe it'll keep their planet from falling. Pike is disgusted by his actions, and the audience is reminded that even the best intentions can occasionally lead to ill results.

Riker’s New Toy Highlights Addiction To Technology

In an age where we collectively as a society are glued to our smartphones, one can't help but look at The Next Generation's "The Game" and wonder if we have already fallen victim to another species' plot for world domination. This episode highlights addiction to technology and only gets better with age. Side note, did you know Kelvin Kirk actor Chris Pine only got a smartphone a couple of years ago?

Star Trek Ideated MRI machines and other advanced medical tech before it was available

Not to give Star Trek too much credit, because in reality, I can't imagine it's that hard to ideate putting metal around a character and calling it a device that can do things previously thought impossible by medical science. Still, fiction often inspires reality, and it's hard to deny Bones' devices don't resemble MRI and other machines in the industry.

Star Trek Addressed Racism Very Directly In The 1960s

Fresh on the heels of the Civil Rights movement in the United States, Star Trek aired one of its most iconic episodes. "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" tackles the absurdity and self-destructive nature of racism, as we hear the story of an alien species bitterly divided depending on the pattern of their skin.

Trip Tucker’s Consciousness Is Saved By A Clone Host

Star Trek: Enterprise presents a scenario in which Trip Tucker is able to be saved by a clone, but only after said clone reaches accelerated maturity. "Similitude" asks the question of morality when it comes to the rights of a clone as an individual, and fortunately, we as humans haven't had to cross that bridge yet.

Uhura’s Ear Piece Felt Like The Closest Predecessor To Bluetooth

Uhura's earpiece once reminded me of a miniature version of a classic microphone, but really it's more akin to Bluetooth headsets. Amazing to see this type of technology be envisioned decades ahead of its time, even if headphones were already around.

Voyager Tackled The Ethical Dilemma Of Assisted Suicide

Assisted suicide remains a taboo topic in the modern era, but some countries have set parameters to legalize it. Star Trek: Voyager tackled this topic with "Death Wish," and a Q who didn't wish to live any longer. It's a heavy episode to watch, but a great one.

Star Trek Was Thinking About Universal Translators Long Before Google

Star Trek has long used "universal translators" in its storytelling, and really it's just a convenient way to explain why aliens across the galaxy can understand each other without issue. These days we have easier ways of understanding others with Google Translate and other licensed technology, but nothing quite as advanced as what we've seen in the franchise.

Deep Space Nine Highlighted Terrible Decisions For The Greater Good

In one of the more morally questionable moves in Starfleet history, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine shows Sisko and Garak devise a plan that tricks the Romulans into aligning with the Federation in war with the Dominion. The plan is successful and likely prevents the death of scores of people, but the lie and deception feel like a tremendous burden to shoulder.

Voyager Tackled The Downfalls Of Healthcare

The EMH is hijacked by an alien planet in "Critical Care," and is placed in a hospital in which healthcare is provided to people based on their perceived value to society. It certainly features some parallels to healthcare issues worldwide and is worth a watch for those who don't remember it.

Holodecks Paved The Way For Advances In VR Technology

We're still pretty far removed from the holodeck technology highlighted in Star Trek: The Next Generation and other shows, but strides are being made. Fortunately, AI still isn't smart enough to give a virtual Moriarty sentience, so at least we have that going for us.

Star Trek Tackled Attributing Sentience To Select Beings

Star Trek deals with a lot of species, but even then, it can occasionally get caught up in the ethics of what treatment is right for others. When Data discovered machines on board capable of learning to avoid danger, he requested they be removed from repair duties that put them in harm's way. There's a big lesson to be learned here, and should be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription.

Star Trek Had Flat Screen Televisions Decades Before Viewers

Ironic that as many people watched Star Trek over the years they were watching Captains watch flat-screen televisions on a tube TV. Fortunately, we've since modernized, and we'll all have view screens before too long in our living rooms.

Janeway Made The Controversial Call To Save Two Lives Over One

If there ever comes a day when two humans inexplicably get turned into a third entity, Star Trek: Voyager already set the precedent on how to handle it. There's a lot of controversy about whether the decision to "kill" Tuvix to restore Tuvok and Neelix to their natural states was the right call, so we'll punt to the first time it happens in the real world and see how people respond.

The Maquis Shows How Policy Can Turn People Against Each Other

The Maquis aren't always portrayed fairly in Star Trek, considering they were abandoned by The Federation as part of a peace treaty. Unfortunately, there are sometimes casualties of agreements and a deeper story behind all parties in the real world who some might just consider the "bad guys." Though they were once Starfleet, the Maquis grew to be a small oppressor to the Federation.

Enterprise Showed How Intolerance Would Make Starfleet Monstrous

Star Trek: Enterprise imagined an alternate history in which Zefram Cochrane shot the Vulcans at First Contact, ushering in a united age where humanity mercilessly hunted the species of the galaxy. "Terra Prime" is horrifying to watch as a Trek fan, and really illustrates just how monstrous intolerance can make a people.

Deep Space Nine Tackled Class And Abuse Of Power

While "Past Tense" is an iconic science fiction story for other reasons, it's a great look at modern times where Star Trek travels to our present and puts a spotlight on homelessness and abuse of power. There are many messages to take out of this one, many we're still learning today.

A.I. Rights Were Talked About

"The Measure Of A Man" tackles the rights of artificial intelligence, namely that of Data, who is a synthetic being. As we work more with this technology, it's a fascinating episode to watch in order to work out what we're creating, and what rights those beings have once they reach a degree of sentience.

Nog Coped With PTSD

Nog escapes to the holosuite to help cope with PTSD after traumatic events, and credit to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for addressing an issue soldiers face following experiences with real combat or being in unsafe areas. Hopefully, VR can be a tool used to further real-life struggles with this complicated tradition.

Picard And Worf Become Part Of A Starfleet Witch Hunt

Worf and Picard come face to face with fanaticism as a Starfleet investigator begins a witch hunt of sorts on the Enterprise following an isolated incident. While cooler heads ultimately prevail, Picard is taught that even in the 24th century, people with good intentions can spiral out of control if given too much power.

The Time Star Trek Made A Pretty Clear Parallel To Vietnam

There's not much subtlety in classic Star Trek, and Starfleet's decision to arm a rival species after finding Klingons have provided weapons to their oppressors drew some pretty clear parallels to the Vietnam conflict. A bold statement for the time, and an episode that holds up despite its age.

Star Trek: Voyager is celebrating 30 years since its television debut, but it comes at a hard time for many in Hollywood. Television shows are on hold due to the L.A. wildfires, and celebrities have also felt the impact and devastation of this tragedy. Voyager star Kate Mulgrew is included in that group, and she shared a solemn request with fans in light of events.

As fans wait to stream Star Trek: Section 31 with their Paramount+ subscription next week, Mulgrew had a plea for fans on her Instagram page. As she revealed, her child lost a lot in the fires, and she detailed the devastation in a post:

Celebrity or not, it has to be heartbreaking to watch your child go through such a traumatic event. Alec Egan is now without a body of his work and his workspace, and he doesn't have a home where he raised his two children. I can't imagine being dealt that many blows at once, and I don't fault her for wanting to help her son in any way she can.

As such, Kate Mulgrew is contacting Star Trek fans with a request and an offer. The actress made a unique offer to fans who go to his website and purchase a print, and I love this:

Sure, having a signature of a photo from one of Star Trek: Voyager's WTF moments is nice. What's more sentimental, though, is purchasing a print that directly helps Kate Mulgrew's son, and then later having her acknowledge and sign it for you at a convention. I can only imagine she'd have a lot of gratitude, more than she already does for the scores of fans who still support her work to this day.

Mulgrew received nothing but understanding and support from most Instagram comments, which is nice. Some took it the wrong way when Mandy Moore shared her brother-in-law's GoFundMe page and accused her of putting the burden on fans rather than herself to contribute money. Not that celebrities have to tell us how much they're giving before we contribute, but it's good to see she isn't facing the same backlash.

Meanwhile, a belated way to celebrate Star Trek: Voyager would be to announce Kate Mulgrew's return as Janeway. Right now, that could happen if Prodigy is renewed for Season 3 or if she returns in livemaction. Mulgrew has given conditions for a return to live action, and assuming someone comes up with the proper script, she could be back in the Captain's chair. For now though, she's focusing on helping out her son and helping him get back to some normalcy following this sad event.

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream over on Paramount+. Watch the series,and keep those fingers crossed that a Voyager movie still isn't off the table in the new year. If ever there was a time to announce one, why not during a major anniversary for the series?

Star Trek can get weird sometimes, especially if you're Harry Kim. The character was done dirty by Voyager repeatedly, including one infamous episode in which he was killed off and replaced permanently by a duplicate. I had a chance to talk to actor Garrett Wang about this bizarre episode, "Deadlock," and his true feelings about how it played out.

As we prepare for upcoming Trek shows on the 2025 TV schedule, I had a chance to speak to Wang about his recent return as Harry Kim on Lower Decks and about some of his past times working on Voyager. This included talking about the time the Prime Timeline's Harry Kim was sucked out of a hull breach and died, and he was replaced by another version of himself from a ship of doppelgängers. Here is how Garrett Wang felt about it at the time:

While Wang was miffed that Harry Kim was never promoted on Star Trek: Voyager, this WTF Voyager moment wasn't as big of an issue for him. As he said above, the characters are practically identical, with the same origin and background, so it's not like the other one had to do a ton of work to bring himself up to speed on this new universe. I'm glad to hear that, and I feel like Garrett Wang writing it off makes it easier for me to be alright with the change as a fan of Voyager.

As far as we know, Harry Kim is dead. That said, we've seen more bizarre things happen to Starfleet officers, and sometimes, an assured death isn't as permanent as the viewer thinks. Garrett Wang has a theory that Prime Kim survived being sucked out of the airlock and had a pitch for bringing the character back to the Star Trek universe:

Sure, Wang has a wild idea, but I can't sit here and act like I wouldn't want to see it. If the much-requested Star Trek: Legacy series ever happens, I would want Prime Borg Kim to be the first big bad that Captain Seven of Nine had to take on in the series. Not only would that be an awesome story, it would also give us another opportunity to see Wang as Kim!

For now, we get a healthy dose of Harry Kim in the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode "Fissure Quest." The episode has made waves for giving us a slew of Harrys from the multiverse, including one who was promoted. Those who haven't seen it yet should fire up that Paramount+ subscription immediately, especially if they're fans of Voyager.

Catch Star Trek: Lower Decks and Voyager on Paramount+, the home for most content from the franchise. With 2025 just around the corner, I'm thrilled to see Section 31 and Strange New Worlds Season 3, and hopefully, we get some other surprise announcements about what's ahead for Trek in the coming years.

Star Trek's Harry Kim was done dirty by Voyager many times throughout the series. He was killed, given an alien disease, and, worst of all, remained at the rank of Ensign for the entirety of the series. So, when CinemaBlend spoke to actor Garrett Wang about his feelings during that at the time, he was candid about how displeased he was, how his perspective changed over time, and how he made a wild plea to Kate Mulgrew.

I had a chance to talk to Wang ahead of his return in the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode "Fissure Quest" (which you can stream now with a Paramount+ subscription), and we also chatted about the past WTF moments of Voyager as well as Harry never being promoted. Even though it was a character on the show, I asked the actor if he ever felt "miffed" about Harry never moving to that next level. To my mild surprise, he was so worked up about it that he ended up outside Kate Mulgrew's trailer at one point. Here's what he said:

Mulgrew was at the top of the call sheet, but even then, she was also working at the will of the writers and the showrunner. Unlike upcoming Trek shows, the largely episodic structure of The Next Generation era meant maintaining the status quo. However, even then, the series found a way to demote and reinstate Tom Paris, so I can understand why Garrett Wang was so frustrated.

Given that, one might think Star Trek: Lower Decks' "Fissure Quest" so directly poking fun at the multiverse of Harrys being shocked over one's promotion might sting a little. However, Wang assured me that's not the case these days, and he learned to embrace that part of his character that made him stand out among some of the best Star Trek characters out there:

It's of little surprise to me that Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan helped create a script that Garrett Wang was comfortable with and was the first to feature the character again in the new era. That said, the actor did confirm to CinemaBlend that it wasn't his first invite back to Star Trek, but that's all we know about that.

Harry Kim was the villain of sorts in Star Trek: Lower Decks' "Fissure Quest," but he was also the hero. A promoted Harry attempted to transport all the other Harrys to his universe where they could be their best selves, only to be thwarted by his other selves because none of them wanted that.

Sure, the acknowledgment of hard work would've been nice, but in a post-scarcity society how much should people value a promotion? They're all getting a meal of their choosing from the replicator the same as anyone else, so maybe rank and prestige aren't so valuable until it gets to a certain point. Maybe the finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks will go deeper on that idea too, because if I've learned anything, it's to expect the well-thought-out unexpected with this show.

Catch the finale of Lower Decks when it airs on the 2024 TV schedule Thursday, December 19th on Paramount+. I'm thrilled to see the conclusion of the series, though I have to say it would be more thrilling to see the series get picked up by another streamer and make a big return.

It seems there will always be plenty of new shows in the Star Trek franchise, and that means even more potentially wild situations for members of Starfleet to get caught up in. Goodness knows there's been no shortage of wild incidents characters have been wrapped up in as far back as the original series, and we're here to highlight a good deal of them today.

Check out some of these bizarre things that happened to characters in the Star Trek franchise. I will say that because Lower Decks is a comedy series built on riffing on many of these scenarios, it's been left off the list. With that in mind, let's dive in!

Spock and T’Pring Swap Bodies “Spock Amok”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds "Spock Amok" found the Vulcan and his betrothed T'Pring attempting a couples ceremony that ended up having some gnarly side effects. With their consciousness trapped in the other's body, both ultimately ended up with a greater understanding of the challenges they face and ended up emotionally stronger as a couple for a little while.

The Deep Space Nine Crew is Forced Into A Weird Board Game

"Move Along Home" is a bizarre Deep Space Nine episode where Quark inadvertently puts the lives of the crew in danger by playing an alien board game. It's like Jumanji, but if Jumanji featured a girl playing hopscotch and repeating a phrase. I wouldn't dare type it out due to fear of having it stuck in my head.

The Voyager Crew Is Held Hostage In A WW2 Simulation

Of all the parts of human history the Hirogen could've tapped into to recreate a training exercise, they had to use Nazi-occupied France? "The Killing Game" puts the Star Trek: Voyager crew in the holodeck with neural interfaces that cause them to forget they're actually in a simulation. It's a bizarre adventure, especially given the aliens who set it into motion don't fully understand just how brutal this is.

Sulu Thinks He’s A Musketeer And Goes After Kirk

"The Naked Time" is an iconic episode of Star Trek, and not because it factors into the long-standing feud between actors William Shatner and George Takei. Sulu becomes infected with a space sickness that makes him believe he's a swashbuckling musketeer, and apparently, he thinks that's best done without a shirt on as well.

Commander Remmick's Head Explodes

Casual Star Trek fans may not remember Commander Remmick, but the more dedicated know him as the character involved in one of the most WTF moments of The Next Generation. When Remmick is found to be housing a parasitic host in his body, Picard and Riker's phaser fire makes his head explode like a tomato. To date, it's one of the goriest moments in the franchise.

Pike Sees His Own Future (And What Happens If He Prevents It)

Thanks to a Klingon time crystal, Pike sees the devastating accident that ends his Starfleet career and struggles to reconcile with it. It isn't until he meets a future version of himself and sees what happens to Spock if he tries to prevent his accident that he relents, and finds acceptance in his future.

Harry Kim Almost Died Having Hooking Up With An Alien

Star Trek: Voyager has done Harry Kim dirty many times over the years, but "Favorite Son" was especially egregious. Kim finds himself popular with the women from an alien planet, who seems very eager to "reproduce" with him. Unfortunately, it's all a ruse to steal his DNA, and Kim would've died had it not been for his crewmates saving him.

The Enterprise Starts Pranking The Crew

In one of the sillier adventures of Star Trek: The Animated Series "The Practical Joker," the Enterprise begins to play practical jokes on the crew after coming in contact with a gas cloud. Spock gets black ink on his eyes, utensils turn to rubber, and someone puts "Kirk Is A Jerk" on the back of the Captain's tunic. The Enterprise even deploys a fake inflatable version of itself to confuse Romulans. It's wild.

Trip Becomes Pregnant

"Unexpected" lives up to the hype in every way imaginable, as Trip Tucker learns he's pregnant after an encounter with an alien species. He eventually is able to get the embryo transferred to another host, but according to T'Pol, becomes the first human male in history to become pregnant.

Worf Attacks A Planets Weather System To Help His Relationship

"Let He Who Is Without Sin" could be a normal episode where Worf and Jadzia have a relaxing day on the pleasure planet Risa, if it weren't for his wild jealousy. After seeing Jadzia talking to another man, he destroys the weather system and ruins the fun for everyone. For some reason, he suffers zero consequences from Starfleet for doing so.

Riker Devolves Into A Caveman

Thanks to the weird genes of Lieutenant Barclay, "Genesis" finds the crew devolving after their dormant genes are brought to the forefront thanks to an infection rapidly spreading amongst the crew. The best of these is Riker literally becoming a caveman, which as one would expect, does not make for a good crewmate.

B’Elanna And Harry Are Held Hostage By An AI Clown

"The Thaw" is a premise that's both bizarre and terrifying, as B'Elanna and Harry are both held captive by an AI Clown while attempting to rescue others trapped in his virtual circus hellscape. It's a chilling episode, made all the more chilling when Janeway effectively scares the AI into non-existence.

Chakotay Communicated With Aliens Through Boxing

An alien species dove into the mind of Chakotay, and instead of trying to communicate with him through his ancestry, or like, learn human speech, they decided to try and communicate with him through an elaborate boxing match. It ended up working, but it helped make "The Fight" one of the strangest Star Trek: Voyager episodes ever.

Archer Offends Kreetassans By Eating

"Vox Sola" shows just how delicate diplomacy can be with cultures, as Captain Archer inadvertently does immense damage to the relations with an alien species after enjoying a meal in front of them. Eventually, it's learned that Kreetassans consider eating to be an act as intimate as humans consider hooking up, and they're able to move forward.

The Crew Encounters Megas-tu

"The Magicks Of Megas-tu" is an episode so bizarre you have to watch it to understand just how bizarre it is. The Enterprise crew transport from fantasy-like planet, to the Salem witch trials. Fans have tried to explain this episode and make it make sense within the canon for decades, but I'm not sure any explanation will ever suffice for this bonkers adventure.

Tuvok And Neelix Merged Into One Person

"Tuvix" is by far one of the most controversial episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, and explores a unique problem. Neelix and Tuvok fuse into an entirely different third person, and the EMH can't figure out how to separate them for months. When a solution is finally found, "Tuvix" argues for his right to live as a human being, but it is ultimately overruled by Janeway who has the two separated again. I'll save the debate for whether that was right for the fans.

Culber Is Reborn In A Cocoon

Hugh Culber was seemingly killed off in Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 when Ash Tyler snapped his neck, but it's not so simple. Thanks to Stamets unique connection to the mycelial network, Culber's essence is pulled into it, and he's later reborn again out of a cocoon as a result of that. As someone who grew to love Culber, I tend not to think too deeply about it.

Beverly Crusher Falls In Love With A Ghost

"Sub Rosa" is one of the wildest stories of Star Trek: The Next Generation, in which Beverly Crusher falls in love with her grandmother's ex. It's even weirder than that sounds, if it can be believed, because he's a "ghost" which turns out to be an anaphasic alien. It's an episode fans love, but not because they think it's great.

The Doctor’s Daydreams Terrify An Alien Species

The EMH gets the idea to program himself to have daydreams in an effort to better understand the human condition. In doing so, he ends up inadvertently terrifying an alien species who believe they are spying on Voyager but are only being fed his wild fantasies of being a spy and saving the vessel from danger. Ultimately the alien observing realizes his error, but is afraid he'll look the fool to his superiors after reporting so much. Thanks to assistance from the Doctor he gets off the hook, and it ends up being a win for all involved.

Spock's Brain Is Stolen

Did you know Vulcans can live for twenty-four hours without their brains? It's true, and it gives the Enterprise crew just enough time to save Spock after his brain is surgically removed in "Spock's Brain." Fortunately, McCoy is able to reconnect it with the help of a machine, but notes that he regrets giving him the brain back when the Vulcan starts talking.

Tom Paris And Janeway Became Salamanders

"Threshold" will live on in infamy for Star Trek fans because many know it as the episode in which Tom Paris and Janeway became salamanders and had salamander children. There's really not much more to it than that, beyond the fact it was never acknowledged by Star Trek: Voyager again after it happened.

Riker Is Accidentally Cloned

Thanks to a transporter accident years earlier, Riker comes into contact with a man who is an exact clone of himself who he never knew was created. Both men are the same person, but for ease of naming purposes, the one introduced in the episode goes by Thomas. Ultimately, realizing they can't have the same life, Thomas takes an assignment on another ship to start a new journey.

Janeway Found Amelia Earhart In Space

The mystery of what happened to Amelia Earhart is revealed, and it turns out she was abducted by aliens. The Voyager crew finds her in cryostasis, and learns she's part of a human faction that successfully rebelled against their alien captors and was drifting along in the Delta Quadrant. It's a fun story, but imagine how weird it would be to find some cryptic figure in space hundreds of years after they disappeared.

An Anomaly Forces The Entire Enterprise Crew Into A Musical

Broadcasting a song into a subspace fold results in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crew only being capable of expressing their thoughts and feelings through song. Eventually, they find a way to fix it, but not before a group of Klingons humiliate themselves with a spirited boy band routine.

Data Is Possessed By A God

Data has had some pretty interesting days on the Enterprise, but getting possessed by the spirit of a god had to take the cake. As Masaka, the synth enacts all sorts of changes across the ship. Fortunately, Picard is able to pose as another god to trick the deity and set everything back to normal once again.

Tribbles Nearly Destroy The Crew

"The Trouble With Tribbles" is a reminder that even the cutest-looking aliens in Star Trek can be deadly, especially when you're on a ship. The Tribbles breed at an alarming rate, and while that's played for comedy, there's a very real danger of them taking down

The TNG Crew Almost Kills Each Other After Lack Of Sleep

"Night Terrors" is an ironic name for this episode, considering it's all about Star Trek: The Next Generation crew being unable to dream. The lack of R.E.M. amongst the crew causes mass hallucinations and irritability, with the crew inadvertently almost killing each other until they're able to find the cause behind this strange phenomenon.

Janeway Dies And Her Soul Is Almost Stolen By A "Ghost"

Captain Janeway dies in "Coda," and as opposed to following the spirit of her father into the light, she sticks around and tries to understand why nothing feels right. As usual, her instincts are spot on as her father is actually a non-corporeal being trying to steal her life force, and she's able to make it back to her body and survive.

The Next Generation Crew Is Turned Into Children

When a transporter accident transforms a bulk of the crew into children, "Rascals" shows Picard and crew attempting to protect the ship from pirate Ferengi. It's basically the closest Star Trek will ever get to The Goonies, and I absolutely loved it.

The Crew Lands On An Odd Fantasy Planet

You know a Star Trek episode is going to get weird when Bones comes face to face with the White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland. "Shore Leave" shows the crew battling with their wildest fantasies in what is ultimately revealed to be an amusement park planet based on thought. It's a fun episode that gets less bizarre with explanation, but still a trip.

Kes Is Randomly Transported Through Different Times Of Her Life

Kes is a bizarre character in Star Trek: Voyager in general thanks to her species' unusually short lifespan of nine years. She got to experience her life, or at least some alternate version of it, in "Before And After" as she was thrust between times in her past and future with no ability to stop it until the crew was able to regulate her body with the normal timestream once again.

Picard Squares Off With A Sentient Sherlock Holmes Villain

Leave it for Sherlock Holmes' nemesis, Moriarty, to break through the confines of his programming and become sentient. He squared off with Picard a couple of times, and, surprise, the Starfleet Captain came out on top. Take that classical literature!

As fans look ahead to the 2025 TV schedule and upcoming Trek shows, there are still many questions they don't have the answers to. While Star Trek top brass Alex Kurtzman previously said surprises were coming, the general public still doesn't know what that means exactly. What we do know now is that Kate Mulgrew has new thoughts about what it would take for her to return to live-action as Janeway, and I appreciate her honesty.

Many have loved watching Kate Mulgrew play Janeway on Star Trek: Prodigy, which can be streamed with a Netflix subscription. However, it's long been hoped that the actress might still reprise the role for a live-action production. So let's discuss what it would take to see one of the best characters of Trek once again.

What Are Kate Mulgrew's Latest Thoughts On Returning To Star Trek?

Kate Mulgrew recently attended Fan Expo San Francisco and was asked outright by a fan if she'd join a Janeway show similar to Star Trek: Picard. The actress not only gave her honest thoughts on it, but confirmed she's been approached about something of that nature. Here's what she had to say (via TrekMovie.com):

The veteran actress is a busy woman and, at 69, she seems invested in making sure her time is spent wisely. She's not going to return as Janeway for just any old idea; it'll have to be one that is too good to pass up. I wouldn't rule out Star Trek creatives being able to make that happen, as they already roped in Patrick Stewart to return and pulled in Mulgrew previously for Prodigy.

Another Reason Kate Mulgrew May Hesitate To Commit To Returning As Janeway In Live-Action

CinemaBlend previously talked to Kate Mulgrew about a live-action Janeway reprisal at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, and her response was similar but different from this one. While Mulgrew also noted a return to live-action as her character feels unnecessary because her legacy is cemented, she acknowledged that it's something the fans want to see.

The Orange Is the New Black alum also told CinemaBlend that she was fully invested in seeing Star Trek: Prodigy continue. With the series still in limbo in terms of a Season 3 renewal, I would imagine that the star is apprehensive to drum up hype for her return to live-action, especially if Prodigy hopes to continue telling Janeway's story in that series.

Plus, it needs to be said that doing voice work for an animated series might be less taxing on an actor than live-action filming. Stories have been shared about how exhausted Patrick Stewart was filming Picard, though he is a good decade-and-a-half older than Kate Mulgrew. Even so, I could see her being more willing to do voice work for Trek than live-action due to the ease of doing it in comparison. Perhaps the new year will bring news of Janeway's return to live-action, but I wouldn't count on it for now.

Anyone with a Paramount+ account will have no issue finding Kate Mulgrew's best Star Trek performances, as Voyager is available and ready to binge. Maybe we'll get news of something new she's working on this year, if not a return to Janeway.

The Star Trek franchise is mourning the death of a significant contributor to its success. Recently, Voyager co-creator and prolific writer Jeri Taylor passed away at the age of 86. Taylor's fingerprints were all over The Next Generation era of the IP. Given Taylor's stint as showrunner for the Janeway-led show, it's no surprise Kate Mulgrew and some of her fellow co-stars paid tribute to her after her passing.

Upcoming Trek shows with female leads have Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Taylor to thank for taking that step way back when Voyager was created. While Mulgrew has been critical of her show for not exploring certain parts of Janeway's character, she seems to have great respect for Taylor. The actress took to X to share the following tribute:

The late EP ultimately served as the showrunner of Star Trek: Voyager for four seasons and remained a creative consultant for the series after retiring from her post. She was a part of some of the series' most memorable episodes, and some of the WTF moments as well. Most notably, she has a writing credit for Season 3's "Coda," which I highly suggest anyone with a Paramount+ subscription check out a truly strange piece of science-fiction storytelling.

In addition to Kate Mulgrew's touching words, Robert Picardo added his own thoughts. The actor, who will return as the EMH/Doctor on the upcoming Starfleet Academy, paid respects to Jeri Taylor on X:

Seeing as Taylor helped make the EMH one of the best characters in Star Trek, I can see why Robert Picardo is so grateful for her legacy. His character has some of the best episodes of the series, and I believe that's why the EMH has had so much staying power over the years. Without her contributions, I'm honestly not sure if that would still be the case today.

Roxann Dawson also had plenty to say about Jeri Taylor and wanted to highlight how she influenced her career. Known to fans for playing B'Elanna Torres, Dawson opened up on X about how vital the Star Trek: Voyager co-creator was in influencing her shift into directing:

After directing two episodes of Voyager, Roxann Dawson remained a prominent director in the TV industry. She even returned to Star Trek via the series Enterprise, for which she directed ten episodes.

While Jeri Taylor's biggest contributions to Star Trek were through Voyager, it's worth noting that she also had a good deal of writing credits between The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Her name is just as synonymous with the franchise's success as someone like Brannon Braga, whom she ultimately handed the Voyager reins to after her retirement.

Whether by watching some of the old episodes she contributed to or even checking out one of the three Star Trek novels she penned in her lifetime, it's important that all fans acknowledge the life of Jeri Taylor in light of her passing. The franchise has lost a legend, and, if the kind words from the former Voyager cast don't make it clear, she will be missed dearly.

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream on Paramount+. It's never a bad time to dive into the TNG spinoff, which I would say contains some of the best stories ever told within the franchise.

Diversity and inclusivity are the cornerstones of Star Trek. The franchise lives on the ideals of "IDIC", which stands for "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations," and it's often credited with creating meaningful stories for underrepresented communities. Even so, everyone can seemingly have a blind spot, and after John Leguizamo called out the franchise for its lack of Latino representation in its early years, Voyager star Robert Picardo agreed.

As someone who regularly watched Star Trek even before Paramount+ subscriptions made things easier, I think it's fair to say they missed a few characters from the early days, though I still think the point is highly valid and valuable. For those who weren't around to see the Spawn vet's speech amidst the 2024 Emmy winners, here's what went down.

John Leguizamo Commented On Star Trek Lacking Latino Representation In Its Early Years

John Leguizamo gave an impassioned speech that championed the diversity at the Emmys, while also calling for even more steps forward. As he began to talk about the lack of representation he noticed watching television while growing up, the actor surprsingly, took a jab at Star Trek, noting specifically that the franchise was light on Latino representation. As he put it:

Hey, it's a fair criticism to make in the most general sense, even if not entirely inaccurate. Naturally, a rousing speech like this wasn't going to slide by without at least one Star Trek vet responding, and of course, it had to be one of the actors who played one of the best Trek characters.

Robert Picardo Responds, Citing Voyager As The First The Feature A Half-Latino Main Character

Robert Picardo, who will reprise his role as The Doctor/EMH by joining the cast of Starfleet Academy, praised John Leguizamo for a fair criticism of the Star Trek franchise. He also gave a shoutout to a Voyager co-star in his response, noting just how long it took for the franchise to feature a character with Latino heritage:

To be sure, I have to think the more specific point Robert Picardo was making was that B'Elanna Torres is a prevalent lead character within the Voyager ensemble, and that it was the first time a Latino performer, star Roxann Dawson, was playing a main character who also identified as Latino.

Speaking to that, actors with Mexican heritages such as The Wrath Of Khan's Ricardo Montalbán and Voyager's Robert Beltran did hold main roles in their respective projects. In those cases, however, the characters they played were not identified as such.

It should be noted, however, that there were characters with Latino origins in Star Trek before B'Elanna Torres came around. Here's a rundown of a few characters that came before her arrival in Voyager, as well as another character in the show:

• Esteban Rodríguez (Star Trek: The Original Series)
• José I. Mendez (Star Trek: The Original Series)
• Sonya Gómez (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
• Ayala (Star Trek: Voyager)

There are other examples, including those that came after, such as Discovery's Hugh Culber and Strange New Worlds' Erica Ortegas. I'm very excited to see Ortegas return in Season 4 of SNW and whatever upcoming Trek shows she's slated for, and also have to bring up a bit of history in significance to her character.

"The Cage," the original unaired pilot for Star Trek that was later released, had a half-Latino character named Jose Tyler. This character was originally meant to be named Jose Ortegas, according to ScreenRant and others, which has led some fans to believe that Tyler is a relative of Erica Ortegas, given they both fly the ship.

So, really, Latinos have had a presence in the franchise since the very start, though it's more than fair to say they could've had a bigger spotlight. That said, can we finally get more Ortegas stories in Season 3 and not have the character in danger of being killed off?

As mentioned, the best Star Trek shows can be found only on Paramount+, though there is a free option to stream if you download Pluto TV. As someone currently making their way through Deep Space Nine, I can't recommend watching it enough!

Star Trek: Voyager remains one of the most fascinating series of the franchise for me. It features a good deal of actors who I genuinely believe play the best Trek characters, and it has some truly WTF moments that make you question how a script got approved. It also ended up being the series that convinced Ronald D. Moore to move on to pursue other projects, and after he shared with CinemaBlend some of the pitches he had before leaving, I wish he would've stuck around.

I spoke with Moore at San Diego Comic-Con and asked about his short stint on Star Trek: Voyager, which ultimately ended due to a falling out with EP Brannon Braga. I'd heard that the creator pitched serialized storylines for the series much like ones he'd contributed to on Deep Space Nine, but that they weren't embraced in the same way by writers. I asked Moore about some of the pitches he made in those months, and learned some of them came to be on his acclaimed reboot of Battlestar Galactica:

The idea of Voyager leading a fleet of ships through the Delta Quadrant is intriguing and something I would've loved to see. Unfortunately, I feel some of the most advanced civilizations the crew came across that had decent ships also happened to be villains on Star Trek: Voyager. So, I can see how the idea might've fallen apart. Still, imagine a fleet of Voyager, Hirogen, and Kazon uniting under one banner to take on a Borg faction? That would be pretty awesome.

That was an ambitious idea by Ronald D. Moore, but not as ambitious as his other proposal that could've upended the series entirely. The sci-fi television creator, who also teased that Star Trek tech could be coming to his Apple TV+ series For All Mankind, had a pitch for an idea that had the potential to remove Kathryn Janeway as Captain of the Voyager:

Keep in mind that Ronald D. Moore joined the Star Trek: Voyager staff following the end of Deep Space Nine. The series was preparing for Season 6 at the time, and Moore was suggesting it introduce a storyline in which Janeway potentially got voted out of captaincy. It was a bold proposition, especially for a series that had not embraced serialization in the same ways that DS9 had.

As we stated previously, Ronald D. Moore's stint on Star Trek: Voyager didn't last long. He departed without his above pitches being used, and was granted writing credits in the episodes "Survival Instinct" and "Barge Of The Dead." Then he went on to make the much-acclaimed remake of Battlestar Galactica.

Moore has not returned to work on Star Trek since his departure, but he is a fixture at conventions, and with upcoming Trek shows on the way, the opportunity is always there for him to return. I know there are a number of fans who would love to see him work on another series, but with all his current projects he's already involved in, I'm not sure what his willingness would be to dive back into the franchise.

Those looking to enjoy Ronald D. Moore's past Star Trek contributions need only use a Paramount+ subscription to enjoy his many episodes. Who knows? Maybe there will be more contributions to add in the future, but for now, readers have a good body of work to stream.

Ever since it was confirmed that the upcoming Star Trek TV show Starfleet Academy will be set in the 31st century, there’s been chatter about if this means characters from Star Trek: Discovery will show up, as that show was set in that time period for its last three seasons. While there has been casting news over the last few months, including Holly Hunter playing the chancellor of the educational institution and Paul Giamatti playing the main villain, there wasn’t any mention of Discovery talent… until today. Coming straight out of San Diego Comic-Con, three Discovery alums from the recently-concluded Star Trek series are officially confirmed to be involved, and as an exciting bonus, an alum from the science fiction franchise who’s been a fan-favorite for decades will also appear.

On the Discovery front, Tig Notaro, Oded Fehr and Mary Wiseman will reprise their respective roles of Jett Reno, Admiral Charles Vance and Sylvia Tilly. Notaro will participate as a series regular, and Fehr will appear as recurring guest stars. Tilly and Vance’s involvement already makes sense since the former became a Starfleet instructor in Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 and the latter is Starfleet’s commander in chief. As for Jett, since she’s part of the main cast, it’s logical to guess she’s no longer an engineer aboard the USS Discovery and is now a fellow instructor at Starfleet Academy.

But here’s the especially surprising news: Robert Picardo, who played The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager from 1995-2001, will join Tig Notaro as a series regular on Starfleet Academy. This news follows just a few weeks after Picardo was heard vocally reprising his unique version of the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) in Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, which can be streamed with a Netflix subscription rather than a Paramount+ subscription like the other Trek shows. Picardo also cameoed as a different EMH in Star Trek: First Contact, as well as played Dr. Lewis Zimmerman, the creator of these holograms, in three Voyager episodes and a Deep Space Nine episode.

Because the USS Voyager’s doctor was killed during the show’s opening two-parter, “Caretaker, Robert Picardo’s Doctor became the ship’s chief medical officer for the entirety of Voyager’s run. As a result of being continually in use while the crew was stranded in the Delta Quadrant for seven years, The Doctor’s programming expanded and he became a complex individual with interests beyond medical science. He was also able to start walking outside of his lab and the holodecks when he obtained a mobile holographic emitter from the 29th century in Season 3.

Given that he’s an artificial intelligence, it makes sense that he’d still be around roughly 800 years after the events of Prodigy, and I can only imagine how much he’s evolved during that time, assuming he’s stayed on for all these centuries. As for how Starfleet Academy will explain why The Doctor looks older since he’s a hologram, it’d be easy enough for Robert Picardo’s character to share it’s among the ways he’s tweaked his programming. Having The Doctor teach students is also a fitting occupation after seeing him try to mentor Prodigy’s main characters in Season 2.

In addition to the aforementioned actors, Starfleet Academy’s main cast includes Kerrice Brooks, Bella Shepard, George Hawkins, Karim Diané and Zoë Steiner, all of whom are playing cadets, and Gina Yashere, who will play an Academy instructor as a recurring guest star. The series will begin production in August, and CinemaBlend will continue passing along key information about the project, including when it will start airing on Paramount+.

With the current lull in Star Trek programming, it's a great time to look back and reflect on all the shows released thus far. While some might choose to do so by watching past series with a Paramount+ subscription, others were psyched to visit Fan Expo Boston to watch Kate Mulgrew speak about her time on Voyager. Among other things, the star who played Captain Janeway revealed the storyline she wished the series would've dove deeper into, and I agree with her.

Star Trek: Voyager has some WTF moments, but it also contains some of the best story and character ideas the franchise has ever delivered. I love the series and think it's great, but I can't help but think it would be that much better had the writers had the same thought Kate Mulgrew talked about during her fan Q&A. In a video uploaded by Craig Semon, Mulgrew talked about the one episode she felt should've been stretched across the series, saying:

I agree with Kate Mulgrew, and I wouldn't be surprised if her take was somewhat influenced by the way current and upcoming Trek shows emphasize character-driven storytelling. It almost sounds like she wishes Captain Janeway could've been explored in the same way that Michael Burnham was in Discovery, and as someone who thinks Burnham is one of the best Trek characters specifically because we see so much of the captain's growth, I can't blame Mulgrew for wishing she had that same experience as Janeway.

Of course, Star Trek: Voyager had an entire ensemble cast to worry about, and not every adventure was Janeway-centric. Even so, Kate Mulgrew feels there was another reason the writers didn't harp on the Captain's loneliness too much, but why she still feels like it was a missed opportunity:

I think many Star Trek fans would agree Kate Mulgrew gave one of her best performances as Captain Janeway, and she's even continued to do so as Admiral Janeway in Prodigy. With Season 2 on its way to those with a Netflix subscription in July, maybe the writers gave her the wish of diving deeper into exploring the lonely side of Janeway.

And if not, Kate Mulgrew can take solace that Captain Janeway was never neglected as a character on Star Trek: Voyager. Lest we forget there are characters like Harry Kim who really got screwed over on the series, it could always be worse.

Kate Mulgrew expressed an interest to reprise her character in live-action in the modern era of Star Trek, but we haven't seen it happen yet. Top brass Alex Kurtzman told CinemaBlend "surprises" are on the way after Discovery's end, so maybe there is something we don't know about yet in the works. Cross those fingers if you'd like to see it happen, because we're not that far off from San Diego Comic-Con, so there could be some big announcements for the franchise there. I'd hate to be so bold to ask for a Voyager movie, but c'mon, isn't that way overdue at this point?

While we wait for updates on that front, many other Star Trek fans and I will be watching Season 2 of Prodigy when it arrives on Netflix on July 1st. Hopefully, the latest season will be just as good as the first, and enough fans will watch to encourage Netflix to greenlight more seasons.

The Star Trek franchise has welcomed several notable guest stars over the years, though there was one in Voyager that was so unexpected it narrowly missed my list of WTF moments from the Kate Mulgrew-led series. Comedian Sarah Silverman had a fairly sizable role in the two-part episode "Future's End," and while we knew there was a scripted kiss, the star reported decades later she shared a real-life kiss with an unexpected co-star. 

Silverman played an astronomer named Rain Robinson in the episode, and she teamed up with Tim Russ' Tuvok and Robert Duncan McNeill's Tom Paris when the Voyager crew inadvertently found themselves back in time on Earth in 1996.  The actress recently recalled the experience during an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and she talked about filming her kiss with McNeill, and a real-life kiss she shared with a previously unrevealed co-star:

It's a little surprising as a fan to hear the then 26-year-old Sarah Silverman made out with the 40-year-old Tim Russ, but that might be because I'm only familiar with Russ as Tuvok. Of course, I wouldn't expect a married Vulcan who is relatively emotionless throughout the bulk of Star Trek: Voyager to make out with one of the more prominent comedians of the time. Actors are, of course, different than the people they play on television, and this probably wouldn't be that strange in an everyday setting. 

Another moment I found strange from this story that makes me want to rewatch the episode with my Paramount+ subscription is that Robert Duncan McNeill had to stand on an apple box for the kiss so he wouldn't be the same height as Sarah Silverman. The practice, in general, isn't too uncommon in Hollywood, but I'd previously assumed it was typically done when the male actor was shorter than the female actress. One thing that is strange to note is that on Google, McNeill is listed as 6' 1", and Silverman is 5' 7". One would think an apple box wouldn't be necessary for that size difference, but I digress.

Going back to her off-screen kiss with Tim Russ, he hasn't commented since Sarah Silverman's latest story, but he's been pretty busy lately. The actor reprised his role as Tuvok in Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, and he is still talking to Voyager fans about that "Tuvix" episode. He might just be one not to kiss and tell, especially considering this was kept a secret from fans for so long. 

At the moment, it doesn't appear as though there are immediate plans for Tim Russ or Sarah Silverman to pop up on any upcoming Trek shows. The odds of the latter returning are pretty slim, I'd imagine, considering Silverman's role was a guest spot.  As for Russ, his return to the sci-fi franchise is a possibility, especially in a world where fans are still campaigning for Star Trek: Legacy.  Also, we're in an era where Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks had a crossover even though it seemed impossible, so an appearance anywhere is not out of the question for his Vulcan character. 

Until something like that happens, however, the best place to see Tim Russ as Tuvok is on Paramount+. Stream Star Trek: Voyager now, and maybe rewatch "Future's End" with a different perspective knowing what was happening behind the scenes. 

When you have a franchise like Star Trek that’s been around for nearly 60 years and spans numerous movies, TV shows and other media, certain stories are going to be talked about more than others. Sometimes that’s because they’re almost universally praised, but then there are times when it’s because the story in question is incredibly polarizing among the fanbase. Star Trek: Voyager’s infamous “Tuvix” falls into that category, but for one writer, it served as their big break in Hollywood. Nearly three decades after “Tuvix” originally aired, Star Trek: Lower Decks released the “love letter” known as “Twovix,” and now CinemaBlend has learned about this writer’s sweet reaction to the animated TV show’s episode.

“Twovix” kicked off Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 earlier this year to Paramount+ subscribers, and during my interview with Tawny Newsome, who voices Beckett Mariner, following the season’s conclusion, I asked for her thoughts on how the episode simultaneously poked fun at and paid homage to “Tuvix.” The actress proceeded to tell me how she met the person who came up with the latter story during the SAG-AFTRA strike, saying:

For those who are unfamiliar with “Tuvix,” the 24th episode of Star Trek: Voyager’s second season saw the characters Tuvok and Neelix being merged into the title being due to a transporter malfunction. The ship’s crew becomes divided over whether Tuvix has the right to live or if he should be separated back into Tuvok and Neelix. In the end, Captain Janeway performs the procedure to carry out the latter after The Doctor is unable to because of his vow to do no harm. Janeway’s action is still a popular debate topic amongst Star Trek fans, and Tuvok actor Tim Russ is asked about the controversial episode a lot.

Which brings us to “Twovix,” which saw members of the Cerritos dealing with a similar kind of transporter accident that merged Dr. T'Ana and chief engineer Billups into T'illups. However, upon learning what happened to Tuvix on Voyager, T'illups proceeded to create more merged beings on the Cerritos, and those beings then came together to form one massive, flesh monstrosity. Fortunately, everyone was separated back to their original selves by the end.

“Twovix” towed the line nicely between making fun of “Tuvix” and also effectively playing with the core premise, and as we now know from Tawny Newsome, Mark Gaberman, who came up with the story alongside Andre Shepard Price (with Kenneth Biller penning the teleplay), liked what he saw. Gaberman received ‘Story By’ credits on four more Star Trek: Voyager episodes, but since the show concluded in 2001, he’s become a mainstay writer for the game show Jeopardy! and its various spinoffs. Still, the Star Trek series was instrumental to his professional life, and it’s good to hear from Newsome that he approved of how Lower Decks played around with his narrative concept.

Star Trek: Lower Decks fans can look forward to Season 5 arriving at a yet-to-be-announced date, so while we wait for news on that batch of episodes, feel free to have a double feature of sorts by screening “Tuvix” and “Twovix” back-to-back on Paramount+. You can also learn what other upcoming Star Trek shows are on the franchise’s slate.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 premiere "Twovix." Read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Lower Decks opened up Season 4 in an unexpected way, but it's one that any and all fans of Star Trek: Voyager will likely appreciate. The Cerritos crew was tasked with helping the Voyager and its caretaker making the journey to be displayed for all to see. Of course, said journey wasn't that easy, and chaos ensued when multiple crew members were "Tuvix'd." It's a hilarious romp, but why did Lower Decks honor Voyager by riffing on its most controversial episode? Animator Barry Kelly had an answer for CinemaBlend. 

I spoke to animator and director Barry Kelly ahead of the premiere of Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, and was super curious to know how and why "Tuvix" became the focal point of its season premiere. The Voyager episode remains one of the franchise's most troubling "moral quandary" episodes, and Kelly said that its history definitely played a factor in the decision: 

For all its controversy, I must agree with Barry Kelly that "Tuvix" is a classic Star Trek episode of any franchise. Decades after its airing, there is still hot debate on whether or not Captain Janeway made the right decision in splitting Tuvix back into Neelix and Tuvok. I can also see how the episode lends itself perfectly to animation, and I loved the hybrid members of the Cerritos crew we saw throughout the episode. 

"Tuvix" gets a big spotlight in the episode, but there's no denying Voyager the show is the star. Countless references to memorable episodes are made, including my personal favorite, which shines a light on Michael McKean's performance as "The Clown." Kelly explained that the episode helped them create a "love letter" to the series while letting viewers see where the characters stand on the controversial Tuvix decision: 

Star Trek: Lower Decks is a comedy, but the stakes must be real. As such, Captain Freeman had to deal with the same issues Janeway did, even if she did it in a much more humorous tone. Ultimately, the crew was able to undo all the hybrids and get everyone back to their normal selves. 

Barry Kelly conceded, of course, that the Lower Decks crew had an easier time making their Tuvix decision than Captain Janeway did on Voyager. The hybrids are the villains of the episode after fusing people against their will to create an uprising. The situation with Tuvix, who had spent months as an individual rather than a day fused, was far more nuanced. Additionally, as Kelly added, having the advanced tech to fix the situation helped: 

In any case, it's great that Star Trek: Lower Decks was able to honor Voyager, especially in light of Prodigy's cancellation. Now, two animated Trek shows are keeping the memory of Voyager alive and still making a case that we need a movie to happen even after all of these years. If nothing else, can we finally get Harry Kim a promotion? 

Those with a Paramount+ subscription can catch new episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks on Thursdays. Tune in for more Cerritos shenanigans and more context on that mysterious ship traveling through the galaxy. 

Star Trek: Picard wrapped up its three-season arc earlier this year, and yet there are still many Trekkies calling for a spinoff adventure. Fans don't want to have seen the last of The Next Generation crew, and they're especially eager to see Jeri Ryan back as Captain Seven of Nine to explore space with Jack Crusher and Raffi . We're still waiting on any form of confirmation that a spinoff could even happen, but there is a new project on the way that will detail a previously unseen era from Seven's life. 

Prolific sci-fi author David Mack, who wrote for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and worked as a consultant on Prodigy, announced on Twitter that he's been working on a Seven of Nine adventure titled Star Trek: Firewall. This story will bridge part of the gap between Voyager's return to Earth and Seven's eventual rejection from Starfleet due to her Borg affiliation. Take a look at the full synopsis via the Amazon listing, which lists a release date of February 27, 2024:

Star Trek: Picard began with Seven of Nine already established in the Fenris Rangers, so this book will be a prequel of sorts for the Paramount+ show, detailing her journey into that faction. It's also worth noting that this book somewhat serves as a Voyager sequel as well, as there's still not a ton that we know for sure about what happened in the years after Seven came to Earth with the crew, since it never got the follow-up movie it deserves. 

We know, for example, that Seven and Chakotay were in a relationship at the end of Voyager, but that Seven was single when she met up with Picard years later. I'd love to hear how or why that relationship ended, though I know from CinemaBlend's conversation with Jeri Ryan she was never interested in pursuing the Chakotay relationship beyond Voyager anyway. Will Star Trek: Firewall honor that and provide a reason for their eventual split? 

One other interesting tease is that it appears this book will feature some meaningful scenes between Seven of Nine and Admiral Kathryn Janeway. That's pretty notable all on its own, because Star Trek: Picard was never able to get Janeway and Seven in a scene together. 

Fans are hungry for that interaction, and given there's only light chatter about Janeway coming to live-action, this could be one of the only chances in the near future for the characters themselves to shares the same space. It also might be the best option for actresses Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew, who had some tensions working together on Star Trek: Voyager. 

At face value, it may be hard to see how this book has anything to do with whether or not we'll be able to watch a Star Trek: Picard follow-up with our Paramount+ subscriptions. It does seem relevant to me, however, that the franchise is looking to flesh out the details of Seven's story just after she officially became a Captain in Starfleet. These details about her life could be integral to any future writers room that may be tasked with crafting her future adventures. So I see this new David Mack novel as another positive sign we'll see more from the heroine in the 25th century at some point. 

Stream Star Trek: Picard right now on Paramount+, and keep that subscription handy because Strange New Worlds Season 2 is just around the corner. Not to mention there are also a number of other upcoming Trek shows on the horizon, all of which fans should be excited for. 

Star Trek: Voyager contains some of the absolute best episodes in the Star Trek franchise, and, unfortunately, some of the worst as well. What's even more interesting, however, is that there are plenty of episodes with "wtf" premises, but none of those are entirely bad or good. When comparing it to similar features we've done on shows like The Next Generation, that's not common. 

Things can get a bit freaky in the Delta Quadrant. This list will prove that in spades as we recap some of the wilder moments from Star Trek: Voyager that have me staring at the ceiling on late nights and just wondering, why? Check out the list, and then binge these episodes with a Paramount+ subscription for a terrible night's sleep. 

When Tom And Janeway Turned Into Salamanders And Mated ("Threshold" Season 2 Episode 15)

It's hilarious that a Star Trek episode that won an Emmy is considered one of the worst of all time. Granted, that Emmy was for Outstanding Makeup, and there's no denying the makeup is incredible, even if the episode is awful and upsetting. In a quest to achieve Warp 10, the adventure somehow devolves into Janeway and Tom Paris turning into salamanders. 

Not only do Tom and Captain Janeway become salamanders, but also mate and have three children together. If that wasn't bizarre enough, Voyager decides to abandon those children upon rescuing Tom and Janeway, possibly so no one has to acknowledge it ever happened again. So many bizarre decisions were made for this episode that I can't help but lie awake and wonder how it ever got made. 

When An AI Clown Turned A Utopia Into A Neverending Nightmare (“The Thaw” Season 2, Episode 23)

"The Thaw" is a famous episode of Star Trek: Voyager thanks in no small part to a phenomenal performance by Better Call Saul actor Michael McKean. It's also known for its creepy premise, in which the Voyager crew finds a group of aliens trapped inside of a virtual reality simulation. B'Elanna and Harry go in to investigate, only to find the aliens hostage to an AI clown who has constructed an evil circus and is feeding on their fear. 

There's so much to really send a chill down your spine in this episode. The idea that an artificial intelligence could fuel itself on fear and physically impact the actual humanoids within it. There's also the wild reality that had Voyager not interfered, these lifeforms would've been trapped inside of a virtual hellscape until they finally gave up and died. In an age where we're giving more and more power to AI, the clown deserves his slot on Voyager's greatest villains. 

How The Hirogen Gravitated Toward Nazism (“The Killing Game” Season 4 Episodes 18 and 19)

"The Killing Game" is a two-part adventure for Star Trek: Voyager in which the Hirogen captured the crew and kept them brainwashed inside a holodeck scenario in order to train and hunt them for sport. Out of the vast library of content available for training simulations, the Hirogen decided to be Nazis and have the Voyager crew work as French spies in the resistance. 

There's a part of me that acknowledges Star Trek: Voyager used that parallel intentionally, but thinking in-universe, it's scary to see the Hirogen adapt and relate to Nazi ideals so readily. One scary reality about the idea of extraterrestrials is them having a feeling of superiority and the advanced tech to do some real damage to those they believe are lesser than them. This one always makes me wary of potential first contact and the first species humanity could come across in real life should that day ever come. 

Janeway Temporarily Dies And Almost Has Her Spirit Taken By An Alien Ghost (“Coda” Season 3 Episode 15)

Captain Janeway wrestles with death in "Coda," though she's not immediately aware she's fighting for her life. What started as a time loop scenario devolved into an out-of-body ghost story in which Janeway is confronted by what she believed to be the spirit of her father. Janeway ultimately learns it's an alien hoping to seize her spirit to nourish itself, but fortunately, she makes it back to the land of the living. 

It's weird enough there's a corporeal alien spirit attempting to grab Janeway's soul. This being took things to the next level, however, by emulating her father! I know she made it out of the whole ordeal alright, but it's moments like these I'm amazed the Voyager crew isn't just wrecked with trauma from all they endured during this journey. Something like that would keep me up for weeks, and certainly not capable of resuming my duties as captain.  

The Doctor Changes His Programming And Starts Trying To Murder And Torture People (“Darkling” Season 3 Episode 18)

Self-improvement is a natural part of life, and when you're an EMH, it's pretty easy to accomplish. Unfortunately, The Doctor's attempt to better himself by taking on the personalities of past figures he admired resulted in crafting a dark persona that did some truly terrible things. This included trying to murder someone by pushing them off a cliff and paralyzing B'Elanna with a toxin when she tried to stop him. 

The most upsetting part of this was that The Doctor thought he was doing something for the betterment of everyone, and it had devastating consequences. Apparently the problem-solving of artificial beings isn't perfect even in the distant future either. It's all the more reason to make me just a bit leerier of the speaker assistant next to my bed. 

Kes Being Thrown Between Through Times In Various Points In Her Life (“Before And After” Season 3 Episode 21)

Kes is hurdled through time randomly in "Before And After" and is confused as she attempts to navigate chunks of her life she has lived and other moments she never experienced. It's all due to "chroniton particles" in her body, which nearly wiped her out of existence. Fortunately, The Doctor was able to purge Kes of the last of the chroniton particles as she became a single egg, which transported her back to the present timeline. 

"Before And After" really messed with me when I first watched it because I had no idea how I'd be able to navigate the whiplash of whipping between different times and ages. Just the thought of it makes me feel like I'm losing my mind, so all the credit in the world to Kes for keeping her wits about her and making it through the ordeal. 

Icheb Realizing His Parents Intentionally Gave Him Up To Attack The Borg (“Child’s Play” Season 6 Episode 19)

Star Trek: Voyager introduced Icheb as part of a mostly dead Borg colony, and it was believed he was stolen from his parents and assimilated. In "Child's Play," we learned that the actual reality was far darker. Icheb hailed from the Brunali people, who had managed to survive the Borg attacks on their planet for years thanks to their advanced understanding of genetics. Icheb eventually learned that he wasn't assimilated, but rather deliberately meant to be captured by the Borg because his DNA contained a virus that was fatal to adult Borg.

It's a terrible revelation and one that Icheb would've never known had the Voyager crew not pressed him to meet his parents. I feel like if I was one of those people that pushed, I would have trouble sleeping that night after finding out the type of people his parents truly are. 

The Traumatic Year Of Hell (“Year Of Hell” Season 4, Episodes 8 and 9)

Remember when Star Trek: Voyager crossed paths with a Krenim Captain hellbent on using his dangerous command of time to restore his species to its former glory and save his wife? Who would've thought one man's quest would send Voyager on a long battle that resulted in Tuvok losing his sight, the death of many crew members and a near end of this journey home?

"Year Of Hell" is in contention for one of the best Star Trek stories of all time, and possibly could have even worked as a standalone Voyager film. The amount of hardship, tragedy and pain that Captain Janeway and the crew endured would've broken any lesser individual. Janeway, of course, isn't just any individual, which may be why people want to see Kate Mulgrew's character back in live-action so badly. 

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream right now on Paramount+. Be sure to hold onto that subscription for all the upcoming Star Trek shows around the corner and for access to other great sci-fi as well.  

As Star Trek: Picard has made clear, Seven of Nine changed quite a bit in the years after Star Trek: Voyager's final season was set, and quite a few viewers would argue it' was all for the better. Jeri Ryan would say the same, apparently, as on the heels of Seven being unofficially promoted to Captain, Ryan told me she had a greater appreciation for the character after a "rough four years" on Voyager. 

I spoke to Jeri Ryan about the recent shocking events that unfolded in Star Trek: Picard's "Vox" and her overall thoughts about returning to the franchise after she once said that it took "several glasses of champagne" to convince her to return as Seven. I asked her about that bubbly admission, and Ryan confirmed that after her experience on Voyager, she planned to stay away from Trek for good: 

Star Trek: Voyager fans loved Seven of Nine, understandably so, but Jeri Ryan struggled when she worked on the beloved series. The actress has talked over the years about tensions that formed with unnamed cast members on the set, with many having speculated some of the negative feelings were tied to co-star Kate Mulgrew. Whatever the specifics were, even if they're never addressed in full, it was enough to make her years on Voyager less than an ideal Trek experience.  

Thankfully, Jeri Ryan didn't let any of those soured memories get in the way of reprising the role, and she's really happy with how Star Trek: Picard has played out so far, both for her character and for her as an actress. She confirmed to CinemaBlend that she felt the same kind of positivity about what plays out in the upcoming series finale. Of course, the actress didn't share any additional details on what's ahead for Seven, so we'll all have to tune in and see with our Paramount+ subscriptions. 

After hearing Jeri Ryan's glowing praise for Seven of Nine's arc, I asked if these new developments for Seven gave her an overall greater appreciation for her Star Trek character. Ryan shared her honest thoughts, as well as her ideas about a potential future for the character that made her hesitant to return.

Readers may be aware of the much-criticized romance in Season 7 of Star Trek: Voyager between Chakotay and Seven of Nine. Beyond the fact that many fans were assuming and hoping Chakotay and Janeway would ultimately end up together, the Seven and Chakotay relationship was established over the course of just a few Season 7 episodes, feeling very jarring and playing against everything that came before it. Jeri Ryan confirmed that if that was the version of Seven that would have been offered for Picard, she wouldn't have taken the plunge. 

Star Trek: Picard left behind the Chakotay romance and re-introduced Seven as part of the Fenris Rangers. She ultimately became romantically involved with Starfleet officer Raffi Musiker, and made her way into the squad. Jeri Ryan continued to talk about Seven and how much she's loved this latest run for the character:

Jeri Ryan has had a blast playing Seven of Nine, but it remains to be seen whether this upcoming finale will indeed feature her final performance for a while. Fans and Star Trek: Picard cast members have called on Paramount+ to greenlight a spinoff continuation to the series titled Star Trek: Legacy, but there's no indication at this time that Paramount as a whole is considering it. For now, that seems like it'd be the best chance at Ryan reprising her role in live-action, but who knows what unannounced upcoming Trek shows are on the horizon. 

Catch the series finale of Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+ on Thursday, April 20th. After that, the wait is on until the premiere of Strange New Worlds Season 2 on June 15th. Now would be a great time to revisit Season 1 or even binge Picard all over again following its conclusion. 

As with every Star Trek series, and really most TV shows, Star Trek: Voyager had its ups and downs, with some episodes being considered classics for the entire sci-fi franchise, and others… well, not so much (I’m looking at you, “Threshold”). However, as far as the most discussed Voyager episodes, ranking near the top of the list, if not in the #1 spot, is the controversial “Tuvix,” which saw Tim Russ’ Tuvok and Ethan Phillips’ Neelix being merged into the title character. This tale was even channeled in a recent episode of The Flash, and Russ recently talked about just how much he’s asked about “Tuvix,” as well as shared his definitive take on the ending.

“Tuvix” came up while Tim Russ was chatting with The Ready Room host Will Wheaton about (SPOILER ALERT) his appearance in the latest Star Trek: Picard episode, “Dominion,” as a Changeling disguised as Tuvok. Starting off, Russ recalled a specific moment that exemplified just how often Star Trek: Voyager fans have brought up “Tuvix” to him:

For those who’ve never seen “Tuvix,” which aired on May 6, 1996 towards the end of Season 2, the character, played by Tom Wright, comes into existence when Tuvok and Neelix are beamed back up to Voyager while carrying a plant sample from a class-M planet they were exploring. Eventually The Doctor discovers a way to separate the two crew members back into separate beings, but Tuvix argues for his existence and says that bringing Tuvok and Neelix back would be the equivalent of executing him. Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Kathryn Janeway (who’s currently a character on Star Trek: Prodigy) ultimately decides to carry out the procedure herself after Robert Picardo’s Doctor refuses to do so. Nearly three decades later, Star Trek fans continue to discuss the ethical and moral implications presented in the episode, with some agreeing with what Janeway did, and others believing Tuvix should have remained alive.

Tim Russ acknowledged the difficult subject matter presented in “Tuvix” during his conversation with Wil Wheaton, noting that this is one of those Star Trek stories where the captain has to make a decision where “there’s no winning” because there are “these scales that are almost perfect.” In his opinion though, Russ believes Janeway made the right call, explaining:

We’re only two years away from the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager’s premiere, and though “Tuvix” is one of its most controversial stories, it’s nonetheless impressive that it’s still discussed so passionately within the fanbase. Looking back to Tim Russ, he starred in Voyager for the entirety of its run, and while Star Trek: Picard marked his first time reprising Tuvok on screen in over two decades, he has voiced the character in some video/computer games, as well as played the Mirror Universe version of him in the Deep Space Nine episode “Through the Looking Glass.” Russ has also recently starred opposite Cherry Jones in an episode of Poker Face (which Peacock subscribers can watch) and voiced Lucius Fox in the animated DC movie Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham.

For those now interested in watching “Tuvix” for the first time or viewing it again, it can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, as Star Trek: Voyager is easily accessible on the platform with the rest of the Star Trek TV shows. Don’t forget to use our 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are currently airing or will debut/kick off new seasons soon.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Flash's Season 9 episode "Hear No Evil." Read at your own risk!

The Flash Season 9 ended its premiere with the reveal that Caitlin Snow was no longer the Caitlin Snow that fans knew. "Hear No Evil" revealed this new person is called "Snow," a third entity who is neither Caitlin nor Killer Frost. According to Frost's boyfriend, Chillblaine, this was all according to plan, and Caitlin apparently knew this would happen when they did the experiment. The plan was to use a device on Snow to bring both Caitlin and Killer Frost back to life, which caused my jaw to drop. As an avid fan of Star Trek: Voyager, I couldn't believe I was witnessing  what I'm now calling "Tuvix 2.0." 

For the uninitiated, "Tuvix" is one of the most infamous episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, and maybe even Star Trek overall. Fans have debated the moral quandary presented by the episode for decades and wrestled with the ethics of Captain Janeway's decision that The Flash was also tasked with in "Hear No Evil." Let's break down both episodes and determine if The Flash made the right call in its situation with Snow or not. 

What Happened In Star Trek: Voyager's "Tuvix"

The crew of Star Trek: Voyager was blindsided by an impossible situation when a transporter malfunction accidentally transformed Lt. Tuvok and Neelix into one person. This new entity, called Tuvix, existed as a member of the crew for a month while the crew worked in the background to find a solution. Once Tuvix learned it was now possible for him to be separated, he begged the crew not to do it and that he had rights as an individual to exist. 

Captain Janeway ultimately forced Tuvix's separation to go through, and Tuvok and Neelix returned to their separate bodies. Fans have debated whether or not that was the right call, and Janeway's decision to force the separation is occasionally used as a means to scrutinize her overall capabilities as a Captain. 

What Happened In The Flash's "Hear No Evil"

When Chillblaine tried to use the device to transform Snow back into Caitlin and Killer Frost, Barry stopped the procedure when he realized that Snow wanted out. Snow told Chillblaine she wasn't aware the process would hurt and wasn't ready to go through with it. Chillblaine said that was unacceptable and against Caitlin's wishes when she first started the procedure that made Snow. Barry defended Snow's right to delay the procedure, but Team Flash wrestled with what to do throughout the episode. 

In the end, Chillblaine surprisingly had the votes of a majority of Team Flash to use the device to turn Snow back into two separate entities. Barry said that didn't matter because Snow had told him and others she wanted to live her life as a separate individual. The device was then destroyed, seemingly erasing any hope of Caitlin or Killer Frost ever returning. 

Did The Flash Make The Right Call? 

A number of Star Trek: Voyager fans who talk about "Tuvix" agree that it was the passage of time that made the character's separation back to Tuvok and Neelix so inhumane. Conversely, The Flash played out this scenario over the course of what felt like maybe a couple of days, and ultimately, Snow got to live. Barry also pulled rank as Janeway did, though it's unclear if he knew Hartley Rathaway (Pied Piper) would show up and destroy the device right after he and Snow made her wishes known. All we know is that Rathaway mentioned he did it out of a bond he formed with Snow during his stay at S.T.A.R. Labs earlier, which he formed in a matter of hours. 

The possible conclusions we can draw from this episode are numerous. Unfortunately, I think every conclusion I've drawn from The Flash doing an alternate take on "Tuvix" has complicated all previous thoughts I had about the Star Trek: Voyager episode. The only thing I can definitively say is the show really did Caitlin Snow dirty by killing her off so unceremoniously, and with only 13 episodes total this final season, it's unlikely we'll get a fitting sendoff for her as we have with other major characters. Who would've thought doing this type of episode again would be just as divisive? 

The Flash airs on The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. It, along with many other shows on the 2023 TV schedule, are tasked with keeping folks entertained for the next few months, so be sure to take a look and tune into whatever seems interesting!

Spoilers ahead for the Star Trek: Prodigy episode "Preludes," so read at your own risk!

Star Trek: Prodigy provided an update on what happened to Robert Beltran’s Chakotay following Voyager, and it was quite the reveal. Fans learned why the recommissioned Starfleet captain wasn’t with the Protostar when Dal and his friends found it as well as why it'll likely take a while before the Paramount+ series shares more updates on the character. 

While I provided a disclaimer above, I would like to reiterate that those who haven’t watched Star Trek: Prodigy’s “Preludes” using a Paramount+ subscription should proceed with caution. We’re going to be getting into some spoilers here. Of course, if you're fine with reveals and other major developments that hint at a long wait for more on Chakotay, definitely read on.

The Vindicator Revealed That Chakotay Is In The Future 

While Star Trek: Prodigy fans learned about Dal’s true identity in "Masquerade," it was also revealed that Cadet Ascencia of Vice Admiral Janeway’s ship wasn’t who she claimed to be. Ascencia is actually a Vau N’Akat known as The Vindicator, who was sent to the past just like The Diviner in an attempt to recapture the Protostar and destroy Starfleet. Because Diviner had lost his memories, Vindicator gave him a brief reminder of why he was sent back in time, and it involved a story that pertained to Chakotay's fate. 

After recapping the story of the destruction of Solum, The Vindicator revealed their fate changed when Chakotay, his crew, and the Protostar were accidentally transported to the future above Solum, thanks to a temporal anomaly. The Vau N’Akat survivors installed their Starfleet-destroying weapon on board, but a previously imprisoned Chakotay escaped and was able to send the ship back in time to an unknown location and ruin their plan. It came at a cost, though, as Chakotay and his crew are now stuck in the future on Solum and have no clear way back. It’s going to be hard for Prodigy to do more with the character moving forward unless there's some sort of surprise resolution in the remaining episodes. 

Janeway Is Too Busy Trying To Stop The Protostar, Who Is Trying to Avoid Her And Save Starfleet

Vice Admiral Janeway is unaware of Chakotay’s fate at the moment and is still concerned with tracking down the Protostar. Of course, this is exactly what The Vindicator and The Diviner want, as any Starfleet ship that successfully hails the Protostar will activate its weapon and corrupt their ship in the process. It’s important that Dal and the crew stay a couple of steps ahead of Janeway, which is no small task. Suffice it to say, the characters have been so preoccupied during this back half of this season that it seems unlikely that they’ll all drop everything and travel to the future to find Chakotay. 

The Showrunners Already Confirmed That Janeway And Chakotay’s Arc Is A Multi-Season Story

If you still don't believe that Season 1 is slowing things down when it comes to Chakotay, CinemaBlend spoke to Star Trek: Prodigy’s showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman, who both confirmed that it would be a while before Voyager fans’ questions about Janeway and Chakotay would answered. After Dan confirmed that the two characters' shared storyline won’t be resolved during the first season, Kevin followed up with this: 

Though it's pretty significant Star Trek: Prodigy has revealed Chakotay's location, I would still think that the chances of fans seeing him reunited with Janeway this season are slim to none. Honestly, other elements of the season have been so great that I’m not too concerned about it. Though that fact isn't going to make the wait for more on that storyline any easier.

Stream new episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy on Thursdays over at Paramount+. Also, be sure to check out Star Trek: Voyager, as the chatter surrounding Kate Mulgrew’s character returning to the live-action realm could signal that show could connect to a show like Picard in the year to come.

Star Trek: Voyager vet Robert Picardo spent years playing a character called “The Doctor,” but if you were to ask most pop culture fans who “The Doctor” is, chances are good they’d name one of the past or present leads from another science fiction mainstay: Doctor Who. Fans of both franchises will hopefully be delighted to know that Picardo had a bit of fun in that regard recently, as he approached present and past Who stars David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker in an effort to figure out who the real Doctor is. 

Robert Picardo has been posting lots of entertaining content on Twitter from Showmasters’ London Film and Comic Con, and he apparently couldn’t help but snap a few pics with some modern-day Doctor Who elites. Picardo seemed to first track down the upcoming star of Doctor Who’s 60th-anniversary specials, David Tennant, and just had to pick a faux fight about which of them is The Doctor of the future: 

David Tennant is responsible for some of Doctor Who’s best episodes, so it’s no surprise he was unwilling to acknowledge Robert Picardo’s claim. (That cheekiness is what makes him aces as the demon Crowley in Good Omens.) On top of that Tennant is the first Doctor incarnation to return after his regeneration, which feels like it only solidifies his status as one of the greatest of all time to ever do the role. 

Picardo’s Doctor had some great moments on Star Trek: Voyager, but even I would struggle to say his Doctor is more deserving of the title than Tennant. That said, I definitely think Picardo would make a fine Doctor on Doctor Who if there was ever an opportunity for him to be a guest star, in case anyone with the power to make that happen is reading. 

Robert Picardo later managed to find Jodie Whittaker, who had just recently finished her run in Doctor Who. Picardo asked her who The Doctor was, and much like Tennant, she was unwilling to give him the answer he wanted: 

These exchanges are just too geeky for words, and I absolutely love them. It’s not often that fans will see the actors of their favorite franchises engage in character-centric banter on this level, so kudos to Robert Picardo, Jodie Whittaker, and David Tennant for having fun with the tangential connection between the two franchises. 

Robert Picardo’s fun tweets are the latest crossover between Star Trek and Doctor Who, but not the only one. Both franchises collided in the famous IDW crossover Assimilation², which featured Matt Smith and Tom Baker’s Doctors, as well as the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s definitely worth a read for anyone geeking out like I am about Robert Picardo snapping photos with quippy captions with David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker. Now, if only Paramount+ and Doctor Who’s new home Disney+ can work on getting us a live-action crossover between the two franchises, my life would be complete. 

Catch Robert Picardo’s Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager, which is available to stream on Paramount+. Those looking to watch Doctor Who on streaming can do so with an HBO Max subscription, though that could change once the Disney deal takes effect.

Star Trek: Voyager encountered many villainous obstacles on its long journey back to Earth, but which among these would fans consider the best? Better yet, where do they rank compared to each other? 

I’ve been binging Star Trek: Voyager with my Paramount+ subscription, and feel like I have a solid lock on some of the show's best villains fans might remember. Ranked from great to greatest, here is a rundown of the worst Captain Janeway and her crew faced as they made their way through the Delta Quadrant. Given all the chatter as of late about Kate Mulgrew potentially reprising her role in live-action, it feels like as good of a time as any to remember why so many folks are still clammoring for new Voyager projects these days.

10. Angry Tuvok

Star Trek fans received a taste of an unhinged Tuvok in Season 2's “Meld,” where the crew worked to solve the mystery of a murder on the Voyager. The Vulcan, disturbed by the fact the Betazoid responsible for the crime didn’t have a motive, attempted a mind meld in order to try and understand what occurred. As a result ,he found himself with a murderous rage, and it took a good deal to get him back to his normal self. 

Angry Tuvok is toward the bottom of the list because, let’s be honest, he’s not actually a villain. With that said, seeing him unhinged and out of control of his emotions shows just how dangerous Vulcans were before they committed to logic and suppressing feelings. He could easily bring Voyager down if he wanted to, so I have to commend his restraint in not doing that, or strangling Neelix to death. 

9. The Nazi Hirogen

The Hirogen species had a few encounters with Voyager during the show’s run, but one particular misdeed of theirs really sticks out. The Season 4 two-parter “The Killing Game” sent the crew back to Nazi-occupied France as Janeway and the crew attempted to combat the soldiers. In reality, the Hirogen had captured them, and forced them into a holosimulation without their knowledge in an effort to enjoy the thrill of ongoing hunts. 

The Nazi Hirogen, while not truly Nazis outside of the simulation, were still pretty dastardly. They used technology to brainwash the crew, and disabled safety protocols on injuries, which required the Doctor to perform operations on the crew to keep them alive between hunts. Thankfully, Harry Kim was able to free the crew by working with the Doctor, which was one of the few times Voyager made him look competent and capable.

8. Kashyk

Devore inspector Kashyk from Season 5's "Counterpoint" was about as charming as he was conniving, and Janeway and crew were forced to deceive him to protect its telepathic passengers. While their initial efforts were effective, Kashyk duped Janeway by claiming he'd defected from his species, only to expose the whereabouts of the telepathic crew and capture them. 

Kashyk wasn’t the worst of the worst of Star Trek: Voyager, but he was quite a snake. He also toyed with the heart of our beloved captain at a vulnerable time in her life. Luckily, she was a bit more clever, and managed to turn the tables on him yet again. Still, the guy was just a rat bastard, and I’m glad we didn’t see him again for the rest of the series. 

7. Culluh

Some might say Seska is the primary villain tied to the Kazon, but even she suffered at the hands of Culluh. The Kazon gave the crew hell during Seasons 1 through 3, and honestly, nearly ended this mission well before it really made any progress. 

What makes Culluh especially evil, however, is using Seska and his own child in a ploy to stop Voyager, under the guise that the child was Chakotay’s. Culluh’s actions ultimately resulted in Seska’s death, which was the only thing that really led Culluh to leave Voyager be. 

6. The Clown

Some folks will argue Season 2's “The Thaw” is one of Star Trek: Voyager’s most frightening episodes. I wouldn’t go that far, but I will agree that one of the show’s worst villains appeared in the episode, and I’d certainly hate to come across The Clown after what he put his captives through here. 

The Clown was merely a manifestation created inside of a neural network but was able to hold a group of individuals hostage in stasis for fifteen years before Voyager came along. The psychological torture is just unfathomable, and while he ultimately was defeated, there’s no doubt that the impact of his influence was felt by those affected for years to come. 

5. Icheb’s Parents

Star Trek: Voyager introduced the young refugee Borg Icheb’s parents in Season 6's “Child’s Play,” and in hindsight, we should’ve guessed they weren’t great people. After the Voyager crew convinced Icheb to reconnect with his family, it seemed like we were headed toward a happy ending. Unfortunately, we later learned that he was intentionally assimilated by the Borg, as his Brunali parents infected him with a pathogen that damaged the Borg cube and protected their people from attack. 

Icheb’s parents are here on the list because they never intended to make a meaningful reconnection with their son, but rather wanted to send him out again in an effort to infect more Borg with their virus. Pretty heartless, and upsetting for viewers.

4. Old Kes

Kes was always a complicated character for Star Trek: Voyager to tackle, and it seemed the series never knew what to do with her before writing her out of the main cast. Though Lien left the series as a main cast member, she did get a return episode in Season 6's “Fury” in which Kes went on a misguided quest for revenge against Voyager. 

Kes was much older due to her species’ shortened lifespan, but her psychic abilities made her effectively unstoppable. She would've succeeded, but her past self managed to talk some sense into her. 

3. The Wormhole Creature

Season 5's “Bliss” offers the crew hope when they seemingly find a wormhole that will transport them instantly back to Earth. Understandably so, the entire crew was thrilled and eager to go to any lengths to make it happen, but Seven of Nine had her doubts. It soon became a battle between Seven and the rest of the crew, as she attempted to save her friends from themselves. 

The wormhole creature from “Bliss” might be a wildcard choice for Star Trek: Voyager villains, but I can’t think of a more perfect creature for this list. If it wasn’t for a last-minute push from the EMH Doctor and Seven, the Voyager crew would’ve perished under the illusion they were on a fast track back to Earth. On one hand, it’s probably not the worst fate they could’ve succumbed to, but man, what a cruel fate considering all they’d been through to that point.  

2. Annorax 

The Star Trek: Voyager crew was brought to its knees during Season 4's “Year Of Hell,” after encountering a temporal scientist named Annorax hellbent on restoring the status of his homeworld. Janeway and the crew tried to fight back, but his weapon systems were engaged with a device capable of wiping an entire species from existence. This led the crew to be cautious, and engage in a long conflict that nearly wiped them out entirely. 

The “Year Of Hell” arc is an all-time great Star Trek storyline, and part of that is due to Kurtwood Smith’s incredible performance as Annorax. One man’s quest to restore his planet’s status and bring back his wife becomes obsessive and results in the deaths of countless individuals. Thankfully, the time element managed to reset things to normal, though his impact on the crew makes him an easy choice for one of the greatest enemies Voyager ever faced. 

1. Borg Queen

As if there were any choice for number one, the Borg Queen stands as the definitive villain for Star Trek: Voyager. Hell, the Borg Queen is an all-time villain for the Trek franchise. There’s definitely something special about Voyager’s connection to the Borg, and that’s largely because of the queen's encounters with Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine in Seasons 5 through 7. 

The Borg Queen is a master manipulator and always seemed capable of pulling just about anyone into her grasp if given the opportunity. This dynamic was so strong that it became a major part of the latest season of Star Trek: Picard, so it’s no surprise the Borg Queen reigns supreme in terms of the series' greatest villains. 

Stream Star Trek: Voyager right now on Paramount+. After that, be sure to check out Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway on Prodigy, and keep that subscription for the number of other upcoming Trek shows slated for the coming months. 

Star Trek: Voyager is a beloved show for franchise fans, but it never had the chance to shine as brightly back in its day. While The Next Generation had a handful of movies with Patrick Stewart and his crew, actress Kate Mulgrew had to settle for a cameo in Star Trek: Nemesis, and only recently had the chance to reprise her role as Kathryn Janeway on television in the animated series Prodigy. It sounds like more could be in the works, however, following Trek head Alex Kurtzman’s comments at New York Comic-Con. His comments have me really excited about what’s coming for her character, especially considering what Mulgrew said to CinemaBlend about a Voyager movie only hours before.  

I had the honor of speaking to Kate Mulgrew ahead of Star Trek: Prodigy’s panel at New York Comic-Con, and while we discussed a lot about what’s to come in the Paramount+ and Nickelodeon series, we also briefly got on the topic of a Voyager movie. I noted that I’m a big advocate for a Voyager film being made in this streaming era, and Mulgrew agreed that the idea sounded fun: 

Hours later, Alex Kurtzman revealed that the franchise is looking into ways to bring Kate Mulgrew back as Janeway in a live-action project and that they have some ideas in the works. Now, I’m not saying that one of those ideas is a Voyager movie, but I am saying that Mulgrew had some personal thoughts to share on the idea pretty quickly. If Paramount+ is kicking around the idea of finally making a Voyager movie, there is no denying the timing is kind of perfect for this to be a “very fun” thing for fans. 

Kate Mulgrew is back in Star Trek as the Hologram Janeway and Vice Admiral Janeway in Prodigy, and her Voyager co-stars are also working in the franchise. Robert Beltran's Chakotay is also featured in the animated Prodigy series, and Jeri Ryan is currently a part of the cast of Picard as Seven of Nine. 

Beyond that, Star Trek 4 doesn’t seem like it’ll release anytime soon, and Paramount+ is a perfect place to release a more niche fan-interest project that may not appeal to a mainstream audience. Hey, they could even get Robert Duncan McNeill to direct it, and maybe even butter him up with a Captain Proton miniseries. 

Of course, there are plenty of options for Kate Mulgrew to return to Star Trek in live-action without it happening with a Star Trek: Voyager movie. Star Trek: Picard recently revealed Seven of Nine is officially a Starfleet officer, which opens the avenue for the franchise to do a Voyager continuation through her. There could also be a Janeway miniseries, though if there are still multiple ideas floating around out there, I’d prefer to stick with the “fun” idea of a Voyager movie (preferably one with redemption for Harry Kim). 

Star Trek: Voyager doesn’t have a movie, but anyone with a Paramount+ subscription can stream the entire series right now. Here’s hoping that more Voyager content is headed there in the future, provided it doesn’t involve them getting lost in the Delta Quadrant yet again. 

Star Trek actress Kate Mulgrew is crushing it with her role as a hologram and actual Janeway on the animated series Prodigy, but the fans want more. It’s hard not to as Star Trek: Picard prepares for a farewell season with the cast of The Next Generation! If Jean-Luc can return to live-action with his own series, why not Kathryn Janeway? Franchise head Alex Kurtzman offered some encouraging comments about the character returning to live action in addition to what she's doing in animation. 

Alex Kurtzman was present at the New York Comic-Con panel for Star Trek, and was asked by a fan during the Prodigy segment about when Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway will return to live-action (via TrekMovie.com). Kurtzman, who tends to be cryptic when it comes to any what-if scenarios in the Star Trek franchise, gave a surprisingly candid response on whether anything was in the works for Mulgrew to reprise her role: 

It would be cruel of Alex Kurtzman to tease that there’s an idea for Kate Mulgrew to return as Kathryn Janeway if there wasn’t something seriously on the table, so this sounds like good news. With that said, there’s really no telling what that idea could be, and whether it would be something fans feel is worthy of what the actress deserves for a Janeway comeback. 

While Alex Kurtzman was scant on details for how Janeway might return, he did offer some equally encouraging news. Kurtzman noted that whatever ideas are in the works for Kate Mulgrew to appear in live-action, this is happening as soon as they can: 

There are a couple of ways that Star Trek could re-introduce Kathryn Janeway in live-action. Star Trek: Prodigy, of course, revealed the actual non-hologram Janeway at the end of its first batch of episodes and could be used to lay the groundwork for her future story in live-action (even if the showrunners deny they’re doing Voyager stuff exclusively). Additionally, with Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard and now a commissioned Starfleet officer, there’s cause for her to team up alongside her former Captain Janeway and take on some threat in a potential post-Picard spinoff.

It’s also worth considering – especially with all the trouble Paramount is having with getting Star Trek 4 to happen in theaters – that there are fans hoping for a Voyager movie. Kate Mulgrew had a brief cameo as Janeway in Star Trek: Nemesis but never had the chance to lead her own movie. With her, and co-stars Jeri Ryan and Robert Beltran currently working in the franchise, now could be the time to pull that off. The sky is the limit here for what can be done, so let’s just hope Alex Kurtzman and other decision-makers are considering all options!

Watch Kate Mulgrew’s Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy’s return if you have a Paramount+ subscription on Thursday, October 27th. Now is a perfect time to catch up for those who haven’t watched, and of course, anyone hoping they’ll see more Janeway in live-action soon. 

Star Trek: Voyager is one of the greatest shows the sci-fi franchise has to offer, and still has many fans proclaiming its greatness to anyone who will listen (I think Voyager even deserves a movie). For all the things Voyager did right though, it has its oversights and imperfections. One of the series' major failings was how it treated Garrett Wang's Harry Kim, seemingly doing the character dirty every time it could. 

Fire up your Paramount+ subscription, and you’ll find plenty Star Trek: Voyager episodes where Harry Kim is shafted. For those looking to just get a rundown, though, here are some of the biggest examples of some of the wildest humiliations and moments he endured. 

Harry Actually Died Once And Was Replaced By An Alternate Version And No One Cared

I feel like it’s only right to kick things off with the greatest example of when Star Trek: Voyager did Harry Kim dirty: the episode “Deadlock.” The episode itself is a mind trip, as Voyager is split between two different versions of itself with a shared power source. The major details of the episode aren’t too important for what we’re talking about. What is important here is that the original Harry Kim died in the episode, and by the end, he's replaced with an alternate version of himself. 

What’s extra wild about this reveal is that it’s in no way integral to the story, nor is it ever addressed again. Star Trek: Voyager feels so down on Harry Kim that everyone, including alternate Harry, pretend like nothing ever changed. In other words, the original Harry's death is never acknowledged for the rest of the series. It’s straight up bonkers, and I can’t for the life of me understand why, even in the episodic era of Star Trek, why it was green-lit as a creative decision. All I can say is thank goodness modern shows like Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds moved away from that!

He Was Made Fun Of For Falling In Love With A Hologram

The Holodeck can provide realistic experiences we can only dream of, but at the end of the day, most Starfleet officers know it’s only a fantasy. Harry Kim had trouble distinguishing fiction and reality in “Alter Ego” though after he fell in love with a hologram in the beach simulation. At the start, Harry at least understood this wasn’t something he should have happening. It wasn’t until he went to Tuvok for help that Star Trek: Voyager really did Harry dirty. 

Tuvok attempted to understand Harry’s interest in the hologram by communicating with her, which made Harry jealous. Harry then began to try and start some stuff with Tuvok, which we all know is a terrible idea because Tuvok would annihilate him in a fight. In the end, it turned out the hologram was actually being controlled by an outside visitor who was scanning the Voyager and became obsessed with Tuvok, but that did little to quell the embarrassment of Harry trying to battle a superior officer for the affections of what he thought was a hologram.

He Was Held Hostage By The Holodeck

“Heroes And Demons” is one of the first of many Star Trek: Voyager episodes for The Doctor, and an early example of how he can provide more than medical assistance to the ship’s crew. Doctor was sent on a rescue mission when it’s discovered that Harry Kim is trapped within his Holodeck simulation of the epic tale Beowulf. Other members who attempt to enter are also trapped, so by sending in The Doctor, it’s assumed he won’t be impacted by the phenomena as a non-organic being. 

I’ll admit that there’s a little bit of shame to go around for everyone who was captured. At the same time, this all happened because Harry was off trying to live out his fantasy of being a 6th-century Scandinavian hero. I’m not even sure what’s so enticing about that when you’re having to fight for your life each and every day in the Delta Quadrant, and I really question Harry’s ability to have fun as a result. 

Harry Also Was Held Hostage By A Clown

Harry had a knack for picking away missions, and this one had to rank among his most dangerous and humiliating of all time. The Voyager crew stumbled upon a ship full of people stuck in hibernation chambers and unable to wake up. Harry and B’Elanna entered the chambers and quickly found it’s because everyone is being held captive by an evil computer program masquerading as a clown in a circus. 

Harry did his best to avoid falling for the clown’s attempts at fear in “The Thaw,” but in the end he and the other survivors are ultimately pulled out thanks to Janeway. Harry does get some bravery points for opting to be the one who stayed behind when B’Elanna left to alert the Voyager crew about what was going on, but ultimately he was unable to make any meaningful progress against the clown on his own. Once again, Star Trek: Voyager set him up to be useless and incapable in the clutch, which seems to be a trend throughout the series. 

He Was Propositioned And Later Rejected By Seven Of Nine 

Star Trek: Voyager fans know that once Seven Of Nine arrived on the ship, a good chunk of the series from that point forward revolved around her. This meant every so often, there'd be an episode that had to touch on how officers wanted to date her, though Harry Kim was one of the first to openly express an interest. Unfortunately for Harry, he was somehow embarrassed by the Borg on two different occasions for radically different reasons. 

In “Revulsion,” Seven approached Harry with an offer to be intimate so that she may better understand it in terms of research. She ordered Harry to remove his clothes, and while Harry admitted he was interested, he ultimately was too embarrassed and scared by how forward Seven of Nine is. Harry felt a bit braver in “Someone To Watch Over Me,” but Seven flat out embarrassed him by telling him she didn’t consider him a suitable mate. The series found a way to dunk on Harry both times, and it was equally brutal in both instances. The only thing worse than that could be if Garrett Wang reprises his role as Harry in Picard Season 3 and tries to make a move, only to be stopped by Raffi (please don’t let this actually happen). 

Harry Was Never Promoted Above The Rank Of Ensign For The Entirety Of Voyager

When any Star Trek fan talks about Harry Kim getting the short end of the stick in Star Trek: Voyager, his rank is almost always the main thing cited. Harry began the seven-year journey home as an ensign, and by the end of it all, he’s exactly the same rank. 

By comparison, Tom Paris started out Star Trek: Voyager completely out of Starfleet, was promoted to lieutenant, demoted to ensign and reinstated back to lieutenant in that same amount of time. That had to sting for Harry considering Tom was a rule-breaker by nature, and Harry rarely stepped out of line. To his credit, Harry never griped much about his standing, though many fans agree that Harry deserved something better. 

Star Trek: Voyager is among the many shows available to watch on Paramount+. Now is a great time to start re-watching or watching for the first time, especially with the new series Star Trek: Prodigy referencing it a lot. Speaking of which, Prodigy returns with new episodes in October, and there are other upcoming Star Trek shows to be excited about.

There are various Star Trek monuments around the United States, all of which celebrate the franchise and its characters in some unique way. Bloomington, Indiana, for example, has a bust of Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway, which memorializes one of the most iconic captains in Starfleet history. Not everyone is a fan of the statue, however and, after one concerned citizen voiced their opinion about Janeway actress Kate Mulgrew visiting the statue, she shared a great response. 

Kate Mulgrew recently revealed that she’ll be visiting the Captain Janeway statue in October, which understandably caught the attention of folks living in the area. One fan, in particular, wrote to a local paper, explaining why they think it's problematic to have a statue of Janeway in the character’s hometown centuries ahead of her birth: 

It’s a rough decision to actively work towards preventing the future Kathryn Janeway and the Voyager crew from their accidental trip to the Delta Quadrant centuries from now, but I see why it’s necessary. Sure, it took seven years for the Voyager to make it back to Earth after being transported to the other side of the galaxy, but there were some positive things that came of it. Among other things, Seven Of Nine eventually integrated into human society -- and will apparently join Starfleet in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 (which will be filled with awesome things) . 

As the actress who portrays Kathryn Janeway, I suppose Kate Mulgrew shoulders some responsibility for any future-altering events that may occur. Thankfully, she’s already on top of it and after resharing the article on Twitter, promised that she and others are monitoring the situation and have it under control:

Assuming that Kate Mulgrew and The Janeway Collective (the group responsible for the statue) do their due diligence, then her visit on Sunday, October 23rd should come to pass without incident. Personally, I wouldn’t be upset if we had some kind of First Contact from other lifeforms on that fateful day, though I guess wishing for first contact decades ahead of the actual date in Star Trek lore could be equally as damaging as letting a future Kathryn see her statue (First Contact also dealt with time travel). 

I guess I’ll just settle for the super cool moment of seeing a beloved Trek actress see her character’s statue for the first time. It should be a cool day for fans all the same, and maybe even generate enough hype from fans to convince Paramount+ to make a Voyager movie. 

Catch Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway by streaming Star Trek: Voyager and Prodigy (which Mulgrew felt she needed to be a part of) on Paramount+. There are plenty of upcoming Trek shows to look forward to, including the second half of Prodigy Season 1, which is coming up later in 2022. Be sure to keep an eye out for its arrival especially if you’re a fan of the Janeway and Chakotay reveals. 

It’s an exciting time in the Star Trek universe, at least when it comes to television. New Star Trek TV shows are planned for 2022 and beyond, but things are a bit more stagnant on the film side. At a time where streaming is as big as ever, and fans are loving nods to past Trek shows, I have to ask, is now the best time for a Star Trek: Voyager movie? 

The Kate Mulgrew-led series that featured Robert Beltran, Jeri Ryan and others was beloved during its time, but never got the same love as The Next Generation during its run. It also didn’t get the big-screen features that TNG did, and in 2022, I think there’s an opportunity for Paramount to rectify that. In fact, now is the perfect time for a Star Trek movie centered around Voyager to come out, and it isn’t hard to see why. 

Streaming And New Star Trek Shows Have Given Voyager Renewed Relevance

Star Trek’s journey to streaming has certainly helped bolster relevance for its older shows in the modern era. Anyone with a Paramount+ subscription can stream Star Trek: Voyager and either experience the show again or for the first time. Additionally, we also have Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran reprising their roles in the animated series Prodigy, and Jeri Ryan is playing Seven of Nine in Picard. 

Those reprisals help Janeway and Seven of Nine maintain peak relevance in the eyes of Star Trek fans, and also could pave the way to tell a larger story that culminates in a cast reunion. I’m not sure exactly what the story to bring everyone back together would be, but given that Star Trek: Picard was able to cook up an adventure that reunites the cast of The Next Generation for Season 3, I’m sure there are creative minds out there who have ideas. 

Paramount+ Creates A Space Where A Voyager Movie Can Happen Without Major Box Office Pressure

Star Trek: Voyager might have reignited popularity within the fandom, but in terms of mainstream appeal, it’s fair to say interest in most shows that aired in the late '90s have relatively low interest. After all, part of the reason Star Trek's Kelvin timeline came to be was to give the franchise a blank slate for newcomers to join in without being burdened by past canon and other shows. If a Voyager movie came out on the big screen, it’s unlikely a bunch of people who never watched the original series would turn up for the opening night release. 

Making a Voyager movie for Paramount+ eliminates the problem of pulling in a mainstream audience for a niche feature, but it also feels like the best option overall. After all, Paramount+ is the streaming home for all Star Trek, so it’s fair to say that there’s an existing audience on the platform ready to watch this type of show. Additionally, if there are any hold-out classic Star Trek fans who have their physical copies of Voyager to watch whenever they want, there’s now this cool reunion movie that requires they at least use the free Paramount+ trial to watch. I fully believe that making revival movies for classic Trek shows would drive some people to the platform, and then potentially expose them to all the new stuff out there.

Now Might Be The Best Possible Window In Years To Make A Voyager Movie Happen

So far, we know that Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, and Jeri Ryan are actively working in the Star Trek franchise. It’s possible there are more people we don’t know about who are working in other Trek shows (Robert Picard once teased he would appear in Picard), but in terms of nailing the biggest stars associated with Voyager, I’d say Paramount has the hard part out of the way. Getting others like Robert Duncan McNeill shouldn’t be that difficult, especially with him McNeill pitching Captain Proton stuff. 

10 years ago, something like a Star Trek: Voyager movie wouldn’t have been as feasible as it is now, and it’s hard to imagine it’ll be easier even five years from now. Paramount already has some of the pieces of the puzzle in place, and with the quality of the current Star Trek television shows, you’d think the platform could do some pretty amazing stuff with a movie made for streaming. 

More Star Trek Shows Means More People To Figure Out How To Make A Voyager Movie

Star Trek currently has writers and creatives working on Picard, Discovery, Lower Decks, Prodigy and Strange New Worlds. That’s a huge talent pool of people who know the franchise inside and out, and while they’re probably very busy with all their shows, that’s a sizable chunk of people who could brainstorm the right angle for a Voyager movie. Admittedly, I’m sure the subject is a tough nut to crack given the nature of the original series. 

After all, Star Trek: Voyager was about a ship stranded in the Delta Quadrant, searching for a way to get home. With the ship having returned to Earth, it’s hard to imagine what the next step is. Then again, we already know that Janeway went on a search for Chakotay via Star Trek: Prodigy, and that Seven of Nine is currently trying to help Jean-Luc Picard fix time. People are out there spinning webs, so perhaps the first thing to do is to reach out to those people and get to work on how to make this happen. 

Of course, this whole argument presumes a lot of things. I can’t pretend to know about the logistics of making a Star Trek: Voyager movie or how willing anyone on the cast would be to commit to such an idea. What I do know is that as I’m watching the series on Paramount+, I’d be down for at least one more adventure with this crew, so my fingers are crossed that someone out there is two steps ahead of me. 

Star Trek: Voyager may not have a movie on the way, but fans can catch the series on Paramount+. Hopefully, the franchise can find a way to get the movies a new entry soon, and that Star Trek 4 not only makes it to theaters after its previous false starts, but also learns some lessons from its predecessor, Star Trek Beyond. 

Netflix has been coming out with some awesome originals, and one of those is the amazing sci-fi drama, Lost in Space. A remake of the classic sci-fi TV show from the 1960s, this Netflix original tells the story of humans who are, as you would guess, lost in space, and struggle with a strange alien universe as they try to overcome issues as they arise. 

With fun effects, a great story, cool-makeup and much more, Lost in Space was one of Netflix’s best shows, in my opinion. But, with all these episodes coming out all at once, one might wonder what to watch once they’re done binging the latest season. Look no further, because we have some awesome shows that are like Lost in Space that you just might want to see next. 

Firefly (Hulu)

In this one-season sci-fi show, Firefly tells the story of a group of humans who are a part of a crew aboard a Firefly-class ship, showing their adventures in a different solar system, far away from the world we know now. 

Firefly is one of those shows where I will never forgive the network for cancelling it. While I was too young at the time of its original airing, watching it now makes me so mad because this could have been great. Firefly could have been the Star Wars saga of television for its effects, the Firefly cast, and more. For fans of Lost in Space, this show is perfect, as it not only has the space adventures you would expect, but a great cast as well. I want it to come back so badly. 

Stream Firefly on Hulu.

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

Disney+ has a runaway hit with this one. The Mandalorian, taking place after Return of the Jedi, follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter, whose life is turned upside down when he encounters a strange alien creature (who looks like a little baby Yoda), and takes it upon himself to try and return it to its home. 

The Mandalorian has become immensely popular for a reason. Jon Favreau created a masterpiece with this show, with not only a talented cast but an essential story that feels like it’s ripped right out of the Star Wars movies. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the story of Din Djarin and his space travels, but what really makes this show so good is the relationship he has with Grogu - otherwise known as baby Yoda. With plenty of jaw-dropping moments, this is one you can’t miss.

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.

Battlestar Galactica (Peacock)

Another classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica is a re-imagining of the '70s series of the same name. In this world, humanity is in another star system, where humans are settled on planets, called colonies. However, their homes are attacked by Cylons, humanoid machines that wish to take over. The last of humanity escape and are led by the Battlestar Galactica, one of the last battleships, as they try to survive constant attacks, while looking for a new home. This is their story of survival.

For a long time, I only ever really knew this show from that The Office quote (“Bears, beats, Battlestar Galactica”), but after actually giving it a watch, it’s such an entertaining series. For fans of Lost in Space, you’ll love the human connections that are formed here. It’s all about survival and trying to make sure that their loved ones are okay, something that fans of the Netflix series can relate to. Plus, the visual effects are really cool. There just might be a new series coming soon, so keep an eye out for it. 

Stream Battlestar Galactica on Peacock.

The First (Hulu)

Ever wondered what it will be like when humans make it to Mars? The First explores that, telling the story of how humans are trying to settle the planet, and the trials and tribulations it takes to do it. 

To me, The First feels like a much more grounded look into space travel. It’s not the most edgy or action-filled show, like Lost in Space is, as it focuses on that human connection at a more naturalistic level. It shows the stresses of trying to do what is best for humanity, while moving forward with innovation rather than letting setbacks continuously stop them. Sean Penn gives a great performance as the lead character, along with the rest of the cast. It’s a shame it only last for one season. 

Stream The First on Hulu.

The Expanse (Amazon Prime)

One of my favorites on the list. The Expanse is an Amazon Prime original series, telling the story of humans hundreds years in the future, where we've colonized our solar system. But, as a strange disappearance arises and unlikely allies have to come together to solve the issue, the threat of interplanetary civil war rises, exposing more dark secrets that could threaten everyone's very lives. 

This is one of those shows I don’t want to say too much about before you watch it. For fans of Lost in Space, The Expanse has plenty of awesome space travel, cool set designs, and everything else you would expect, but what I really love about it is the story. From the first episode on, there’s so much to love, and you’ll want to watch the next episode every time. 

Stream The Expanse on Amazon Prime. 

Futurama (Hulu)

You gotta love Futurama. In this hilarious sci-fi sitcom, Futurama tells the story of Fry, a normal pizza delivery boy who is accidentally frozen, and then reawakens in the year 2999. Now, he must adapt to working in a new place, living in a new world, and having new friends. 

When I think of adult animated shows, Futurama is one of the first that comes to mind. It’s so funny and features such fun stories that you can’t help but love it. For fans of Lost in Space, there are plenty of great moments that scream sci-fi that you’ll enjoy, but it’s all about that human connection again, and creating valuable relationships that you’ll want to root for until the very end. I mean, you even learn to love a wise-cracking robot. It’s such a fun show. 

Stream Futurama on Hulu.

For All Mankind (Apple TV+)

If you ever wanted a cool alternate-reality show, For All Mankind is the way to go. This Apple TV+ original series asks this question: what if the Soviet Union had beaten the U.S. to the moon in the 1960s? But, instead of the space race dying down, the discovery of water leads to it being more high stakes than ever. 

Apple TV+ has been knocking it out of the park with their original series, from the beloved Ted Lasso, to its animated shows like Central Park. However, For All Mankind is such an interesting one to watch. I’ve always been a huge fan of alternative histories and this one takes it to another level with the amount of detail, lore, and effects it uses. For fans of Lost in Space, I think you’ll enjoy the exploration and the stories about the missions to the moon. But, you should watch it regardless. Such a cool, interesting take. 

Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

Steven Universe (HBO Max)

This popular cartoon is always a hit. Steven Universe tells the story of Steven, a young boy who is also half-Gem. The Gems are alien fighters who are tasked with keeping humanity safe from threats of terror and monsters. Steven looks to these Gems to learn how to understand his powers, growing as a person while doing so. 

Steve Universe is a masterclass in animation. For fans of Lost in Space, there isn’t much space exploration, but you’ll love the stories that are told, often with special powers, cool graphics, and beautiful animation. Not only that, but Steven Universe teaches valuable lessons about love and family (like Lost in Space) and learning to accept yourself for who you are. The series is such a great watch for both kids and adults alike.

Stream Steven Universe on HBO Max.

Away (Netflix)

In this Netflix original series, Away tells the story of a group of astronauts, led by Emma Green. Their main goal is to become the first crewed spaceflight to Mars after years of trying to make it happen, but in order to do so, they have to commit to being away from their loved ones for three years.

Away is the perfect one-season binge for fans of Lost in Space. Not only does it deal with space travel, it also shows the effects of being away from the ones that we care about, and what we’re willing to do to protect them. Something I also adore about Away is its cast. Led by the talented Hilary Swank, the cast has wonderful chemistry, compelling story arcs and plenty of interesting character moments that will keep you entertained. It’s a shame the series didn’t last long.

Stream Away on Netflix.

Star Trek: Voyager (Hulu)

You can’t have a sci-fi list like this and not include Star Trek: Voyager. This popular sci-fi series is a part of the Star Trek franchise, follows the Starfleet vessel, aptly called “Voyager,” as it tries to return home after being stranded for many, many years. But of course, as every Star Trek crew does, they run into problems along the way. 

Star Trek is just one of those franchises that I’m sure most sci-fi fans have watched. For viewers of Lost in Space, this series has a lot of the same beats and character moments you would expect, with several different storylines and relationships for you to root for. And, when it comes to Star Trek, you know there’s always going to be some ridiculously campy villain at some point, but they’re so much fun to watch and see our protagonists fight against. Starring Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Voyager is a ton of fun. 

Stream Star Trek: Voyager on Hulu.

Raised By Wolves (HBO Max)

Last but not least, we have Raised by Wolves. This HBO Max original series follows two robots who look human, named Father and Mother. Together, they are programmed to raise young human children after Earth was completely destroyed by war, alongside a human colony. Soon, the robots learn that the older humans are volatile, and it’s not easy to keep them from harming each other, whether because of religious differences, or more.

Raised by Wolves is such an interesting concept for a sci-fi show. For fans of Lost in Space, this also shows humans in a completely different environment, trying to adapt, but it’s so much more than just that. Famed director Ridley Scott serves as an executive producer, and even directed the first two episodes, so you know it’s really good. Both Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim give amazing performances as Mother and Father, and with a second season on the way, now is the perfect time to watch. 

Stream Raised by Wolves on HBO Max.

There are truly so many amazing sci-fi shows out there for you to watch if you’re feeling up to the challenge after finishing Lost in Space. Maybe you just might have found a new TV series to love. Regardless, you’ll have a fun time watching no matter what you pick.  

The new series Star Trek: Prodigy gained the interest of a lot of fans when Voyager star Kate Mulgrew joined the animated series, especially since it didn’t seem she was interested in making a return to the franchise otherwise. Her motivation changed, however, when she learned about Prodigy. And according to the actress, returning to the franchise became both something she wanted and needed to do.  

I spoke to Kate Mulgrew ahead of Star Trek: Prodigy’s premiere on Paramount+ and talked about her decision to return as Janeway, albeit in hologram form. I asked if returning to Star Trek was more of a want or a need, and the actress explained why it's a combination of the two. 

It's perfectly understandable that Kate Mulgrew wasn’t too comfortable with the idea that Kathryn Janeway could return in Star Trek: Prodigy with another actress voicing the beloved character. Ultimately, she felt the authenticity of the character and her history only worked if she joined and that it wouldn’t be the same otherwise. I appreciated Mulgrew’s faith in the prospective young audience of Prodigy, which falls in line with a series that doesn’t wish to talk down to its core audience. 

The youthful viewership is certainly a factor in Kate Mulgrew’s return, as the actress spoke in the past about the cool idea of fans of Star Trek: Voyager watching the series alongside their children or grandchildren. Mulgrew mentioned in our interview that the hologram Janeway won’t be quite as fiery as the Starfleet captain was in her original human form, but it’s a different situation. In Prodigy, she’s an emergency hologram helping a ship of children navigate the massive Protostar through space. That’s not quite as stressful as being lost in the Delta quadrant, especially if you’re a hologram with only a vague awareness of stakes. 

The good news for Star Trek fans is that Prodigy may be the gateway for more Janeway in the future. Kate Mulgrew confirmed to CinemaBlend that no one has yet asked her to reprise the character in live-action to this point, but she expected someone might initiate that discussion eventually. As for whether or not she’ll say yes to bringing Janeway back outside of animated form, Mulgrew teased that she’s already had trouble saying no to things involving Janeway. 

Star Trek: Prodigy is set to premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, October 28th, and will debut on Nickelodeon at a later date. For more on what’s happening in and around the world of Star Trek, check out what Neil DeGrasse Tyson had to say about William Shatner’s recent trip to space.

Star Trek's massive expansion into streaming has created a plethora of new opportunities for past actors of the franchise to return or to pitch their own series. Voyager's Robert Duncan McNeil has apparently done just that, though he's proposing something wildly different that's only semi-related to Tom Paris. It turns out the actor is interested in a Captain Proton project, and I think it absolutely needs to happen.

Robert Duncan McNeil recently spoke to Trek.fm about the urge to return to Star Trek, presumably before it was publicly known he'd reprise his role as Captain Tom Paris on Season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Paris didn't mention that appearance, but it was during that chat that he did reveal an idea that would potentially bring back the Voyager crew, though as part of a Captain Proton adventure:

As much as I'm all in on the radio drama idea, it does feel like the easiest sell would be a Short Treks episode with Robert Duncan McNeil as Tom Paris playing Captain Proton in the Holodeck, with a handful of other Star Trek: Voyager cast members in on the action. One would think Star Trek could rope in Jeri Ryan and Kate Mulgrew given their current affiliations with modern Star Trek as well as other Voyager cast members who aren't at the moment.

As for whether or not this idea will actually happen, that's up in the air. It's been said by Alex Kurtzman that the currently planned Section 31 spinoff won't start production until one of the presently airing or soon-to-arrive Star Trek shows has concluded. Robert Duncan McNeil didn't say much on that but stressed that he feels a Captain Proton project is a great idea for both him and the fans:

The good news is Robert Duncan McNeil's plan for a quasi-Star Trek: Voyager reunion sounds completely doable and doesn't require a full series order to happen. A Short Treks series also sounds like something that's feasible, as does a podcast or audio drama adventure. I'm sure there are numerous Voyager fans who would appreciate something like that, especially if a full-scale revival is indeed off the table.

As mentioned, fans can catch Robert Duncan McNeil voicing Tom Paris in an upcoming Season 2 episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Catch the premiere on Paramount+ Thursday, August 12th, and be sure to check out our fall premiere guide for a list of all the shows set to arrive in the coming months.

Throughout his lengthy career, Star Trek favorite Robert Picardo hasn't been exclusively known for science fiction projects, and in fact has acted in far more non-genre projects. And yet, despite his numerous appearances across the vast spectrum of film and TV projects, there's always going to be a section of his fanbase that knows him specifically for his much-celebrated work in sci-fi. After all, he was a key part of both Star Trek: Voyager and Stargate Atlantis, and after working on both of those shows, it's been pretty hard for him to shake that association.

Robert Picardo spoke about that ever-present topic during the Stargate Atlantis reunion panel at this year's Comic-Con@Home, and how his legacy as a well-rounded actor, despite his wide range of credits, can't thwart fans from viewing him as a sci-fi guy. Not one to complain about such things, Picardo addressed a similarity that he's noticed over the years between the Stargate and Star Trek fandoms, saying:

Not all Star Trek fans are familiar with Stargate, and not all SG fans are rabid about ST, since that would be a highly improbable statistic. But according to Robert Picardo, he's met his fair share of fans that adore both. Of course, it would also track that anyone who'd appeared in both franchises would be approached more fervently by fans of both projects, as opposed to those who only enjoy one or the other.

Robert Picardo also talked a bit about his experience playing the role of Stargate Atlantis' Richard Woolsey, and taking on a character that wasn't initially such a joy to be around. Picardo spoke specifically to how his character shared characteristics and motivations that many others across the U.S. did at the time, particularly those in Woosley's age range. On what he thought was truly fun about playing that character:

Robert Picardo teased some time ago that he was set to return to Star Trek via Picard, though fans haven't heard any updates on that front, which isn't great. We've since learned that some plans were put on the back-burner for Picard Season 2, so Picardo's Doctor may no longer be a part of the season at this time. Hopefully, though, we can see him back in Star Trek soon, even if that will just bring the sci-fi fans out the woodwork even more.

Catch episodes of Stargate Atlantis over on Hulu, and all of Robert Picardo's work on Star Trek: Voyager on Paramount+. For more on Picardo and his thoughts, be sure to read up on what he thought of former co-star Jeri Ryan's return in Picard as Seven of Nine.

The Star Trek fandom got quite a surprise when it was initially revealed that Kate Mulgrew would be returning to the franchise as the fan-favorite Star Trek: Voyager character Captain Janeway, though it was arguably a greater surprise to learn where it would happen. The actress will reprise her role in the upcoming Paramount+ animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, and fans learned another shocking bit of information on First Contact Day, where it was revealed Janeway won't be quite the same character as the one we all know from Voyager. And no, we don't just mean because it's an animated show.

In celebration of First Contact Day 2001, a panel was held for Star Trek: Prodigy (and other franchise entries), and it was there that fans learned the upcoming animated series takes place in the Delta quadrant in 2383 and will feature Captain Janeway not in her character's human form, but rather as an emergency training hologram aboard the starship. This means that, at least for now, Kate Mulgrew's return is technically to voice an AI based on Captain Janeway, and not the actual Captain. A pretty tricky move made by co-creators Dan and Kevin Hageman, no?

Star Trek fans were shown a picture of Kate Mulgrew's Janeway alongside the show's alien characters, which can be seen below.

While Janeway's AI iteration will be the way fans experience the character when Star Trek: Prodigy first takes place, it's not completely out of the question to think the actual Captain Janeway might appear in (animated) person at a later point. The events of Star Trek: Voyager took place from 2371 to 2378, meaning Janeway is still alive during the events of Star Trek: Prodigy five years later. Of course, it's not entirely necessary for fans to see her in the series as Janeway, all things considered. Having her appear in the show as an AI program still allows Kate Mulgrew plenty of opportunities to interact with characters on the show, as well as potentially showing up in a live-action spinoff, without disrupting any currently existing canon. Everybody wins!

The Janeway AI will likely be in use quite frequently in Star Trek: Prodigy, as the entire cast of young aliens piloting the starship don't know the first thing about running the vessel. In fact, these young outcasts aren't even associated with Starfleet, but will be opened up to the organization and its ideals as the series progresses. This AI must be a pretty phenomenal teacher, too, unless Starfleet vessels are more capable of self-operation than I ever realized.

The ultimate goal of Star Trek: Prodigy is to expose a younger audience to the franchise's world(s), which are basically more vital than ever given that current shows like Star Trek: Discovery and Picard aren't as family-friendly as The Next Generation or Voyager were. Given the unique way Kate Mulgrew's Janeway is set to return, it will be interesting to see what other creative ways past Star Trek actors could appear in the series and influence the other characters we already know about.

Star Trek: Prodigy is currently in development and will premiere on Paramount+ later this year. It's one of many exciting reveals to emerge from First Contact Day, which also revealed the special return of a Star Trek: The Next Generation character that's happening on Star Trek: Picard Season 2. Read up all about that, and sound off in our poll about whether you're excited or disappointed in the way Kate Mulgrew's Janeway will appear in Star Trek: Prodigy.

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After over a decade of no new Star Trek on our TV screens, the shows have now been coming at a wonderful clip since the 2017 debut of Star Trek: Discovery. In just a few years we've gotten several new series, with more on the way, and now we know that an old favorite is returning to the franchise after two whole decades away. That's right, fans, the fantastic Kate Mulgrew is coming back as Captain Kathryn Janeway!

Kate Mulgrew's return will actually come in the new animated series Star Trek: Prodigy, which is set to debut on Nickelodeon some time in 2021. The announcement was made by the official Star Trek Twitter page, and you can take a look at it below:

Well, this does come as quite a surprise, doesn't it? Kate Mulgrew played Captain Janeway for all seven seasons of Voyager, from 1995 through 2001, but moved on with her career once the show was over. She went on to several other memorable roles, especially that of Red on Orange is the New Black, but when it became clear that Trekkies were going to be treated to tons of new Star Trek soon, the first question many fans thought of was whether or not we'd be able to see some of our old favorites again.

This question factored even more in the minds of fans everywhere when we found out that Patrick Stewart would return to one of his beloved roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard for Star Trek: Picard. When Mulgrew was asked about possibly returning to Janeway should the opportunity arise, she seemed truly appreciative of the time she had with the character, but unlikely to jump at the chance to inhabit her again.

While Picard did bring Voyager's Jeri Ryan back to play Seven of Nine, we don't know if Kate Mulgrew was approached about a return as Janeway for that show. Luckily, though, any reticence she may have had for getting back into the Star Trek saddle has clearly been taken care of now. While not much is currently known about Prodigy, we do know that the series will follow a group of "lawless" teens who decide to use an abandoned starship (which I'm just going to guess right now that they found a way to steal) so that they can search for adventure throughout the galaxy.

And, it does sound like Kate Mulgrew is also very excited about this new venture and her part in it. She also tweeted about coming back as Janeway, and you've got to love her enthusiasm:

Obviously, the big question now that we've gotten this glorious news out of the way is just how will the good Captain Janeway end up interacting with our band of lawless teen explorers? We don't know yet how many episodes of Prodigy will feature the classic character, but I'm betting right now that if we only get one or two episodes with her, Janeway will somehow end up coming across the teens while she and her crew are stuck in the Delta Quadrant.

At any rate, Janeway is tough but still caring (like all the good Starfleet captains we've seen), so the kids will be lucky to have her around for however long she's with them, even if she has to give them a good talking to while she's there. As long as they have enough coffee for her, everything should be alright.

We don't know when Star Trek: Prodigy will premiere on Nickelodeon yet, or when Kate Mulgrew will make her debut as Captain Janeway, so be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for details. In the meantime, check out our guide to fall TV to see what you can watch in the coming weeks!