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Star Trek: Voyager’s original ending for “Year of Hell’ wasn’t better

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As a long-time Star Trek enthusiast who has witnessed the cosmic journey of countless starships and their crews, I can confidently say that “Year of Hell” stands tall among Voyager’s most captivating episodes. The two-parter masterfully showcased the crew’s resilience amidst adversity, offering a riveting narrative that left me on the edge of my seat.

Amongst Star Trek: Voyager’s episodes, “Year of Hell” stands out as one of its finest. This captivating two-part tale puts the crew of the USS Voyager through intense trials, resulting in loss of life, unexpected plots, and a startling climax that concludes this 80-minute narrative masterfully. It’s an exceptional piece of work and offers some of the most compelling television within the Star Trek universe.

Despite some individuals holding the belief that we could’ve had an even more compelling “Year of Hell” series, there’s no denying its potential and merit for exploration. Originally, the plan was to develop it into a full season rather than just two episodes, but unfortunately, that idea didn’t prove sustainable.

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in a game where the traditional season-long format took an unexpected twist, transitioning into a gripping two-part saga. The narrative’s climax led to a startling revelation: our entire year within the game was erased, starting anew after the two-parter. This resetting of events effectively wiped out the traumatic experiences we had been through, leaving us all unaware of the ordeal we had endured. The ending, a poignant reminder of what once was, left me reflecting on the fleeting nature of our in-game existence.

As a devoted fan, I can share that if the original story had unfolded, some of us would have recalled the harrowing experiences we lived through. In an interview with Cinefantastique, series scribe Joe Menosky (via ScreenRant) revealed the intended finale for “The Year of Hell”.

“I wanted at least a couple of people to know what had happened. We actually wrote this ending even though we didn’t shoot it, where time is reset, the weapon is gone; we know what has happened to us through some complication I can’t even remember. When we meet up with the next Krenim, Chakotay asks offhand, ‘Have you got a colony called Kyana Prime?’ And the guy says, ‘Sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ The idea was that time had in fact in some ways punished Annorax. Everything was reset except that. That was denied him, so it was this great, final, tragic moment.”

In essence, an alternate ending for the story could have been equally satisfying as the one that unfolded originally. However, given that Annorax did not reappear in any fashion afterward, it is arguable that his memory would have had little impact on the plot. Typically, Star Trek narratives don’t delve extensively into past episodes or storylines, so whether people recalled the events of this particular tale was irrelevant.

It might not make much difference if Chakotay or another character recalled Annorax in the next episode since business would carry on as usual. However, the conclusion of the episode could potentially prevent further exploration of this topic in later episodes, considering that Star Trek often didn’t revisit concepts frequently. Given Voyager’s history, it’s challenging to definitively state that the ending significantly altered the series’ trajectory.

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2024-08-21 04:23

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