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Did Seven of Nine really save Star Trek: Voyager?

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Did Seven of Nine really save Star Trek: Voyager?

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of binge-watching Star Trek under my belt, I can confidently say that Seven of Nine didn’t save Voyager, but she certainly gave it an electrifying boost! The show was already on an exciting trajectory, and her arrival just amplified the electric energy.

The question is: What event or circumstance initiated Seven of Nine’s appearance on Star Trek: Voyager? This character, portrayed by Jeri Ryan, represented a significant shift for the series. Facing declining ratings, there was an intentional push to enhance both the show’s audience and its overall image.

Jennifer Lien’s character, Kes, was replaced by Ryan’s Seven of Nine, which proved successful as various media outlets highlighted the show’s fresh addition of a new character. Behind-the-scenes features were produced, interviews were conducted, and overall, the series seemed to improve during its last four seasons compared to its first three.

As a long-time fan of “Star Trek: Voyager,” I’ve often pondered over the factors that contributed to the show’s longevity and success. One theory that has intrigued me is the idea that the character of Seven of Nine, played by actor Jeri Ryan, was instrumental in saving the series. While it’s impossible to definitively prove this claim, as a viewer who watched every episode, I can’t help but feel that her arrival on the show brought a fresh energy and intrigue that kept audiences engaged. Seven of Nine’s complex backstory, fascinating development, and captivating performances made her a standout character, adding depth to an already strong cast. While it may be debatable whether she single-handedly rescued the show, I believe her presence significantly enriched “Star Trek: Voyager” and kept fans hooked until its finale.

On the fledgling UPN network, Star Trek: Voyager initially enjoyed both favor and acceptance, whether Ryan was part of it or not. This is because Voyager was the sole series that drew consistent viewers to UPN during its initial three-show run on the network. Out of all the shows that Star Trek presented on UPN, only Voyager managed to last beyond a single season.

From winter 1994, when Voyager first aired, to summer 1997, there was just one show that returned for a second or third season during this period – Voyager. Eventually, the network would achieve success with shows like Moesha and The Sentinel, but it took some time. Even after these shows started airing, Voyager continued to be the most-watched among them.

Actually, neither Moesha nor The Sentinel managed to surpass Voyager in TV ratings, and furthermore, neither of these shows lasted longer than Voyager. In fact, both Moesha and Voyager ended in 2001, while The Sentinel concluded its run a season before that.

The idea that “Voyager was rescued by Ryan’s appearance” is a fallacy. Voyager was actually what made UPN worth watching, and this was evident in the ratings. However, when Ryan appeared, the ratings declined. This can be attributed to her, as it’s common for shows to see declining ratings as they continue, due to viewers losing interest or being distracted by life. Additionally, technology such as Tivo emerged towards the end of the show’s run, which further reduced live viewership numbers.

In essence, it wasn’t Ryan who caused the declining audience for the show; this is simply a common occurrence for any television series. However, adding Seven of Nine did generate more positive buzz, but unfortunately, it didn’t manage to attract fans back to the show. Not even the incorporation of WWF and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a highly popular figure, could significantly boost ratings beyond a minor increase for one week. Following his episode, “Tsunkatse”, the ratings plummeted for the season, suggesting that The Rock’s brief appearance had minimal effect on viewership.

One perspective is that although Voyager benefited from having the Network and its ratings weren’t boosted by Ryan, the program’s quality significantly improved. This isn’t an unjust viewpoint. However, it could also be argued that Ryan didn’t enhance the show when he first joined, but rather, the show began to improve once Lien’s character Kes left.

Kes, the character, was poorly developed and lacked charm, making it difficult for the actress portraying her to connect with audiences. Additionally, she was quite problematic, often causing more trouble than she resolved, which may have contributed to her being one of the least liked characters in Star Trek’s history. Regrettably, no improvements made to Kes could salvage a concept that was fundamentally flawed from its conception.

It’s worth mentioning that Star Trek series often improve significantly by their fourth season. Shows like The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager all experienced a surge in critical acclaim following the premiere of their fourth seasons. This is likely due to writers and producers refining their successful formula during the early years and then intensifying it in later ones.

Indeed, it’s not accurate to say that Ryan “saved” Voyager. However, her character brought a fresh perspective and introduced a novel approach to the series, which proved to be highly influential for the writing team. Over four seasons, arguably more than any other character in an equivalent number of episodes, she was utilized effectively. Yet, we don’t attribute the success of Voyager solely to Ryan or Seven of Nine. Instead, we acknowledge her significant contribution as a valuable asset to the show.

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2024-09-06 03:23

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