‘Star Trek: Voyager’s “Living Witness” Sets Up a Compelling ‘Starfleet Academy’ Episode

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As a huge Star Trek fan, I’m really excited about Star Trek: Starfleet Academy! It’s set so far in the future – the 32nd century – that it’s tough to connect it to everything else we’ve seen. But there’s one Voyager episode from way back in 1998 that feels like it’s begging for a follow-up in this new show. Starfleet Academy is going to explore an era we’ve only gotten a glimpse of in Discovery, but that old Voyager episode actually laid some groundwork for this future timeline, and I’m hoping they’ll acknowledge it!

If the new Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, doesn’t deliver on its potential, it will have been a disappointing investment after nearly three decades of build-up. The show’s already included a character from Star Trek: Voyager, suggesting it aims to honor the original series. While there are several paths the show could take, one idea – involving a holographic projection – is particularly promising.

Robert Picardo Could End up Playing Two Versions of the Doctor in an Episode of ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’


Paramount

The news that Robert Picardo would return to Star Trek as the Doctor from Voyager sparked both excitement and a lot of discussion. It’s now confirmed he’ll be reprising his role as the Doctor at Starfleet Academy, but the original series also created a fascinating possibility. In Season 4, Episode 23 of Star Trek: Voyager, titled “Living Witness,” Picardo played a version of the Doctor who had been restored from a backup system recovered on an alien planet in the 31st century – a version that had been inactive since the 24th century.

Towards the conclusion of the “Living Witness” episode, the narration explained that the emergency holographic Doctor stayed on the planet for a time before attempting to return to Earth, despite knowing the crew of Voyager would be gone. If he succeeded, he’d likely arrive in the 32nd century – the same time period as the new series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. This opens up an interesting possibility: the established Doctor, who has served in Starfleet for centuries, could encounter his earlier self from “Living Witness.” This version would have almost no memory of his future experiences, creating a stark contrast between the two characters.

The idea is really interesting, and Starfleet Academy should definitely explore it soon. If the Backup Doctor doesn’t appear, it suggests he never returned to Earth, which is a sad outcome. While it might be challenging to integrate him into the Alpha Quadrant with the original Doctor already there, there are many ways to give him a better and more fulfilling story than simply having him vanish.

Bringing back the Emergency Medical Hologram (the Doctor) presents a bit of a technical hurdle, but it’s something Star Trek has overcome before. Since the Doctor doesn’t age naturally as a hologram, Starfleet Academy could explain any changes in the actor’s appearance by having the Doctor intentionally update his holographic image to reflect the passage of time. The backup version of the Doctor wouldn’t have done this yet, meaning actor Robert Picardo would initially need to look younger using digital technology. Luckily, Star Trek: Picard has already successfully used this de-aging technology, so it’s definitely achievable.

A Double-Doctor ‘Starfleet Academy’ Episode Would Be a Nod to Two More Classic ‘Star Trek’ Storylines


Paramount

When considering how a backup version of the Doctor might reach Earth in Starfleet Academy, the Voyager episode “Life Line” is also very important. In this 2000 episode, actor Robert Picardo plays both the Doctor and Dr. Lewis Zimmerman, the creator of the Doctor. Zimmerman designed the Doctor to have a personality and appearance very similar to his own. While they initially seem alike, the episode reveals that the two characters have key differences. This situation could be a parallel to what might happen if two versions of the Doctor were to meet in Starfleet Academy.

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Almost seven years before the show “Life Line,” a strikingly similar story aired in a 1993 episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” titled “Second Chances.” This episode featured Jonathan Frakes as William T. Riker and introduced a clone of him, created by a transporter accident, who had been living for several years. Like the characters in “Life Line,” both Rikers embarked on a thoughtful exploration of identity and what makes a person who they are. The series Starfleet Academy has the potential to create episodes with this same compelling theme.

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2025-12-29 20:03