Summary
- Holographic Janeway admires Voyager's Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy, but is there more to her admiration?
- Star Trek now has two Janeways; the Admiral who maintains Starfleet's ideals, and the Hologram mentoring the USS Prodigy's young crew.
- The Doctor and Hologram Janeway share awkward chemistry in Star Trek: Prodigy, hinting at mutual attraction and potential romance.
The relationship between Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) in Star Trek: Prodigy is less interesting to me than a potential romance between her holographic twin and Star Trek: Voyager's Doctor (Robert Picardo). Prodigy season 2 finally reunited Janeway and Chakotay, and appeared to suggest a tentative romantic relationship between the former captain of the USS Voyager and her number one. Janeway and Chakotay's relationship was heavily hinted at through hand-holding and Chakotay worrying about his appearance before being reunited with Kathryn. For legions of Chakotay/Janeway shippers, it was a satisfying continuation of their Voyager dynamic.
While Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 has quietly resolved the romance with Chakotay, it also appeared to set up another love story for another Janeway. Hologram Janeway was brought back from the dead in Prodigy season 2, and a data back-up allowed Kathryn's photonic twin to avoid her tragic fate. This now sets up a brand-new Kathryn Janeway, with her own unique experiences and desires. It's possible, therefore, that Hologram Janeway could find herself acting on her admiration for the Doctor in Prodigy season 3.
Hologram Janeway “Admires” Star Trek: Voyager’s Doctor
"You must have a lot of admirers..."
Due to her being confined to the USS Protostar, Hologram Janeway doesn't spend a lot of time with the Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2. However, I was really struck by their interaction in Prodigy season 2, episode 18, "Touch of Grey". Hologram Janeway tells the Doctor that she's a dedicated reader of his holonovels, and that she is an admirer of his work and all that he's achieved. While it's written like an awkward interaction between a fan and their idol, there also feels like an extra dimension of unspoken mutual attraction.
After so many unfulfilled romantic dreams in Voyager , I could think of no better partner for the Doctor than Admiral Janeway's holographic sister.
In Star Trek: Voyager season 6, episode 4, "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy", it was revealed that the Doctor had daydreamed about Captain Janeway being attracted to him. It's possible, therefore, that the Doctor's reaction to Hologram Janeway's praise could be rooted in his surprise at a dream coming true. There's awkward, but very sweet, chemistry there, and standing next to each other, it's hard to deny that the Doctor and Hologram Janeway don't make a cute couple. After so many unfulfilled Doctor romances in Voyager, I could think of no better partner for the Doctor than Admiral Janeway's holographic sister.
Star Trek: Prodigy confirms that the Doctor's holonovels are written under the pen-name, E.M.H.
Star Trek: Prodigy Has Given Us Two Very Different Janeways
Introducing... The Janeway Twins
By the end of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, there are two Kathryn Janeways in active service for Starfleet. While Admiral Janeway will be striving to preserve Starfleet's ideals in the wake of the Attack on Mars, Hologram Janeway will continue to mentor Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) and the young crew of the USS Prodigy. Both versions of Janeway are now distinct individuals with their own hopes and desires, rather than one being reduced to a holographic replica. If flesh and blood Janeway and Chakotay can finally become a couple, maybe Hologram Janeway and the Doctor could pursue their own romance?
Hologram Janeway and the Doctor have been on similar journeys to be accepted as individuals and not pieces of software.
To me, Hologram Janeway and Star Trek: Voyager's Doctor feel like a perfect match. Firstly, they have a lot in common; Hologram Janeway and the Doctor have been on similar journeys to be accepted as individuals and not pieces of software. The Doctor and Hologram Janeway's awkward chemistry in "Touch of Grey" also feels like two people who are struggling to voice their feelings. I hope that, if nothing else, the Doctor and Hologram Janeway become close friends in Star Trek: Prodigy season 3, but I also hope that they realize the mutual attraction they clearly have for each other.
