Summary
- Admiral Janeway views the Doctor as a vital mentor, showing that she sees him as far more than a holographic medic.
- Hologram Janeway's admiration for the Doctor reflects his impact on the Voyager crew and the wider Federation.
- The Doctor's evolution in Star Trek: Voyager reshapes views on holographic beings for Janeway and Chakotay, improving Hologram Janeway's future.
Star Trek: Prodigy finally confirms that Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) saw the Doctor (Robert Picardo) as a hero, but with a smart twist. In Prodigy season 2, the Doctor is a vital member of Admiral Janeway's crew aboard the USS Voyager-A, tasked with mentoring Dal R'El (Brett Gray), Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) and the rest of the young Starfleet hopefuls. Of course, the Doctor was always a vital member of the Voyager crew, but he had to fight to be recognized as such during the show's early days.
In Star Trek: Voyager season 3, Robert Picardo's Doctor got a mobile emitter, which allowed him to leave sickbay and become a more active and integrated crew member. This freedom allowed Janeway and the rest of the crew to see him as a multi-layered individual, even if the Federation weren't willing to grant him that status in Star Trek: Voyager season 7. Years later, Janeway's holographic twin gets to meet the Doctor in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, episode 18, "Touch of Grey", which reveals that she sees him as a heroic figure.
Hologram Janeway Sees Voyager's Doctor As A Hero In Star Trek: Prodigy
"You must have many admirers..."
In Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, episode 18, "Touch of Grey", written by Jennifer Munro and directed by Sung Shin, the Doctor and Hologram Janeway finally meet. The two holograms have a heart-to-heart about the Doctor's pending away mission, which reveals that Hologram Janeway views him as something of a hero. "Kathryn's holographic twin sister" is like the Doctor was in the early days of Star Trek: Voyager, confined to her ship, and unable to experience life outside the USS Protostar. Permanently tied to the Protostar, Hologram Janeway appears to find comfort and inspiration in the Doctor's story.
It's therefore interesting to discover that Hologram Janeway was a fan of the Doctor's holonovels, suggesting they inspired her heroic sacrifice in Prodigy season 1.
It's no surprise that Hologram Janeway is inspired by the way that Voyager's Doctor made history for her kind. Due to the alterations to the timeline, Hologram Janeway and Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) spent a decade together, and bonded as friends. In the original Star Trek: Prodigy timeline, Dal and the USS Protostar crew also formed a bond with Hologram Janeway, and were devastated when she sacrificed her life to save the Federation. It's therefore interesting to discover that Hologram Janeway was a fan of the Doctor's holonovels, suggesting they inspired her heroic sacrifice in Prodigy season 1.
Star Trek: Voyager season 7, episode 19, "Author, Author" revealed that the Doctor's holonovel, Photons Be Free was a source of inspiration for holographic workers in a Federation mining colony.
Voyager’s Doctor Is Why Star Trek: Prodigy Saves Hologram Janeway
The specter of Hologram Janeway's sacrifice hangs over the closing episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2. To preserve the timeline, the USS Protostar has to be sent back to Tars Lamora, where Janeway has to have her memories wiped and then, ultimately, sacrifice her life. Chakotay assures Hologram Janeway that they'll find a way to preserve the timeline and her identity. Obviously, Chakotay is keen to save Hologram Janeway because of the time they've spent together. However, it was Chakotay's friendship with the Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager that paved the way for his and Janeway's bond.
Over seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager, the Doctor's technological and emotional development changed how both Janeway and Chakotay see holograms. For Admiral Janeway and Captain Chakotay, photonic beings like the Doctor and Hologram Janeway aren't functional pieces of software, they're individuals with their own needs and desires. That's why Janeway, Chakotay and the Doctor resolve to preserve the memories of Kathryn's holographic twin, so that she can continue to mentor the crew of the USS Prodigy in their future adventures.
