Star Trek's Most Underrated Show Almost Ruined Its Biggest Draw 26 Years Ago

Perhaps the biggest complaint about Star Trek: Voyager was that the series ended before audiences ever saw the wayward ship return to Earth. However, at the time, the universe created by Gene Roddenberry was in a unique place. The studio and the producers considered bringing the USS Voyager back to the known Star Trek galaxy in Season 5, two years before the show was supposed to end. This idea highlights how (like the ship itself) the franchise was in uncharted territory heading into 1999.

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When the USS Enterprise-D ended its seven-year mission and headed to the movies, Star Trek: Voyager was created to take its place on television. Set on a space station, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a huge departure from the established format. When Paramount finally launched their own network (UPN), they wanted a classic Star Trek "ship show" to anchor it. The biggest draw for fans, however, was that the USS Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. When Deep Space Nine closed shop, Voyager was the only Star Trek game in town.

Star Trek: Voyager Season 5 Was a Time of Transition for the Whole Enterprise

Behind the Scenes at Paramount, There Was a Lot of Pressure and Change

Kathryn Janeway made history as the first woman captain to lead a Star Trek series. Life imitated art, because veteran producer Jeri Taylor was the first woman to run one. At the end of the fourth season, Taylor announced her retirement. Brannon Braga, who started as an intern on Star Trek: The Next Generation, took over. His former writing partner, Ronald D. Moore, joined the crew after wrapping up Deep Space Nine, and they butted heads. The previous season, Kes actor Jennifer Lien left, and Jeri Taylor's Seven of Nine arrived. Struggling for affiliates, the ratings weren't what UPN wanted.

"There were always [discussions] about how long we were going to keep our characters lost in space, especially when… Deep Space Nine was ending. The feeling was 'What if we bring them home… and they get reassigned and they become a ship…having the same kind of adventures that… The Next Generation characters would've had?'" -- Rick Berman, Season 5: Braving the Unknown featurette.

The decision to keep the Voyager far from the familiar space other series traversed seemed to have been made quickly. That such a drastic change was considered highlights just how precarious Star Trek's longevity was. For the first time in seven years, there was only one Star Trek show in production. Many of the long-time writers were feeling burnt out, most notably Moore, who left after a decade writing for this universe. UPN wanted Voyager to replicate the success of The Next Generation. Bringing the Voyager crew back to the Enterprise-D's stomping grounds was likely an attempt to make it more like previous Star Trek series.

Rick Berman, the executive producer in charge of the Star Trek machine, ultimately decided to keep the USS Voyager where she was.Star Trek: Insurrection was set to release in 1998, and at the time, everyone expected The Next Generation's crew to make (at least) as many movies as The Original Series cast. In the Delta Quadrant, the USS Voyager was the best (and only) Starfleet vessel around. If they returned to more familiar territory, the show would live in the shadow of the movies. Also, the movie stars on the USS Enterprise might feel Janeway and company were stepping on their toes.

Why Bringing the USS Voyager Home Early Would've Been a Disaster

Returning to Earth Would Create Giant Narrative Problems

The biggest problem with bringing the Voyager crew home would be justifying their continued service in deep space. After all, Kirk's crew only did five years on the original Enterprise, and The Motion Picture suggested they all moved on when it was finished. Unlike that crew, Janeway and company hadn't even been able to talk to their friends and family. It simply didn't make sense why anyone would continue to serve on the ship. Also, despite how good she was at the job, Janeway wasn't happy as Voyager's captain. Even if they figured all this out, Voyager would become a pale imitation of The Next Generation, losing all its unique character.

Star Trek: Prodigy is a Voyager sequel, and Janeway appeared in Star Trek: Nemesis, the final The Next Generation film. Upon returning home, the captain of the USS Voyager was immediately promoted to the Admiralty. She also took a desk job, content to leave the space exploration to others. Other members of the crew would also be eager to leave the ship. Harry Kim could leave and finally get promoted. B'Elanna Torres and other former Maquis crew would either not be welcome in Starfleet, or they'd want to leave. Considering the Dominion War was at its peak in Deep Space Nine's final season, the fleet was stretched thin and trust was in short supply.

If the USS Voyager made it back to Starfleet-controlled space, there was no way to justify Seven of Nine's continued service on the ship. She was unapologetically Borg, and as Picard proved, Starfleet wouldn't trust her in Janeway's or anyone's crew. Even if they figured out some way to make it work, the character wouldn't want to stay. After all, Janeway disconnected Seven from the collective against her will. Whether in search of her humanity or a return to the Borg, Seven of Nine would want to go her own way. Not returning home in Season 5 was the right call. However, an episode or two showing their readjustment to life in the Alpha Quadrant would've been fascinating.