Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) from Star Trek: Voyager shares one embarrassing fact with James T. Kirk (William Shatner) from Star Trek: The Original Series. Paris was the USS Voyager's pilot and medic, and a main member of Voyager's cast of characters for all seven seasons of the show. By contrast, Captain Kirk was the Captain of the USS Enterprise, the main character of TOS and the TOS film series, and arguably the most recognizable man in the entire Star Trek franchise.
Although Paris and Kirk were from very different periods on the Star Trek timeline, the two ended up having a few important things in common. Both were the resident bad boys of their respective shows, with hotheaded personalities and a tendency to break the rules. Along with this, both Paris and Kirk were notorious ladies' men, famous for the reputation of having many romantic partners during their respective series. However, there is a more interesting way Paris and Kirk resemble each other.
Star Trek: Voyager Demoted Tom Paris, Just Like Admiral Kirk In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Paris and Kirk were the franchise's only main character demotions for a long time
The Star Trek: Voyager season 5 episode "Thirty Days" saw Tom Paris be demoted to the rank of Ensign and thrown in the brig after violating the Prime Directive. This was a surprising move given that Star Trek didn't often show its main characters receiving such harsh punishments. In fact, the only other main character in a Star Trek series to get demoted before Tom was the then-Admiral Kirk, who was reduced back to the rank of Captain after his actions in the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Kirk being made Captain again was less of a punishment than a reward, since it came after he and the Enterprise crew had saved Earth from a significant threat.
It's important to note that there were significant differences between Kirk's and Paris's demotions. Kirk being made Captain again was less of a punishment than a reward, since it came after he and the Enterprise crew had saved Earth from a significant threat. In contrast, Tom being made an Ensign was truly a punishment from Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), and the accompanying 30 days in the brig drove this home. However, Tom's demotion was significant at the time because it was the first for a main character since Kirk was remade Captain.
Other Star Trek Main Characters Have Been Demoted
Modern Star Trek has seen more demotions
Since Voyager ended, however, the modern Star Trek franchise has shown other main character demotions. The most obvious of these was Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) being completely stripped of all rank after her mutiny in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. Although Michael eventually worked her way back up to Captain of the USS Discovery, her initial punishment was perhaps the harshest demotion any Star Trek character has received, fitting the shocking crime of mutiny and her involvement in starting the Federation-Klingon war.
The other main character in a modern series to be demoted was Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) from Star Trek: Lower Decks. Before Lower Decks season 1, Mariner had already been demoted to Ensign for her contentious relationship with authority. However, in the season 1 episode "Moist Vessel," Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) decided to punish her daughter by promoting Mariner to the rank of full Lieutenant and then re-demoting her after Mariner insulted a visiting Admiral. Thanks to Discovery and Lower Decks, Star Trek: Voyager's Tom Paris is now in better company in the ranks of the franchise's demoted characters.
