Star Trek: Voyager

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The reception from fans has been mixed. Some feel Voyager was overall a good show, while other feel that it was the weakest of all Trek spin-offs. Like ' before it, Voyager did not attract the same ratings as '. There were concerns from the beginning that Voyager and Deep Space Nine would compete for ratings within the Trek fandom. Prior to the fourth season there were rumors that UPN was considering cancelling the series, and although criticized by some, the addition of the eye-catching Seven of Nine is credited with giving the ratings for the series enough of a boost to keep it on the air.

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Voyager was the first Trek series to air on network television since the original series. This factor stripped Voyager's writers and producers of a certain amount creative control. UPN wanted the show to move away from its more "Sci-fi" background to more of an action show, this was very clear during the latter half of Voyager as stories focused more on "the alien of the week" rather than strong character stories.

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Of particular ire to many fans were the show's factual inconsistencies. In the series' second episode, one character declares that the ship has a non-replaceable supply of 38 photon torpedoes, but by the end of the show, a minimum of 93 have been fired (fans have counted). The where, how and why of these extra torpedoes are never explained. Others have pointed out the impossibilities of the number of shuttlecraft lost by the crew (15, on a ship that, according to the show's 'bible', carries only two), and questioned how the hot-rod Delta Flyer manages to even land inside the ship.

Related Topics:
Photon torpedoes - Delta Flyer

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Many fans have critized the show for having weak plots, numerous continuity errors, lack of character growth, and repetitive storylines. There were complaints that the show was trying to mold itself too closely on ' instead of trying to find its own path. Some of the shows writers, particularly short term writer Ronald D. Moore, complained about lack of character background for the show's secondary characters, and the inconsistent style of Captain Janeway. Moore even complained that several of Voyager's long-time writers ignored pre-established character facts and continuity if it better served a story.

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