An Alternative Fate for Seven of Nine: A Controversial Take on Star Trek: Voyager's Finale, According to an Executive Producer
Star Trek: Voyager makes a wise decision by sparing Seven of Nine's tragic demise in the finale, allowing her character to evolve into a central figure in Star Trek: Picard as she transitions from a Borg drone to the captain of the Enterprise
Article Overview
Brannon Braga, executive producer of Star Trek: Voyager, believed that Seven of Nine should have died in the series finale to create a tragic ending for the character.
Braga's suggestion to kill off Seven of Nine would have been disliked by fans, considering her popularity and the open-ended finale of Star Trek: Voyager.
In Star Trek: Picard, Seven of Nine's character development took a positive turn as she joined Starfleet and eventually became the Captain of the USS Enterprise-G, resulting in a more optimistic outcome compared to Braga's initial proposal.
Brannon Braga, the executive producer of Star Trek: Voyager, believed that Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan) should have met her demise in the series finale. Braga co-created Seven of Nine and introduced her to the show at the end of season 3. Her character quickly gained immense popularity and brought a sense of allure to the flagship series of the United Paramount Network (UPN). Seven continued to captivate audiences until the series finale, titled "Endgame," which marked the conclusion of Star Trek: Voyager's seventh and final season in 2001.
In the oral history book "The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek" authored by Peter Holmstrom, Brannon Braga outlined his argument for why Seven of Nine should have met her end in Star Trek: Voyager's finale. Here is an excerpt from the book:
I believed that it would have been more impactful if Seven of Nine had met her demise. The storyline, which I had collaborated on with Rick [Berman] and Ken [Biller], was founded on the concept that this tragic character, who could never fully revert to being a Borg or truly embrace her humanity, was leading a challenging existence. In a recent episode, we witnessed her develop affection for someone, only to discover that an implant would activate and end her life if she were to fall in love. What a tragic circumstance! If one cannot experience love, what purpose does life serve? This character's story was filled with sorrow. I strongly believed that Seven of Nine should have sacrificed herself in order to bring the crew home. Such an ending would have undoubtedly stirred up intense emotions among viewers. For me, the finale lacked a powerful element like that.
Seven Of Nine Became A Centerpiece Star Trek: Picard Character
From Borg Drone To Captain Of The Enterprise
Star Trek: Voyager fans would have been displeased if the beloved character Seven of Nine had been killed off, especially considering the unsatisfying conclusion of the series. It took 19 years for Jeri Ryan to reprise her role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard, where the former Borg embarked on a remarkable character journey. Ultimately, Seven joined Starfleet and became the Captain of the USS Enterprise-G by the end of season 3 of Star Trek: Picard.
If the proposed spinoff of Picard, titled Star Trek: Legacy, comes to fruition, it would feature Jeri Ryan reprising her role as Seven of Nine, leading the new Starship Enterprise.
During an episode of The Shuttlepod Show in 2022, Brannon Braga expressed uncertainty about including Seven of Nine's story in Star Trek: Picard, but acknowledged that it may have turned out better than his own ideas. Braga envisioned Seven as a tragic figure, and Star Trek: Picard explored the challenges she faced as a reformed Borg trying to find her place within the United Federation of Planets. However, instead of a tragic ending in line with Voyager, Star Trek: Picard chose to present Seven with a storyline where she overcomes personal and external adversities to become the new Captain of the Enterprise. This outcome provides a more hopeful and satisfying arc for the character, as opposed to killing off Seven for the sake of tragedy.
Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Picard are available to stream on Paramount+.
Source: "The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek" by Peter Holmstrom
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan of Star Trek, I have mixed feelings about Brannon Braga's suggestion to kill off Seven of Nine in the series finale of Star Trek: Voyager. On the one hand, I can understand his reasoning for wanting to create a tragic ending for the character. Seven of Nine is a complex and fascinating character, and her story is full of tragedy. Her time as a Borg drone left her with deep emotional scars, and she struggled to find her place in the human world. Killing her off would have been a powerful way to show the consequences of her tragic past.
On the other hand, I'm glad that Seven of Nine was not killed off in the series finale. Her story is one of hope and redemption, and it would have been a shame to end it on such a tragic note. I'm also glad that she was able to find a new purpose in life as a member of Starfleet and eventually as the Captain of the USS Enterprise-G. This shows that even after everything she has been through, Seven of Nine is still capable of great things. I think her story is a reminder that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times.
