Star Trek: Voyager season 2 introduced a major character decision that mirrored a similar situation in the unaired pilot of Star Trek: The Original Series. Before Captain Kirk took the helm of the USS Enterprise, Gene Roddenberry created a pilot episode featuring Captain Christopher Pike. However, this episode, known as "The Cage," did not resonate well with viewers, leading Roddenberry to start over with a new cast. Despite this, clips from "The Cage" were later incorporated into TOS season 1, episodes 15 and 16, The Menagerie Parts 1&2.
In "The Cage," Captain Pike encountered a woman named Vina, the only survivor of a crashed ship on Talos IV. The Talosians, beings with telepathic abilities, captured Pike and Vina to study human behavior. Although Pike managed to free them, Vina chose to stay with the Talosians. She revealed that the crash had left her severely injured, and the Talosians had created an illusion of beauty to help her cope. This decision to remain in the illusion was reminiscent of another character's choice in a later Star Trek storyline.
Voyager’s Danara Pel Made The Opposite Decision From Vina In Star Trek: TOS’s “The Cage”
Danara Pel (Susan Diol) smiles in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Lifesigns" - Voyager’s Danara Pel Made The Opposite Decision From Vina In Star Trek: TOS’s “The Cage”
Danara Pel (Susan Diol) from Voyager's season 2 episode "Lifesigns" made a different choice from Vina. She chose to return to her dying body and her people after being rescued by the USS Voyager. Although Danara and Vina faced different situations, their decisions ultimately came down to the same dilemma: living in reality or staying in an illusion. Danara could have stayed on Voyager, maintained a relationship with the Doctor (Robert Picardo), and enjoyed eternal health in the holographic body he created for her. However, she opted for the more challenging path of duty over personal desires.
Interestingly, both Danara and Vina had to make sacrifices despite their differing choices. Vina gave up a potential relationship with Captain Pike by choosing to stay on Talos IV, even though the Talosians provided her with an illusion of companionship. Similarly, Danara decided to forgo her relationship with the Doctor in order to fulfill her responsibilities. She understood the importance of aiding her fellow Vidiians who were suffering from the Phage. While Danara sacrificed her health and beauty, Vina chose the opposite path. Nevertheless, both women experienced the pain of losing someone they cared for.
Why Star Trek: Voyager Flipped Vina’s TOS Decision for Danara Pel
Vina's true form is revealed in the Star Trek: TOS unaired pilot episode "The Cage" - Why Star Trek: Voyager Flipped Vina’s TOS Decision for Danara Pel
Danara and Vina made different choices, but Voyager made the right decision for Danara's storyline. Danara, a doctor with valuable knowledge on treating the Phage, wanted to stay on Voyager, but it would have been irresponsible. In contrast, Vina only had to consider herself and ultimately made the best decision given her circumstances.
Voyager likely chose to have Danara return to the Vidiians for logistical reasons, similar to why TOS had Vina stay on Talos IV - to prevent them from becoming recurring characters. Both Vina and Danara were intended as one-off love interests for Captain Pike and the Doctor, and their decisions solidified this status. Ultimately, both Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: TOS made story choices that suited their characters best, resulting in better episodes like "The Cage" and "Lifesigns."
All episodes of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: The Original Series are available to stream on Paramount+.
Editor's P/S:
The article delves into the contrasting character decisions made by Vina in "The Cage" and Danara Pel in "Lifesigns," highlighting the enduring theme of choosing between reality and illusion in the Star Trek franchise. While Vina opted to remain in an idealized state provided by the Talosians, Danara prioritized her duty and returned to her people. Both choices reflect the complex human desire for comfort and fulfillment, but also the sacrifices that come with such decisions.
The article also explores the narrative reasons behind these choices, suggesting that Danara's decision to return to her people was driven by logistical considerations and the need to prevent her from becoming a recurring character. However, it also acknowledges that both Vina and Danara's choices ultimately served to enhance the respective episodes, showcasing the thoughtful storytelling that has become synonymous with Star Trek.
