Highlighting Tom Paris: Top 10 Episodes from Star Trek: Voyager

Article Overview

Lt. Tom Paris is a charismatic and resilient character who bridges the divide between Starfleet and Maquis on the USS Voyager.

Despite a turbulent history filled with errors, Paris showcases his resilience and fortitude through his deep connections with friends, romantic partner, and Captain Janeway. The episodes "Vis à Vis," "The Chute," and "Thirty Days" serve as poignant reminders of Paris' unwavering commitment, personal development, and unwavering pursuit of redemption, truly revealing his genuine nature.

Lieutenant Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) of Star Trek: Voyager brings together the divided Starfleet and Maquis crews with his captivating charm and relatable energy. Though initially seen as a rebellious and heartless flirt, Paris proves his true strength of character through his meaningful connections with Ensign Harry Kim (Garret Wang), Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), and Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). Janeway personally selects Paris for Voyager's Badlands mission, despite his troubled past.

As the son of Starfleet Admiral Owen Paris (Richard Herd), Tom Paris was dishonorably discharged for causing the deaths of three officers due to a pilot error, which he tried to conceal. This mirrors Cadet Nick Locarno's background, also portrayed by McNeill. However, while Locarno seeks redemption for his deceptive ego in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, Paris yearns for validation and demonstrates genuine remorse from the beginning. His journey in the Delta Quadrant ultimately absolves him of his past misdeeds and self-imposed guilt. He receives forgiveness from his father, builds a family, and restores his reputation, leading to the reinstatement of his Starfleet commission upon Voyager's return to Earth.

10. Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 20

"Vis à Vis"

Following Lt. Tom Paris' clever rescue of Steth (Dan Butler), the pilot of an experimental spacecraft, an unexpected bond forms between Steth and Paris as they work together to mend Steth's ship. However, their newfound friendship takes a sinister turn when Steth reveals his true intention: to find a suitable host for his consciousness, ultimately resulting in a shocking body swap between Steth and Paris. As Steth manipulates Paris' existence on Voyager, Paris begins to comprehend the value of his own life and fiercely fights to reclaim his rightful body. Although "Vis à Vis" may not be the most remarkable episode, it solidifies Paris' unwavering commitment to Voyager during a period of personal uncertainty, thereby making it a significant moment of character development.

9. Star Trek: Voyager Season 3, Episode 25

"Worst Case Scenario"

Tom Paris, a devoted holonovel enthusiast, eagerly takes on the task of rewriting the captivating program that B'Elanna discovers in the database. To their surprise, it turns out to be one of Tuvok's training programs. Despite his initial reluctance, Tuvok reluctantly agrees to let Paris assist in crafting the conclusion. However, their collaboration takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves ensnared in the treacherous chapter left by Seska, a former member of the Maquis crew, as a final parting gesture to the Voyager. This episode serves as a remarkable addition to Voyager's collective experiences rather than focusing solely on one character. Moreover, Paris's character development vividly showcases his knack for entertainment and quick thinking, as well as his genuine desire to support others in navigating their stranded existence within the uncharted Delta Quadrant.

8. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 7

"Parturition"

In the early episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, Neelix becomes intensely jealous whenever anyone shows interest in Kes. This leads to a heated confrontation between Neelix and Tom Paris, as Tom's affection towards Kes becomes a source of tension. However, when their shuttle crashes on a hostile planet, Paris and Neelix are forced to cooperate in order to save the life of an alien hatchling. This experience helps them reconcile their differences. Paris acknowledges that his friendship with Kes is purely flirtatious, while Neelix realizes that he had misjudged Tom based on his reputation instead of having a conversation with him.

Ultimately, in Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 7, Paris proves his true character by demonstrating his ability to grow and move beyond his reputation.

7. Star Trek: Voyager Season 6, Episode 5

"Alice"

The Star Trek AI can take various forms, including a sentient hologram and a peculiar shuttle named by Tom Paris after a past romantic interest from the Academy. In the episode "Alice," Tom comes into possession of a worn-out personal spacecraft featuring a neurogenic interface that allows the pilot to control it through their thoughts. Initially, this innovative concept turns eerie as the shuttle's AI begins to dominate Tom's attention, neglecting his responsibilities and personal life. Although a previous version of Paris might have succumbed to Alice's urging to run away together, in Star Trek: Voyager season 6, he remains devoted to B'Elanna and his life aboard Voyager.

6. Star Trek: Voyager Season 3, Episode 3

"The Chute"

Imprisoned once again, Tom Paris finds himself in an alien jail, accompanied by Ensign Harry Kim. Both of them are equipped with neural implants that aim to induce paranoia and violence. The situation is highly stressful as they face limited resources and struggle to resist their growing impulses to harm each other for personal gain. Unexpectedly, Tom is attacked by another inmate and it is now up to Harry to care for his wounds and nurse him back to health. This experience strengthens the bond of friendship between Paris and Kim, a bond that endures throughout their journey on Star Trek: Voyager.

5. Star Trek: Voyager Season 3, Episodes 8 & 9

"Future's End"

When the USS Voyager travels back in time to Earth in the 1990s, Tom Paris's deep knowledge of 20th-century history proves invaluable in helping the crew blend in seamlessly. His thrilling mission alongside Lt. Tuvok to locate astronomer Rain Robinson (played by Sarah Silverman) in Earth's historical past adds a delightful touch of adventure to the episode. The genuine chemistry between Tom and Rain is a joy to witness when they finally meet. "Future's End" in Star Trek: Voyager allows us to see a different side of Tom, free from the restrictions of Starfleet protocols. His ability to think on his feet and adapt proves to be a major advantage, particularly when compared to the more rigid approach of Tuvok.

4. Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 3

"Extreme Risk"

"Extreme Risk" marks the inaugural installment of Tom's beloved Delta Flyer, a state-of-the-art shuttlecraft that he finally receives permission to construct in order to recover a lost probe. Displaying his exceptional skills as a shuttle designer, Paris demonstrates his ability to incorporate input from others rather than making unilateral decisions about the Flyer's design. This episode also focuses on Lt. B'Elanna Torres, who is grappling with profound grief following the loss of her former Maquis comrades. Paris's genuine concern for her well-being manages to break through his intense preoccupation with the Flyer project. Although their relationship remains strictly platonic at this stage, this significant development paves the way for the growth of their future bond.

3. Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 12

"Bride of Chaotica!"

"Bride of Chaotica!" is considered one of the finest episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. It revolves around Paris' holodeck program, The Adventures of Captain Proton, which pays homage to the popular pulp science fiction that served as an inspiration for Star Trek. However, when the program is mistaken for reality by photonic life forms, a failed first contact situation ensues. To prevent an all-out war between the photonic species and the villainous army of Doctor Chaotica (Martin Rayner), Paris takes on the role of Captain Proton while guiding Kim, Janeway, and the Doctor in their respective characters of Buster Kincaid, Queen Arachnia, and the President of Earth.

2. Star Trek: Voyager Season 7, Episode 3

"Drive"

In "Drive," Tom Paris's redemption in Star Trek: Voyager reaches its peak. Tom and Harry Kim participate in the Antarian Trans-stellar Rally aboard the Delta Flyer, with Captain Janeway's trust and support. Rather than being annoyed by Tom's side interests, B'Elanna becomes his co-pilot, while Harry teams up with rival racer Irina (Cyia Batten). Together, they expose Irina's plan to sabotage the race, showcasing their exceptional teamwork.

At the end of Star Trek: Voyager season 7, episode 3, Tom Paris proposes to B'Elanna Torres, no longer burdened by a reputation that precedes him.

1. Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 9

"Thirty Days"

In the face of an ecological disaster caused by their own actions, an underwater society finds themselves in need of help. Despite Captain Janeway's orders to refrain from interfering, Lt. Tom Paris decides to assist them. Going against orders in order to do what is right has always been a long-standing tradition in Starfleet. However, instead of being praised for his actions, Paris is met with a demotion to ensign and a thirty-day confinement in the brig. Through a heartfelt voiceover letter to his estranged father, Paris pleads for understanding, assuring him that he has not reverted to his past criminal ways. This time, he explains, he took a stand for a cause that he truly believed in. "Thirty Days" delves deep into Paris' character, exploring his quest for redemption and the complications that arise from his actions.

The essence of Tom Paris as a character lies in his constant struggle to do the right thing despite facing numerous obstacles. He continuously fights against others' preconceived notions of him and strives to prove himself, even in the face of defeat. Behind his smiling face and lighthearted jokes, Tom seeks validation to a greater extent than he lets on. The finest episodes of Star Trek: Voyager that feature Lt. Tom Paris effectively capture his qualities as a supportive friend and partner, his playful nature, and his mission of finding redemption. You can stream Star Trek: Voyager on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I appreciate the character development of Tom Paris in Star Trek: Voyager. His journey from a rebellious and heartless flirt to a redeemed and valued member of the Voyager crew is compelling and relatable.

Episodes like "Vis à Vis" and "The Chute" showcase Paris's resilience and unwavering commitment to Voyager, while episodes like "Thirty Days" and "Bride of Chaotica!" highlight his personal development and growth. Overall, I find Tom Paris to be a complex and well-developed character who brings a lot to the Star Trek: Voyager series.