The Weakness of Anti-Serialization
Star Trek: Discovery creator Bryan Fuller has pointed out that 'anti-serialization' was a weakness of Star Trek: Voyager, especially when compared to its predecessor, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Fuller explained that DS9's serialized format effectively wove a rich tapestry of stories about the Dominion War and the moral dilemmas of maintaining Federation ideals during political upheaval and strife. In contrast, Voyager's homeward quest rarely lingered in one part of space, and its earlier stories reflected a steady pace onward by maintaining its characterization from week to week.
Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episode 6 "The Raven". Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine and Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway.
Fuller, who worked on Star Trek: Voyager before creating Star Trek: Discovery, emphasized the importance of modern serialized storytelling methods in recognizing character evolutions. He revealed that the lack of serialization in Voyager stifled the development of its characters and hindered the writing process, as storylines had to be abandoned in favor of constant forward motion. Fuller's insight sheds light on the impact of anti-serialization on Voyager's storytelling approach.
Martha Hackett as Seska and Robert Beltran as Chakotay aim phasers offscreen in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 25, "Worst Case Scenario"
Star Trek: Voyager's Transformation Through Serialization
While Star Trek: Voyager initially struggled with sporadic attempts at serialization, it saw significant improvement when it embraced serialization, especially with the introduction of Seven of Nine. The addition of Seven of Nine brought about numerous changes to the series, including the adoption of more serialized storytelling. Her character arc jump-started the development of other characters, allowing them to evolve beyond their initial templates.
Star Trek Voyager - Dark Frontier - Borg Queen & Seven of Nine
The concept of Seven, a Borg drone becoming a more realized human, required serialization for its effectiveness. As Seven changed, other Voyager characters, such as Lt. Tom Paris and Lt. B'Elanna Torres, were also free to begin developing beyond their initial roles. The evolution of the Doctor's character also became more prominent. Fuller's comments reinforce the importance of character development as central to engaging storytelling, which Star Trek: Voyager achieved through serialization.
Tom and B'Elanna share a smile in Drive.
The Impact of Serialization on Voyager's Storytelling
The impact of serialization on Star Trek: Voyager's storytelling is evident in the way it allowed characters to be affected by their circumstances and evolve beyond stagnant roles. The series kept its self-contained episodes but utilized serialization to explore the transformation of Seven of Nine from a Borg drone to a more realized human. This shift in storytelling approach also enabled the development of relationships between characters, such as Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres, and the evolution of the Doctor. Fuller's insights highlight how serialization contributed to the richness of Voyager's storytelling, ultimately leading to a more engaging and dynamic narrative.
The Doctor writes his holonovel, "Photons Be Free" on the holodeck in Star Trek: Voyager, season 7, episode 20, "Author, Author"
