The Unexpected Chemistry Between Chakotay and Janeway: Why Their Star Trek: Voyager Romance Was Controversial

Summary

Chakotay's first romance on Star Trek: Voyager showed why dating Captain Janeway would have been a bad idea due to their power dynamic and need to maintain professionalism.

Chakotay engaged in other romantic relationships during the show, such as an unfortunate connection with Seven of Nine and an unsuccessful romance with Seska.

The topic of captains dating their subordinates was examined in Star Trek: The Next Generation, establishing the reason why Janeway and Chakotay's relationship would not have been successful.

Chakotay's (Robert Beltran) initial love interest on Star Trek: Voyager set the stage for why pursuing a romantic relationship with Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) would not have been wise. Chakotay served as the First Officer of the USS Voyager and was a former Maquis rebel. After the ship became stranded in the Delta Quadrant, Janeway promoted him to First Officer, leading to a growing connection and friendship between the two throughout the series. Despite the underlying romantic tension between Janeway and Chakotay, particularly after the season 2 episode "Resolutions," they never became a couple on the show.

Although their feelings for one another went unreciprocated, both Janeway and Chakotay explored other romantic entanglements during Voyager's seven-season run. Chakotay, in particular, was involved in various romantic subplots, eventually finding himself in a ill-fated romance with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Prior to this, Chakotay's second most significant romantic involvement was with Seska (Martha Hackett), a former Maquis member who, unbeknownst to him, turned out to be a Cardassian spy and betrayed Voyager to the Kazon. Even before Seska's true colors were unveiled, their relationship was destined for failure.

Why Chakotay's First Romance Would Have Failed - Just Like Chakotay And Janeway

Chakotay and Seska's previous romantic involvement in the Maquis would have been incompatible on Voyager due to the strict command structure. Chakotay's promotion to Commander and First Officer granted him significant power, second only to Captain Janeway. In contrast, Seska, being an Ensign, had considerably less authority. Their unequal roles would have made their relationship inappropriate and hinder Chakotay's ability to remain impartial.

Similarly, a romantic relationship between Janeway and Chakotay would have been ill-advised due to the power dynamics. If the Captain were to date a subordinate, it would disrupt the balance of power and undermine the professionalism necessary for their roles as the ship's commanding officers. This concern applies equally to Chakotay and Seska, as they too would have needed to present a united front and maintain their professionalism for the sake of the crew.

TNG's Picard Showed The Problem Of Starfleet Captains Dating Officers

Prior to the airing of Voyager, Star Trek: The Next Generation delved into the complex issue of a Captain dating a subordinate officer through the character of Jean-Luc Picard. In the 19th episode of season 6, titled "Lessons," Captain Picard embarked on a brief romance with Lieutenant Commander Nella Daren, a member of the USS Enterprise-D's stellar cartography team. However, they quickly realized that the power dynamic created complications, including concerns of preferential treatment and the potential risks that Picard's duty might impose on Daren's well-being. Ultimately, they mutually agreed that continuing their relationship was not feasible.

The thorough exploration of relationships with such power dynamics in Star Trek: TNG inadvertently set the groundwork for how Star Trek: Voyager subtly addressed similar issues. Although the specific reasons why Janeway and Chakotay, as well as Chakotay and Seska, could never be compatible were not explicitly stated, the series effectively demonstrated these obstacles through their respective storylines. While Chakotay and Seska's relationship ultimately failed due to other factors, it was clear that pursuing a romantic connection during Voyager's journey home would have been ill-advised. The same can be said for Janeway and Chakotay.