The Unstoppable Evolution of Janeway: How Voyager's Captain Became Star Trek's Ultimate Badass Admiral

Summary

Captain Janeway prioritizes the safety and return of her crew above all else, even disregarding Starfleet's Prime Directive, showing her commitment to protecting all life.

Janeway has faith in the inherent goodness in individuals, as seen in her decision to invite Tom Paris from a penal colony and her unwavering support for Borg drone Seven of Nine, displaying her conviction in people's potential for personal development and transformation.

Without wavering, Janeway consistently makes arduous choices for the betterment of all, including sacrificing her own well-being, her ship, and even altering her own timeline to ensure the restoration of the correct timeline and safeguard her crew amidst a temporal conflict with the Krenim Imperium.

On Star Trek: Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) embodies the essence of Starfleet as she leads the USS Voyager on an extraordinary seven-year journey through the Delta Quadrant. Without the usual support from Starfleet, Janeway takes on the roles of ambassador, negotiator, tactician, and explorer, becoming the Federation's sole representative. With unwavering determination, she vows to bring her crew safely back to the Alpha Quadrant, navigating through challenges and dangers. Captain Janeway exemplifies the core principles of personal sacrifice, belief in the potential of others, the importance of scientific exploration, cultural exchange, and above all, the protection of her crew. As their voyage progresses, Janeway's distinct moral code emerges, prioritizing the safety and return of her crew even above Starfleet's Prime Directive. She takes daring risks, driven by an unwavering determination to defy the odds and ensure their safe passage home. Ultimately, her leadership and resilience lead to her promotion to Admiral, maintaining her unconventional approach as she commands the USS Dauntless in Star Trek: Prodigy.

10 Destroying the Caretaker Array

Upon bringing the USS Voyager to the Delta Quadrant, the Caretaker presents Captain Janeway with a challenging dilemma. She must choose between immediately returning to the Alpha Quadrant using the Caretaker's array or safeguarding the Ocampa from the Kazon, malevolent villains of the Delta Quadrant, by destroying it. Although Captain Janeway has limited knowledge of the Ocampa at this stage, she is unwilling to stand idly by and let them suffer. Her unwavering commitment to protecting all forms of life leads her to make the difficult decision of destroying the array. As a result, Voyager's intended brief mission to the Badlands transforms into a daunting journey spanning 70,000 light years back to their home.

9 Aggressively Believing in People

8 Beating Death with Willpower

Captain Janeway immediately recognizes the inherent goodness in others when she handpicks Tom Paris, a former inmate, to pilot Voyager's inaugural mission through the treacherous Badlands. This profound belief allows her Starfleet crew to forge an alliance with the rebellious Maquis crew of the Val Jean, led by Commander Chakotay, without resorting to imprisoning them for an extended period. Additionally, when Seven of Nine, a Borg drone, becomes disconnected from the Collective while onboard Voyager, Janeway staunchly opposes Seven's return, firmly asserting that even she possesses untapped potential to evolve into something greater.

Janeway's indomitable spirit is most notable in her relentless pursuit of defying death itself. In the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Coda" from season 3, Janeway is confronted by an extraterrestrial entity that feasts on the life essence of those on the brink of demise. This entity endeavors to deceive Janeway into surrendering her own existence by subjecting her to a succession of illusions designed to make her believe she has already succumbed. Yet, unwavering in her determination, she adamantly refuses to yield, dispelling the alien's grip and reclaiming her rightful life. This seemingly minor moment within the broader narrative serves as a testament to Janeway, reaffirming her unyielding willpower during pivotal junctures.

7 Making Difficult Sacrifices

6 Following Her Instincts

Recognizing the need for sacrifices to protect her crew, Janeway, as the Captain, assumes the responsibility of making difficult decisions and shouldering the burden of sacrifice alone. In the "Year of Hell" episodes of Star Trek: Voyager season 4, episodes 8 & 9, Voyager finds itself trapped in a prolonged temporal war with the Krenim Imperium, who view Voyager as the anomaly hindering their former glory. Janeway comes to the realization that restoring the proper timeline requires eliminating the Krenim's ability to manipulate time entirely. In an ultimate act of sacrifice, Janeway willingly gives up herself, her ship, and her timeline to achieve this goal.

At the outskirts of Borg territory, Janeway makes a bold decision to forge an alliance with the formidable Borg collective in order to ensure the safe passage of Voyager. In a reciprocal agreement, Voyager pledges assistance in vanquishing the Borg's formidable adversaries, known as Species 8472. Despite Chakotay's cautionary words, expressing concerns about the Borg's potential treachery, Janeway's unwavering determination to bring her crew home triumphs over settling for a nearby M-class planet in the Delta Quadrant, which seemingly presents a reasonable alternative. While Chakotay is duty-bound to provide a balanced perspective on the captain's directives, Janeway relies on her instinct during perilous circumstances. As events unfold, it becomes evident that her decision to align with the Borg proves to be the correct one.

5 Giving Technology to Save Lives

Voyager's crew finds themselves constantly targeted by the Hirogen, a ruthless race known for their predatory nature. Not only do they prey on others as part of their traditional rituals, but they also possess a communications network that could potentially help Voyager establish contact with Earth. In an attempt to make the crew more enticing prey, the Hirogen trap them within a series of lifelike holographic simulations. However, Janeway skillfully guides her crew through these perilous scenarios, relying on her wit and cunning to secure their escape. In a remarkable display of understanding, she acknowledges that the Hirogen's inherent need to hunt is deeply rooted in their culture. Consequently, she strikes a deal with them, offering Starfleet hologram technology in exchange for access to their expansive communications network. By doing so, she ensures that both parties can satisfy their desires without further loss of life.

4 Defying Local Laws

In Star Trek: Voyager season 5, episode 10, "Counterpoint," Janeway goes against one of the Federation's fundamental principles: respect for other cultures. She makes this decision because prioritizing innocent lives' safety outweighs the need to adhere to that tenet. The Devore people hold a belief that telepaths are inherently criminals due to their abilities, leading them to relentlessly hunt them down for forced relocation. Although Janeway appears to comply with the local authorities, she secretly hides a group of twelve Brenari telepaths in Voyager's transporter buffers. Her act of defiance against the Devore's oppressive ordinance proves worthwhile nine years later when a Brenari, who had joined Starfleet, comes to her aid aboard the USS Dauntless in an almost hopeless situation.

3 Reaching Her Breaking Point

When Voyager encounters another Federation starship lost in the Delta Quadrant, it should bring relief to Captain Janeway, who has been shouldering the burden of moral leadership alone. However, Captain Rudolph Ransom of the USS Equinox, played by John Savage, proves to be a disappointment as he abandons the very Federation morals that Janeway has fought hard to uphold. The pressure and stress they have faced prior to meeting the Equinox culminate in this crucial moment. Janeway takes matters into her own hands, firmly believing that she alone holds the responsibility of meting out Starfleet justice, using any means necessary.

2 Ignoring the Temporal Prime Directive

In the final episode of Star Trek: Voyager, titled "Endgame," Vice Admiral Janeway from the 25th century discovers a method to expedite the return journey of her crew while minimizing casualties. She rebels against the temporal prime directive by bringing advanced anti-Borg technology back to Captain Janeway in order to enhance Voyager's defenses. Admiral Janeway willingly sacrifices herself and her entire timeline to eliminate the Borg Queen and ensure the safe arrival of at least one Voyager through a transwarp conduit to the Alpha Quadrant in 2378. Ultimately, the means she employs to fulfill her promise become inconsequential – whether it involves enduring hardships, overcoming challenges, or facing the Borg Sphere.

1 Pursuing Star Trek: Prodigy's USS Protostar

After her promotion, Admiral Janeway contributes to the development of the USS Protostar, a starship equipped with advanced technology that enables Starfleet to easily explore the Delta Quadrant. The ship incorporates a holographic representation of Janeway herself. However, under the command of Captain Chakotay, the Protostar goes missing shortly after its departure. Determined to find the lost vessel, Janeway initiates a search using Starfleet's USS Dauntless. Her unwavering determination, honed during her seven-year ordeal in the Delta Quadrant, drives her towards her ultimate objective. However, her focus abruptly shifts when she discovers that the crew of the Protostar consists of children.

Star Trek: Voyager has faced criticism for its inconsistent portrayal of characters, including Captain Janeway. Nevertheless, Janeway's role as the captain of Voyager places her in challenging situations that necessitate difficult decision-making and the acceptance of responsibility. She lacks the abundant resources available to starships in the Alpha Quadrant and the presence of other captains or admirals to seek guidance from. Janeway must rely on her intellect, determination, and unwavering moral compass in order to uphold her integrity and survive. The intense pressure she faces exceeds her initial expectations, ultimately forging her into a resilient admiral of exceptional brilliance upon her return.