Star Trek: The Next Generationis still the only classic show to have a complete reunion in the franchise’s modern age, butStar Trek: Voyageris just one character comeback away from achieving something very similar. Althoughit would be exciting for modernStar Trekto complete itsVoyagerlineup, the sci-fi saga will probably never repeat what it did for Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard and the rest of the USS Enterprise’s crew when they were all invited back to reunite as part of theStar Trek: Picardcast. Instead, Voyager’s crew will need to settle for something close.
All the classicStar TrekTV showshave an ensemble cast, and although various characters do occasionally reunite at other points in the timeline, everyone rarely gets to be onscreen together again once a show ends. However, members of theStar Trek: Voyagercasthave been receiving quite a lot of attention of late, with almost every main star now having come back to the franchise in some way.All it’ll take is one more actor to reprise theirVoyagerrolein the modern era, and it’ll be a piecemeal full set.
Modern Star Trek Just Needs B’Elanna Torres To Complete The Voyager Crew
Roxann Dawson is the only Star Trek: Voyager holdout
Roxann Dawson played chief engineer B’Elanna Torres inall season sevens ofStar Trek: Voyager, butshe hasn’t reprised her role as the Klingon/hybrid since the show’s finalein 2001. This may not seem like a significant piece of information in isolation, but when it’s considered that all other members of the main cast have come back to the franchise in the post-Star Trek: Discoveryera, B’Elanna’s absence sticks out a fair bit. Although there is the argument that Jennifer Lien’s Kes would also be needed to complete the crew, she was replaced mid-run and hasn’t acted since 2001.
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Very Short Treks
McNeill also reprised the role of Nick Locarno in 2 episodes ofStar Trek: Lower Decks[*]
The first to return was Jeri Ryan in 2020 as Seven of Nine inStar Trek: Picard. Tim Russ also briefly joined Ryan in thePicardcast as Tuvok. TheStar Trek: Prodigycastboasts the mostVoyagercomebacks, with Kate Mulgrew’s Admiral Janeway, Robert Beltran’s Captain Chakotay, and Robert Picardo as the Doctor.Star Trek: Lower Decksgave a guest spot to Robert Duncan McNeill as Tom Paris, and also allowed Garrett Wang to come back as several versions of Harry Kim.Ethan Phillips also revisited Neelix in aVery Short Treksepisodecalled, “Holograms All the Way Down.”
Why B’Elanna Still Hasn’t Come Back In Star Trek’s Modern Era
Dawson’s focus has been on other areas of the TV industry
Most of the originalStar Trek: Voyagercast is still actively working as actors, but this isn’t the case for Dawson. Her last acting credit was in 2011, and since then, she has transitioned exclusively into behind-the-scenes roles within the industry. She has primarily been directing since stepping away from acting, and has worked on huge projects such asAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,House of Cards, andApple TV+ sci-fi showslikeFoundationandDark Matter. Despite her career shift,there is still hope that she may eventually return as B’Elanna.
Tom Paris' 20th Century Obsession In Star Trek: Voyager Makes More Sense Now Than It Did In 1995
Robert Duncan McNeill’s Star Trek: Voyager character had a fun quirk that made him stand out, and since the show ended, said trait has improved.
Just like hisStar Trek: Voyagerco-star,Robert Duncan McNeill has also largely retired from acting. Also like Dawson, his priority has been on directing and producing. Most recently, his focus has been on the Alan Tudyk-led sci-fi dramedy,Resident Alien, and before his cameos inStar Trek: Lower Decks, he hadn’t acted since an episode ofChuckin 2012 - a show in which he was also working behind the scenes. So, although aStar Trek: The Next Generation-style reunion may be very unlikely forStar Trek: Voyager, a surprise comeback from Dawson could still provide the next-best thing.
Star Trek: Voyager
Cast
In this sci-fi series, the starship Voyager becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant, 70,000 light-years from Earth. The diverse crew, led by Captain Janeway, embarks on a perilous journey home, encountering unfamiliar species and challenges while adhering to Federation principles in uncharted space.
