Journeying with Janeway

I just recently finished viewing season five of Star Trek Voyager. I have been struggling somewhat with the character of Captain Kathryn Janeway. No, it is not over the fact that she is a woman, or that major changes were made to her hairstyle after season three. Hairstyle changes which, I am sure, would be the envy of Captain Picard or, for that matter, the legendary Captain Kirk in his older years.

My struggle with her character developed as members of her crew started to go against her orders. Time and time again it seemed that episodes were revolved around a conflict where Janeway gave a direct order, and someone disobeyed it. Even Janeway's trusty friend and logical guide, Tuvok, blatantly ignores direct orders of the captain. And the list continues. Practically every major character from seasons one to five decide they know better than the captain. In fact, even the poster boy for Starfleet, Ensign Harry Kim, violates directives and then violates them again after Janeway gives him a going over.

Now my memory is not the best, but I cannot remember in any of the other Star Trek series so many conflicts between Starfleet officers and their captain. Certainly there were some, but sometimes there was almost a sigh of relief when the officer went against the Captain's order. Situations where you knew the Captain was commanding someone to do something because he had to, not because he wanted to. In the situations with Janeway, however, this is seldom the case.

My first thought was that the writers had decided, since she was a woman, the audience would expect more conflicts. But that assumption was not adding up. Janeway is a strong captain who holds fast to the directives and the philosophy of the Federation. Actually, it is her strong will that is partly to blame for the conflicts with her crew.

Janeway's steadfastness and the fact she is on the most challenging mission of any captain in Star Fleet are the primary reasons for the conflicts. Why is it the most challenging mission? Janeway and her crew are alone and very far from home. Time and time again, I have to ask myself would I be as steadfast to the directives of the Federation as Janeway? Sure, there are moments where she "bends" the directives. But Janeway never deviates from the principles, nor the philosophy of the Federation.

I would wager that many viewers were having the same struggle I was having with Janeway's character, because at the end of the season five, Voyager is mirrored with another Federation ship, the Equinox and Captain Ransom. Like Voyager, the Equinox is stranded in the Delta Quadrant. But, unlike Janeway, Ransom and his crew abandon Federation principles in their efforts to get home. It becomes clear that while Janeway's steadfastness to the ideals of the Federation may not always seem practical, in the long run they have helped her and the crew to maintain and build peace, order and trust.

I find the development of Janeway's character and her relationship with her crew to be one of the most interesting of all the Star Trek captains. Her situation is unique and none of the other Star Trek captains face the daunting task that she does for such a long period of time. As I continue to journey with Janeway and her crew through seasons six and seven, it will be interesting to see how the crew maintains its loyalty to a captain who will not sacrifice principles over convenience - even the tempting convenience of getting home sooner.