Star Trek’s Ronald D. Moore Told Us The Voyager Storylines He Pitched Before Leaving, And I Would’ve Loved To See Them

Star Trek's Ronald D. Moore Told Us The Voyager Storylines He Pitched Before Leaving, And I Would've Loved To See Them

As a long-standing Trekkie with decades of fandom under my belt, I can wholeheartedly attest that Star Trek: Voyager holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just the stellar cast or the WTF moments that keep me hooked; it’s the tantalizing glimpses we got into what could have been – had some of Ronald D. Moore‘s visionary ideas seen the light of day.


For me, “Star Trek: Voyager” stands out among the franchise as an incredibly captivating series. It boasts a number of actors who deliver exceptional performances in their roles, characters I feel are among the best in the “Trek” universe. The show also includes moments that leave you scratching your head, wondering how such scripts made it past the approval process. Notably, it was this series that inspired Ronald D. Moore to pursue other projects, and after he shared some of his initial ideas with TopMob before leaving, I can’t help but wish he had stayed longer.

At San Diego Comic-Con, I had a chat with Moore, where I enquired about his brief tenure on Star Trek: Voyager. This engagement didn’t last due to a disagreement with Executive Producer Brannon Braga. It was rumored that the creator proposed serialized storylines similar to those he’d developed for Deep Space Nine. However, these ideas weren’t as well received by the writing team. Moore shared some of his pitch concepts from that period, and it turned out that some of them were eventually used in his celebrated remake of Battlestar Galactica.

During my short stint on Voyager, an intriguing narrative unfolded: the ship, for a while, took charge of guiding other spaceships, some of which were extraterrestrial vessels. I can’t recall if it was a war-ravaged area or a unique spatial anomaly we were navigating. What stands out is my suggestion to create a diverse fleet, reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica, and possibly expand this concept across several episodes. This could foster a new community within the series.

It’s fascinating to contemplate Voyager commanding a flotilla through the Delta Quadrant, a scenario that I found captivating. Regrettably, it seems that some of the most technologically advanced civilizations the crew encountered, who possessed formidable vessels, often played the role of antagonists on Star Trek: Voyager. Consequently, it’s not hard to understand why this concept might have crumbled. However, envision a coalition consisting of Voyager, Hirogen, and Kazon banding together under one flag to confront a Borg faction? That would be quite spectacular.

Ronald D. Moore’s concept was quite ambitious, but it wasn’t as groundbreaking as another proposal he once presented, which could have significantly altered the course of the series. The visionary sci-fi television producer (who hinted at incorporating Star Trek technology into his Apple TV+ series For All Mankind) had a concept that might have replaced Kathryn Janeway as Captain of the Voyager.

At one point, I mused aloud about the possibility of an election happening on Voyager. Given Captain Kathryn Janeway’s long-term command, I questioned if it was fair for her to remain in charge for 75 years or more. My crewmates found this suggestion absurd, as they were under the impression that there wouldn’t be an election on a Starfleet vessel like Voyager. However, my thoughts revolved around the concept of a solitary ship adrift for an extended duration and the creation of a sustainable social structure within such circumstances. I pondered over the essential elements of our civilization that we would need to preserve during this journey.

Remember that Ronald D. Moore joined the staff of Star Trek: Voyager after Deep Space Nine ended. At that time, Voyager was gearing up for Season 6, and Moore proposed introducing a plot where Janeway might be removed from her position as captain. This was a daring idea, especially since Voyager hadn’t adopted the level of serialization that Deep Space Nine had at that point.

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Star Trek's Ronald D. Moore Told Us The Voyager Storylines He Pitched Before Leaving, And I Would've Loved To See Them

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Previously mentioned, Ronald D. Moore’s tenure on Star Trek: Voyager was brief. He left without his initial ideas being implemented, and received writing credits for the episodes “Survival Instinct” and “Barge Of The Dead.” Following this, he is renowned for producing the critically acclaimed reboot of Battlestar Galactica.

Moore has been absent from “Star Trek” production since his departure, yet he frequently appears at conventions. With new “Trek” shows on the horizon, there could potentially be a chance for him to rejoin the team. Many fans eagerly anticipate this possibility, but with his current commitments, it remains uncertain if he would be open to re-entering the franchise.

For fans eager to delve into Ronald D. Moore’s previous works within the Star Trek universe, all they need is a Paramount+ subscription. This collection offers numerous episodes penned by Moore, and who knows, there might be more additions in the future. At present, viewers have an ample amount of content to stream and appreciate.

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2024-08-10 04:37