Just a day after her San Diego Comic-Con panel, TrekMovie had a chance to have a lively conversation with Kate Mulgrew about the second season of Star Trek: Prodigy, where she chatted about Janeway’s past and future, the nature of her relationship with Chakotay, her thoughts about a live-action show, and the challenges of technobabble.
You’ve played so many different Janeways—on Voyager too, but in Prodigy, which is my very favorite of all the new Star Trek shows—
I’m so glad to hear you say that. Tell me why.
It’s exactly what drew me into Star Trek in the first place. So it’s idealism, excitement, optimism… it believes in a better world. Even when the world is bad, it believes that there’s a better one.
That’s right. And it believes in a better world, in what way collective, the collective. If anything, it is teaching this new audience, a very young people, children, who are strangely solipsistic, they can think only within their own consciousness, and very seldom do children even understand that by embracing others, you can become a better person. This is what it’s teaching. Everybody’s falling down.
Adults don’t understand that either. So it’s a very important message for everybody.
But I’m saying if you can get them while they’re young, this audience is quite young. And this audience is sitting next to their mother and their father who watched Voyager and the grandparents who watched Next Gen. And the message is going to be about the prime directive. How about how we’re all in this together? Searching for excellence in life? That’s the message and hope.
From Prodigy “Touch of Grey”
It is. And the thing about the show is that it’s been so entertaining, every scene and every moment along the way, which is why I wanted to ask you about playing all these different Janeways and how you approach it—specifically, season 1 Holo Janeway with the kids versus season 2 Holo Janeway marooned on a planet for ten years.
Well, you think about it, you think about the circumstances, and then you add to your vocal barometer, whatever that emotional feeling would be. A slight depression, perhaps a kind of sadness, and then an invigoration of joy. And a renewed command, hologram though she may be. You know, it’s a thrill and a deep pleasure. Live-action is very exacting. I don’t know if you’re aware of that, or very tough, you’re on a soundstage, it’s action, you better hit your mark, you better know your 10-pages walk, it’s usually technobabble. It’s very, very challenging. But in the booth, I’m alone. And I’ve only got Danny and Kevin on the Zoom. And I’ve got the screen in front of me. So my imagination takes flight. And I can go wherever I want. And I can go [changing her voice with each description] near deeply with my voice, or I can go high, right? Or I can be stern. And with Chakotay, seeing him again, it can be quite emotional. It’s acting with voice, yes. But I know her very well. After all these years I can tap into her emotional content pretty easily.
We’re on the same page about how Chakotay and Janeway could not be in a relationship during Voyager. But that show implied that he was interested, and she was drawing a line. How do you feel about the way Prodigy approached that relationship? Do you like the way that they handled their history together as well as what we’re supposed to assume has or hasn’t happened since then?
I think it was absolutely beautiful. I watched an episode yesterday [“Cracked Mirror”] for the first time that brought me to tears. This again is the Hagemans’ genius, the tenderness of this relationship, the possibility of this relationship, you see when they’re reunited, how deeply they love each other, how deeply they have missed each other. What Chakotay was prepared to do to save her, it’s quite extraordinary. So I think that the Hagesmans have taken it to a new level. And let’s just see.
From “Cracked Mirror”
It does make me think about 10 years of Chakotay and Holo Janeway being marooned, where they both think this is it, forever. They certainly related like a couple—did you feel or play it like they had become one, at least in that time?
I don’t know if I went that far. But when I say tenderness, and when I say intimacy, and when I say complicity, I mean just that. I don’t know that they crossed that ultimate line. And I’m not sure they should. But something happened that deepened their already very, very profound relationship. And so I’d like to see that explored a little bit more, and perhaps we will.
Have you talked to the Hagemans or thought yourself about if, if there’s more Prodigy, about where you’d like to see any of your Janeways going?
We talked at length the other night at dinner, but you know, these dinners that we have are always so ribald. They’re very funny. They’re very naughty. They’re full of mischief. So we always end up laughing and we have our martinis. And we’re talking about this about that. But I think the legacy characters coming in, could introduce an entirely new flavor into Prodigy. Also, I want to see what’s going to happen between Dal and Gwyn. Maybe even in a parallel fashion. But I never say never. The Hagemans are wide open. And once you embrace time travel, which, as you know, gives Janeway a headache, you can do anything with impunity with grace and with great joy. So I’m hoping that they do.
Me too. And then there’s always talk of live-action Janeway; do you first of all, do you think Prodigy has increased the chance of that? And do you have any idea of how you see that happening?
I just had dinner with Alex Kurtzman the other night, we talked about this. It would have to be impeccable. It would have to be without hubris. It would have to be authentic. And it would have to be so bloody good that I would in no way question any element of it. I mean, to come back after 25 years, into a character that was once, you know that I’m not only revered but by me, loved by me. I have to take care of my character. So I’ve just said to Alex, you know, I love her. She will never be misused, but she must be exalted. And the writing has to be somewhere from heaven. So we’ll keep this conversation alive. But so far, it’s a conversation.
For you, would it need to be Janeway as the lead?
[Long pause, icy stare] Are you kidding? What do you mean?
Now I’m realizing what a dumb question that was. [Kate laughs]
She would have to be central to whatever it is that she’s doing. Yes. Absolutely. Otherwise, why bother? She was central for seven years. Why should it change? Right?
Agree. You mentioned you know, time travel headaches. Did you try to wrap your head around the whole time travel timey-wimeyness of it all, or did you just kind of play the scenes as they were written?
Well, for the first season [of Voyager] I mean, I really had to throw up my hands. It was so challenging. I lost 25 pounds in a month. It was like trying to understand ALL of this technobabble, ALL of the Okuda bible, all of the scientific references, it was just dementing. And I was raising two young kids. And I was sleeping very little. And it was like being shot out of a cannon. And then I relaxed, and I took the Okuda bible, and I got every scientist I knew to explain to me what they thought this meant, or that meant, which led to an entirely new meaning to particularly Janeway’s relationship to whatever alien I was talking to on the green screen on the bridge, because usually it was just a green screen. And that’s where most of that technobabble happened. And I learned how to make it not only authentic, but deeply my own, feeling a certain way about certain coordinates, or nebulae, or a wormhole, a black hole versus a white hole, I mean, all of those discrepancies. I realized if I didn’t know what I was talking about, the audience wasn’t gonna buy it. So I spent a lot of time doing that. And when I finally relaxed, which was at the end of the first season, it started to come quite naturally. And that was thrilling.
From the Voyager time travel episode “Future’s End”
And then did you try to understand Prodigy’s complex time travel story?
There’s no understanding this. That’s why it gives Janeway a headache. And she’s a scientist, do you know what I’m saying? You have to sort of embrace time travel, and say, let the devil take the hindmost and throw yourself into it. But it sure is fun, isn’t it?
It really is. I know you didn’t watch Voyager for various reasons, have you seen all of Prodigy?
Not all of Prodigy, but I’m about to go and meet my grandson for the first time today after my interview with you. And I will see my little granddaughter and we will watch together. What could be better than that?
Nothing! So Janeway had a very important legacy within Star Trek for so many years. What do you think Prodigy added to that legacy to make her even more relevant?
Well, it broadened her. And it deepened her. And it puts her, as I’ve said several times in this interview, with an entirely new audience, in a new standing. She’s not patronizing these children. She’s treating them as equal. She’s teaching them the protocols of Starfleet, the prime directive in a way that allows them to learn it as only children can, you know, children are very discerning. So I think it in a way it really sort of elevates Janeway it certainly, I feel elevated, playing Janeway in Prodigy because I know that the audience is very smart. Five-year-olds are very, very smart. And let us not forget how absorbent they are. You know, they’re going to understand the tenets of time travel immediately in a way you and I would have to have 52 martinis to try to figure it out.
At the end of season 2, Janeway is fighting for Starfleet’s true mission in the face of this new world where they’re saying we’re gonna have to protect our borders, that kind of thing. What is the importance of that message to you, especially relating to the world around us?
Well, you can well imagine, this harkens back to our original conversation about where we are politically, boundaries are extremely important. But they don’t matter at all without the protocols to support them. And I’m talking again about the Prime Directive and the decency of human beings to one another, the understanding of the collective working together to lift it up. I think that that’s why Prodigy at the end of season 2 is particularly electrifying. It’s very dangerous. It’s dangerous to go away from what it is that will in fact, lift you up. So that’s the final message.
You’re doing a lot of conventions, are you noticing now that a lot more kids are coming and approaching you?
I am indeed with their little Prodigy merchandise and their little Prodigy questions. But you know, it’s still like this. [stares in a confused way] Because they’re having a hard time putting me together with what they’re seeing on the television. But yeah, it’s full of mothers and fathers with their kids who are watching Prodigy. And it’s so gratifying to see that. It’s wonderful. I’ve loved this whole thing. I’ve loved working with Dan and Kevin. I love the idea and the soul, as they call it the heart, of Prodigy and I would be quite disappointed and dispirited to see it not go on. It must go on.
Dan and Kevin Hageman, Brett Gray, Kate Mulgrew and Prodigy panel moderator Ryan Britt at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
So I talked to you a few years ago [about playing Janeway again] and at first you said, “Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve entertained.” This was quite a few years ago. And then later, you were like, “Oh, I think it would be delicious to play her again.” I’m just wondering that was you being coy, and stuff was happening, or if you were really just changing your thinking?
I’m not coy. I change. But I will say this to you: What has been a little challenging for me. It’s my great respect for the original live-action Janeway. And what I did to make her as complete as I hope she was. So I’m entitled, I think, to tap into that sense of protectiveness of that character. And yet, in my mind, is still the longing to revisit her. So over time, things change, and they will change again, I can assure you of that.
Good. We need change.
We do indeed.
Pre-order Prodigy on Blu-ray
Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 was released on digital VOD on Monday and it is arriving on Blu-ray and DVD on November 12th. You can pre-order the Blu-ray at Amazon for $24.99 now. We will update when the DVD becomes available.
Season 2 of Prodigy is available to stream on Netflix globally (excluding Canada, Nordics, CEE, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Belarus and Mainland China). The season will debut on August 17 on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Season 2 has launched in France on France Televisions channels and Okoo.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe.
Having dinner with Kurtzman, and this live-action possibility thing sprouts up mid-conversation, sounds kinda big!
I would think that Kurtzmann would be actively considering a Janeway movie or series, especially after doing Picard. The critical reviews for all the seasons of Picard were great, but a lot of fans didn’t care much for seasons 1 and 2. I really liked them though and I really loved the Picard cast of characters. I thought they were 10x better than those on Discovery.
So, with the experience of Picard, I would think the creators would have a better idea of what worked well and what didn’t for a show centered on Admiral Janeway.
I fully agree. I was very excited to see Picard back and to finally go forward again but the first two seasons were a total letdown. They mostly righted the ship in season 3 but that was due to Matalas and he was smart to bring back the TNG characters.
If they were to create a Janeway show it has to be much better than how Picard started. And Mulgrew is making it clear she would only do it if there is real quality writing to back her up. It’s very obvious why she said yes to Prodigy because that’s exactly what she’s getting on that show.
Kurtzman knows what it would mean to bring back Mulgrew full time again and I hope he’s taking seriously what she is saying.
Kurtzman has to be seeing and hearing the same things as us. Reaction to Prodigy has been overwhelmingly positive, much more so than Discovery and Picard S1 and S2. It’s even slightly edging out SNW. I think Prodigy found the right balance in using the idea of legacy people to tell new stories in a way that supports Trek storytelling. Prodigy is not S8 of Voyager. It took some of the best of VOY and did something new with it. It added to the tapestry, whereas Picard S3, which I liked, was more of a reunion. It was a well-done reunion, but it was really more of a do-over for Nemesis more than anything else.
The question becomes, what would a Janeway-centric movie or show be about? Does she follow the footsteps of Sir Patrick and dictate the direction of the show? Would it pull the threads from Picard, Prodigy, and Voyager together? We’ve seen Tuvok, the Doctor, Chakotay, Tom Paris, and Seven in recent stuff, so how would that all get pulled together? How do you not step on the toes of this concept of “Star Trek: Legacy”, or do you make Janeway part of it?
I think you’re right, at least from the standpoint of fans, Mike. From what I can see, the reactions to Prodigy seem to be more positive.
I think I’ve seen the first 8 episodes of the show and I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I especially disliked Dal and didn’t care much for the tellarite guy and my favorite character was holo-Janeway.
I really like Disco, but I don’t love it, mainly because I don’t connect that much with the cast of characters at all. TOS, TNG, and DS9 are still the three best shows for me, although I haven’t seen SNW or Lower Decks yet, or, really, Enterprise.
funny, ‘picard’ went same way as TNG, not really getting good until s3.
I give seasons 1 and 2 of TNG a pass because they were reinventing ST for the 90s and because Roddenberry was dragging down the scripts with rewrites behind the seasons. Season 2 shows some signs of life and a few really good episodes. I don’t have season 1, but I do have season 2, which is much better than season 1. Of course, by season 3, with Michael Pillar onboard, TNG soared.
It’s not really the same to me. TNG was the first live action Star Trek show after TOS. Everything was new again and they were trying to make a completely new show for, excuse the pun, the next generation of fans. That was a already a hard sell at the time.
Picard was what, the sixth one in 50 years? And they only had 10 episodes so they had a lot less episodes to focus on and still bundled it greatly.
Hey Legacy, what didn’t you like in Picard seasons 1 and 2 if you don’t mind me asking? I’m just curious, because the only criticism I have is that the plots are kind of complicated. Also, do you like Disco and SNW?
Hello dear. I appreciate you for asking but you may not like my answers haha.
I thought Picard season 1 started off well but ended very poorly and turned Picard into an Android just felt ridiculous to me. There was so much about the story that was completely left open ended like what happened to the X-Bs? Or the Romulans now that they know they were responsible for the Mars attack the entire season revolved around? It felt so incomplete.
Season 2 was just bad. I was happy Q came back but they wasted the brilliant John de Lancie. Hardly anything in that season made any sense.
I don’t like Discovery and the last time I watched a full season of it was season 2. I only watched half of season 3 and 4 and the first episode of season 5. There are just too many issues I have with that show and I don’t think I ever will. Very happy it was finally cancelled.
SNW is a little more complicated. I like the characters and happy it’s back on the original Enterprise since TOS is my first love. Mount as Pike is brilliant and the only reason I finished season 2 of Discovery but so much of it frustrates me. It comes off too childish and jokey at times. They have basically destroyed Spock as a character turning him into comic relief instead of the stoic and proud character he is. And that season 3 clip made me so angry. Now you just take a shot and you can become Vulcan in mere seconds…and apparently racist as well. And don’t get me started on all the canon shenanigans like the Gorn, Christina and Spock in a relationship and Kirk just showing up on the Enterprise when he shouldn’t have shown up until the final episode to take command. It’s so frustrating to watch.
So much of NuTrek is just a dumpster fire. I am happy other people love these shows but they are mostly just an embarrassment to me as a fan since 1968.
Hey, no offense taken by me, Legacy. I appreciate your criticism of the shows and I think they’re entirely legitimate, especially with regard to some of the plot holes in Picard. I am still trying to figure out the end of season 2 now, although I really liked both seasons and the cast of characters very much (definitely more than DISCO).
I liked Discovery quite a bit, but I don’t love it like TOS, TNG, and DS9. Mostly, it’s down to the characters. I just don’t connect of like them as much as the characters of TOS, TNG, and DS9. There is more I can get into with regard to Discovery and I agree with a lot of people about its shortcomings, but that’s my biggest problem with it. Even in the weaker TOS episodes, you were carried by the characters. That’s what both Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer homed in on. I just don’t think the cast of characters for DISCO were as strong as those for TOS, TNG, and DS9. I just didn’t connect strongly with any of them.
I haven’t watched SNW yet. I’m aware of the Gorn problem and yeah, I don’t think they should have done that. I think that really undercuts Arena. And, yeah, I saw that scene with them all becoming Vulcans with an injection and I just think that’s dumb and unrealistic and it violates continuity. You don’t think logically or are emotionless from being physically Vulcan in any case. Yeah, I know they’re playing it for humor, but, again, it really violates both what we know of ST medicine at that time and Vulcans from years of stories. They must have known that it would and they just didn’t care.
Oh, and I’m a TOS fan like you. It’s my favorite show of all time.
If anything, from the Abrams films and SNW, I hope TOS is being introduced to a whole new generation. It does my heart good to see these characters again and the show being celebrated for being the classic it is after how Rick Berman treated the TOS characters and actors. He had Kirk killed, had a problem with Sarek saying “Spock” in his emotional agony, and managed to alienate and offend Leonard Nimoy, who wanted to direct Generations. Rick Berman didn’t care or know anything about TOS and it showed.
It’s certainly cool they are actively talking over the idea. I know Kate would like to do it but let’s be honest she doesn’t want it to be the next Discovery or Picard. It would be awesome the Hageman brothers could be involved after how awesome Prodigy was but I think they are just focused on animation. But Iwould trust them to do something with a Janeway show.
Can anyone confirm if the opening credits of S2 of Prodigy on Netflix is down to around 35 seconds compared to season 1?
I’m in Canada and bought it on itunes and noticed the theme being shorter this season with faster moving credits.. it’s not on Netflix in Canada so I cannot compare. Each episode is 21 or 22 minutes. Is that normal or is the itunes version edited?
I just rewatched the opening of season 2 and compared it to an episode from season 1 and the opening credits music is almost exactly 1:30 minutes in both cases.
Most of the episodes are about 24 minutes long, some with 23-24 and only 2 episodes shorter than 23 minutes.
Those episode lengths include the Star Trek Universe title, the main titles and the closing titles.
Thanks for that. This confirms itunes version has an edited opening theme. End themes looks short too. I hope thats all thats edited .
I found that the actual scripted content, the actual storytelling, was between 21 and 22 minutes long on Netflix for each episode of S2.
“Grandparents who watched TNG”. Now I am feeling very old. Then again I suppose it’s not outside the realms of possibility that someone my age would have grandkids old enough to be getting into Trek.
I’ve watched TOS, TNG, and all 13 ST films with my twins (13 now). They really like it, although my boy tells me that none of his friends know much, if anything about ST. Some of them even say that Star Trek came after Star Wars and copied Star Wars.
I try not to be too offended by this. This is obviously a lot more content than there was a couple of generations ago plus kids are on social media and the like reading stuff that is targeting them specifically. If you want your kids to see ST, introduce them to it. I’ve done that with the stuff I like and that I think is great, whether it’s ST or other classic films and music (that’s why I took my boy at 12 and 13 to see Yes and the Who before they all leave this mortal sphere).
Just more proof Star Trek doesn’t register with the youth today like it did several decades ago. But it is great for the ones who do give it a chance like your kids really like it. Star Trek isn’t for everyone of course but if you have just a curiosity about science or space most people seem to get on board once they are introduced to it. It’s just harder than ever now to get new people to watch it when it’s only limited to a few sites and mostly behind a pay wall vs the old days when kids just stumbled upon it on TV in the 70s, 80s and especially the 90s.
I still remember, though, back when I was single digits … TNG wasn’t yet popular with the kids. The only Trek I was familiar with was TOS, and that was “that weird, old space show with all the colours,” they’d show re-runs of at odd hours of the day.
My dad’s girlfriend (later my step-monster) was a Trek fan, and when she was in a dark mood one day, I was entertaining myself, thumbing through channels and found TOS playing. Excitedly, I went to let her know, “Your favourite show is on!” She looked confused (it was the middle of the day), but allowed me to show her … only to laugh about it being TOS, “That’s not the show I watch.” I was so lost – it’s the only Trek I knew. And that’s when the new(ish) series was explained to me lol. She was not a fan of TOS – it still put her in a better mood though. Watching TNG together (in the evenings) became a tradition after that <3 And later, we’d watch Voyager together (DS9 failed to get my attention at the time – I have since recovered my senses), and Voyager became her favourite (I still have her cat she named Icheb).
I think the different styles relate better to different generations, mostly (there are always variants), or at least sensibilities, which is why the latest run has mostly appealed to younger audiences – which I think is great! Prodigy has been the best, since it’s able to appeal to both the newest and the oldest, because it’s full of “silly space fun” and serious moralizing, like TOS & TNG-era, but with a visual style that sits better with a modern audience. Kinda like how SNW has made me very invested in those TOS-era shenanigans now. I actually like Picard & Discovery too, but I wouldn’t watch them with my youngest nephew, not yet… he’s up to LD and loving it.
ST TOS, TNG, VOY, and ENT are still on, I think, the BBC and HEROES channels on cable. But, again, if you don’t introduce it to kids, they’re probably not going to find it. There’s just so much other content for them to watch, and we all know that there seems to be a general disdain with younger folks for older shows and films.
Also, it doesn’t help that there hasn’t been a new ST theatrical film in years.
Another example. There’s a kid next door, a 14 year old who’s the son of our neighbor and friend. I like this kid and he’s got a lot of swagger.
We chat about things with my son. He told me one day, I think it was last year, that he saw the original Reeves Superman film and just thought it sucked because of the special effects. Instead of appreciating it for all the things it nails, and it is a bonafide classic film, he centered on the practical sfx used, which, I believe, for the time, were at least close to cutting edge. Superman: The Movie, is, in fact, the model that Marvel’s Kevin Feige uses for the Marvel films, as well as Patty Jenkins using it for her Wonderwoman film.
It’s the same with, say, TOS, and maybe for TNG. I think the kids and probably younger adults just can’t get past the production and the cultural differences inherent of the times they were made, which I think is getting overly PC and ridiculous. I mean, to rip on TOS and Sean Connery James Bond films for being sexist? Why not just enjoy it for what it is and appreciate it was made in a different time? Do people hate John Wayne films too because of their depiction of Native Americans. I’m just saying, I don’t understand why the baby is thrown out with the bathwater.
My wife and I hardly ever watch TV series anymore. Instead we’ve watched a lot of films on Turner Classic Movies which are free and we’re curious about them, even though they were made decades before we were born. You know what? A lot of them are really great films. They aren’t centered on SFX, just on story and performances, just like TOS largely was, with its obvious limits on SFX. It’s kind of sad that the real core of ST, the stories and characters, are just dismissed by younger generations.
I was a a kid for TNG and teen for VOY .. and I don’t have any kids myself, but my eldest nephew has a seven year old – I’m a grandaunt! lol
I’m 54 and look young for my age. I was 9 when TMP came out and saw it in the cinema. I have 2 little girls aged 8 and 7. When I last saw them they were 4 and 3 and I was riding on a bus in Budapest. Someone turned round and said to me “it’s lovely to see a grandparent spending quality time with their grandchildren”. I was not impressed.
This was an amazing interview TM, thanks! Every time Mulgrew speaks she commands a room exactly like Janeway does. I absolutely love both the actress and character.
I think most fans would love to see Kate Mulgrew playing the role in live action again; especially how good she was in Prodigy (and season 2 is my favorite season in modern Trek so far). It’s nice that her and Kurtzman are at least talking about it these days so who knows? It may not ever happen but after getting word that Bob Picardo is back for SFA and as a full time cast member, literally anything is possible in the future.
Now getting Avery Brooks to come back someday, that’s the impossible dream lol.
It would be great to hear from Mr. Brooks occasionally. But being a proponent of respecting former cast on how they engage, or not to, I’ll wish him well where he’s at.
Definitely agree. I’m certainly OK if we never got Sisko on the screen again and we all know he’s working hard in the Celestial Temple according to Mariner. ;)
I wonder if there’s a way they could incorporate his celestial self in Prodigy. I mean, it’s animated, for one, so it wouldn’t require him to be pulled too far out of whatever he’s doing with his life now. I didn’t think he liked his ending on DS9, did he? It might be nice if he could close that up better, or move it forward. These writers on Prodigy seem like they could make it all fit succinctly!
She always gives a great interview. They put a lot of her into Janeway as the series progressed.
A Janeway one-off story would be a lot of fun.
Yep I’m open to anything if they bring Janeway back. I said the exact same thing with Picard and didn’t object to a single thing on season 1. As you know I was open to all of it even I felt let down in the end.
But another poster said it, Kurtzman and company learned their mistakes from Picard. And while I recognize season 3 wasn’t perfect it’s become a huge fan favorite. It’s still the most highly rated season for modern Trek on both RT and IMDB.
So I think they would do Janeway justice too. I’m very impressed how well she is used in Prodigy and she isn’t the main star either.
So be very curious to see how they use her in live action again.
Season 2 of Prodigy is the highest of the new Trek on RT. It beats out Picard S3 for both critic score and audience score. It also slightly edges out SNW S1.
Woah Prodigy has beat out Picard season 3? That’s crazy but awesome.
I’m so happy how much people love this show. It deserves it.
Yeah, I’m watching DS9 with my kids now and I am really growing in my appreciation of Brooks’ Sisko. I appreciated his character, but I just never warmed up to him that much. Now, I’m finding myself liking that Sisko character more and more. Sisko isn’t Kirk and isn’t Picard. He’s not the diplomat that Picard is and he’s not a space cowboy like Kirk. He’s tough and thoughtful and projects a quiet strength. He really is a great ST captain. Actually, I’d say he is really up there with Kirk, Picard, and Janeway. I just can’t say the same for Michael Burnham, though, and I just never got into Enterprise, so no comment on Archer.
But, yeah, bringing Sisko back, which they recently did in the IDW comics, just seems like a really obvious idea for a film or limited series. That cast of DS9 characters is just great. It’d be awesome to see at least some of them reunited, but I don’t see the point if Sisko doesn’t come back.
I honestly had the same issue with Sisko when DS9 started. There was something off about the character and had problems with getting into. Out of the four shows he was my least favorite captain and I sadly I say this as a black man myself. I really wanted to love Sisko but it took time.
But even Ira Steven Behr recognized it too. There was an interview he talked about it when the show was still running and he said they weren’t writing to Brooks’ strengths. That started changing in the fourth season and we started to see a more commanding Sisko and that only got stronger every season after that IMO.
And when yiu binge watch the show that’s when you really do feel it.
DS9 is by far my favorite Trek show today so yeah I want to see more of those characters. We’ve gotten tons of TOS, TNG and VOY characters so it would be nice to see a few more of them eventually.
Enterprise takes a while to warm up, but it’s also not for everyone, so I understand. When I finally got myself to watch it all the way through, and overlooked the intentional sexualization of certain characters, it was interesting (though I’ve never done a full re-watch). For captaining though, Archer is much better than the series he’s in. He’s a lot like Kirk, in that space cowboy nature, but he has fewer rules to ignore in the first place (there’s no Prime Directive yet!). Also, he has less space magic and an incredible lack of knowledge of what’s out there, like what’s even possible to be out there – and how many things want to kill us. So, you can kinda consider him like a cross between Kirk & Janeway (in the bad ways), as the Delta Quad was still “wild west” to anyone from Alpha. He’s definitely not that quiet strength of Sisko, nor that calm diplomat of Picard (though he tried). He’d probably find nothing wrong with Ransom’s actions.
They can do a Jake Sisko show.
The Visitor….part 2.
At least show Jake being a strong reporter or writer! I was hoping he’d get some sort of mention at least, with all those news scenes and reports on Picard. Like, he doesn’t even have to be in the show, just have someone mention reading Anslem. It would be nice. Maybe we’ll find out he wrote one of the textbooks the kids read in SFA.
Caught the first nine episodes on my flight back from Jacksonville. It’s been brilliant so far – even after reading your reviews.
Great interview, although that question about Janeway in the lead probably should have been omitted by Ms. Ulster. Luckily, Ms. Mulgrew is a good sport!
And she likes her martinis! Now you know how to get in her good graces at these conventions!
Seriously, from what I’ve seen of Prodigy, just the first half of season 1 on Nickolodeon, I really liked it. The best part, for me, was having Mulgrew playing holo-Janeway. I really loved her Voyager captain. She was just great and had the intelligence, tenacity, and authority to successfully play Star Trek’s first woman captain and in that regard, she is a fantastic role model to girls and young women. Now she’s doing the same thing for children.
I would love to see live action Admiral Janeway again (and the EMH if possible) in another production. I just think, after Picard (which I really loved), it’s kind of a no-brainer. All you need is some good writing, as Mulgrew said, to get her aboard. If it were me, I’d ditch Starfleet Academy and get that Janeway series in development along with Star Trek Legacy.
Kate Mulgrew is absolutely fabulous in Prodigy. And she’s even better in second season because she even has more to do. And we will definitely have her back in season 3 if it gets renewed.
And I would also easily ditch the Academy show for a Janeway show or of course Legacy. They were smart to get Robert Picardo/Doctor onboard that show to get long time fans interested in it. But I would prefer for that character to be in the 25th century with Janeway and not the 32nd century.
And after watching that ridiculous and insulting Section 31 trailer they need to bring back characters like Janeway who can bring grace, style and intelligence back to Star Trek and not whatever that movie is trying to be because it’s surely not Star Trek. And I see no intelligence displayed anywhere in that triler; just more childish nonsense.
Lol you hated that trailer too huh? Get in line, it’s pretty long at this point.
Obviously I agree with you about Janeway and Prodigy. She was great and I’m assuming if a third season happens she’ll be back. We know holo Janeway will be back for sure but I’m guessing so will the Admiral.
I support the Academy show but I would be lying if I would choose it over a Janeway or Legacy show.
That said I’m becoming more intrigued with it now.
That trailer was abysmal. Like WTF was that?? It’s so bad.
Janeway however was excellent in Prodigy. I loved every minute she was on it and more proof Kate is ready to come back to live action. She is still very fit and sounds very much like Janeway so it would be a great feat if she were to return just like the TNG cast, Seven and now the Doctor has. If they can all return, I don’t know why Janeway couldn’t? So many of us want her back. They just need to do right by the character and I think they will try very hard to give her a worthy project to come back to.
I am still very skeptical of most of NuTrek but I give it all a chance and of course will always root for my favorite characters. Sadly I felt they have destroyed Kirk and Spock on SNW and almost destroyed Picard but the others I have been mostly happy with. I really like the new Scotty for example and the little we got of Tuvok on Picard was a nice reminder that Tim Russ is still just as excellent in his role.
And I am not talking about the reboot movie characters. The cast did a good job what they were given but the Abrams universe isn’t on my radar at all. I’m strictly discussing the Prime universe, the one that matters to me. I would love to see more DS9 and Enterprise characters return to since so many TOS, TNG and VOY characters have appeared; but only if done right of course.
I am happy the Doctor is returning to SFA but as said I would still prefer him on Legacy if that ever gets made. I guess he could appear on that as well?
Kate Mulgrew is a very special lady. ISo many young women including my own daughter looked up to Janeway growing up and thanks to Prodigy many young children are doing it again.
I just started rewatching Voyager again and I’m always happy to revisit Janeway and that wonderful crew.
I’m also very happy to know that she’s willing to come back as Janeway in live action and that Alex Kurtzman clearly knows how popular of an idea that is to so many fans out there.
I would be all in for a Janeway movie or limited series. It’s sad it hasn’t happened yet. Star Trek needs someone with the type of intelligence, leadership and charm Janeway has always displayed and not just comedic characters or immature officers like we are getting on these other NuTrek shows today.
Bringing back Janeway would be so wonderful. Don’t let such a great opportunity slip away Kurtzman.
She’s just as amazing in person as she appears in interviews. One of the nicest people I ever interacted with when I worked at the studio.
I have actually met her in person once back in 2013. :)
She was great and it was so wonderful to talk to her. I know they all talk to so many fans and probably gets asked the same questions again and again but Kate talks to her fans as if she’s meeting an old friend after a long time has passed. She was so funny and graceful to talk to.
But I only met her once. It sounds like you ran into her regularly at your job. I’m very jealous!
Kate Mulgrew does seem awesome. I really like how she seems so genuine and thoughtful. She cares about the work and the fans. I think she’s really cool. I’m looking forward to introducing my daughter to Voyager.
Yeah it certainly sounds like Kurtzman wants to do it and Mulgrew is up for it but she just wants it done right if it ever happens.
I love hearing stories about how your daughter was inspired by this character growing up. Her being the first woman captain was a big deal at the time and Mulgrew made that character shine. Hopefully she can make her shine again in live action.
I think it also helps that Kate Mulgrew’s fandom grew broader after OitNB. A lot of my friends loved her in that show, and I’d tell them they should see her as Janeway – so they did. I can’t say they became full Trekkers, but they do love themselves some Janeway.
Yes so true. Loved her on that show as well. In fact I only watched it when I heard she was on it haha. It was great to see her play something completely different but fell in love with that show too. And I’m so happy you convinced your friends to watch her on Voyager! :)
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Kate Mulgrew. I had the pleasure of meeting her when I worked at Paramount Pictures back in the 90s. I was in the Product Development department and had to get her signature to authorize the Hallmark Captain Janeway Christmas ornament. She had just started filming the episode “Scorpion Part II”. I met her as she was leaving the soundstage for a break. We went to her trailer so I could show her the prototype and get her thoughts. I will admit that I was a bit uncomfortable at first and she noticed. She looked up and said “You have that ‘Star Trek’ look.” I laughed and admitted that yes, I was a huge fan of the show. (Which I never liked admitting to while I worked there because at the time I had heard that they really didn’t like hiring fans.) I told her that I had met other actors, but all of them had been in street clothes whereas she was in uniform. That made it feel like I was talking to Kate Mulgrew but Captain Janeway and that felt really strange! She immediately understood and smiled and was just absolutely gracious and kind during the entire exchange. Kate, if you do read this, a HUGE thank you for being the person that you are. You’re a class act all the way.
Sorry, noticed a typo above… meant to say “That made it feel like I WASN’T talking to Kate Mulgrew, but Captain Janeway…
Bob that is an amazing story. Thank you so much for sharing it. I only saw her once at a convention and the show was still very young at the time, in its second season. But I remember how gracious she was and seemed so happy to be part of the show and talked to every fan who asked questions like they were friends.
But I have always admired her and a big reason I love Voyager so much over 20 years later.
Whoa. Awesome. I’d die lol.
I do love her interviews, she’s very comfortable with people. In this one, I especially liked when she turned the tables right in the beginning and asked the interviewer a question:
“I’m so glad to hear you say that. Tell me why.”
Brilliant.
If they can bring the Doctor back to live action then it’s no excuse not to bring back Janeway.
So many people want this and Kurtzman knows it. Sadly we are getting much less Star Trek these days so who knows when it can happen.
But instead of doing things like a live action comedy set in the 25th century they really should be doing a Legacy or Janeway show and I’m not against the comedy show either.
But even if you don’t like the Legacy show or Janeway I think everyone can agree most fans would like those over a comedy. I’m still shocked LDS is even this popular but a live action comedy show maybe going too far with the concept.
BUT GIVE US A JANEWAY SHOW KURTZMAN!!!
I’m very happy how S2 ended. I’m honestly not interested in exploring Janeway further. I feel her story is complete. I’m satisfied. Honestly, I didn’t like the Chakotay/Janeway relationship in S2. It didn’t feel organic. And the dialogue and voice acting got cringy at times. I felt it was one of the weaknesses of the season. However, I still liked the series finale and felt they concluded the season brilliantly.
Hey now, mom and dad watched Nex Gen AND Voyager, and so did grandmom and grandpa! Remember, Voyager started the same year TNG ended, it wasn’t a whole generation earlier, Kate. ;-)
A delightful conversation. I’m always up for more Janeway, so I hope those cards will fall into place!