The relationship between Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) on Star Trek: Voyager led to some of the series’ most interesting and engaging episodes. The strong female dynamic between the two characters over Janeway’s rescue and subsequent mentorship of Seven of Nine led to an arc of growth and empowerment for both women. With Seven’s introduction designed to counterweight Janeway’s character, their interactions initiated personal and emotional enrichment that enhanced the show and propelled momentum. Though Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan’s relationship was problematic behind the scenes, Mulgrew has since acknowledged the depth Seven of Nine added to Voyager and Captain Janeway herself.
Star Trek: Voyager – introducing Captain Janeway as Star Trek‘s first female lead –portrayed both women as strong, capable, intelligent characters, formidable, and impressive. Janeway is a stubborn and steadfast Captain, leading an isolated crew of roughly 150 through unexplored space on a quest to return to the Alpha Quadrant. Seven of Nine, a survivor of Borg assimilation and unofficial addition to the USS Voyager’s crew, works through trauma to explore and regain her sense of humanity, individuality, and independence. Here’s a look at the best and most significant Star Trek: Voyager episodes for Captain Kathryn Janeway and Seven of Nine.
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8 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episode 1, “Scorpion, Part II”
Seven of Nine Comes Aboard USS Voyager With An Injured Captain Janeway
Captain Janeway establishes a tentative accord with the Borg Collective to defeat Species 8472 in the Star Trek: Voyager season 4 premiere. Assigned Seven of Nine as a liaison, Janeway returns to the USS Voyager severely injured following the destruction of the Borg Cube. When Seven of Nine’s Borg implant is later overloaded and pre-assimilated memories as a young human girl dislodged, her connection to the Collective is severed. Recognizing Seven’s value as more than a mere drone bent on efficiency, Janeway considers maintaining her on board Voyager and helping to reassert Seven’s individuality, embarking on a mentorship arc and relationship that would lead to a journey of self-reclamation, self-discovery, and growth.
7 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episode 2, “The Gift”
Captain Janeway Doesn’t Let Seven of Nine Return To The Borg Collective
Seven of Nine’s dissimilation from the Borg continues in Star Trek: Voyager‘s “The Gift.” Assimilated as a young girl named Annika Hansen, Seven of Nine is very much alone, distressed by the silence in her mind, defeated, and isolated with her link to the Collective severed, her body beginning to reject implanted technology. Refusing Seven’s demands to return to the Collective as tantamount to “tossing her back to the wolves,” Janeway attempts to foster recognition of Seven’s regained humanity, suggesting Seven is now part of a Human Collective. Janeway provides information on Seven’s life before assimilation and establishes a connection that leads to a breakthrough in the former drone accepting a new sense of self post-Borg.
6 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episode 6, “The Raven”
Captain Janeway Supports Seven of Nine As She Recalls Life Before The Borg
Seven of Nine is triggered into a sudden memory by the sight of a Da Vinci prototype glider and remembers being pursued by a Borg drone aboard her parents’ vessel as a child. As more flashbacks and old memories resurface, Seven believes that the Borg are reaching out to call her back to them. With Captain Janeway taking a hands-on role to aid Seven’s transition into reclaiming her humanity and sense of individuality, the episode explores Seven’s pre-Borg life as the young Annika Hansen. Using Voyager’s holodeck simulation technology, Janeway attempts to teach Seven the importance of relaxation, creativity, and expression, suggesting Seven read her parents’ scientific work to encourage her imagination.
5 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 5, Episodes 15 & 16, “Dark Frontier”
Seven of Nine Aids Captain Janeway Against The Borg
Captain Kathryn Janeway schemes to steal a transwarp coil from a Borg ship to significantly accelerate Voyager’s return to Earth in a two-part story that expounds on Seven of Nine’s character, exploring her human family’s fascination with the Borg and pits Voyager in direct opposition with the Borg, with Seven forced to choose a side. Janeway’s uncertainties over Seven and her fears of a traumatic return to the Borg’s Collective are also highlighted, along with the revelation of secret Borg transmissions. Ultimately, Seven of Nine proves her place amongst Voyager’s crew and aids Captain Janeway in bringing them all 15 years closer to home.
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4 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7, Episode 2, “Imperfection”
Captain Janeway Comforts An Emotionally Vulnerable Seven of Nine
In this Star Trek: Voyager episode exploring themes of connection, legacy, and anxiety, an emotional Seven of Nine experiences a failure in her cortical node and cements a deep bond with Icheb (Manu Intiraymi), who sacrifices his own node as a replacement. The episode also features a significant scene between Seven of Nine and Captain Janeway in Voyager’s Astrometrics lab, with the former apologizing for a lack of development in individuality despite the Captain’s dedicated mentorship, with Janeway expressing reassurance that Seven is an “extraordinary individual.” The episode addresses the two characters’ relationship and depth of commitment, highlighting their respective risky and uncertain efforts to result in genuine respect and heartfelt familial friendship.
3 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26 “Endgame”
Admiral Janeway Remembers Seven of Nine
A future-reality Admiral Janeway travels into the past in Star Trek: Voyager’s epic series finale to warn her younger self about an imminent Borg attack and assist the crew in their journey home. Originally ending with the alternate death of Seven of Nine, “Endgame” sees the older Admiral Janeway sacrificing herself to destroy the Borg. The iconic two-part episode demonstrates Janeway’s deep emotional connection to her crew, and particularly to Seven of Nine – with the Admiral using the revelation of Seven’s impending demise to steer the Captain’s actions – as well as the Admiral’s own reaction to seeing Seven alive. It’s a weighty and bittersweet, but meaningful moment for Voyager’s finale episode.
2 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 5, Episode 24, “Relativity”
Seven of Nine Asks Captain Janeway To Trust Her
In Star Trek: Voyager’s temporal-themed “Relativity,” Seven of Nine is recruited by 29th-century Starfleet and sent back in time to prevent a paradox caused by the detonation of an explosive planted on Voyager. Using her Borg enhancements to locate the device and later to identify the saboteur with Janeway’s assistance. Against instructions, an apprehended Seven explains her presence to the young Captain Janeway, echoing the Captain’s words that “part of being human is learning to trust.” Though relatively brief, this scene emphasizes the emotional understanding, inherent trust, respect, and depth of knowledge that Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine have for the other’s character and the see-sawing connection forged between them.
1 Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episode 26, “Hope and Fear”
Captain Janeway Encourages Seven of Nine’s Sense of Humor
Seven of Nine contemplates remaining in the Delta Quadrant when the USS Voyager may have found a way home. Captain Janeway’s doubts about the convenience of this information prove founded when it is revealed to be an alien trap. Nonetheless, Seven examines her identity and concludes that she is “no longer Borg” while admitting that the prospect of becoming human is “unsettling.” Seven’s joke in response to Janeway’s admission of being occasionally hard on her, that she does not understand but will once they have both been assimilated, demonstrates Seven’s pronounced development from the season premiere and the easy, if complex, camaraderie between the two characters.
Star Trek: Voyager
- Cast
- Kate Mulgrew , Robert Beltran , Roxann Dawson , Jennifer Lien , Robert Duncan McNeill , Ethan Phillips , Robert Picardo , Tim Russ , Garrett Wang , Jeri Ryan
- Seasons
- 7
- Network
- UPN
- Streaming Service(s)
- Paramount+
- Franchise(s)
- Star Trek
