"Final(e) speculations"

Rumors and assumptions regarding the Voyager series finale

March 20th, 2001

The truth is: the last time a finale was announced in this way we got DS9's "What You Leave Behind", that has a very profound and ambiguous, even philosophical title, granted, but I can't say the same about the story (at least about that part showing the Babylon-5-style end of the Dominion war and the fantasy-soaked final confrontation between Sisko and the Pah Wraiths). But, after all, I'm not afraid at all that this will happen in Voyager's finale (well, a similiar thing, of course). Ken Biller incorporates many qualities, but he's not a writer of dull action thrillers.

On the contrary, his stories feature intelligent plots with underlying social commentaries, profound characterizations and good continuity. He's just lacking... some good science fiction ideas. I think his first season as an executive producer (as *the* executive producer, provided that Rick Berman always seemed to stay in the background, especially now that he's creating series V), in comparison with season 6, reflected his attitudes towards Star Trek and good Star Trek stories quite strikingly.

So I don't think we won't get quality or we won't get some deeper meaning in the last two hours of the series. 

Quite as much important, of course, is that the series finale will conclude the plot arcs and open threads of the series (as few as there are) as well as the premise of the series itself. To my mind, this should be the most essential aspect of every finale - going back to the roots and somehow solving the problems and issues dealt with in the pilot (which set up the premise and main themes of the series).

Let's see how former finales "accomplished this mission": The Next Generation did its job greatly back in 1994, involving all the important aspects of the pilot "Mission Farpoint", which was quite courageously given the fact that this twoparter is not quite regarded as best TNG..., but still maintaining the additional aspects, the maturity the series has gained over the years.

"What You Leave Behind", I would say, was half successful. It definitely had an underlying great topic associated with the meaningful title, that was present all the two hours, of course especially in the last fifteen minutes... it quite reminded me of a certain quote of Riker in "ST:Generations".
But after all, too less threads and questions put up in the pilot and the first four (somehow isolated) seasons were solved or answered. The episode primarilty dealt with the Dominion war, Kai Winn's fall and Dukat's revenge, all topics from the last two seasons. What about the relationship between Bajor-Cardassia, the Federation membership of Bajor, major aspects of the pilot and parts of the premise of the series? Superficiality and too much focus on action were the great deficits of "What You Leave Behind".

Now recently, we learned that the Borg will be part of the finale, as the arch-nemesis of Voyager. This is both a good and a bad thing. Bad, because this could lead to the same problems as with the DS9 finale, only paying attention to the main topics of the last 3 seasons. The Borg weren't (largely) introduced before season 4, and have appeared quite often (some say: have been over- or even misused) since then. So there is the danger that the finale will feel like a repition of the former, extremely well-written Borg two-parters. On the other hand, it is urgent that the Borg are part of the finale, not only because they have become an essential part of the series, but because they're an open thread themselves! The individualistic rebellion within the collective dealt with in the season 7 cliffhanger "Unimatrix Zero" hasn't been resolved yet, and it would be extremely unsatisfying if we wouldn't get to know the ultimate fate of the hive (especially with regard to the fact that this might very well be the last appearance of the Borg).

Enough fact repitition, up to the speculation (you all wanted to hear that part, I know, I know). The most important question: what will be the *ultimate homecoming*? I think we can be sure that It won't return to Earth using an anomaly, alien technology or even the help of a superior being, even if Janeway mentioned all these possibilities in the pilot. It would be lame and uncreative to stick to the well-known. The crew of Voyager has to come home thanks to own efforts, the crew has to "earn" her homecoming, probably even with some kind of sacrifice (keyword: cast member dies, a possibility Rick Berman's recent statement"I won't tell you who will live or die" does not deny or exclude). If we believe the rumors - those ones claiming the two-parter is titled "Endgame" (a Chess term defined in last issue) - we might see the decline of the Borg queen and her replacement by Captain Janeway, but very unlikely. To my mind, if sacrifices at all, Seven and Neelix as the "Voyager hitchhikers" are probable candidates - Neelix mainly because of what we know of the last but one episode "Destiny", and Seven because of the announced "finally tragic development".

Finally, one question remains - how will the Borg be added to the homecoming melange?  I agree with the fans who've thought over the finale that we might see: the Borg attacking the Federation for the last time, with Voyager being the only ship which can save humanity this time, given their in-depth experience with the collective. But does Voyager return to Earth because or despite of the Borg threat? It appears to be most likely that they use transwarp once more, even if this would be a not very innovative re-hash of "Dark Frontier".
And as soon as they are home - is there enough time for some final moments with the crew, most ideally featuring the reunion with their friends, family, fiancees...

Despite the lacking focus on social or moral commentary, DS9's series finale took the time for some final clips (and I think this was the most successful part of the finale), looking back, of course, not forward, given the theme of "What You Leave Behind", and I do hope that Voyager won't end with the starship reaching Earth - fade to black -, but will show the homecoming plus its consequences in a comparably personal and emotional way ...

However we predict, want or hope Voyager's journey to end, the official discussion is definitely over, and, truth to be spoken, speculations are interesting, but the producers and authors have made their final decisions.
Voyager's homecoming should been carved to stone by now, and they will start shooting this week.

There is no way back by now, only a way home.

Which way, we will know in 2 months and 3 days at the latest ...

Christian Rühl

Webmaster - Star Trek Dimension