Jeri Taylor's Contribution to the 'Star Trek' Universe

Key Takeaways

• Jeri Taylor has contributed a lot to “Star Trek” by writing, producing and creating shows such as
  Star Trek: Voyager
  .
• Taylor played an important role in developing female characters like Janeway, influencing and changing their roles.
• His legacy in the “Star Trek” universe is evident through the important characters and deep stories he creates.

Jeri Taylor, usually Star Trek author and co-creator of Star Trek: Voyagerpassed away on October 23, 2024 at the age of 86. Over the weekend, Star Trek actors, producers, members of the production staff, and lifelong fans mourned his loss, shared memories of Taylor, and paid tribute to his many contributions to the Trekverse. Following his death, here's a look back at Taylor's decades-long career as a writer, producer, co-creator and multidisciplinary consultant. Star Trek performance.

Enter the Trekverse: The TNG & DS9 Years

According to StarTrek.com, Taylor began his career at Star Trek universe during the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation(TNG) as a writer and producer. He helped write four episodes that season, including “The Drumhead,” which many fans consider one of the best episodes of the series. Taylor continued to write LPG until the end of the seven seasons. In all, Taylor helped write 17 episodes for the LPG.

During the show's sixth season, he was promoted to associate producer, along with longtime showrunners Michael Pillar and Rick Berman. As Berman and Pillar turned to the new franchise addition, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)Taylor was promoted to executive producer and showrunner for the TNG's last season. He has seen the show since its famous last episode. While he was preparing LPGTaylor also wrote three episodes for the DS9including the two-part “The Maquis.”

when LPG packed, Taylor worked Star Trek: Generations and, a few years later, returned to the Star Trek the whole world to work Star Trek: First Contact.

Co-create and run 'Star Trek: Voyager'

The mid-90s were busy for Taylor. While he was preparing LPGsometimes write for DS9and work on generationTaylor was deep in the trenches with Pillar and Berman, creating Star Trek: Voyager. In addition to his starring role in the first four seasons of the show, he also co-wrote 14 episodes.

Taylor is the first woman to hold the title of executive producer or showrunner Star Trek franchise. She took her role very seriously, especially as she was instrumental in creating the first woman for a Star Trek show: Captain Kathryn Janeway. Taylor developed the characters, story and themes of Voyager's first period.

Create the Most Powerful Women in the 'Star Trek' Universe

Make a difference to The next generation

Under Star Trek's male executive producer and performer, the female of Star Trek The universe has always lacked nuance or depth. Denise Crosby, who played Tasha Yar LPGleft the bad reputation during the first season because he wanted Yar to have more three faces. The runners, it is said, said “no”. He fought with Gates McFadden, who brought Dr. Beverly Crusher will live LPGThe production staff about his character as well, and went to the second season, returning to the third season. Marina Sirtis has joked several times that, for the first few seasons, the whole character of Deanna Troi has been giving off vague predictions like a carnival psychic. Sirtis didn't hesitate to talk about how terrible it was to be a woman on TNG.

When Taylor entered the writers' room for the fourth season, he began to change all that. In an interview for Captain's Log: The Complete Unauthorized VoyageTaylor said:

“If there's one thing I'd like to do more, it's develop the characters of Crusher and Troi because I thought they were underused. […] There are very small ways that remind people of the role of women and sometimes remind me. I'm not saying that this was a staff of men and I had to go in and show them the way, but maybe it was a little more up front for me. “

Taylor's influence was immediately apparent. Troi finally gets a Starfleet uniform instead of the thick leather jumpsuit with a plunging neckline that she's been wearing for the first few seasons. During a rare public appearance at The 55-Year Mission Star Trek convention, as reported by TrekMovie.com, Taylor revealed that this was one of the things he pushed behind the scenes.

The impact was also felt by the actors on the stage. In Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation, McFadden said:

“I think the writing team led by Jeri Taylor has certainly made an effort to strengthen the role of women. We've been in positions of power more often, in the Captain's chair or leading missions. somewhere.”

Create a new standard with Voyager

Taylor's work to uplift women LPG from moderate is admirable. However, it paled in comparison to the strong and sensitive women he brought to life Voyager.

Berman and Pillar planned to introduce the first female lead in the Star Trek universe in Voyager before they brought on Taylor as a co-creator. But Captain Kathryn Janeway, who was eventually adopted by Kate Mulgrew, didn't really come alive until Taylor started working with them. Janeway is a personal project for Taylor. He understands the importance of character within Star Trek universe, and he wanted to create a female captain who could easily stand with all the great captains who came before her.

Luckily, Taylor didn't have to look far for inspiration, as he told the audience at The 55-Year Mission Star Trek convention:

“I always thought of Janeway as mine, I wrote her. I can't say I wrote her for me, but as I wanted. I felt filled with her. And I think she filled me, despite that. , in many ways, far smarter and wiser than me, but my dream was that I was Janeway and I was trying to reach her.

Janeway wasn't the only one Taylor was involved with strong women Voyagerhowever. He also helped create B'Elanna Torres, played by Roxann Dawson, and Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan. Without Taylor, none of these women would have made it to the screen as fans know and love them.

Taylor's 'Star Trek' legacy

Writers, artists, actors, or creatives all strive to leave work that will be remembered long after they're gone, and spend a lot of time thinking about their hopes for their legacy. Taylor has said many times that she hopes Janeway, in particular, will be a big part of her legacy.

Like each other Star Trek Insiders and fans are mourning his loss, of course, his dream has come true. Although Janeway is far from the only legacy she leaves behind, as evidenced by the sentiment shared by Taylor's colleagues after her death.

In the words of Mulgrew, as posted on Instagram:

Brannon Braga, who took over Voyager's showrunner when Taylor left after the fourth season, Mulgrew echoed the sentiment on his own Instagram.

Dawson talks about X, reminding fans that Taylor's legacy goes far beyond Janeway.

Jeri Taylor gave Star Trek fans of some of the most memorable characters and heartfelt stories ever to exist in the Trekverse. His presence in the Trek family will be overlooked, but his presence is undeniable in the Star Trek the world is alive.

Source: Instagram, X.com, StarTrek.com, Captain's Log: The full voyage was not authorized, TrekMovie.com, Journey's End: The Story of Star Trek: The Next Generation