10 Most Hated Star Trek Characters
3. Kes
Even on paper, this character doesn't (and shouldn't) work. A race of aliens who only live nine years, told through the eyes of a young woman who is barely two years old - yet is in an adult relationship with a man thirty years her senior. Not only that, but Neelix and Paris fight over her affections.
She. Is. A. Child.
Based on this character outline, Jennifer Lien had one of the hardest jobs in the entire cast of trying to sell this character as believable and one who the audience could root for. There are some great episodes (Before and After/Warlord) but unfortunately, too many bad ones to properly examine.
Her departure at the start of the fourth season was, in reality, a blessing. This was a true case of there simply being nowhere else for her to go. Although there was debate on whether it would be Kes or Harry Kim who would get the chop, in hindsight Kes was the obvious and correct choice.
Her return in the sixth season served to upset many fans, yet Fury is nowhere near as bad as some of her earlier episodes, allowing the character a closure that, though perhaps it didn't feel earned, was still certainly welcome - and better than some others in the franchise.