10 Star Trek Episodes They Should Have Made (It's Never Too Late)
6. Meanwhile, In The Alpha Quadrant...
The bittersweet flavour of Voyager's story wasn't just in their spirit of exploration while lost in space...but also in the consequences for their loved ones back home.
While Voyager continued to boldly go in the Delta Quadrant, Starfleet had no idea whether they were alive or dead until The Doctor made contact in Season 4. Indeed, he confirms that Voyager had been declared lost.
Although we appreciate the stylistic choice to stay strictly with Voyager, it's interesting to think about a storyline that follows the initial search efforts in the Alpha Quadrant, whether it be a single episode or snippets laced throughout Season 1.
It would have given us the chance to see the hopes and fears of the loved ones left behind. As well as Starfleet's fruitless search for the ship that vanished without a trace. Did Harry Kim's parents refuse to give up hope, just like their son? Was it the loss of Kathryn that saw her fiancé, Mark, find comfort with another woman? (Yeah, don't think we've forgotten about that, Mark...) Did Admiral Paris quietly accept Starfleet's verdict that it was time to declare Voyager lost with dignity, or did he demand more time?
Eventually, hope would fade, and they would be forced to face the fact that Voyager was gone, bringing the Alpha Quadrant storyline to a natural close...until contact is re-established in Season 4. And once those glimpses of the Alpha Quadrant disappeared, it would leave the saga with a real sense of finality. Voyager's on her own.
Still, not knowing what was happening with the search for Voyager did help put the viewer in the same emotional space as the remote crew. So this one is just a matter of taste.