Star Trek: Voyager

Summary

Tuvok ’s ( Tim Russ ) saddest storyline inStar Trek : Voyagerseason 4 also behave as a reference toStar Trek : The Next Generation . Russ was a veteranStar Trekactor when he join themain cast ofVoyagerin 1995 , but Tuvok promptly became his most recognizable and popular function in the enfranchisement . As the first Vulcan to be a independent theatrical role on aStar Trekshow sinceStar Trek : The Original Series , Tuvok was one ofVoyager ’s most interesting charactersand brought a delightful familiarity to the show with his coherent personality and stuffy friendship withCaptain Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) .

Although Tuvok was perhaps notVoyager ’s most democratic character , the show would n’t have been the same without him , and he experienced some truly memorable storylines during its run . Some of these were more light - hearted , but one of Tuvok ’s darkest bow came in the season 4 two - part installment " Year of Hell,“which saw the USS Voyager under extended fire by Annorax ( Kurtwood Smith ) of the Krenim Imperium . During one of these attacks , Tuvok was tragically blind by an burst . Tuvok ’s cecity was arguably the saddest part of " Year of Hell , " but may have also been a subtleTNGreference .

Star Trek : Voyager ’s beloved fictitious character have returned in Star Trek : Picard , Star Trek : Lower Decks , and especially Star Trek : Prodigy .

Star Trek Voyager Poster

Tuvok’s Blindness In Star Trek: Voyager Season 4 May Be A Geordi La Forge Reference

Tuvok lost his sight in the Voyager season 4 episode “Year of Hell”

crap Tuvok unsighted in " Year of Hell " may have beenVoyager ’s way of pay tribute to Tim Russ ’s hearing to play Geordi La Forge inStar Trek : The Next propagation . As mentioned , Russ had acted in several smaller parts in theStar Trekfranchise before set ashore Tuvok , and along with these had antecedently auditioned for the role of GeordiduringTNG ’s molding outgrowth . The role ended up going to LeVar Burton , butStar Trek ’s core originative team would certainly have known that Russ had been on the shortlist to represent the famousTNGcharacter .

Given the intersection in writers and producers across the 1990s era ofStar Trek , much ofVoyager ’s originative squad would likely have been mindful and may have decided to employ Tuvok ’s arc in " Year of Hell " as a cast of inner joke .

The choice to make Tuvok blind in " Year of Hell " could have beenVoyager ’s manner of acknowledging Russ’sTNGaudition , given that Geordi was also famously blind . like references are not unheard of intheStar Trektimeline ’s story . The fact that Russ had trust to play Geordi might not have been known by a wider interview , but given the overlap in writers and producer across the 1990s era ofStar Trek , much ofVoyager ’s creative team would likely have been aware and may have decide to expend Tuvok ’s arc in " Year of Hell " as a form of inner joke .

A collage of two images of Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager, one of him lighted well and looking to his right while the other one is of him in darkness looking stoically ahead, along with Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: TNG.

Custom image by Simone Ashmoore

Why Tim Russ Lost Out On Playing Geordi On Star Trek: TNG

LeVar Burton beat Russ for Geordi during the auditions for TNG

The fact thatTim Russ recede out on playing Geordi onTNGmay seem surprising now , but at the time , vomit LeVar Burton in the purpose likely made more sense . Burton was a more experient worker and familiar font for audiences , having already made a name for himselfinRootsandReading Rainbow . Although Russ was an evenly strong actor in his own right wing , it seems the molding process came down to visibility , something Russ had yet to civilise a destiny of with his other roles .

While lose the role was likely disappointing for Russ , fourth dimension has prove that Geordi ’s casting decision was undoubtedly the right choice . Burton continue to embody the role , making it hard to suppose anyone else in it , and the same can be said for TvuokonStar Trek : Voyager . Both Tuvok and Geordi have become incredibly important parts of theStar Trekfranchise , and neither role would be the same without Tim Russ or LeVar Burton having been roll precisely as they were .

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Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine and the Star Trek Voyager cast

A collage of Tuvok from Star Trek: Voyager and Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tuvok looking straight out while Geordi leans over looking concerned.

Headshot Of Kate Mulgrew

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Headshot Of Patrick Stewart In The 2024 Audie Awards at the Avalon Hollywood

Headshot Of Jonathan Frakes IN The Paramount+ ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ FYC And Finale Event

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: The Next Generation