Summary

• Each main character on Star Trek: Voyager had standout episodes that showcased their individual strengths and storylines.
• Episodes like "Before and After" (Kes), "Mortal Coil" (Neelix), "Latent Image" (The Doctor), and "One" (Seven of Nine) brought depth and development to these characters.
• Captain Janeway's standout episode was "Year of Hell," which demonstrated her heroism, loyalty, vulnerability, and complexity.

Each main character on Star Trek: Voyager got a chance to shine during the show's run, and all of them have an episode that stands out as their best. Voyager was the fourth series in the Star Trek timeline and featured a cast of diverse characters, including Star Trek's first female Captain, Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). During Voyager's run, Janeway led her crew on a journey through the Delta Quadrant after the USS Voyager became stranded on the other side of the galaxy in the show's pilot episode, "Caretaker, Parts I&II."

Like many Star Trek series, Voyager's cast of characters acted as an ensemble, with no single character standing out as the "lead." Although Janeway was technically the show's main character, every member of the core cast had episodes that focused on them, delving more into each character's backstory and enriching them so that episodes where everyone worked together were made that much more enjoyable. All of Voyager's main characters had multiple episodes centered on them, but certain episodes undeniably stand out as each character's best of the series.

10 Kes (Jennifer Lien)

"Before and After" - Voyager season 3, episode 21

"Before and After" was a tour de force for Kes, who up until that point had been underutilized. The episode focused on Kes traveling back in time from the moment of her death, showcasing an alternate future as she attempted to determine what was happening to her. Although some of the storytelling choices were surprising, such as Kes's future self being married to Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), the character got to shine in a way that most other episodes didn't allow her to. "Before and After" also foreshadowed an important Voyager season 4 storyline, the "Year of Hell."

Honorable Mention: "Warlord" (Voyager season 3, episode 10)

9 Neelix (Ethan Phillips)

"Mortal Coil - Voyager season 4, episode 12

Neelix-focused episodes of Voyager were often hit or miss, but "Mortal Coil" stands above the rest as the character's best story. The episode explored questions of spirituality, existential issues, and psychological trauma when Neelix was brought back to life after being killed in a shuttle accident. "Mortal Coil" is a beautiful exploration of Neelix's past, culture, and trauma, and grapples with very real questions of life and death. The episode was also the first time Neelix was shown in the role of Naomi Wildman's (Brooke Stephens) godfather, kicking off one of the show's sweetest and most genuine father-daughter relationships.

Honorable Mention: "Homestead" (Voyager season 7, episode 23)

8 The Doctor (Robert Picardo)

"Latent Image" - Voyager season 5, episode 11

The Doctor was lucky enough to have several stellar episodes throughout Voyager's run, but "Latent Image" was the character at his finest. The episode dealt with questions about the Doctor's humanity, which came into conflict with his original programming when he saved the life of Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) while allowing another Ensign who he did not know well to die. The Doctor's right to autonomy was also explored as the crew grappled with whether to erase his memories to keep his program from degrading.

The Doctor was always at his best when the question of his sentience was explored, and "Latent Image" was a wonderful example of this. The episode allowed Robert Picardo to stretch his acting talents and provided a gripping storyline that hooked audiences from the start with a mysterious twist. "Latent Image" also marked a real step forward in the Doctor’s journey to becoming more human and a shift in how the crew treated him, as an equal rather than a tool.

Honorable Mention: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (Voyager season 6, episode 4)

7 Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan)

"One" - Voyager season 5, episode 25

Seven of Nine was another character with many exceptional episodes during Voyager's run, but "One" combined the best aspects of several of them to make a winner. Watching the character grapple with being alone as she was forced to pilot the USS Voyager across a dangerous nebula by herself while the crew is in stasis truly drove home Seven's Borg nature coming into conflict with her reemerging humanity. "One" was hilarious and terrifying by turns, and explored an emotional side of Seven that not many other episodes did, showcasing the duality of her strength and vulnerability perfectly.

Honorable Mention: "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Voyager season 5, episode 22)

6 Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang)

"Timeless" - Voyager season 5, episode 6

"Timeless" showed a completely different side of Harry Kim after a miscalculation during an attempt to return home caused Voyager to crash into an ice planet, killing the whole crew except for Harry and Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran). The bitter, jaded, future version of Harry Kim in "Timeless" was such a departure from the character's usual personality and allowed Garrett Wang to show a different side of his acting talents, which was a big part of what made the episode so compelling. "Timeless" was also a classic Star Trek time-travel episode with a truly engaging storyline from start to finish.

Honorable Mention: "Emanations" (Voyager season 1, episode 9)

5 Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson)

"Barge of the Dead" - Voyager season 6, episode 3

Voyager episodes didn't often feature B'Elanna Torres, but the ones that did were always guaranteed to be great stories. "Barge of the Dead" was no exception, tapping back into what made B'Elanna such an interesting character: her half-Klingon heritage. The episode grappled with questions of life, death, and spirituality while thoroughly exploring B'Elanna's relationship with her Klingon mother, something that had only been hinted at before. The mother-daughter relationships in B'Elanna's life, including her relationship with Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) acted as the episode's emotional core, and the expansion of Klingon lore was a welcome addition.

Honorable Mention: "Faces" (Voyager season 1, episode 14)

4 Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill)

"Thirty Days" - Voyager season 5, episode 9

Tom Paris is arguably the character with the most dramatic arc during Voyager's run, and "Thirty Days" demonstrated just how far he had come. "Thirty Days" was a fascinating character study of Tom's psyche and motivations as he dictated a letter to his father while stuck in the brig after violating the Prime Directive. The episode showcased how forceful Tom's convictions could be for things he cared about, a far cry from the apathetic, jade man he had been in Voyager's pilot. "Thirty Days" was also a wonderful exploration of Tom's most important relationships, including Captain Janeway and B'Elanna Torres.

Honorable Mention: "Bride of Chaotica!" (Voyager season 5, episode 12)

3 Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ)

"Riddles" - Voyager season 6, episode 6

Some of Star Trek's most interesting episodes involve a Vulcan losing control of his logic. "Riddles" was one of these episodes for Tuvok, showing the character's emotional side after an alien attack caused Tuvok to suffer brain damage. Seeing a vulnerable, childlike Tuvok was hilarious and heartwarming by turns, but the deeper emotional power of "Riddles" came through the bittersweet exploration of Tuvok's complicated relationship with Neelix. Tuvok and Neelix had always been portrayed as hilariously antagonistic, but watching Neelix's dedication to helping Tuvok navigate his new personality and the true friendship that blossomed between the two packed a punch.

Honorable Mention: "Innocence" (Voyager season 2, episode 22)

2 Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran)

"Shattered" - Voyager season 7, episode 11

Most Chakotay-centric episodes were in Voyager's early seasons, but "Shattered" was a rare late-season treat that followed the character navigating through different time periods after Voyager became temporally split. Besides being a wonderful retrospective of Voyager in its final season, having Chakotay be the episode's point-of-view character was perfect. As the ship's First Officer and former Captain of Voyager's Maquis crew, Chakotay was the ideal person to rally everyone to bring the ship back into temporal sync. Additionally, "Shattered" offered a great take on Chakotay and Captain Janeway, and brought back characters like Seska (Martha Hackett) for one more outing.

Honorable Mention: "Tattoo" (Voyager season 2, episode 9)

1 Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew)

"Year of Hell, Parts I&II" - Voyager season 4, episodes 8&9

As Voyager's Captain, Kathryn Janeway was at the center of almost every episode, but "Year of Hell, Parts I&II" was Janeway at her absolute best. The episodes demonstrated Janeway's greatest strengths and greatest flaws as she and Voyager's crew weathered a brutal year-long attack by the Krenim Imperium. "Year of Hell" pushed Janeway to her limit, portraying her as a true hero and demonstrating her unwavering loyalty to her crew while also beautifully capturing her vulnerability and complexity. "Year of Hell" is one of Star Trek: Voyager's best episodes, and this is largely thanks to Captain Janeway's performance.

Honorable Mention: "Counterpoint" (Voyager season 5, episode 10)

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream on Paramount+.