Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and First Officer Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) have an incredibly interesting and nuanced relationship in Star Trek: Voyager. As a Captain and First Officer duo, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay face circumstances and challenges that are unparalleled in Star Trek history. If Star Trek: The Next Generation's Captain Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) had interpersonal issues, Commander Riker could have transferred to another ship. If Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay fought, their only options were resolution or mutiny.

But beyond conflict, there was yet another line Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay could not cross on Voyager. Because Captain Janeway had to be the ultimate authority on the ship, she could not ethically enter into a romantic relationship with anyone on Voyager. Indeed, Kate Mulgrew herself did not want Captain Janeway to be tied down by romantic subplots. Nevertheless, the deep bonds the pair share could easily, under different circumstances, blossom from friendship to romance. Now that the USS Voyager is back in the Alpha Quadrant, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay should have more of a relationship.

10 "Extreme Risk"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 5, Episode 3

"Extreme Risk" is one of the darkest episodes in the show, and it is also one of Voyager's best episodes. In "Extreme Risk," Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) learns of the destruction of the Maquis, and enters a life-threatening spiral of despair, so the episode is naturally more focused on Lt. Torres than anyone else. In the background, however, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay work together to help her.

As such, the conversations between Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay show how the two of them work together as a unit for the good of their crew. "Extreme Risk" also shows the lengths to which Commander Chakotay specifically will go to protect the people he loves – he risks his life to save Lt. Torres from despair and is willing to stand by her in the face of devastatingly hard truths. Since that is the same care and devotion that Commander Chakotay shows Captain Janeway throughout Voyager, it is easy to deduce that he loves her as well.

9 "Learning Curve"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 1, Episode 16

In Voyager's "Learning Curve," then-Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ) works to integrate those Maquis crew who exist furthest from the Starfleet ideal into Voyager's crew.

After this early episode, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were forever linked.

While on the surface "Learning Curve," seems to reveal very little about the relationship between Commander Chakotay and Captain Janeway, it actually contains one of their most important early moments. In response to Lt. Tuvok's efforts, the Maquis crew complain to Commander Chakotay, saying that they prefer to do things the Maquis way over the Starfleet way. In response, Commander Chakotay decks him. In this moment, Commander Chakotay incontrovertibly and irrevocably declared his allegiance to Voyager and Captain Janeway. No matter what would come later in the show, after this early episode, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were forever linked.

8 "Elogium"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 2, Episode 4

The title of the Voyager season 2 episode, "Elogium," refers to the once-in-a-lifetime chance that an Ocampan has to have children. And indeed, Voyager's one Ocampan, Kes (Jennifer Lien) experiences the Elogium prematurely. But when it comes to the potential romantic partnership between Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, the episode's a-plot matters less than the conversations the two of them have in the background. In "Elogium," Kes's status prompts Janeway and Chakotay to discuss what it would mean to raise kids on Voyager.

Since Voyager was initially stranded 70,000 light years from Earth, it would have had to become a multi-generational ship to get home without assistance.

In many ways, as Captain and First Officer, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay are parents to everyone on the ship. "Elogium" prompts them to face this partnership head on, revealing just how strong their bond really is. In the course of this conversation, Captain Janeway makes it explicit that she could not ethically enter into a romantic relationship with any of Voyager's characters. This statement echoes Kate Mulgrew's real life feelings about Captain Janeway, and it sets clear bounds on her relationship with Commander Chakotay while simultaneously hinting at what might have been under different circumstances.

7 "The Omega Directive"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 4, Episode 21

Voyager's Omega particles and Starfleet's corresponding top-secret "Omega Directive" is one of the most mysterious elements in Star Trek canon. The episode, "The Omega Directive," reveals not only the existence and potential destructive power of Omega, but also the fact that every single Starfleet captain has had knowledge of Omega since the 23rd century. The Omega Directive means that, no matter how much a Starfleet Captain may trust her officers, there will always be a barrier between them. But "The Omega Directive" is yet another episode of Voyager that reveals the depth of Commander Chakotay's trust in his captain.

When Captain Janeway makes it clear that she cannot let Commander Chakotay in, he is willing to accept that and trust her judgement, but only to a point. Once it becomes clear that Captain Janeway is going to endanger her own life, however, Commander Chakotay insists on being let in. At this point, Captain Janeway does what no other Starfleet captain had done before and revealed some of the Omega Directive. Thus, "The Omega Directive" makes it obvious that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay share a deep bond of trust unmatched in Star Trek.

6 "Scorpion," Parts 1 & 2

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1

The two-part episode "Scorpion" bridges the gap between seasons 3 and 4 of Voyager and introduces Jeri Ryan's Borg character, Seven of Nine. In "Scorpion," Voyager has to cross through Borg space during the Collective's war with Species 8472 or give up on ever returning to Earth. Captain Janeway wants to form a provisional alliance with the Borg while ing through their space, whereas Commander Chakotay believes it is only a matter of time until the Borg give into their nature and betray Voyager.

Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay balance each other out as leaders, and their differences allow them to complement one another perfectly.

"Scorpion" reveals that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay would be an excellent couple by highlighting just how well they can work together in a crisis. Despite Captain Janeway fundamentally disagreeing with Commander Chakotay on how to handle the Borg, she never cuts the Commander out of strategy and negotiations. Over the course of the episodes, both of them have chances to lead, highlighting the important difference in their leadership styles. Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay balance each other out as leaders, and their differences allow them to complement one another perfectly.

5 "Equinox" Parts 1 & 2

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 5, Episode 26 & Season 6, Episode 1

In most episodes of Voyager, disagreements between Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay end with the Commander conceding to the Captain's authority. Indeed, the fundamental differences in rank and power are the reason that, no matter how good it might have been, Commander Chakotay and Captain Janeway could never become a couple on Voyager. But in "Equinox," Commander Chakotay calls out Captain Janeway for crossing a line when she threatens to torture a Starfleet officer from the USS Equinox.

In the moment, Captain Janeway rejects his condemnation, but by the end of the narrative she concedes Commander Chakotay was correct, apologizing to him. Despite the confines of rank on Voyager, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay have a bond that runs deeper than Starfleet protocol, and both of them are capable of acknowledging that fact.

4 "Night"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 5, Episode 1

Since the beginning of Voyager, Captain Janeway has been tormented with guilt over stranding Voyager. In "Caretaker," Captain Janeway had the choice to sending her ship home while leaving the Ocampa vulnerable and chose to save them instead. In "Night," Commander Chakotay helps her finally address that guilt. He defies Captain Janeway's orders, which would have resulted in stranding her forever and makes it clear to the Captain it’s not her fault they are in the Delta Quadrant. Commander Chakotay is more than just Captain Janeway's second in command: he is a bastion of emotional in a lonely quadrant.

3 "Shattered"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 7, Episode 11

Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay build a deep and nuanced relationship over seven seasons of Voyager. The two of them had to learn how to work together despite the differences between Starfleet and Maquis ideologies and find a balance to benefit Voyager. "Shattered" shows that, even without years of friendship and comradery, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay were always destined to be a pair.

Even when separated by time, memory, and political allegiances, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay managed to grow together and trust each other once more.

In "Shattered," Voyager itself is broken into different time zones, ranging from before the ship entered the Delta Quadrant to a future where Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay are long dead. To restore the ship, Commander Chakotay has to work with a version of Captain Janeway that only knows him as a Maquis rebel. Even when separated by time, memory, and political allegiances, Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay managed to grow together and trust each other once more. This partnership made them an excellent captain and first officer, but their comradery would also be an ideal foundation for a more intimate relationship.

2 "Year Of Hell" Parts 1 & 2

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 4, Episodes 8 & 9

"Year of Hell" is undeniably one of Voyager's best episodes, if not the series' finest. Despite the fact that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay spend most of the two episodes apart, with Commander Chakotay and Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) held captive on the Krenim vessel outside of time, Voyager's "Year of Hell" nevertheless proves the depths of Captain Janeway's affection for the Commander. Early in the year, Commander Chakotay attempted to give the Captain a replicated pocket watch for her birthday. At the time, Captain Janeway told him to recycle it to preserve resources.

Five months later, after Commander Chakotay was taken, Captain Janeway found the watch in his quarters and wore it for the rest of the episodes. While this may seem, at first, like a small gesture, it actually reveals the depths of Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay's affection for one another. Even after Captain Janeway ordered Voyager's crew to abandon ship, she kept the watch. Even when Voyager was only a husk, barely capable of flight, Captain Janeway kept the watch.

After the timeline was re-set at the end of "Year of Hell Part 2," it is unclear whether or not Commander Chakotay ever gave Captain Janeway the pocket watch.

Over the course of "Year of Hell," Captain Janeway experienced some of the most devastating losses possible for a Starfleet Captain, and the memento she carried with her, to remind her of better times, was Commander Chakotay's watch. It is an incredibly touching and romantic gesture, revealing the true depths of their relationship when pushed to the absolute limits. Even if the two of them could never be together on Voyager, "Year of Hell" proves that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay should have been a couple under better circumstances.

1 "Resolutions"

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 2, Episode 25

The penultimate episode of Voyager season 2, "Resolutions," is the episode that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay should have been a couple. The whole reason the two of them could never be together was their status as captain and first officer of Voyager. "Resolutions" takes those roles away by forcing the crew of Voyager to leave them behind, quarantined on an alien world that Captain Janeway names, "New Earth." On New Earth, they are no longer Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, but rather simply Kathryn and Chakotay.

On New Earth, they are no longer Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay, but rather simply Kathryn and Chakotay.

After a storm, Chakotay gave Kathryn a massage, leaving her with a sleepless night and an epiphany about their relationship. While at first Kathryn worried their intimacy was inappropriate, Chakotay reassured her he would always be loyal to her, no matter what form their relationship took on. He called Kathryn "brave and beautiful and very wise," and she let call her "Kathryn," granting Chakotay intimacy no one else on Voyager shared. Even if some things were left on New Earth, "Resolutions" made it clear that Star Trek: Voyager's captain and first officer should have been a couple under better circumstances.