Jeri Taylor's Contributions to the 'Star Trek' Universe

Key things

• Jeri Taylor has made significant contributions to “Star Trek” by writing, producing and co-creating shows such as
  Star Trek: Voyager
  .
• Taylor played a key role in the development of female characters like Janeway, influencing and reshaping their roles.
• Her legacy in the “Star Trek” universe is evident through the compelling characters and deep stories she created.

Jeri Taylor, frequent Star Trek writer and co-creator Star Trek: Voyagerdied 23 October 2024 aged 86. On the weekend Star Trek cast, producers, crew members, and lifelong fans mourned the loss, shared memories of Taylor, and honored her immense contribution to the Trekverse. In the wake of her passing, here's a look back at Taylor's decades-long career as a writer, producer, co-creator and consultant on many Star Trek shows

Entering the Trekverse: Years of TNG and DS9

According to StarTrek.com, Taylor began her career in Star Trek universe during the fourth season Star Trek: The Next Generation(LPG) as a writer and producer. She helped write four episodes that season, including “The Drumhead,” which many fans consider among the series' best episodes. Taylor continued to write for LPG until he ended his seven-season run. All told, Taylor helped write 17 episodes LPG.

During the show's sixth season, she was promoted to co-executive producer, joining longtime showrunners Michael Pillar and Rick Berman. As Berman and Pillar turned their attention to the newest addition to the franchise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)Taylor was promoted to executive producer and showrunner for TNG'the last season. She saw the show until its legendary final episode. While she was packing LPGTaylor also wrote three episodes DS9including the two-part “Maquis.”

After LPG wrapped, Taylor worked on Star Trek: Generations and a few years later he returned to Star Trek space to work Star Trek: First Contact.

Co-created and operated 'Star Trek: Voyager'

The mid-1990s were busy for Taylor. While she was packing LPGoccasionally writing for DS9and we are working on generationsTaylor was also deep in the trenches with Pillar and Berman, creating Star Trek: Voyager. In addition to serving as showrunner for the first four seasons of the show, she also co-wrote 14 episodes.

Taylor was the first woman to hold the title of executive producer or showrunner in Star Trek franchise. She took her role seriously, especially when she was instrumental in creating the first female lead for a Star Trek show: Captain Kathryn Janeway. Taylor shaped characters, stories and themes Voyager early season.

Creating Substance Women in the 'Star Trek' Universe

It brings changes A new generation

Under Star Trek male executive producers and showrunners, female Star Trek the universe wasn't always given nuance or depth. Denise Crosby who played Tasha Yar LPGshe infamously quit during the first season because she wanted Yar to be more three-dimensional. The showrunners reportedly bluntly said “no.” Gates McFadden, who brought to life Dr. Beverly Crusher, he fought LPGThe production staff also about her character and left in the second series and returned in the third season. Marina Sirtis has repeatedly joked that in the first few seasons, Deanna Troi's entire character spouted vague predictions like a carnival psychic. Sirtis has never shied away from talking about how awful it was to be a woman on the set of TNG.

When Taylor joined the writing staff during the fourth season, she decided to change all that. In an interview for Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek VoyagesTaylor said:

“If there's one thing I wanted to do more of, it was the character development of Crusher and Troi because I thought they were underutilized. […] There is a very small way that sometimes I remind people of the role of women and sometimes they remind me. I'm not saying it was a stick of men and I had to come in and show them the way, but maybe it was something a little more to the fore with me.”

Taylor's influence was evident almost immediately. Troi finally got a Starfleet uniform instead of the skin-tight bodysuits with plunging necklines she wore in the first few seasons. During a rare public appearance at The 55-Year Mission Star Trek convention, as reported by TrekMovie.com, Taylor revealed that this was one of the things she was pushing behind the scenes.

Her impact was also felt by the actresses on the set. IN Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation, McFadden said:

“I think the writing team, led by Jeri Taylor, definitely tried to strengthen the roles of women. We were more often in positions of power, in the captain's chair or leading a mission somewhere.”

Creation of a new standard with Voyager

Taylor's work to raise women from LPG from mediocrity he was admirable. But she paled in comparison to the powerful, complex women she brought to life Voyager.

Berman and Pillar planned to introduce the first female lead Star Trek universe in Voyager before bringing Taylor on board as a co-creator. But Captain Kathryn Janeway, who was eventually brought to life by Kate Mulgrew, only really came to life when Taylor started working with them. Janeway was a deeply personal project for Taylor. She understood the importance of the character within Star Trek universe and wanted to create a female captain who could easily stand alongside all the great captains who had come before her.

Luckily, Taylor didn't have to look far for inspiration, as she told the audience at The 55-Year Mission Star Trek conference:

“I always thought of Janeway as just me, I wrote her. I can't say I wrote her as me, but as I would like to be. I felt full of her. And I think she is full of me, even though , in many ways far more skilled and capable than me, but it was my fantasy that it was me and I tried to approach it that way.”

Janeway wasn't Taylor's only contribution to strong women Voyageralthough. She also helped create B'Elanna Torres, played by Roxann Dawson, and Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan. Without Taylor, none of these women would have made it to the silver screen as fans know and love them.

Taylor's 'Star Trek' Legacy

Every writer, artist, actor, or creative of any kind strives to leave behind a body of work that will be remembered long after they're gone, and spends a significant amount of time thinking about their hopes for their legacy. Taylor has said several times that she hopes Janeway in particular will be a major part of her legacy.

Like everyone Star Trek insider and fan mourn her loss, it is clear without a doubt that her dream has come true. Although Janeway is far from the only legacy she leaves behind, as evidenced by the sentiments shared by Taylor's colleagues after her death.

In Mulgrew's words, as posted on her Instagram:

Brannon Braga, who took over as Voyager showrunner, when Taylor left after the fourth season, echoed Mulgrew's sentiments on his own Instagram.

Dawson joined X and reminded fans that Taylor's legacy goes way beyond Janeway.

Jeri Taylor gave Star Trek they root for some of the most memorable characters and heartfelt stories to ever exist in the Trekverse. Her presence in the Trek family will be sorely missed, but her presence in the family is undeniable Star Trek the universe lives on.

Sources: Instagram, X.com, StarTrek.com, Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, TrekMovie.com, Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation