CBR makes a good case for the most important captain in Star Trek

Star Trek has some of the best captains in science fiction, and fans won’t be swayed from their favorite. 

Each of us have chosen the captain we’d trust the most to lead us to safety if we were a member of their crew. For some, it will always be Captain James T. Kirk. He and his crew were the first team we met on the Enterprise in 1966, and those who were able to watch it when it first aired, as well as many others, consider him to be the best. Others grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard earned their loyalty. And while there’s something to be said for these and the other captains, CBR makes an excellent case not for the best captain but the most important captain in Star Trek.

Surprising to some, Captain Janeway was chosen as the captain most essential to the franchise, and honestly, I can’t fault the site for its decision. Along with being the first female captain to command a starship, Captain Janeway was stranded with her crew 75 light years away from home and maintained discipline and order aboard the Voyager. She held tightly to her principles and endured traumas and challenges unlike any other captain.

Kate Mulgrew wanted to be regarded seriously as a Star Trek captain

And it was her decision to keep the captain unattached romantically. But she was attached emotionally to her crew, and during her tenure aboard Voyager, she faced the unknown with aplomb and grace, never backing down but willing to take risks if it meant getting her crew home a little quicker.

When she made the decision that resulted in Voyager being flung into the Delta Quadrant, she could have lost the trust and respect of her crew. Instead, they turned to her for guidance. And she provided the answers without anyone giving her orders. She was, in essence, the sole voice of command without Starfleet to turn to.

On top of that, she wasn’t just friends with a select few aboard her ship; she was a friend to all, listening, giving advice, and providing comfort  as well as the steady hand of correction when it was needed. She kept her emotions in check and ultimately brough Voyager home. And she became an admiral shortly afterwards, possibly due to her efforts with the ship and the crew. Even Admiral PIcard trusted her judgment, evident when in the fifth episode of the final season of Star Trek: Picard he suggests that Admiral Janeway be contacted.

Of course there are plenty of fans who will disagree with this assessment, but I believe CBR makes a good case for the importance of Captain Janeway. She was backed to the wall and came out fighting every time. And now she’s on a mission to find Captain Chakotay on Star Trek: Prodigy, and with her determination, there’s little doubt she’ll find him.