Kate Mulgrew thought Janeway dating Chakotay would make criticism of her character worse

When it comes to couples that should-have-been, Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) are high on the list. The chemistry between the pair was so tangible that everyone figured a romance would ultimately happen. Even the creative team behind Voyager wanted to pursue a relationship, according to Screenrant. But, as we know, Mulgrew said no to a romance, and Janeway and Chakotay remained "just friends" throughout the entirety of the series.

But now the pair are back together on Star Trek: Prodigy, and we could be looking at a change in the relationship. So why could it happen now and not then? Mulgrew was in a tough spot as the first female captain of a starship, and she wanted to focus on making her character likeable as well as respected. A relationship between a captain and the second in command had never happened before, and Mulgrew was already getting enough scrutiny as it was. Having her character break a Starfleet rule by entering into a romance with a subordinate could have made things much worse.

Though Janeway and Chakoty are still in Starfleet on the animated series, Prodigy, and she remains his superior officer, Admiral Janeway doesn't have to contend with losing the respect of her crew members. And Mulgrew doesn't have to be concerned with whether or not her character is likeable now. Fans don't just like Janeway; they love her. What's more, they're ready to see a more tangible connection between her and Chakotay.

It's been almost thirty years since Voyager debuted, about the same length of time fans have been waiting for Janeway/Chakotay romance. There's a strong possibility we might get that in Prodigy. Of course, it won't be the same, but establishing a relationship in Prodigy would make it canon. And we can only hope that Mulgrew and Beltran reprise their roles on a live-action version to bring the characters and their romance full circle.