“Mostly it’s that she’s an overenthusiastic fan."
Is our beloved Doctor getting crotchety after existing for nearly a thousand years? Well, Robert Picardo explains why his Voyager and Prodigy character, the EMH Doctor, takes issue with one of the new cadets in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Picardo spoke about the Doc’s awkward relationship with the young hologram SAM [Series Acclimation Mil] in an interview while attending the premiere of Starfleet Academy in New York City. Picardo said (via TrekMovie.com):
“I think that SAM comes on very strong. And I also think it’s a combination of the fact that when [you are] an 800 year-old continuously activated artificial intelligence, you’re not that interested in making friends with organic creatures that are going to grow old and die when you’ve been through that process for 30-plus generations. So, I think he’s naturally reticent to make any kind of emotional commitment at all, even with another hologram. Now, of course she also, in theory, will live forever.”
Picardo continued by saying in the same interview:
“Mostly it’s that she’s an overenthusiastic fan. I appreciate meeting Star Trek fans, but the ones that that are overpowering and don’t want to share your attention with anyone else… you get back on your heels and go, ‘Yes, I’m happy to talk to you, but ease up or calm down.’ That’s how she approaches The Doctor, early on, like, ‘I want you to mentor me and I want to command as much of your attention as possible.’ So, I think that intimidated him.”
Do you agree with The Doctor’s flippant attitude toward the four-month old hologram SAM? Or do you think the EMH is being too hard on the young cadet? Personally, I enjoy the drama, and I have a feeling that finding a way for these two to get along is simply a part of their characters' arcs in season 1. Now, share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount Plus.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!