Robert Picardo is speaking up on the most unusual part of his return to Star Trek: his uniform.
One of the best parts of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the return of the EMH Doctor from Voyager and Prodigy played once more by Robert Picardo. And thanks to an “aging subroutine,” The Doctor can look older with a new outfit. Speaking to Syfy Wire, Picardo discussed this new uniform with his usual great humor. The actor said:
“Voyager: I was in blue. Now, Medical in the 32nd century is white. When I first put the costume on, I thought I looked like a dining captain on a cruise ship. So I was a little [laugh], I was not terribly — who had gotten into the baked Alaska a little too much. So, but I’ve grown to love it. So now I’m, I am now happy with my [uniform]."
The look is different, but it makes sense. After all, when Voyager began, the crew were in the classic TNG-style Starfleet uniforms, which were changed in 1996. But since the ship was on the other side of the universe, obviously, they couldn’t adapt, so Picardo kept wearing the blue colors of a medical officer for its run.
It is a more striking look that still fits The Doctor well, even if Picardo had to make other changes for his performance. Going on, Picardo related that there was another trick to playing The Doctor that required a bit of practice, thanks to how much he’s aged. The actor said in the same interview:
“Posture is still very important So, whenever the camera rolls, I try to stand up straight, even though I’m two and a half inches shorter than I was 30 years ago: throw my shoulders back and pretend that I have that same ramrod spine that I used to have.”
Again, the show is making the excuse for the EMH to look older, which works for the storyline. The Doctor’s role so far has been mostly comic relief, from an opera performance to teaching to a wild dinner scene. Hopefully, he will get more storylines as there is still potential to explore, particularly mentoring the sentient hologram SAM (Kerrice Brooks).
Having The Doctor around is a great way to elevate Starfleet Academy, as he provides a link to the glory days of Starfleet and centuries of experience make him a perfect teacher. He’s still the curmudgeon we all know and love, so no matter the uniform, Picardo is stellar as ever as an iconic character.
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