Summary
An episode ofStar Trek: Voyageralready explained how Robert Picardo’s Doctor can appear inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. It was announced at San Diego Comic-Con thatVoyager’s Doctor would join returningStar Trek: Discoverycharacters Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) and Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) inStarfleet Academy. While it was always expected thatStarfleet Academywould featureDiscoverycharacters, the casting of aVoyagercast memberin the spinoff series was a big surprise.
At this stage, it’s unclear howStar Trek: Voyager’s Doctor will fit into the 32nd century’s Starfleet Academy. Presumably, the USS Voyager’s Emergency Medical Hologram will be teaching medicine inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. At this stage, it’s unclear if the Doctor has been reactivated in the 32nd century, or if he’s been living through the eight centuries that have passed since the end ofVoyager. However, it’s also possible Robert Picardo is joining thecast ofStarfleet Academyas a different, but familiar, character.
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Star Trek: Voyager’s “Living Witness” Set Up Robert Picardo’s Role In Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Voyagerseason 4, episode 23, “Living Witness” introduced a backup version of Robert Picardo’s Doctor, who was reactivated in the 31st centuryby an alien historian. The Doctor is able to provide valuable insight into a historical event involving the USS Voyager and the Kyrians and Vaskans, two species that shared a home world. The Doctor’s insight was enough to end centuries of hostility, and bring the two races together as equals. The Doctor was promoted to Surgical Chancellor, but eventually left the planet to follow the USS Voyager’s journey back to the Alpha Quadrant.
“Living Witness” was the only episode ofStar Trek: Voyagerdirected by Tuvok actor Tim Russ.
This creates the possibility that it’s the 31st century backup Doctor, and not the 24th century original, that is now teaching at Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century. Although both Doctors would look identical, the “Living Witness” version ofStar Trek: Voyager’s Doctorhas a completely different set of memories. While medicine will still be this Doctor’s specialist subject, teaching the Kyrians and Vaskans about their past in"Living Witness" could also set him up as a history teacher inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
How Voyager’s Doctor Will Be Different On Starfleet Academy Than In Star Trek: Prodigy
Of course, Robert Picardo’s Doctor has already been mentoring young Starfleet hopefuls inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2, albeit during a highly classified mission. However, there are 800 years between the events ofProdigyseason 2 andStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. This means that if Robert Picardo is playing the same character, then he has weathered the storm of some major upheaval to make it to the 32nd century. InProdigy, the Doctor is about to face the synth ban, and there are still the Changeling/Borg alliance and the Burn to come.
Having lived through all of those devastating tragedies, Robert Picardo’s Doctor will be a very different character inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy. It’s also worth reiterating that, if it’s the same character as Robert Picardo played inStar Trek: Voyager, then the Doctor will be over 800 years old. It remains to be seen how an 800-year-old man will connect with young people of the 3100s, but the Doctor’s centuries of knowledge and experience makes him a valuable addition toStar Trek: Starfleet Academy’s teaching staff.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis set to start shooting later in 2024.
