Star Trek: Prodigy reveals at last the Mirror Universe of Voyager.
Fans at last got their wish when Voyager's Mirror Universe characters showed up in Star Trek: Prodigy following seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager devoid of a Mirror Universe episode. Originally presented in Star Trek: The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has always been a fascinating component of the Star Trek universe offering an exciting window into the sinister side of cherished characters. Although seeing the darker sides of well-known people appeals to some, Star Trek has always been careful not to damage the standing of its most beloved characters.
Although the lack of a Mirror Universe episode in Voyager would seem to be a lost chance, Voyager wasn't the only Star Trek series to cut it out. Though it ran seven successful seasons, Star Trek: The Next Generation never visited the Mirror Universe. On the Mirror Universe lore, the franchise's modern era—which features shows like Star Trek: Discovery—offers a closer examination of its intricate story, so augmenting the legacy.
Why did Star Trek: Voyager never investigate its Mirror Universe?
Voyager did explore darker versions of its characters in a few episodes even though there was no specifically Mirror Universe episode. Especially, the fourth season episode "Living Witness" showed a future whereby Voyager was seen as a warship and Captain Janeway as a tyrant. In another instance, the Doctor created a holonovel in the season 7 episode "Author, Author" stressing the darker sides of Voyager's crew.
But Voyager's avoidance of the Mirror Universe most likely stems from its concurrent running alongside Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with its own continuous Mirror Universe plot. Seeking to forge its own identity, Voyager might have specifically decided to cut off itself from DS9's Mirror Universe exploration.
The effect of Prodigy on the Voyager Mirror Universe
The second season of Star Trek: Prodigy debuted two Voyager Mirror Universe characters—Admiration Janeway and Captain Chakotay—at last in episode 14, "Cracked Mirror." With their darker traits, the episode set them apart from their Prime counterparts in a sequence of fierce confrontations.
The way the episode explores Voyager's Mirror Universe creates fascinating opportunities for next projects to dig further into other parallel characters. The episode also begged interesting questions about Mirror Janeway and Chakotay, including their seeming romantic relationship and the reason Mirror Janeway's Borg implant, which resembles Seven of Nine, seems for.
The look of Voyager's Mirror Universe characters in Prodigy surely satisfies a long-held wish of Star Trek aficioners. It not only broadens the known knowledge of the Mirror Universe but also offers a remarkable insight into the darker side of Voyager's crew. The "Cracked Mirror" episode of Prodigy is evidence of the ongoing interest with the Mirror Universe and its possibilities for Star Trek franchise future exploration.
