Jeri Taylor's Contributions to the “Star Trek” Universe.

Key points

• Jeri Taylor has contributed significantly to “Star Trek” by writing, producing and co-creating shows such as
  Star Trek: Traveler
  .
• Taylor played an integral role in the development of female characters like Janeway, influencing and reshaping their roles.
• His legacy in the “Star Trek” universe is evident through the impactful characters and deep storylines he created.

Jeri Taylor, a regular Star Trek writer and co-creator of Star Trek: Travelerdied on October 23, 2024, aged 86. Over the weekend, Star Trek actors, producers, production staff members, and longtime fans mourned the loss, shared memories of Taylor, and honored her vast contributions to the Trekverse. In the wake of her passing, here's a look at Taylor's decades-long career as a writer, producer, co-creator and consultant on multiple Star Trek shows.

Entering the Trekverse: The TNG and DS9 Years

According to StarTrek.com, Taylor began his career in Star Trek universe during the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation(TNG) as a writer and producer. He helped write four episodes that season, including “The Drumhead,” which many fans count among the best episodes of the series. Taylor continued to write for TNG until the end of its seven-season run. All told, Taylor helped write 17 episodes for TNG.

During the show's sixth season, she was promoted to co-executive producer, joining longtime showrunners Michael Pillar and Rick Berman. When Berman and Pillar turned their attention to the latest addition to the franchise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)Taylor was promoted to executive producer and showrunner for TNG'it's the last season. He watched the show until its legendary final episode. As he was wrapping up TNGTaylor also wrote three episodes for DS9including the two-part film “The Maquis”.

After TNG wrapped, which Taylor worked on Star Trek: Generations and, a few years later, he returned to Star Trek universe to work on Star Trek: First Contact.

Co-creation and management of “Star Trek: Voyager”

The mid-90s were busy for Taylor. As he was wrapping up TNGwriting occasionally for DS9and working on GenerationsTaylor was also in the trenches with Pillar and Berman, creating Star Trek: Traveler. In addition to serving as showrunner on the show's first four seasons, he also co-wrote 14 episodes.

Taylor was the first woman to hold the title of executive producer or showrunner in Star Trek franchising. She took her role seriously, especially since she played an integral role in creating the first female protagonist for a Star Trek show: Captain Kathryn Janeway. Taylor shaped the characters, plots and themes of Voyager's first seasons.

Creating women of substance in the “Star Trek” universe.

Make changes to The next generation

Under The one from Star Trek male executive producers and showrunners, women of the Star Trek the universe didn't always have nuance or depth. Denise Crosby, who played Tasha Yar TNGhe sadly left during the first season because he wanted Yar to be more three-dimensional. The showrunners, presumably, flat out said “no.” Gates McFadden, who brought Dr. Beverly Crusher to life, fought back TNG's production staff also talked about her character, and she left for the second season, returning in the third. Marina Sirtis repeatedly joked that, for the first few seasons, Deanna Troi's entire character was spouting vague predictions like a carnival psychic. Sirtis has never shied away from talking about how terrible it was to be a woman on the set of TNG.

When Taylor joined the writer's room during season four, she set out to change all that. In an interview for Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek VoyagesTaylor said:

“If there's anything I wanted to do more, it was develop the characters of Crusher and Troi because I thought they were underutilized […] There's a very small way that sometimes I remind people of the role of women and sometimes they remind me of it. I'm not saying it was a male staff and I had to come in and show them the way, but maybe it was something a little more front and center for me.”

Taylor's influence was evident almost immediately. Troi finally got a Starfleet uniform instead of the skintight leotards with plunging necklines she had worn in early seasons. During a rare public appearance at the Mission Star Trek 55th anniversary convention, as reported by TrekMovie.com, Taylor revealed that this was one of the things he had been pushing for behind the scenes.

Its impact was also felt by the actresses on set. In Journey's End: The Star Trek Saga: The Next Generation, McFadden said:

“I think the writing team led by Jeri Taylor definitely made an effort to make women's roles stronger. We were in positions of power more often, in the Captain's chair or leading a mission somewhere.”

Create a new standard with Traveler

Taylor's work to lift up women TNG outside of mediocrity it was admirable. However, it paled in comparison to the powerful and complex women it brought to life Traveler.

Berman and Pillar had planned to introduce the first female protagonist in Star Trek universe inside Traveler before bringing Taylor on board as co-creator. But Captain Kathryn Janeway, eventually brought to life by Kate Mulgrew, didn't come to life until Taylor began working with them. Janeway was a deeply personal project for Taylor. He understood the importance of the character within the Star Trek universe and wanted to create a female captain who could easily stand alongside all the great captains who came before her.

Luckily, Taylor didn't have to look far for inspiration, as he told the audience at the Mission Star Trek 55th anniversary convention:

“I've always thought of Janeway as just me, I wrote her. I can't say I wrote her as me, but as I would like to be. I felt full of her. And I think she's full of me, even though, in many senses, much more skilled and capable than me, but it was my fantasy that Janeway was me and I tried to approach it that way.

Janeway wasn't Taylor's only contribution to strong women TravelerAlthough. She was also instrumental in the creation of B'Elanna Torres, played by Roxann Dawson, and Seven of Nine, played by Jeri Ryan. Without Taylor, none of these women would have made it to the screen as the characters fans know and love.

Taylor's 'Star Trek' legacy.

Every writer, artist, actor, or creative of any kind strives to leave behind work that will be remembered long after they are gone, and they spend a lot of time thinking about their hopes for their legacy. Multiple times, Taylor said he hoped Janeway, in particular, would be an important part of his legacy.

Like every Star Trek insiders and fans mourn his loss, it is clear, without a doubt, that his dream has come true. Though Janeway isn't the only legacy she leaves behind, as evidenced by the sentiments shared by Taylor's colleagues after her death.

In Mulgrew's words, as posted on his Instagram:

Brannon Braga, who took over the role Voyager's showrunner when Taylor left after season four, she echoed Mulgrew's sentiments on her Instagram.

Dawson weighed in on X, reminding fans that Taylor's legacy goes far beyond Janeway.

Jeri Taylor gave Star Trek fans some of the most memorable characters and heartfelt storylines to ever exist in the Trekverse. His presence in the Trek family will be greatly missed, but his undeniable presence in the Star Trek the universe continues to live.

Sources: Instagram, X.com, StarTrek.com, Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, TrekMovie.com, Journey's End: The Star Trek: The Next Generation saga