Paramount
The Turning Point for “Star Trek: Voyager”
With dwindling ratings at the closure of its third season, “Star Trek: Voyager” was in a precarious situation. Despite its competence, it wasn’t drawing the viewership that its predecessor, “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” had enjoyed. In an attempt to revitalize the series, the character of Kes (Jennifer Lien) was replaced with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a Borg character in a figure-hugging catsuit. The series was subsequently restructured to revolve around Seven of Nine, which was a hit with the writers. Ryan’s model-like looks and her corseted outfit didn’t hurt either. Predictably, the ratings saw a significant boost.
The Cast’s Initial Resentment Towards Ryan
According to Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross’s oral history book, “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years: From The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams,” the “Voyager” cast initially harbored resentment towards Ryan. She was suddenly the center of attention, hogging the best storylines and character moments. Despite delivering an excellent performance, it was clear that Ryan’s popularity had the other actors feeling overlooked.
Rick Berman’s Preferred Choice for Seven of Nine
Interestingly, Ryan wasn’t the first choice for the role of Seven of Nine. While show co-creators Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor were fond of Ryan, the third co-creator and “Star Trek” executive producer Rick Berman had a different vision for the character. He pictured a more cerebral and thoughtful character and wanted Susan Gobney to play the part. Trekkies may recall that Gobney had appeared in two episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as Leah Brahms, the U.S.S. Enterprise’s designer.
Paramount
Remembering Leah Brahms and Susan Gibney’s Role
Leah Brahms, played by Susan Gibney, is remembered by Trekkies for her potential romantic storyline with Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). In the episode “Booby Trap,” Geordi encountered a unique technical issue involving a Promellian Battle Cruiser. The Enterprise would unexpectedly power down, possibly leaving it stranded indefinitely. To solve this, Geordi recreated the ship’s designer, Leah Brahms, on the holodeck. The holographic Leah Brahms was given a friendly personality, and Geordi developed feelings for her.
The Real Leah Brahms and Her Return
In the episode “Galaxy’s Child,” Geordi met the real Leah Brahms, who was far from friendly. She was appalled to discover that Geordi had recreated her on the holodeck, and shocked him by revealing she was already married. They eventually reached an understanding, but romance was off the table. Gibney later returned to play Captain Erika Benteen in two episodes of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” It was clear that Rick Berman liked her and wanted her to play Seven of Nine. He said, “We narrowed it down to three people and Jeri Ryan was not my first choice. Jeri Ryan was the first choice of both Jeri Taylor and Michael Piller. My first choice was this wonderful actor who had played Leah Brahms, Susan Gibney. I thought she would be a great Seven of Nine, and I was overruled — and probably correctly so.”
Would Gibney Have Been a Better Seven of Nine?
It’s hard to say whether Gibney would have done a better or worse job than Ryan. She would have undoubtedly brought something different to the role. Gibney was always on Berman’s radar. In fact, she was considered for the role of Captain Janeway on “Voyager” and was approached about playing the Borg Queen in the feature film “Star Trek: First Contact” in 1996. Unfortunately, she didn’t land either role, with Kate Mulgrew playing Captain Janeway and Alice Krige playing the Borg Queen. However, Gibney did return to play Leah Brahms in an episode of “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Jeri Ryan’s portrayal of Seven of Nine was a hit, it’s interesting to ponder how different the character might have been had Susan Gibney been given the role. Regardless, both actors have made significant contributions to the Star Trek universe, and their performances continue to be enjoyed by Trekkies worldwide.
FAQs
Who was the first choice to play Seven of Nine?
While Jeri Ryan ultimately played Seven of Nine, the first choice of the show’s third co-creator and executive producer Rick Berman was Susan Gibney.
Who played Leah Brahms in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”?
Susan Gibney played the character Leah Brahms in two episodes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
Who did Susan Gibney play in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”?
Susan Gibney returned to the Star Trek universe to play Captain Erika Benteen in two episodes of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
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