| Kes | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek character | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:KesProfileImage.jpg) Jennifer Lien as Kes | |
| First appearance | "Caretaker" (1995) |
| Last appearance | "Fury" (2000) |
| Portrayed by | Jennifer Lien |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Ocampa |
| Position |
|
Kes is a fictional character played by Jennifer Lien on the American science fiction television show Star Trek: Voyager. The series follows the crew of the starship USS Voyager, stranded far from home and struggling to get back to Earth. Kes joins the crew in the pilot episode "Caretaker", opening an aeroponics garden and working as the medical assistant to the artificial intelligence known as the Doctor. She is a member of a telepathic alien species known as the Ocampa who have latent psychic abilities and a life span of only nine years. Her storylines focus on encouraging the Doctor to develop his humanity and dealing with her Talaxian boyfriend Neelix's jealousy. She also seeks to expand upon her mental capabilities, leaving in the fourth season after her powers threaten to destroy the ship. She reappears in a season six episode and features in Star Trek: Voyager novels and short stories.
Voyager's creators Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor designed Kes to be a rapidly-aging character who would provide audiences with a different perspective on time. Although Kes is portrayed as fragile and innocent, she is also shown as having hidden strength and maturity. Voyager's producers reluctantly fired Lien after her personal issues affected her reliability on set. At the time, this was not openly discussed and her departure was attributed to other reasons; these ranged from Lien voluntarily leaving to pursue other roles to her being removed to make room for Jeri Ryan's introduction as Seven of Nine.
Kes was a fan favorite character while Voyager was airing, although critics reacted more negatively, finding the character boring and without a clear purpose. Lien was praised for her performance, which was highlighted in reviews of individual episodes. Kes's age was the subject of critical discussion, questioning if she was too young to be dating Neelix. Lien's removal from Voyager received mixed reviews from critics; some preferred the addition of Seven of Nine while others were disappointed by this casting change. Reviewers and fans disliked her return in the season six episode "Fury", which some media outlets called one of the worst moments in the Star Trek franchise. Academics have analyzed Kes's representation of femininity, her relationship with Captain Kathryn Janeway, and her mental abilities.