One line inStar Trek Generationsexplains why Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) remains a captain whenStar Trek: Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) becomes a Starfleet Admiral.Star Trek Generationsopens with Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) publicity tour of the USS Enterprise-B, when a distress call pushes Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck) to cede command to Kirk.Harriman’s concession echoes earlier movies, when then-Admiral Kirk took command of the EnterprisefromUSS Enterprise CaptainsWill Decker (Stephen Collins) inStar Trek: The Motion Pictureand Spock (Leonard Nimoy) inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Eight years afterGenerations, aStar Trek: Nemesiscameo reveals thatStar Trek: Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway has been promoted to Vice Admiral, just one year after returning the USS Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant. The USS Voyager was Janeway’s first command, suggesting that Janeway spent only eight years as a Captain. In 2379, whenStar Trek: Nemesistakes place, Picard spent 15 years captaining two USS Enterprises, and 22 years ascaptain of the USS Stargazerbefore that. Janeway absolutely deserves her promotion after Voyager’s harrowing 70,000 light-year journey, but it’s surprising that Picard hasn’talsobeen promoted.
Kirk’s Advice To Picard In Star Trek Generations Kept Picard A Captain Longer
“Don’t Let Them Promote You.”
InStar Trek Generations, James Kirk’s sage advice that keeps Jean-Luc Picard a Captain longer is, “Don’t let them promote you.” By the time Picard meets Kirk in the timeless Nexus, Picard has already been a starship captain for decades, with no plans to retire. Kirk insists on Picard remaining a Captain becauseKirk’s personal experience as a Starfleet Admiral was more frustrating than prestigious.Admiral Kirk kept finding ways to skirt regulations and regain command, includingstealing the Enterprise. Kirk’s demotion to Captain at the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Homewas more reward than punishment.
“Let me tell you something. Don’t [retire].Don’t let them promote you.Don’t let them transfer you, don’t let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there, you may make a difference.”
- Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek Generations
Jean-Luc Picard remained a Captain for the better part of a decade, soit’s reasonable to assume that Picard took Kirk’s advice.Picard captained the USS Enterprise-E through the 2370s, and accepted a promotion to Admiral in 2381. Admiral Picard found ways he could still “make a difference,” like funding the Independent Archaeologists' Guild, and spearheading Starfleet’s efforts to evacuate Romulus before2387’s Romulan Supernova. Picard only faced the challenges that Kirk cautioned against later, inStar Trek: Picard.Like Kirk before him, Admiral Picard was only able to command a starship temporarily, and with a reasonable excuse.
Admiral Janeway Proves Kirk’s Advice Is Wrong in Star Trek: Prodigy
Admiral Janeway Is In Command Of The USS Dauntless And The USS Voyager-A
InStar Trek: Prodigy, Admiral Kathryn Janeway proves that Kirk’sStar Trek Generationsadvice about refusing promotions is wrong.Admiral Janeway’s command of the USS Dauntless and USS Voyager-A show that being an Admiral doesn’t keep a Starfleet officer off the bridge of a starship,as Kirk feared. Instead of doling out missions like inStar Trek: Nemesis, Admiral Janeway leads a mission to locate themissing Captain Chakotay(Robert Beltran). Janeway’s example as a leader redefines the job of Starfleet Admiral as one that can, in fact, actively make a difference from a command chair.
Janeway Became The Star Trek Admiral Kirk & Picard Could Never Be
Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) from Star Trek: Voyager succeeded as an admiral where William Shatner’s Kirk & Patrick Stewart’s Picard could not.
Becoming an Admiral means something different to eachStar Trekcaptain, based on their temperaments and experiences. Janeway spent years in the Delta Quadrant making unilateral decisions as Starfleet’s only authority, without an Admiral watching. Accepting a promotion before Jean-Luc Picard does, despite fewer years of experience, means thatAdmiral Janeway doesn’t have to change her leadership style in the Alpha Quadrant. Picard, having inherited Kirk’s legacy, has reason to consider Kirk’s belief that a promotion means the end of one’s starship days, so he takes the advice fromStar Trek Generationsand remains the Enterprise’s Captain for another decade.
Star Trek: Generations
Cast
Star Trek: Generations bridges the original Star Trek series with The Next Generation crew. Directed by David Carson, the film features Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) joining forces to stop a villain named Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from destroying a star system. The narrative explores themes of legacy and transition while introducing fans to a climactic crossover of iconic characters.
