While I absolutely do not want to defend Rick Berman, I also think it’s important to acknowledge that his brand of assholishness was not unique (and, frankly, still isn’t).
The episode that really nailed down what a talented actor Jeri Ryan is was the time she had all those assimilated personalities surface and was switching back and forth rapidly, and the bit where the Doctor “took over” her body when they were in prison.
Both times, it was absolutely believable that someone else was at the wheel, and “Seven” wasn’t there.
And Rick the Dick Berman said fuck no, in fact here’s a blonde bombshell in a catsuit. Fuck you.
To be fair the blonde bombshell in a catsuit was initially nonbinary.
And then Janeway immediately gave it conversion therapy and told it to be a woman.
While I absolutely do not want to defend Rick Berman, I also think it’s important to acknowledge that his brand of assholishness was not unique (and, frankly, still isn’t).
Who turned out to be gay in Picard but Berman didn’t have anything to do with that I believe.
What’s funny is the “blonde bombshell in a catsuit” turned out to be one of the best characters on the show.
The studio said ‘add big tits’ and they took that and made an amazing character.
The episode that really nailed down what a talented actor Jeri Ryan is was the time she had all those assimilated personalities surface and was switching back and forth rapidly, and the bit where the Doctor “took over” her body when they were in prison.
Both times, it was absolutely believable that someone else was at the wheel, and “Seven” wasn’t there.
And also the time she thought she was a ballroom singer. And the moment she switches back to seven you can see it in the way she stands.
Her being the doctor is one of the greatest things in the entire series.
As an adolescent boy, I did not really mind the choice.
As a grown up man, I still do not really mind the choice.